NorwinXC finished with another dominating season in Section meets ready to take it to WPIAL’s, the Knights swept section play with a perfect 8-0 record for both the boys and girls. It was the third straight time that the boys and girls captured the Section titles and had a perfect 48-0 record combined over that time span.
Knight runner Enzo Jiancristoforo foreshadowed the potential glory the boys’ team looked to achieve on Thursday October 24 at White Oak Park for the WPIAL Championship. This achievement speaks volumes about their dedication, training, and team spirit. As they are gathering for their final practice before the WPIAL and PIAA championships, the excitement in the air is there.
As they’re preparing for the WPIAL meet, it is clear that they weren’t just aiming for personal bests, they are setting their sights on team glory and running “hungry.” With their combined Young and Old mix of freshmen and seniors, their all sub 17 Top 7 runners are ready for what stands in front of them. The Knights motto heading into the WPIAL Championships is to “Race the Yellow, and Black jerseys [North Allegheny],” said Coach Fleckenstein.
A Historic WPIAL Championship Victory
In a moment that will be carved into Norwin High School history, the boys’ cross-country team clinched their first WPIAL championship title since 1976. This historical victory not only highlights the dedication and talent of the athletes but also marks a huge achievement in the program coached by Brian Fleckenstein and Raymond Rakivic. The boys were ranked second going into the WPIAL Championships and loved the underdog mentality against North Allegheny, who had won 11 straight district titles.
Leading the charge for NorwinXC Boys was senior Thomas Gaydos, whose impressive time of 15:52 earned him a pivotal role in the team’s success, finishing in 5th place. Close behind were senior teammates Enzo Jiancristoforo in 8th and Luke Simpson in 9th–clocking in at 16:00 and 16:01, respectively. Their strong finishes were trailed by a couple of freshmen in Benjamin McBride’s 16:32 and Alex Barrett’s 16:38. The mix of young and old paid off. Together, these runners displayed the hard work from the start of summer that carried over for a historical bookmark in the NorwinXC program.
While the boys soaked in the glory of their championship win, the girls’ team also made a significant mark, finishing a strong second in the WPIAL championships. North Allegheny girls led the way with 76 pts, followed by Norwin in 121 and South Fayette in 128, as the top 3 teams advance to the PIAA Championships. The girls qualify for the state championship in Hershey for the 2nd straight year. Leading the way was Annie Czajkowski, who secured an impressive eighth place overall. Followed by Anna Dansak’s 21st place finish, and Addison Farrah taking 25th. Emily Dansak, and Jillian Ryba rounded out the top 5 with their top 45 finishes.
PIAA Championships
The NorwinXC Knights girls and boys teams traveled to Hershey on Friday, November 1st, for the highly anticipated state cross-country meet, concluding a long journey that brought them to the heart of Pennsylvania. After days of preparation and anticipation following their WPIAL victory, the boys’ and girls’ teams arrived ready to compete at the highest level. Both teams were excited for the opportunity to prove themselves, having trained hard all season. The trip included breakfast, and dinner stops followed by a visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World. Their minds were focused on one thing only though, the race ahead.
The competition was tough, but the NorwinXC Girls put on an impressive performance. The girls’ team finished strong, earning 6th place overall in the state. Their grit throughout the season paid off as they fought hard against some of the best runners in Pennsylvania. Individually, Czajkowski stood out by medaling and finishing 24th, a fantastic accomplishment in such a competitive field. Czajkowski was the first girls’ medalist since 2008 individually. During the Preseason Rankings, the girls were ranked 12th in the state and finished with a 6th place finish at the state meet.
On the NorwinXC Boys’ side, the team finished 12th overall, a solid result that marked a great showing, especially as it was their first time at the state meet in years. Gaydos and Jiancristoforo had standout performances, both finishing in the top 60. Their consistent efforts throughout the season, going back and forth as the team’s 1st and 2nd runners, showcased their growth as seniors and their ability to compete at a high level. Benjamin McBride is now the fastest freshman in the state, finishing first among all freshmen. Though the race was deep, the Knights left Hershey with a sense of pride, knowing they had given their best and represented their school with honor.
This officially caps the Norwin Knights’ season, but the Irwin XC team heads to New York on November 23rd for the Nike Cross Country Regional Championships, where the club hopes to qualify for both Championship races and potentially earn a spot at Nike National Championship in Portland, Oregon.
