The Norwin hockey team has more wins already than it had all of last season.
The Knights, who had one win last year, defeated Baldwin, 4-2, to improve to 2-7-1.
Cal Costantino had a goal and two assists, Zayn Zeravica added two assists and Mason Hohman, Jonah Andrykovitch and Brody Boban each had a goal for the Knights.
Norwin was 1-17-0 last season with a shootout win.
Wrestling wins again
The Norwin wrestling team continued to show why it is among the top-ranked teams in WPIAL Class 3A. The Knights moved to 6-1 overall with a 54-15 win over Gateway.
Coleton Klipa (133 pounds), Nathan Klingensmith (145), Tanner Shaffer (189) and Gabriel Hawkingberry (107) all recorded pins for the Knights, who built a 42-0 lead after eight matches.
Norwin’s only loss came outside of the WPIAL, 62-5 against Malvern Prep.
The Knights went on to win the Penns Manor Invitational, scoring 213.5 points to finish ahead of Mount Saint Joseph (199.5).
Luca Butera and Landon Sidun won individual titles, while Klingensmith, Noah Curren and Jack White all finished third in their weight classes.
Csukas commits
Norwin senior point guard Mario Csukas made an in-season commitment, announcing a verbal pledge to Waynesburg of the NCAA Division III Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
Csukas led the Knights last season with a 13-point average.
He is one of 10 seniors on this year’s team, and one of four returning starters.
Csukas is averaging 10 points a game so far this season.
Buffalo offers Pfeifer
Norwin punter Evan Pfeifer is making inroads toward a Division I college career.
The senior with the big leg added a second FBS offer, the latest from Buffalo.
The deal is structured for a preferred walk-on and mainly academic in financial gain.
Air Force offered in August.
This season, Pfeifer averaged 41.1 yards per punt and put 20 of 30 kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Holding court
Norwin boys basketball team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 56-48 win over Connellsville.
Chris McKnight and Alex Graney each scored 12 for the Knights (7-4), who followed with two wins at the Peters Township holiday tournament.
King Carver had 21 points, Graney added 12 and Csukas chipped in 10 in a 54-51 win over Olentangy (Ohio).
Graney scored 18 and Nico Keteles had 11 in a 62-55 win over Belle Vernon.
No. 1 priority
With Norwin winning its first six games and preseason No. 1 Canon-McMillan falling to North Hills, Norwin became the No. 1-ranked team in the Trib HSSN Class 6A top five.
The Knights (9-1) were looking the part, too. They defeated No. 3 Upper St. Clair, 65-51. USC beat Norwin in last year’s WPIAL championship game.
The Knights went 2-0 at the Peters Township Tournament, with wins over Peters Township (57-53) and Trinity (54-48).
Against Peters Township, Nia O’Barto had a team-high 15 points and Ava Christopher scored 14.
Giuliana Giannikas, the team’s promising freshman, led the way with 20 points against Trinity, while O’Barto chipped in 11.
Norwin edged past Perkiomen Valley, 61-59, with Christopher scoring 16 points, Giannikas adding 13, and Aubrey Graney and Liz Yarosik logging 11 each.
Recruiting
• Josh Lenart, a senior football player at Norwin, has four PSAC offers: Edinboro, Seton Hill, Gannon and Clarion. Lenart played receiver, linebacker and long snapper for the Knights.
• Edinboro also offered Norwin senior tight end and linebacker Michael DeFazio (6-3, 210). It is his first Division II offer.