Youth is served for Norwalk

NORWALK — There is no handbook or experience to lean on. The reality facing the Norwalk boys basketball team as it enters the 2025-26 season on Nov. 26 goes straight to the point. The Truckers have no seniors on the team and do not bring back a single player who earned a varsity letter from last season. In fact, just 18 of their 1,092 points scored last season return in the form of junior captains Kingston Gonzales (5-foot-7) and Xavier Saunders (6-2). The Truckers were 7-15 overall and 1-9 in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division last season. They lost six games by eight points or less and won two games by a combined five points, as more than a third of the season featured tight finishes. On one hand, head coach Adam Kreischer knows there is a lot of work ahead to keep Norwalk competitive and on the right track. There is also no pressure on his team entering the season. "We have eight guys right now that I think can give us some minutes," Kreischer said. "Once things start to shake you and you get into those varsity games, it's like, 'OK, this kid can do that on a weekend night in front of the lights.' "Or maybe you're expecting someone to perform under the lights and pressure, and it's, 'OK, we thought we were getting 20 minutes, and maybe this young man is better served to give us eight or 10 minutes.' We need to see how that shakes out." Kreischer said Gonzales (guard) and Saunders (guard/forward) being voted team captains means it will start with them. "Much will be expected of them as far as leadership and holding themselves and others accountable," he said. Others expected to see time include three 6-foot-4 sophomore posts: Nolan Jones, Caiden Schmidt, and Jack Pittenger. 6-3 junior post Josh King, junior guard Denzille Williams (5-8), and junior forward Brandon Carty (6-1) should also see minutes. Sophomore guards Kian Kreischer (6-0), Isaiah Kelsey (5-9), and Joel Henderson (5-9) round out the preseason varsity roster. Kian Kreischer is out indefinitely following knee surgery. "But who will lead us in scoring? All that has to play out and isn't something we can answer," Kreischer said. "What I will say is my guys will play hard and get better as the year goes on. Our practices have been really fun because they are high energy. "Everyone gives effort, looks us in the eyes, and all of that has been great. If we continue that same growth mindset throughout the year, we'll be fine and improve." Given the lack of returning experience, Kreischer said there is no label put on his team and probably not a lot of expectations outside their locker room. "But we still have expectations for ourselves to compete and win games," he said. "We know that will come through getting better each day from playing and working together harder than our opponents. Those are things our guys will do a good job of as they get used to playing varsity basketball. "But we also know, as far as wins or losses, it could be rough at times this year," Kreischer added. "That's why as players and coaches we need to keep that mindset of improvement and sticking together as a team, having fun and getting better." After preseason scrimmages against Crestview, Mohawk, Plymouth, River Valley, and Willard, Kreischer said it's clear his team will need to play more physically as the season progresses. "And that's not to say we have to get stronger in the weight room during the season, but just play more physically in general," he said. "The varsity game is so much more physical than a freshman or JV game that our guys are used to playing in. That was a wake-up call in some scrimmages for us. And I think it's an improvement we need to see. "Obviously things are getting better at the offensive end and running sets — we need to improve in a lot of areas," Kreischer added. "But the main area would be just getting used to the physicality of a varsity game. Boxing out every possession, going after the basketball like you mean it and not just hoping it comes to you … those are some of the things we need to do every time out." Norwalk opens the season at home against Oregon Clay on Wednesday (Nov. 26). Other non-league opponents include Edison, Ontario, Vermilion, Shelby, Firelands, Western Reserve, Port Clinton, Mansfield Madison, Huron, Ashland, and Toledo Waite. The SBC Lake schedule again consists of two games each against Bellevue, Clyde, Perkins, Sandusky, and Tiffin Columbian.