The Norwin Lady Knights are proving that their championship run in the 2023-24 season was no fluke, as they continue to bring the same energy in the 2025 season. With a current 7-1 record in their section, and an 11-6 standing overall, they stand firmly at the top of their conference, setting themselves up for another deep run.
Under the leadership of head coach Brian Brozeski, now in his 15th season with assistant coach Joe Oestreich, the Lady Knights are prepared for another WPIAL and PIAA run. They are using last season’s WPIAL Class 6A championship win as motivation to push even harder this year.
“This year, the success from last season really motivates us,” said senior and captain, Lexi Heller. “It reminds us to ‘practice like we’ve never won a game before.’ If we don’t practice hard, we won’t play hard. If we want that success again, we need to do what we did last season and push ourselves.”
All four senior Lady Knights will be continuing their athletic careers in college. Furno (West Virginia Weslyan), Berger and Brozeski (Clarion) will continue to play on the hardwood while Heller will continue her academic and athletic career at Pitt on the track & field team.
The Lady Knights’ chemistry on and off the court has been key to their success, and it’s clear that the team’s bond is stronger than ever. Seniors Lexi Heller, Berger, Bella Furno, and Averi Brozeski are leading the way, but this season has also seen rising stars emerge, including junior Ava Christopher, who continues to make a big impact.
“Ava’s Christopher has really stepped up this season,” said Berger. “She’s been a crucial part of the team for years, especially with her moving into the point guard role. Even when she was dealing with an injury, she was there for the team. She’s such an important piece of what we’re doing this season.”
Team chemistry has always been a hallmark of the Lady Knights’ success, and this season is no exception. Heller emphasized how the team’s bond off the court has translated into better on-court performance.
“We’ve all been playing together since kindergarten, and this year we’ve become even closer with the juniors,” said Heller. “That chemistry allows us to play better together, both on the court and off of it.”
The chemistry among the players has always been crucial to the Lady Knight’s success, and this season is no exception.
Coach Brozeski, who has taken the Lady Knights through 14 consecutive seasons, remains confident in the team’s ability to compete at a high level.
“The girls are practicing hard, and that’s the most important thing right now,” Brozeski said. “We’re heading in the right direction, but consistency is something we still need to work on. We have some youth and inexperience, and we’re still working through that.”
On Jan. 30, the Lady Knights took on Mount Lebanon, securing a key win to keep their momentum rolling. With just a few games remaining in section play, the Lady Knights are focused on finishing strong to secure a high playoff standing. As they head toward the final stretch of the regular season winning 7 of 8 games, their focus is firmly on consistency and continuing to build on their strengths.
As the regular season winds down, Norwin is looking to carry its momentum into the playoffs and once again contend for a championship title. The Lady Knights will also continue on to play Hempfield at their senior night tonight at the Castle.
“Don’t get too high on the highs and too low on the lows is a mantra we try to carry with us as we wind down the season,” said senior guard Kendall Berger.
The Lady Knights look to keep that winning legacy rolling as the playoffs amp up in mid February, and they hope to return to Pitt for another WPIAL Championship.
Anthony • Feb 11, 2025 at 10:33 am
Great work, Addison!!