Photo courtesy of Dustin Kralik

Returning nine starters from last year’s state semifinalist, the Norwalk boys soccer team once again has high hopes for the upcoming 2026 season. Coach Dustin Kralik enters Tuesday’s opener at Newton with a 47-player roster, including two seniors that have played a major role on three consecutive Warrior squads reaching at least the state semis.

Last year, Norwalk finished 11-8-2 overall and lost to Urbandale, 2-1, in the Class 3A state semifinal round. The Warriors graduated 25 goal-scorer Tavin Ferner, along with valuable leaders Jonah Sandhoff and Henry Groos, but a veteran cast returns this spring. Coach Kralik tells KNIA Sports that the team has much to work on following Thursday’s scrimmage against Southeast Polk, but he has been pleased with the effort and energy of preseason practices. Kralik says that this year’s goals include a Little Hawkeye Conference title, a fourth straight trip to state, and trying to reach the top of the Class 3A podium.

“We think we have a team that’s good enough and talented enough to compete for a state title, but those margins in the postseason are really slim and you’ve got to have some things go your way and you have to provide yourself with some good luck,” he said. “So we’re really trying to build those habits and those types of things that we think will help us get over that hump in the postseason this year.”

Norwalk expects a more balanced scoring attack this year, led by senior Eli Scavo, who tallied nine goals and seven assists as a junior. Seniors Teegan Kralik and Matthew Lane both scored four goals last year while combining for 13 assists. Kralik, senior Tyden Eng and junior Cameron Clark form a solid midfield trio that is considered one of the team’s strengths. Junior Jace Downing returns as a defensive leader, complemented by sophomores Kipp Oppel and Greer Langel and junior Eli Leonard. Senior Hudson Ford and sophomore Emmett Apana-Stipe give the Warriors some dynamic wing play and junior Jacoby Robbins enters his third year as the starting goalie and a vocal leader.

Coach Kralik believes the team is ahead of schedule compared to last year at this time, but notes the need to clean up some tempo issues and impatience from the scrimmage. Norwalk opens the season at Newton on Tuesday night at 7:30. The Warriors also host Bondurant-Farrar on Friday night.