Norwalk senior Teegan Kralik

Led by four-time state qualifier Teegan Kralik, the Norwalk boys cross country team must say goodbye to three valuable seniors as they look ahead to the 2026 season. 

Kralik, Sam Parker and Lane Osterloh helped lead this year’s Warrior squad to a second consecutive district title and a seventh straight trip to the State Cross Country Championships in Fort Dodge. The Warriors finished 13th as a team in a balanced Class 4A field.

Kralik put together one of the best careers in program history, earning Little Hawkeye All-Conference status four times – all in the top 10 – including back-to-back runner-up finishes as a junior and senior. He also placed second in his final two state qualifying meets and was named all-district four times by placing in the top 15. Kralik finished in the top 25 at State the last two years, highlighted by his 14th-place medalist finish as a junior.

Parker, a three-time all-conference performer and three-time state qualifier, saved his  best season for last. He placed fifth at this year’s Little Hawkeye Conference Meet as well as the State Qualifying Meet in Council Bluffs, and finished 58th at the state meet. Osterloh, competing as a full-time varsity runner for the first time, finished 11th at conference, 19th at the district meet and 80th at state.

Norwalk coach Chad Larson tells KNIA Sports that the team’s senior trio is leaving some big shoes to fill in terms of being great leaders, mentors and doing all the right things. He is also confident in the future of the program. The Warriors, who were the only team in the 4A state meet to run two freshmen, will return Aksel Beedon, Sam Buhrow, Brayden Walderbach and Oliver Tice on the varsity squad. Larson is also excited about the potential of several more athletes that will be competing for varsity spots next year.