Boys High School Cross Country Team Preview

Team Information:

• School Name: Norwin High School
• Classification: AAA
• Head Coach: Brian Fleckenstein
• Assistant Coaches: Ray Rakvic
• Returning Lettermen (Number): Varsity returners: 5 of 7 from WPIALS (including top 4)
• 2023 Record: 8-0 (4^th at WPIALS)
• 2023 Team & Individual Accomplishments:
  • 8-0  record and Section Champs, Runner Up at Blue Devil Invite, Bald Eagle Invite Champion, Westmoreland County Coaches Association Champs, 4^th in WPIALs.
  • Enzo Jiancristoforo qualified for PIAA Championship and Luke Simpson was the first boy to miss qualifying.

Athlete Highlights:

• Top Returners (Name & Grade):  Seniors Enzo Jiancristoforo (state qualifier), Luke Simpson, Thomas Gaydos, and Mario Breauchy anchor the squad and are the Top 4 competitors for Knights last season. Sophomore Owen Rankin had a strong track season and is off to strong summer of training.
• Notable Newcomers (Name & Grade): Newcomers senior soccer convert Kaden Markovich, juniors Maerek Moenssens and Richie Zula, sophomore Atticus Knight, and freshmen trio of Ben McBride, Alex Barrett, and Will Little will compete to earn a varsity spot. Additionally, this is the largest freshmen boys’ class in my tenure. We have about 12 freshmen boys trying out for the team and look to see them develop over the four years.

Team Outlook
The boys will combine senior experience with some new runners this year to give the team a deeper squad than last year. There be 10-12 guys competing pretty heavily for the varsity spots. The boys are coming off a strong track season and look to continue to compete with the best in the WPIAL. We could be a real strong team in October if we stay healthy and gel as a team and the pack stays strong and runs smart.

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Girls High School Cross Country Team Preview

Team Information:

• School Name: Norwin High School
• Classification: AAA
• Head Coach: Brian Fleckenstein
• Assistant Coaches: Ray Rakvic
• Returning Lettermen (Number): Varsity returners: 7 of the top 10 return including 4 of 7 competed at PIAA Champs
• 2023 Record: 8-0 (3^rd at WPIALS and 5^th at PIAA Championships)
• 2023 Team & Individual Accomplishments:
  • 8-0 record and Section Champs, Team Champ at Blue Devil Invite, Bald Eagle Invite Champion, Westmoreland County Coaches Association Champs, 3rd in WPIALs, 5^th at PIAA Championship.
  • JV Girls finish 2^nd in tie break to North Allegheny at JV Championship @ Seneca Valley
  • Annie Czajkowski ran the second all time fastest time in NorwinXC history of 18:10 at Blue Devil Invite, as well as County and WPIAL medalists and finished 27^th at PIAA Championship and just missing a medal, while Anna Dansak ran the 6^th all time time for the NorwinXC girls with a time of 18:54. The freshmen girls (Anna and Emily Dansak, Addie Farrah, Jillian Ryba) made an impact continually running varsity or pushing for varsity spot.  

Athlete Highlights:

• Top Returners (Name & Grade): Junior Annie Czajkowski leads the girls’ squad back followed by sophomores Anna Dansak, Addie Farrah, Jillian Ryba, and Emily Dansak. Senior Anna Rakvic, junior Elin Bash, sophomores Kaelyn Lazar, Ciera Berthelsen, and senior Emily Schaeffer will all compete for varsity spot.
• Notable Newcomers (Name & Grade):  Claire Sherman and Molly Edwards will compete to push the chase pack

Team Outlook
The girls squad will look to build off last year’s qualifying state team. The strength of the team will be the pack again this year. The Lady Knights had 7 returning girls break 12:30 in the 3200 during track season and look to continue to build off that pack again. The girls turnout has been fantastic this summer and the team is gelling in the right direction. Many of the younger runners have added more volume to their training and will be ready to roll this fall. Our motto will continue to be “the strength of the wolf is the pack” and we hope to return to Hershey this year!

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