Norwin high school has had many successful athletes and college commits, but the class of 2025 might hold the most impressive student yet as senior Dominic Cerilli makes his way to the Masters Tournament to face world number one Scottie Scheffler.

The Masters Tournament, an annual invitational golf tournament, is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. It is held at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta Georgia during the first week of April. This year, the 2025 Masters week will take place from Monday, April 7 to Sunday, April 13.

Augusta National, the tournament’s hosts, invites certain players from across the nation, but the Masters committee has the ability to invite players who don’t qualify. Normally the criteria to be invited is to win a major championship, rank top 50 in world golf rankings, and perform well in other prestigious tournaments. Norwin’s Dominic Cerilli, has defied the odds.

After hearing about his commitment to Pitt-Johnstown for golf, Red Fridley, the committee’s chairman, traveled to see Cerilli perform at Manor Valley golf course. Impressed by his outstanding athleticism and remarkable ability to shoot consistently on par, Ridley personally invited Cerilli to attend the Masters Tournament in the spring of 2025.

“I was nervous to perform in front of such an important face and figure in the golf community,” said Cerilli. “But my caddie Preston gave me confidence.” Preston Stoner, Cerilli’s caddie and best friend, will be attending the Masters Tournament to assist Cerilli.

Cerilli will be facing a number of qualified competitors in the upcoming tournament, but most notably, he will be facing one of the biggest names in golf currently. American professional golfer Scottie Scheffler will also be participating in the Masters Tournament this spring. Scheffler is currently ranked world number one in the official world golf ranking. He plays on the PGA tour and has won both the 2022 and 2024 Masters Tournament. Known for his consistent ball-striking abilities, Scheffler is the +490 favorite for the 2025 Masters. Regardless of his outstanding career achievements thus far, 18-year-old Cerilli hopes to give Scheffler a run for his money, literally. Last year, Scheffler won a whopping $3.6 million for his win. Cerilli hopes to take home that substantial cash prize along with all of the other amenities that come with winning the tournament.

While Scheffler has a handful of years on Cerilli, Cerilli is confident going into the tournament knowing that he received personal coaching and support from popular golf influencer Fat Perez. Perez, known for his YouTube golf channel and participation on the PGA tour, gave personal advice and training to prepare Cerilli for his upcoming challenge.

“I’ve learned a lot, especially in the last few months,” said Cerilli. “I think I have a good shot at winning Masters 2025.”

Many other Norwin community members are optimistic about Cerilli’s face-off. Norwin Middle School teachers Daniel Butina and David Gubanich have caddied with Cerilli themselves.

“I have no doubt in Dom’s exceptional abilities,” said Butina. “One time, I watched him hit a 500-yard drive.”

Gubanich states his excitement for Cerilli, expressing his desire to get Cerilli to autograph his golf glove.

Norwin students anticipate the upcoming match. Will Cerilli be able to take down the 2024 Masters tournament champion and return to school with that prestigious green jacket and a boosted professional golf career, or will his performance send him back to the courses of Pitt-Johnstown? Let’s just say FanDuel is going absolutely crazy this week.