Norwin will miss him, but will cherish the high school football career he left behind.
Standout quarterback Tristyn Tavares announced he will play at Cal (Pa.).
A four-year starter, Tavares was a first-team all-conference selection in Class 6A. He threw for 1,243 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 738 yards and 12 scores to lead the Knights to a third-place finish in the conference and their first WPIAL playoff berth since 2017.
He also had Division II offers from West Liberty and Edinboro, along with several Division III schools.
For his career, Tavares threw for 5,717 yards and 51 TDs and ran for 1,210 yards and 27 scores.
Pfeifer goes D-I
Norwin senior punter Evan Pfeifer accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Buffalo, a Division I football program that competes in the Mid-American Conference.
His deal includes academic money and a revenue sharing opportunity. Pfeifer averaged 41.1 yards per punt this season and put 20 of 30 kicks inside the 20-yard line.
Right on track
Norwin had plenty of highlights at the Meet No. 1 indoor track and field competition at Kent State.
Annie Czajkowski won the 800-meter dash in 2 minutes, 2.21 seconds, and Emily Dansak took second in the 3,200-meter run (11:21.94).
Kaelyn Lazar was fourth in the 3,200 (11:43.29).
Myla McCabe beat her school record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.83 seconds and placed fourth. McCabe also took eighth in the 200 (26.38).
Lily Hess finished sixth in the high jump (4-8).
On the boys side, Ben McBride, the WPIAL Class 3A cross country champion in the fall, took second in the 3,000 meters in a school-record time of 9:25.98. He was followed by teammates William Little (fourth, 9:50.99) and Ransom Gaydos (sixth, 10:01.44).
Jeremiah Francis came in second in the long jump (21-2.25), and Evan Pfeifer was eighth in the triple jump (40-4.25).
Alexander Barrett was sixth in the 800 (2:01.47), while Tyler Beck was eighth in the 200 while setting a school record at 22.89.
To the mat
Norwin’s wrestling team earned the No. 2 seed, behind Franklin Regional, for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.
The Knights (9-2) were set to open against the winner of Armstrong and Seneca Valley, at Norwin. The winner moved on to the quarterfinals.
“It is going to be a test,” Norwin coach Kyle Martin said.
Pool play
Amber Klingensmith was the lone champion from Norwin at the Westmoreland County Coaches Association swimming championships at Derry.
And she doubled up, winning the 200-yard invididual medley and 100-yard butterfly.
Klingensmith upset favorite Leah Kunkle of Kiski Area in the 200 IM, posting a time of 2 minutes, 9.18 seconds. Kunkle narrowly came in second at 209.95.
With a time of 57.19 seconds, Klingensmith took the 100 fly.
Adelle Brown finished third in the 100-yard backstroke.
Brown’s time was 1 minute, 2.57 seconds, and Remi Detschelt was third in the 100 freestyle in 55.02 seconds.
Norwin’s girls also had a second place in the 200 freestyle relay (1:41.86) and placed third in the 200 medley relay (1:53.36).
The girls team was third overall with 227 points.
For the boys, Norwin’s 400 relay was second (3:24.37) while Aidan Samuels took second in the 100 fly (53.44).
McKay to WCCC
Norwin cross country runner Michael McKay is joining the Wolfpack at Westmoreland County Community College.
College scene
A look at some Norwin athletes competing in college:
Women’s basketball
Allegheny: Sophomore guard Ava Kobus scored a season-high 21 points, making 9 of 18 shots and grabbing six rebounds as the Gators (8-8, 5-2 PAC) downed Hiram, 76-66.
Bethany: Junior Kate Botti grabbed her 500th career rebound as the Bison defeated Waynesburg, 82-71, in the PAC. Botti finished with 15 rebounds in the victory, along with nine points and a career-high six blocks. Her milestone rebound came in her 67th career game. She is averaging 7.5 rebounds a game.
Chatham: Senior forward Alyssa Laukus had 12 points (5 for 7 FGs) and six rebounds for the Cougars (12-4, 5-3 PAC) in a 70-56 victory over Hiram.
Men’s track & field
Saint Vincent: The SVC 800-meter relay of sophomore P.J. McNeal, freshman Daniel Maddock (Norwin), freshman Shane Fawehimni and freshman Bailey Simon set a school record and won a title at the Muskie Meet No. 2. The foursome’s time was 1 minute, 33.10 seconds, which is a regional qualifying mark. Maddock, a soccer standout for the Bearcats, took third in the 60-meter dash (7.16).
Women’s track and field
Edinboro: Senior Bernadette Zukina won the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.27 seconds – a PSAC qualifying mark – at the Spire Midwest Open.
Pitt-Johnstown: Sophomore Audra Fedor won the mile run at the Larry Brown Invitational at Heidelberg. Her time of 5 minutes, 35.17 seconds topped the field. Fedor also was second in the 3,000 meters (11:05.08).
Shippensburg: Junior Ashley Laukus was named the PSAC Field Athlete of the Week. Laukus won the high jump at Bucknell’s Gulden Invitational with a mark of 5 feet, 7.25 inches. The distance ranks second all-time in the program. It is the top mark in the PSAC this season.