New-look Knights plan to march in sync

By Justin Vigil-Zuniga Signal Sports Writer

The Trinity Knights will look quite a bit different in 2023 but head coach Mike Parrinello isn’t expecting any steps in the wrong direction.

Parrinello had 15 seniors graduate after last season, an abnormality for Trinity. Most of the seniors were multi-year starters and key factors for the Knights. The team lost its top four rushers, top seven receivers and 11 of its top 12 tacklers.

“We had a big turnover and the numbers are down a little bit for us from last year,” Parrinello said, “but truthfully we are at a more traditional number for us where the shoes fit a little bit differently. We’re just going to have some growing pains because we’ve got a real young and inexperienced bunch.”

Trinity returns a handful of important players in 2023, so a rebuild isn’t on the team’s mind. Junior quarterback Noah Visconti and center Cade Frazier both return for the Knights. Each has taken on leadership roles to guide the young squad.

“The freshmen are coming along fast and we have some really good, young athletes,” Visconti said. “And they’re bigger than most freshmen. We have four or five freshmen right now that are bigger and stronger than most and it’ll be nice to develop them. I’m really excited to help coach, teach and bring them along in the game to help our team win.”

Visconti will most likely take on full-time duties at quarterback, a spot where he earned plenty of reps last season playing under senior Dominic Smith. Visconti threw for 928 yards, 8 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season but will enter

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2023 with a near-brand new receiving group.

“Noah getting a lot of opportunities to play last year is going to be really good for him,” Parrinello said. “He was a leader last year, he played very well. It was a lot for a sophomore to be starting as a quarterback on a varsity level. I’ve already seen some really good things from him. He’s got that mentality, which is going to be great and now I think this year, he’ll have some more confidence. He’s gotten a little bigger, he’s got a little stronger, his arm is stronger and he put on some weight. So he’s done everything right and with the knowledge he has, I see some good things for him.”

Visconti will have longtime teammate, in multiple sports, John Carlson as one of his top targets. Carlson, a junior, will see more action at tight end this season, while also taking over some linebacker duties.

“It’s definitely been fun,” Carlson said. “I’ve been with (Visconti) since eighth grade on the baseball field, in the classroom and on the football field. He’s a great guy to have around and a good teammate. So, it’s going to be fun to continue this route with him.”

Visconti and Carlson shined for Trinity baseball last season, as each picked up Heritage League Player of the Year awards but can now focus on the gridiron.

Carlson won’t be coming off the

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field much as the tight end will also lead the linebacker corps.

“This year John’s going to be touching the football and he’s going to be touching the football a lot,” Parrinello said. “We knew he was capable of it, but we didn’t really have the same need that we have this year. So I know he’s excited, he’s ready for it and he’s capable of it. I see a huge, huge season for him this year as he takes on that new role.”

Senior Tanner Ozanich will line up alongside Frazier on the line, in his first year playing football. Parrinello and Frazier have been impressed with how quickly Ozanich has adjusted to the sport.

Senior Owen Kush and sophomore Hudson Sweitzer will take over running duties for the Knights. The team graduated 944 rushing yards last season and will have some big shoes to fill after Nick Parrinello and Noah Estanol’s graduation.

On defense, Frazier will again play on the line’s interior while Carlson leads the linebackers. He will likely play sets with his brother, freshman Andrew Carlson, who is quickly catching up to the varsity speed.

Andrew will be one of several freshmen already competing for starting spots on the Knights squad. Another freshman potentially starting will be two-way player Nick Delgado, who will have duties at receiver and strong safety.

See TRINITY, page 39