The Norwalk boys basketball team is currently 4-2 and 2-1 in conference play at the winter break hiatus of the 2025-26 season. They are third in the Little Hawkeye Conference behind #5 in 3A Pella and Dallas Center-Grimes, who Norwalk will open 2026 conference play against on Tuesday, January 6th, in Grimes. 

Norwalk is coming off of an 11-12 season last year, in which they placed third in the Little Hawkeye Conference and lost in the 4A Regional Second Round to Council Bluffs Lincoln by seven points. In their four consecutive wins to finish out the calendar year, Norwalk has won by an average of 12 points a game, with the closest win being a four-point victory over Valley in their last game of the year. Norwalk’s two losses of the season came from Ballard and Pella, both of whom are ranked in Class 3A’s top five. 

The Warriors have been led in scoring by junior Tillman Papcun who averages 21.5 points per game which is best in the Little Hawkeye Conference. Papcun is top five in the conference in nine other categories including second in three pointers made per game (2.8). In addition to scoring, Papcun also leads Norwalk in rebounds (6), steals (1.7), and three-point percentage (43.6%). 

Second in scoring for Norwalk is junior Audric Pelzer, scoring 11 points per game and averaging a team best 2.7 assists per game. Other statistic leaders include James Hatlevig in blocks per game (1.2), and Henry Smith in field goal percentage (75%) and free throw percentage (100%).

The Norwalk boys will begin 2026 with a matchup against Cedar Rapids Washington at the Conference Crossover Event held at Alliant Energy Powerhouse in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, January 3rd. Following that, they will return to conference play against Dallas Center-Grimes. Head coach Aaron Pelzer tells KNIA Sports this is an important time in the season.

“I’ve always believed that Christmas break is when the mediocre teams stay mediocre and the good teams rise to the top, and we’ve got a lot of work to do, and I know I’ve got a lot of guys that will be hungry to do that.”

The first Norwalk basketball broadcast on KNIA in 2026 will be the January 6th doubleheader at DCG. Coverage will begin that evening with the girls game at 5:45 p.m. on KNIA3.