Friends forever

NORWALK — Friends forever. For 30 years, Torri Reineck and Carey Ward are as close now as they were dabbling in art class in 1993. From friendship that started at Norwalk Middle School to weddings 15 months apart — and two sets of children born in the same year — these two have been through it all together. Now, the 1999 Norwalk High School graduates will watch their two eldest sons — Eian Reineck and Landon Ward — play what will may be their last football game when the Truckers visit Clyde on Oct. 20 for the regular-season finale. "We did always talk about having kids (around the same age), and we teased each other about running them here or there to different sporting events," Carey Ward said. "We always laughed about it. We still talk about it to this day, once in a while, and laugh some more. "But, I think I'm speaking for both of us in saying we are in a little bit of denial that our boys are seniors," she added. How close are the best friends and "football moms" today? Eian is quick with the answer. "Oh my goodness, I'm pretty sure every time I walk in the house or come downstairs, they are on the phone," he said. "Almost every minute of every day when they have free time, they are talking. "I hear the phone ring, and what do you know, it's those two yet again. They are constantly chit-chatting." Fast friends As seventh-graders, Torri and Carey quickly became friends during Stan Bernhardt's art class at the middle school. "We just clicked, and it has always been that way," Torri said. "Now, I'm thankful to have someone who is going through the thick of things with me through school, sports and teenagers." In the early 1990s, the pair spent many days visiting Cedar Point, or riding their bikes all over Norwalk — including food runs to Taco Bell with a stop through Dave's Foodmart for Snickers ice cream bars on the way home. After high school, Carey married Josh Ward in 2003, with Torri in the bridal party. The favor was returned when Torri married Wes Reineck 15 months later in 2004. Eian arrived first, on Aug. 23, 2005, and Landon was born on Dec. 6. "I've known them my entire life, me and Eian have been friends literally since we were born," Landon said. "We've grown up together, and they are our other family really — because we've done everything together." Not quite two years later, Lilly Reineck and Ellie Ward were born about six months apart. They are both juniors at NHS. The youngest of the two families is Lincoln Ward, 14, a freshman at NHS. "It's always been fun because obviously, every time we've gone over or they came here, I had a friend," Eian said. "And with both our sisters at the same age, they've also had each other. "We were always able to have fun and do whatever. From the moment he was born, basically, I already had a great friend, which was nice." Landon said his memories with Eian are endless, although one comes to mind right away from when the Reinecks lived on Chatham St. — almost directly behind Whitney Field. "At their old house when we were kids, he used to have this whole wall of bushes on the side of this barn," Landon said. "We took a long time and made this giant fort system through those bushes when we were probably six or seven. "That's like a vivid memory — so was getting the poison ivy from it, too." Football bond The idea of Eian and Landon playing football all through grade-school literally caught a bad break in 2017. After playing for the third/fourth-grades Norwalk Buckeyes and fifth/sixth-grades Junior Truckers, Landon broke his ankle in the preseason of his sixth-grade season. His recovery was lengthy, forcing him to miss playing sports the rest of that school year, and lingering problems kept him out of junior-high football. Determined to play with his friends again, Landon returned to the gridiron for his freshman year. "When he told everyone he was going to come back, we were all pretty excited — because we all knew how bad his ankle injury was," Eian said. "We were all happy when he came back, and it's been great to play all the way through high school with him. It still feels like yesterday when we got to play together again as freshmen, and now we're already done with our Senior Night last week. It's crazy how fast everything went by," he added. Landon (14.5 tackles, 0.5 sacks) and Eian (18.5 tackles, one sack, one interception) are both two-way starters this season for the Truckers. With a win Friday at Clyde (4-5), Norwalk will advance to the Division III state playoffs after going 1-19 over the past two seasons. "It's nice to still have a shot," Eian said. "We had a good freshman year (5-4), and it'd be nice to end our senior year with a playoff appearance after the last two years. It's great to have this opportunity." Before the season, first-year Norwalk head coach Keith Mora hosted "Football with Mom" night Aug. 10, with sons working on the field and playing games with their mothers. "We just all had a blast learning what our boys do and laughing with each other," Torri said. "It was a fun memory that will always stand out to me for their senior year. Our boys were freshmen in 2020 when we had to wear masks to the games. "So we have definitely been through so much the last four years. I'm sad to see it end, but I'm thankful for Carey and the great group of moms we got to experience all this with," she noted. Likewise, Carey recalled when Landon called her after he met coach Mora for the first time. "He said, 'Mom, I think we are really going to like him,'" she said. "That was huge to me. The program is fortunate to have coach Mora, who has made such a positive impact on this team. I know our boys wish him and the team the best in the future." Carey also believes football taught Landon and Eian — along with their classmates — quite a bit over the past four years. "They have fought through many challenges, but I believe in the end it made them stronger and made them who they are today," she said. "They have learned that no matter what life throws at you, you get up and keep pushing forward. "Those two boys and the other seniors never gave up when they could have easily thrown in the towel, and we're excited to see them fight for the playoffs [tonight]." One thing is for certain, however. Win or lose, Carey and Torri will be discussing both the outcome — and plenty more as time rolls on. When Landon was asked to verify Eian's claims about their mothers' phone habit, he didn't hesitate. "Oh yeah, they talk every single day," he said. "Every day on the phone. Anytime I see my mom on the phone, I don't even have to ask — she's on the phone with Torri."