Norwin HS Feature Athletes
May 8, 2023
Spring 2022-23
Madelynn Kessler
Grade: 12
Sport: Softball
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?
My dad and I’s relationship from the years of tournaments, how supportive my parents and siblings are and how my hard work pays off!
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
I have consistently trained in the off season and continued to lift and run twice a week in season, comparatively to past years my strength and consistency has been better than past years.
If you are planning to play your sport in college, where are you playing? Why did you choose that program? What are your college athletic goals?
Yes, I am playing softball at Saint Francis University. I chose the program because the campus felt like home and the coaches were so welcoming to the new recruits, I also loved the girls on the team and felt as thought I fit in academically and athletically. My college athletic goals are to help my team in any way possible and to prove to myself that I deserve to be there!
Christopher Slatt
Grade: 12
Sport: Baseball
If you are planning to play your sport in college, where are you playing? Why did you choose that program? What are your college athletic goals? I am attending Seton Hill to play baseball. I chose Seton Hill because it has always been my first choice since freshman year. I think my education and play style gels really nice with Seton Hill. It is also not too far from home.
Hannah Shaw
Grade: 12
Sport: Track and Field
Ryan Frankovic
Grade: 12
Sport: Lacrosse
Michael Mihalov
Grade:12
Sport: Volleyball
Brady Johnson
Grade: 12
Sport: Tennis
If you are planning to play your sport in college, where are you playing? Why did you choose that program? What are your college athletic goals? I am playing tennis at St. Vincent College. I chose this program because of the opportunities that it offers such as a trip to Orlando over spring break. I also want to play close to home so my parents are able to come and watch my matches. It is my goal to start as a freshman and take the team to the playoffs all four years that I am there.
What is your favorite sport moment (from your sport)? And Why? My favorite moment while playing tennis was when I won my first level six USTA tournament. This was a huge confidence booster because it demonstrated that my hard work is paying off and it inspired me to keep improving.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success? The biggest key to the boy’s tennis team’s success is our ability to win at any of the five positions. There is no clear weak link to our team and because of this we have had a winning record the last three seasons.
Savannah Schneck
Grade: 12
Sport: Basketball
Andy Breauchy
Maddy Beisler
Ryan Edwards
Aiden Pham
Grade: 11
Sport: Wrestling
Josephine Dollman
Grade: 9
Sport: Wrestling
Fall 2022-2023
Logan Robb
Grade: 12
Sport: Golf
Kayla Cessna
Grade: 12
Sport: Field Hockey
Tim McCabe
Grade: 12
Sport: Soccer
Sara Olson
Grade: 12
Sport: Volleyball
Louis Botti
Grade: 12
Sport: Football
Emma Jiancristoforo
Grade: 12
Sport: Cross Country
Do you have any pre-game superstitions? (Music, snacks, habits, etc): Have to eat spaghetti the night before every race. Listen to rap music during my warm-up. Wish everyone good luck when I step on the line, so that I know I will do well.
What do you do to calm your butterflies?: Anna DeFazio and other teammates give me a pep talks before every race. I slow down my breathing and listen to music.
What is your favorite sport moment (from this season)? And Why?: My favorite sports moment was against Hempfield and Greensburg Salem. The girls race had a rain delay, and there were disagreements between coaches, so i went into this race with a different mindset. They are our rivals, and I knew we had to beat them, in which we did. The final score was 37-19.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: My brother inspires me to run Cross Country. Since I am a Senior, it is nice to be able to play the same sport as my brother. Both of us encourage each other. We always have each other to talk to. If he has a bad race, I am able to comfort him, vice versa. I also play this sport for my teammates. Cross Country is one sport that anyone is welcome to run. Our goal is to go to State’s this year and win the county meet. I know in order to do that, I need to run to my best ability for them.
Spring 2021-2022
Prescott Stauffer
Grade: 12
Sport: Lacrosse
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?:I’ve worn the same pair of blue socks for every lacrosse game, so as you can imagine, I wash then often.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?: I maintain a balanced diet so that I’m never hungry during games or practice.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: My comeback from shoulder surgery as a freshman.
What is the best advice you were ever given?: Your biggest opponent is yourself, so maintain a positive attitude.
Mallory Wensel
Grade: 12
Sport: Softball
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: Before each game I drink a Razzle Berry Reign and listening to Metallica
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?: Focusing on mechanics. You need to add up each small skill to get a successful outcome.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?:Our biggest rival is Hempfield. For years we have gone back and forth with them. They are a very talented team and great competitors, but their disrespect towards us gives us the motivation to play to the best of our abilities.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: Having multiple games where I hit 2 or more home runs.
Raveena Navalgund
Grade: 12
Sport: Lacrosse
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I always have to make sure I have some type of braid in my hair while I play.
What is you favorite sports moment and why?: My favorite moment was when some of my teammates and I went to a skills clinic in West Virginia. We had so much fun with team bonding while we got to show off our skills.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?: Always persevere. There are so many setbacks, but you have to keep your head up. I also try to eat healthy to take care of my body.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: Being recruited to play for a D2 college (West Virginia Wesleyan College) despite only learning how to play 5 years years ago.
Mitch Kenney
Grade: 12
Sport: Tennis
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: Before each game I listen to the Pixies, eat three energy chews, and drink a bottle of water.
What is you favorite sports moment and why?: My favorite moment is winning in two sets against Pittsburgh Central Catholic. I proved to myself that my partner and I can compete against any team.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: My mother inspires me to play tennis. She is a very hard worker, and I know I make her proud every time I put in hard work to get better.
What the biggest key to your team’s success?: Practice. The amount of time we put in makes everyone better.
Aaron Schmook
Grade: 12
Sport: Track & Field (Javelin)
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I usually wear the same clothes on the day of the meet, and I do the same pre-meet warm up before I throw.
What is you favorite sports moment and why?: My favorite memory is when I broke the schools record for javelin on my first throw of the whole season at Latrobe.
Who is your biggest competition and why?: I do not have a particular rival, but my biggest competition throughout the season will be at the Butler Invitational, Individual WPIALS, and States.
What the biggest key to your team’s success?: All my teammates working hard together at practice each day to get better an achieve the ultimate goal of a WPIAL Championship.
Winter Sports 2021-22
Alyssa Laukus
Grade: 12
Sport: Basketball
What do you do to calm your butterflies?: Our biggest competition during the regular season every year is North Allegheny. Our games against them are typically the most exciting and almost always come come down to the wire.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: Our biggest competition during the regular season every year is North Allegheny. Our games against them are typically the most exciting and almost always come come down to the wire.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: I think my greatest accomplishment in my sport is committing to Chatham University to play basketball. I have also received a varsity letter every year since sophomore year which i also consider to be an accomplishment.
What the biggest key to your team’s success?: The biggest team to our success is the amount of time and hard work that we put into practice during the season and in the offseason. We practice 6 days a week for at least 2 hours and in the off-season we do open gym for 2 days a week and lift as well. All the extra time we put into practice and lifting definitely make us as good as we are.
Ty Stecko
Grade: 12
Sport: Basketball
Do you have any pregame superstitions?: I listen to Sunday Night Football by Carrie Underwood.
What is your favorite sports moment (from this season) and why?: We have a “team watch list” which is basically a list of many funny things that team thinks of while we are playing or while we are just fooling around.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: My dad inspires me he has been a competitor his whole life and when me and him play against each other it is the most competitive game you would watch. We both don’t wanna loose and hate to loose.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: We need to play lockdown defense that allows us to have many quick possessions that end in an open three or an open layup!
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: I believe whoever we play that day is our biggest rival. Everyday and every game is a battle and we are just looking to go 1-0 everyday. Whether we get to the next step in practice or improve in the game we are looking to compete and be at the highest potential we can be at as a team.
Luke Passarelli
Grade: 12
Sport: Wrestling
What is your favorite sports moment and why?: My favorite sports moment was witnessing Kurt Phipps win a individual state championship. This was my favorite moment as it was the first in Norwin history.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?: Two things that I do that are keys to my success is having a balanced diet and working out two to three times a day.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: My biggest competition this year is Vinny Kilkeary. He is from Latrobe and is a Ohio State commit and will be my weight this upcoming season. I have wrestled with him all summer and he has gotten the best of me if I’m being honest but I will definitely beat him when it counts this season.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: The biggest key to my team’s success is every single person doing their job.
Julie Fekete
Grade: 12
Sport: Bowling
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I always make sure to have my angel bowling pin on my shirt, I got it my freshman year and I have had it ever since then.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: Mckeesport girls because they have always beaten us, we have never won one game against them, and this year my goal is to at least win one game against them.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: Earning my letter my sophomore year and making girls singles regionals last year
What is the best advice you were ever given?: There’s no crying in bowling.
Mary Kochis
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: Before meets i always try to do a lot of stretching, eat a light meal and maybe listen to music or something to get my mind off of the pre-meet butterflies!
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?: I would say right now in my training i’m focusing mostly on sprinting/arm speed but also adding a little bit of mid-distance to build up my endurance.
What is the best advice you were ever given?: I would say some of the best advice i try to remind myself is that you can’t stress about the uncontrollable. With things changing left and right the best you can do is just take it day by day and give each practice your 110%.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: I think the key to our teams success this year is to take the bad situation we are given this year of not having a pool and make the best out of it. positivity is key and also being there of one another when you can tell someone is having a bad day!
Logan Fear
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I always have to be the last person on the ice before a game. I did it last year and it has carried into this year too.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live by?: The team lives by the motto “Roll academy.”
What is the best advice you were ever given?: To never look back. If you want something you can’t look back to see who’s behind you or who’s catching up, just keep working.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: Playing as a team. When we come together as a team and play unselfishly, there isn’t another team in the league that can beat us.
Fall Sports 2021
Doug Samber
Grade: 12
Sport: Soccer
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?:
A highlight of mine would be my goal during a game at Mercyhurst when our team had camp at Gannon University.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: Our biggest competition in our section is Alder- dice currently because of their skill. We won our first match against them; however, they put up the best fight.
What is your favorite moment from this season and why?: My favorite moment from our current season was overhearing a conversation between a teammate and the assistant coach. My teammate showed Coach Joe the “Devious Lick” Tiktok challenge and Coach Joe complained that was the reason he doesn’t use public bathrooms.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: I am inspired to play soccer to stay physically ac- tive and maintain friendships.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live by?: Be better than you were yesterday.
Austin Lane
Grade: 12
Sport: Football
What is your favorite moment from this season and why?: My favorite sports moment was coming back agaisnt Greater Latrobe with less than a minute to go to kick a field goal to win the game. The atmosphere was hype and the celebration afterward was an amazing experience.
What are one or two things you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?: We constantly practice every situation we can come across whether it be passing, running, or blitzing situations. After practice we have film sessions that not only better us as players but give us opportunities to scout opponents and see what they do.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: Our biggest key is that no matter what we stick together. We are a family and we want each of us to step up and get better every week. We are nonstop striving to make each other better and when it is time for game day we come together to be able to get the win.
Madison Butina
Grade: 12
Sport: Cross Country
What do you do to calm your butterflies?: Before every race, the girls’ team has a “team prayer,” where we stand in a circle and scream a chant. It’s an old tradition that replaces nerves with enthusiasm and positive team energy.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: I have been running Cross Country since 7th grade, and the amazing team atmosphere is really what’s inspired me to stick with it. Everyone supports each other- from the first to the last on the team. We cheer for each other on and off the course. The bonds we’ve formed make us stronger, and promote an attitude of acceptance and positivity you want to continue contributing to.
What is the best advice you were given?: During countless practices and meets, someone shouts “Run faster!” Running faster surprisingly does make you run faster!
Grace Shephard
Grade: 12
Sport: Volleyball
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: I always listen to music and stretch a lot before a race to try and calm myself. Music helps me to focus and not get caught up with everything else.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live by?: Before every game my dad always tells me “no mercy” and to basically just go out there and play as hard as I can.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: My greatest accomplishment is going into the playoff game my sophomore year after i had been out with a minor back injury.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: The biggest key to our success is our chemistry. We are all friends outside of volleyball and are able to correct and help each other without someone taking it the wrong way.
Chloe Lukondi
Grade: 12
Sport: Volleyball
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I always wear my hair in a braid and I always eat peanuts before I leave my house.
What do you do to calm your butterflies?: I look at my other teammates and see how calm they look. Or sometimes i’ll look at the crowd and it calms me down.
What is your favorite sport moment (from this season), and why?: When we beat Hempfield in 3 sets because we lost to them last time so it was a great experience.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: My parents, they’re so supportive and helpful.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: Probably Latrobe because we’ve been competitive with them the whole time i’ve been in high school.
Alayna Francis
Grade: 12
Sport: Field Hockey
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I have to listen to music so loud that I can’t hear anything even my own thoughts. On away games i have to take a nap on the bus just to relax and get out of my head.
Who is your biggest rival/competition and why?: While we play many amazing team with great players none of them can push me the way that my teammates do. We have an amazing array of talent both new and old that are always challenging me and making we want to become better.
Do you have a saying or motto that you live by?: My dad has always told since I was a little kid that I have remember that can’t control everything in a game. I can only control how I play and I can’t get mad when this don’t go exactly how I planned.
What is the biggest key to your team’s success?: Having a positive attitude and cheering each other on from the sidelines.
Reese Aquilio
Grade: 12
Sport: Soccer
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: I have always worn prewrap in my hair ever since I was little, and when I’m out on the field, I do three tuck jumps before the referee blows the whistle signaling the start of the game. The prewrap never fails to keep my hair out of my face and the jumps get my legs moving before kickoff.
What do you do to calm your butterflies?: I use visualization to help calm the butterflies and stay composed under pressure. Knowing what I have to do on the field, I picture the type of passes I have to make, where I need to position myself when defending, and what runs I have to make on free kicks and corners to put the ball in the back of the net. I feel less nervous and more focused when I use this visualization technique.
Do you have a saying or motto you live by?: This season, our senior class chose the motto “Prove them wrong.” Whether we are recovering from injury, have our backs against all odds, or have people doubting our capabilities, we all have something to prove. This saying has motivated me to work harder than ever on and off the field and to continue to persevere no matter what obstacles life throws at me.
What is the best advice you were given?: The best piece of advice I have been given would be to be more confident in myself. Confidence plays a crucial role in your mentality when playing a sport and can go a long way in accomplishing your goals. Confidence takes your performance to the next level, allowing athletes to thrive during competition. It all just starts with believing in yourself and what you are capable of.
Sydney Pesarsick
Grade: 12
Sport: Tennis
Do you have any pre-game superstitions?: All tennis players have a certain routine they do before they serve. I can attest to this, because I do the exact same ball-bounce pattern before I toss up my serve, every single time- and I’m not exaggerating. I also have a specific stretch routine, a certain way I wear my hair, and my go-to snack: Ritz cheese crackers. I swear they put something in those to make them addictive.
What is your favorite sport moment (from this season), and why?: I definitely think my favorite moment from this season was beating Franklin Regional 5-0. This hasn’t been done in years, so it was quite the accomplishment for us!! That sweep allowed us to finish with one of our best records ever of 11-1, something we are all incredibly proud of.
Who or what inspires you to play your sport?: Naomi Osaka is one of my biggest inspirations, in tennis and outside of tennis. She has worked beyond anyone’s expectations to get to where she is today, and none of her accomplishments came easy. I find that I can relate to her in a lot of ways, which comforts me and also gives me strength to keep pushing, especially during my matches. She has also shown athletes in all sports that mental health is not something to be taken lightly, and is just as important, if not more so than physical health. I love watching her play, and seeing her fight for every point is what keeps me doing the same.
What do you think is your greatest accomplishment in your sport?: At the WPIAL section doubles playoffs, Jenna Beach and I finished 3rd overall out of 18 teams, sending us on to the next round of WPIAL playoffs. We ended up playing for around 5 hours that day, 2 1/2 of which were spent in our final match alone. It was one of the most mentally challenging matches I have ever played, but the way we worked together as a team to beat Latrobe and take 3rd place was something I will never forget.
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