High School Sports

All No. 1 seeds? All for it! Why this men's Final Four will be great

Jay BilasApr 2, 2025, 07:00 AM ET Close College basketball analyst for ESPN and ESPN Insider Played and coached at Duke Practicing attorney Open Extended Reactions WHEN I FIRST started in broadcasting, I was called a “color commentator.” My job was to break down players and teams and tell you why they were good, and […]

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3 months ago

April 3, 2025

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All No. 1 seeds? All for it! Why this men's Final Four will be great

Jay BilasApr 2, 2025, 07:00 AM ET
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- College basketball analyst for ESPN and ESPN Insider
- Played and coached at Duke
- Practicing attorney

WHEN I FIRST started in broadcasting, I was called a “color commentator.” My job was to break down players and teams and tell you why they were good, and to break down game matchups and tell you what to watch for and which factors will determine the outcome. Back then, we’d create a preseason top 20, attempting to tell you which teams and players will be best. Once in a while, we would be asked for a prediction, but it wasn’t the dominant theme.

At some point, I became a “basketball analyst,” which sounds profoundly snobbish. Suddenly, we were asked to pick winners of each game, which was counterintuitive to my sensibilities. After all, if I knew who was going to win, why wouldn’t I just go to Las Vegas and sit by the pool with a drink in my hand and rake in the winnings? Of course we don’t know who was going to win. Sure, we can point to matchups and factors upon which the game will be decided, but nobody knows.

That said, fans get worked up over analysts’ picks — which is why our bosses insist we make them. I do one bracket every year, and after I make my picks on Selection Sunday — in an article in which I pick every men’s NCAA tournament game for your pleasure and my pain — I don’t think about them again. I am more interested in the play on the floor. But nobody lets us forget those picks, despite the meaninglessness of them all.

This year, I had a dilemma. When I looked at the paths of each No. 1 seed, I really liked the one each had. But what would be the chances that all four No. 1 seeds reach the Final Four? Since seeding began in 1979, all four No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four only once, in 2008 — in San Antonio. That year, I found myself in the same predicament: I looked at the path of each No. 1 seed and liked each independently. When filling out the bracket, I had all four advancing to San Antonio. And in the end, all four did make it. This year, the feat was accomplished for only the second time. My overall record of games picked in my article is 45-15, including the correct Final Four in San Antonio. And notwithstanding my picks or yours, this Final Four is historic, but it is not unprecedented.

It might not be as splashy; I got a tremendous amount of guff for my picks in 2008 and again this year. But there’s something to remember: While the NCAA tournament is a spectacle, it also is the national championship. And we’re lucky enough to have the four best teams from the season fighting it out near the Alamo for the trophy and to cut the nets down.

This Final Four is absolutely incredible. These four squads are the top four teams in the KenPom efficiency ratings (the most digestible analytics for fans) and have a combined record of 135-16. All four teams are rated in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, which is amazing and unusual. Better still, these four teams are each among the top 10 most efficient in the history of KenPom ratings, available since 1997. Duke is No. 2 all time, Houston No. 6, Florida No. 8 and Auburn No. 10. That is all time.

Every season and every NCAA tournament is different, which is one of the beautiful things about the event. Two years ago, San Diego State and Florida Atlantic reached the Final Four, and the overarching narrative was that NIL and the transfer portal had flattened the Earth, that talent would be more spread out and the reign of the major conferences could be over. This year, upsets were not as prevalent, and all 16 teams in the Sweet 16 were from four major conferences (seven from the SEC, four from the Big Ten, four from the Big 12 and one from the ACC). Now, it was said, the transfer portal and NIL have killed mid-majors, who are just organ donors for the major conferences.

Of course, neither is true. One data point does not make a trend, and this is just one year. Two years ago, this year’s Sweet 16 would have represented seven conferences, with Houston in the American, BYU in the West Coast Conference and Arizona in the Pac-12. Would that make everyone feel better?

As the games approach, it’s time to forget the discourse — and, yes, the picks — and focus on the basketball that’s in store. These four teams — all-time greats — had to earn their way here and did. The competition among them will be delicious, and I cannot wait to see it.

How they got here: The Gators played a solid nonconference schedule but not a powerful one. But the bottom line is that Florida has not lost a game against a team outside of the SEC this season. Todd Golden has the deepest team at the Final Four, and no team was playing better basketball as the NCAA tournament started than the Gators. Golden has a quartet of guards that is easily the equal of any in the nation, led by first-team All-American Walter Clayton Jr., as capable a bucket getter as there is in the college game. Clayton, who played for Rick Pitino at Iona and was a big-time football recruit out of high school, is the one guy who can break off a play and create his own shot, and he has done so against UConn and Texas Tech. Without Clayton, Florida would not be here right now. Florida also has outstanding big men who are skilled passers, ball handlers and offensive rebounders; they seal off help defenders as well as any bigs in the country, opening up driving lanes to the rim where a shot blocker cannot get to.

Separating factor: Offensive rebounding and turnovers. Florida is the best offensive rebounding team of this Final Four, corralling 39% of its misses for high-percentage second-chance opportunities, including kickout 3-point shots. The biggest flaw? The Gators have a tendency to turn it over a bit more than the other three No. 1 seeds, ranking fourth among these teams in turnover percentage. If Florida takes care of the ball and gets a shot down every time, the Gators’ efficiency shoots way up.

One player to watch: Will Richard. The transfer guard from Belmont is an outstanding rebounder, perimeter shooter and help defender. With Clayton drawing so much attention, Richard can be a difference-maker.

How they got here: No team played a tougher schedule than Auburn, and none won more quality games throughout the regular season. The Tigers have some similarities to Florida regarding depth of talent, and Auburn has outstanding guards. Whether it is Miles Kelly (the best shooter), Denver Jones (the best defender and clutch performer) or Tahaad Pettiford (the lefty bucket getter), Auburn’s guards shoot 40% from deep and 88% from the foul line. While Auburn is not a great free throw-shooting team overall, the guards are knockdown foul shooters, which can separate the Tigers at the end of games. Of course, having Johni Broome, the lefty national player of the year contender, provides Bruce Pearl with a run stopper who can score on demand or pass out of a double-team to combat most defensive schemes.

Separating factor: Auburn is very good in most every aspect of play, but the Tigers are the best of this group at protecting the ball without turning it over (followed by Duke and Houston). When Auburn gets a shot, the Tigers have a chance to get fouled and/or grab an offensive rebound. And no team is better at defending out-of-bounds situations or scoring off of them.

One player to watch: Denver Jones. The FIU transfer is the best on-ball defender on the roster and is a very gifted offensive player. Never getting the credit he deserves, Jones could wind up as the best all-around guard on the floor in any game. Jones can shoot, drive to score or dish, and he always seems to hold a defensive assignment under his average.

How they got here: Duke is the most talented team, the longest and the biggest, and it is the only one to rank in KenPom’s top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Despite having five freshmen in the rotation (they say you can’t win with freshmen, but you can), Duke plays with the togetherness and the consistency — at both ends — of a much older, more seasoned team. Led by freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, the best player in the country, Duke has multiple weapons to spread the floor, knock down perimeter shots, punch the lane off the dribble or the pass and put pressure on the rim with the vertical threat of Khaman Maluach. Duke is the best finishing team at the rim and the best free throw-shooting squad, and it has the best 2-point defense in the Final Four.

Separating factor: Size, length and ability to switch at all five positions. Duke has incredible length, which allows the Blue Devils to discourage and affect passes and shot attempts. In addition, being able to switch all screens and exchanges makes this a very difficult defense to go against. It is important to put Maluach into ball-screen situations and draw him away from the rim.

One player to watch: Tyrese Proctor. Flagg is the best player in college basketball, and Kon Knueppel is one of the best scorers in the tournament and is around every loose ball. But Proctor is a difference-maker with his shooting in catch-and-shoot situations, and he has been on fire in the tournament, shooting at a crazy clip and making great decisions. Proctor is also an outstanding defender.

How they got here: Houston has lost only four games this season, three of which were in overtime. The Cougars lead the nation in playing hard, and they are relentless on defense and on the glass. With traps coming off ball-screen situations and in the post, Houston makes everything difficult and is physical in layup lines. Nothing is easy against Houston, which has one of the truly admirable winning cultures in sports. To beat Houston, you must accept the physical challenge presented and play through contact. But this season, Houston is much more than an offensive rebounding and defense team. Houston is the best perimeter shooting team in the Final Four, shooting 40% from deep as a team, with L.J. Cryer, Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan all shooting better than 41% from 3, led by Uzan at 44.5%. Houston will challenge at the rim, and big men J’Wan Roberts, Joseph Tugler and Ja’Vier Francis are all long, strong, athletic defenders and rebounders.

Separating factor: Defense and rebounding. Houston is the best defensive team in the country, and the Cougars can control tempo. There is nothing easy against Houston. Opponents will not get a normal game against the Cougars. It is not enough to be ready to play them; you have to be ready to fight.

One player to watch: Emanuel Sharp. Nicknamed “Crash,” Sharp has tremendous range as a shooter and is fearless in the moment. With an unusual shooting motion in which he almost flicks the ball out of his hands, Sharp is rugged, tough and physical. He’s a good playmaker who can get hot in a hurry.

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High School Sports

SHS 2025 spring sports roundup

2025 GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Boys Tennis and Boys Outdoor Track & Field 30 Student-Athletes named Greater Boston League All-Stars. 2 GBL MVP’s: Kerby Luxama (Track) and DJ Freeman (Boys Tennis) Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament Information (MIAA): Girls Tennis: Lost 4-1 to Somerset Berkley Regional High School in a hard-fought match in the preliminary […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

2025 GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Boys Tennis and Boys Outdoor Track & Field

30 Student-Athletes named Greater Boston League All-Stars.

2 GBL MVP’s: Kerby Luxama (Track) and DJ Freeman (Boys Tennis)

Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament Information (MIAA):

Girls Tennis: Lost 4-1 to Somerset Berkley Regional High School in a hard-fought match in the preliminary round of MIAA Tournament play.

Boys Tennis: Won 3-2 in the preliminary round of the MIAA Tournament vs Marshfield High School. The team advanced to the Round of 32, where they lost in a hard-fought match to Hingham High School.

Boys Volleyball: Lost 3-1 the preliminary round of the MIAA Tournament vs Greater Lowell Tech High School. The team battled hard and showed a lot of grit in every set.

Greater Boston League All-Stars and Team Records for the Spring Season

Baseball: (Record 8-12)

All-Stars: Colin Born and Preston Ardolino

The baseball team wrapped up a strong season, just narrowly missing a spot in the MIAA tournament. The team showed growth and resilience throughout the year, with competitive play and solid teamwork. With only one senior graduating, the future looks bright for Highlander baseball as a talented and motivated core returns next season.

Softball: (Record 3-17)

All Stars: Kailey McWeeny and Lillian Fucile

With a young softball team, this season was all about growth and development. Our players gained valuable experience, and the future looks bright, especially with 8th grader Lillian Fucile, earning league all-star honors. The team is excited to build on this foundation next year!

Girls Lacrosse: (Record 12-5)

All-Stars:

Julia Rafkind

Camila Plata

Rowan Buckley

Ava Davis

The girls’ lacrosse team had another great season in the books! While we came up just short of defending the GBL title, the team earned a spot in the MIAA tournament for the third straight year—a testament to their hard work and consistency.

Boys Lacrosse: (Record 7-11)

All-Stars:

Zach Gordon

Sheamus Foley

Timmy Jones

Pasquale Candelino

The boys’ lacrosse team finished second in the GBL and came just a few games short of qualifying for the tournament. They played with grit and determination all season.

Girls Tennis: (Record 13-4)

All-Stars: Carmen Wheeler and Xinyi Zhu

Another strong season for the girls’ tennis program, proving once again that they’re a force in the GBL. The team finished second in the league and earned a spot in the MIAA tournament for the third consecutive year, an impressive run of consistency and success!

Boys Tennis: (Record 13-3)

League Co-MVP: DJ Freeman

All-Stars:

Ethan Cross

Nitish Kaushal

Milo Kochansky

DJ Freeman

Motivated and determined all year, the boys’ tennis team earned the title of GBL Co-Champions alongside Malden. They qualified for the MIAA tournament, went on the road and won their first-round match in the preliminary round before falling to Hingham in the Round of 32. This team has shown growth every season.

Boys Volleyball: (Record 12-9)

All-Stars: Adam Hill and Ozzy Marks

This season was one to remember for our boys’ volleyball program! After missing the tournament last year, the team came back determined and earned a spot in the MIAA tournament. They battled hard all year, and we’re proud of everything they accomplished.

Boys’ Outdoor Track and Field: (Record 8-0)

League MVP: Kerby Luxama (3-time MVP, including Indoor selection)

All Stars:

Kerby Luxama

Jackson Love

Thano Frantzis

Robert Leoni

Lucca Lauers

Mashruf Mahin

With a large number of 1st year athletes assisting with max effort, the Boys Outdoor Track and Field team finished the season undefeated and were crowned GBL Champions for the third consecutive undefeated year! An Impressive group is set to return next year!

Girls’ Outdoor Track and Field: (Record 6-2)

All Stars:

Marissa Luxama

Olivia Scamman

Maggie Cotter

Eva Meli

Our girls’ outdoor track and field team took a strong leap forward this year, improving from a gutsy 2-6 season in 2024 to pushing league champion, Revere, to the brink in an incredible year! With the return of a lot of underclasswomen in the coming year, the team will continue to have a strong presence in the GBL.

Unified Outdoor Track & Field:

What an amazing and fun first season of unified outdoor track and field! Our athletes had a great time competing, supporting one another, and building community. We’re proud of this inaugural season and already excited for next year!

Somerville High School Club Sports Highlights:

Girls Ultimate Frisbee:

The SHS Girls/Non-Binary Ultimate Frisbee team had a great 2025 season, with a record turnout of 23 players on the roster, running 2-7-0 in regular season games. This season players really shined in their tournament performance. Near the start of the season, the team played their first tournament in Winchester, braving the cold and snow and pulled off an incredible 3-0-1 score, winning the tournament! The teams next stop was in May with the 2-day overnight Pioneer Valley Invitational. The Villens placed 5th in their division, with some really hard-fought games. In back-to-back style, the next weekend the team faced Division 1 States, playing 6 games total coming in 7th overall but 1st in Spirit of the Game! We are very proud of all the hard work our players put in this season and so excited to grow the program and show out next season. #villetonattys2026.

Boys Ultimate Frisbee:

After losing an incredible senior class last year, Villen Ultimate went through a bit of a rebuilding season. There was still talent throughout the roster, which was showcased by a 3-1 record in the Winchester Round Robin Tournament early in the season. Varsity had a very tough regular season schedule and had some unlucky injuries, resulting in a 2-6-1 regular season record heading into PVI. Playing in the B Division, Varsity finished the tournament with a solid 3-3 record. This gave the Varsity team a boost heading into DII States, where they were seeded 4th overall. Going into the tournament with a heavily depleted roster, the 12 athletes who played did so admirably, winning their first 3 games and making the semifinals. Unfortunately, fatigue caught up to them and they dropped the final 2, ending the season in 4th place. Varsity’s overall record this season was 11-12-1.

Villen Ultimate will be sending one player, Oliver Wicks, to the MA HS All-Star Game. He ended the season with 5 goals and 82 assists over 23 games. Villen’s leading scorer this season was junior Steven Cutro, who scored 42 goals and added 9 assists in 23 games as well. Although it was a rebuilding year, this team outperformed their expectations and played incredibly well against some tough competition. It will be exciting to see the growth into next year!

Crew:

The Somerville High School Crew team experienced a season of major transitions and remarkable achievements. Longtime coaches Stu Whitney and Katherine Faigen passed the torch to new head coaches Bryn Garrity and Kelsey Cooke, ushering in a new era for the program. Despite facing what may have been the most weather-disrupted season in recent memory, the team remained focused, determined, and resilient—qualities that defined their year on the water.

Although the opening regatta was cancelled due to inclement weather, the team came out strong at the Mystic Mashup. Hosted at the Tufts Boathouse, Somerville welcomed four visiting teams and delivered some of the fastest times of the day, setting the tone for a competitive season. Unfortunately, the Amber Zapata Regatta was cancelled entirely due to storm conditions, and delays at the Watuppa Sprints meant several Somerville boats were unable to compete. Still, the athletes made the most of their opportunities. Notable performances included Elle Gys finishing 4th in her single, and the Novice Girls 4 securing an impressive 2nd-place finish.

The season culminated at the MPSRA State Championship, Somerville delivered its customary strong performances in the sweep events. The Novice Boys made it to the grand final, finishing 5th in a competitive field. The Novice Girls 4 rowed a gutsy race to edge out Shrewsbury High School at the line and take home the bronze medal. For the first time ever, the Girls Second Varsity 4 captured silver, while the Girls Varsity 4 also earned a silver medal, marking a historic day for the program.

High School Sports

Faith Academy hires former Homewood star to lead basketball program

Faith Academy turned to a former high school star from the Birmingham area for its newest boys basketball coach. The Mobile school announced the hiring of former Homewood star Joseph “Luke” Touliatos late Friday night. He replaces Butch Case, who resigned at the end of the school year and took an assistant position at Fairhope. […]

Published

5 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Faith Academy hires former Homewood star to lead basketball program

Faith Academy turned to a former high school star from the Birmingham area for its newest boys basketball coach.

The Mobile school announced the hiring of former Homewood star Joseph “Luke” Touliatos late Friday night.

He replaces Butch Case, who resigned at the end of the school year and took an assistant position at Fairhope. The Rams announced the hire of Touliatos in an email to the Faith Academy family.

“Coach Touliatos brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, a sharp eye for player development, and a strong foundation in team values,” athletic director Rae Lynn Dennis said. “We are excited for the confident and fearless Christian culture he will bring to our program.”

Touliatos led Homewood to the Class 6A state title in 2016. He scored 31 points in a semifinal win over Huffman, and the Patriots followed that with a win over Muscle Shoals in the championship game.

According to the Faith release, Touliatos has more than seven years of coaching experience and has “made a lasting impact in the basketball world through his work with AAU programs, high school teams and his own athlete development business.”

Faith junior varsity and varsity players are encouraged to an open gym and meat the coach event from 4 p.m. to 5:30 Monday. Parents will meet the coach at 6 p.m. in the main gym.

High School Sports

Saraland's Jamison Roberts not feeling any pressure as Spartans' new QB1

Saraland quarterback Jamison Roberts just shrugs at the mention that he faces added pressure in following 2024 Mr. Football winner KJ Lacey. “There is no pressure,” he said recently. “I just have to go out there and do my job and try to help us win.” The 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior did just that last season […]

Published

5 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Saraland's Jamison Roberts not feeling any pressure as Spartans' new QB1

Saraland quarterback Jamison Roberts just shrugs at the mention that he faces added pressure in following 2024 Mr. Football winner KJ Lacey.

“There is no pressure,” he said recently. “I just have to go out there and do my job and try to help us win.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound junior did just that last season when Lacey, who signed with Texas, was out with injury.

Roberts led the Spartans to Class 6A, Region 1 wins over McGill-Toolen and Baldwin County before Lacey returned. Saraland ultimately lost to Parker in the Class 6A title game.

“I know this will be his first full-time year as a starter, but it doesn’t seem that way to me in how he’s playing and how he is communicating to the other guys,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. “He’s a great student of the game like KJ was. He has the ability to extend plays and move and really threaten you with his legs like KJ did. He’s very accurate. He’s going to get better and better as he gets experience. The only thing he is lacking right now is just an extended period of time in the saddle, making those calls, making big throws with pressure on him.”

Roberts completed 71 percent of his passes in limited varsity playing time as a sophomore, throwing for 492 yards and 8 TDs. He was not intercepted.

“I primarily played on JV last year but to get a taste of varsity and know what it’s going to be like and not have my first game be a really big game against Jackson? I feel like that is really going to help me and help calm my nerves because I know I can compete on a high level,” Roberts said. “I know what I can do and know my God-given abilities.”

The Spartans, who have played in the last three Class 6A title games, play at reigning 4A champ Jackson to open the 2025 season Aug. 22. Saraland beat the Aggies 35-27 in last year’s season opener.

“Jamison, to have a small amount of experience, has a unique gift and understanding of how to play the position,” Kelly said. “He’s worked really hard to be ready. I think that showed last year when he was thrust into some big games for us. We needed him to play well, and he was able to do that. He’s really fun to coach because he’s such a great student of the game, and he’s competitive.”

The Spartans will have some key holes to fill on offense, including at running back with the departure of Santae McWilliams and at wide receiver without All-State standout CD Gill. However, Roberts will have a key returning weapon in receiver DeShawn Spencer, who likes what he sees in his new QB.

“He’s a little funny sometimes, but he’s a great leader,” Spencer said, jokingly. “He is going to really lead our team this year. Those two games when KJ went down last year he really stepped up and made a big impact, and you could see a glimpse of what he could do and what he could bring to the table. I’m excited to see him play this year and ball out.”

Kelly said the Saraland offense will look different this fall but not necessarily because Roberts is taking the snaps instead of Lacey.

“We will look different because we want to blow it up every year and start over and try to build offense around the strength of our players,” he said. “We will do some things differently, but it’s not necessarily because of him. It’s because our players on that side of the ball are different. That’s the fun part: finding out what we can do well and finding more diverse ways to do those things. It’s a process. It starts in spring and goes to this summer in practice and in 7-on-7. We’ll learn a lot about our players and our coaching staff.”

Roberts said he learned a lot from watching Lacey. He said he’s been working on his footwork in the offseason and trying to learn how defenses might want to attack Saraland and how he needs to respond in those situations.

Roberts is already on the radar of college recruiters, having received offers from Appalachian State, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, North Alabama and South Alabama. He is scheduled to be at the University of Alabama prospect camp today.

High School Sports

How to WATCH today's Idaho All State Game

At 10 a.m. Mountain Time (Noon Eastern), the 2025 Idaho All State Game will kickoff LIVE on the All State Game’s website. The game, featuring the top 6th, 7th and 8th grade players in the state, will be streamed from Idaho State University in Pocatello. Chicago Bears first round draft pick Colston Loveland, who played […]

Published

6 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

How to WATCH today's Idaho All State Game

Chicago Bears first round draft pick Colston Loveland, who played in the game as a youth, will be on-hand for a cermony retiring his number from the game. The tight end played his high school football at Idaho’s Gooding High School.

About the 21st annual Idaho All State Game

This football event showcases the best 6th, 7th and 8th grade football players in a Treasure Valley vs. rest of the state (Team Idaho) format. In the high school division, the best 8 man high school players in the East (district 4,5,6) compete versus West (district 1,2,3).

Our mission is to celebrate the accomplishments of youth across the state through the annual games. Through celebrating these extraordinary young athletes, we hope to reward and motivate a lifetime of achievement.

Additionally, the All State Game believes in the importance of charitable activities and we have partnered with Fostering Idaho, a program that holds significant importance to event organizer (& multi-foster parent) Barry Tarter. Since 2004 the Idaho All State Game has raised $250,000 in backpacks, clothes, and gift cards that go directly to foster kids in need. Thank you to our 2024 families for raising over $40,000 this past year.

High School Sports

Track gold highlights memorable spring at Norwin

By: Bill Beckner Jr. Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 11:01 AM Chaz Palla | TribLive Norwin’s Annie Czajkowski takes fifth in the 3,200-meter run during the PIAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships on May 24 at Shippensburg University. Christopher Horner | TribLive Norwin pitcher Ethen Culbertson throws against Seneca Valley during the WPIAL Class […]

Published

7 hours ago

June 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Track gold highlights memorable spring at Norwin

By: Bill Beckner Jr.

Saturday, June 21, 2025 | 11:01 AM

8609696_web1_ptr-PIAA07-052525 — Chaz Palla | TribLive

Norwin’s Annie Czajkowski takes fifth in the 3,200-meter run during the PIAA Class 3A Track and Field Championships on May 24 at Shippensburg University.

8609696_web1_ptr-WPIAL6Abase09-052825 — Christopher Horner | TribLive

Norwin pitcher Ethen Culbertson throws against Seneca Valley during the WPIAL Class 6A championship game May 27 at EQT Park.

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Norwin will remember the 2025 spring sports season for its impressive wins, highlight performances and gold medals.

There was plenty to talk about at year-end banquets.

Track and field was the standard bearer after a banner season.

The boys and girls teams won WPIAL Class 3A championships, the boys celebrating a title for the first time since 1977 and the girls for the first time since 2009.

A plethora of talent carried the Knights, who also produced a WPIAL individual champion in Ryan Schiller, who won the Class 3A 110-meter hurdles.

Runner-up finishers were Brandi Brozeski (triple jump, 100 hurdles) and Annie Czajkowski (1,600, 3,200), while Daniel Maddock (200), Melani Schmidt (400, 200) and the boys’ 400 relay all placed third.

At the PIAA championships, Schiller took second in the 110s while Annie Czajkowski took fifth in the 3,200-meter run.

Norwin’s track and field athletes broke 11 school records this spring, and 12 athletes will continue competing in college, including six at the Division I level.

Other highlights:

• The Knights baseball team also made a deep run in the postseason, reaching the WPIAL Class 6A championship game before finishing second to Seneca Valley.

Nate Silberman and Tristyn Tavares had hits in the WPIAL final, and Ethan Culbertson gave up just four hits in six innings a 1-0 loss to the Raiders.

Norwin, the No. 4 seed, beat Butler, 5-4 in nine innings, in the quarterfinals. The Knights defeated Hempfield, 7-4, in the semifinals.

With only the WPAL champion advancing to the PIAA playoffs in 6A, Norwin had to settle for a 14-9 season, coach Craig Spisak’s third with the team.

Nine seniors will leave the program, including Ben Geissler, Brayden Wardzinski, Culbertson, Silberman, Jake Sincak and others.

• The Norwin softball team reached the WPIAL 6A semifinals.

The Knights finished 10-12 with a team that will lose three seniors in Izzy Deering, Rachel Minteer and Kendall Dudley.

Top returning players will include Maddie Kugler, Diem Wardzinski, Abbie Telli, Miley Harrison, Addison Grimes and Makenna Black.

• Girls lacrosse made a surprising run to the WPIAL 3A quarterfinals.

The 12th-seeded Knights upset No. 5 Fox Chapel in overtime in the first round, 11-10.

They fell to No. 4 Moon in the quarterfinals, 13-7.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin

High School Sports

2025 Indiana high school baseball state finals scores, schedule, photos, highlights

The Indiana high school baseball season will come to an end this weekend at Victory Field with the IHSAA state finals. Here’s who will match up with trophies on the line Friday and Saturday night: HIT REFRESH FOR UDPATES. 2025 IHSAA baseball state finals scores, schedule Class 3A: Andrean 4, Jasper 3, final W: Ivan […]

Published

8 hours ago

June 21, 2025

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