Led by the senior trio of Ryan Jermier, Braden Nicholson and Cael Sherwood, the Norwalk boys golf team is hoping that improved individual scores will lead to higher team finishes during the 2022 Class 4A fall golf season.

Coach Steve Wermerskirchen’s squad scrimmaged Dallas Center-Grimes on Friday and will open the season Monday in the Ankeny Centennial Invitational at Briarwood Country Club. The nine-team tournament will get underway at noon. Norwalk will also play a junior varsity dual vs. Ankeny at Otter Creek Golf Course Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

The Warriors won their only varsity dual of last year against Des Moines Lincoln and played in nine 18-hole tournaments. The team’s highest finish was third place at the Ottumwa Invite and their best team score was a 310 at the Joe August Invitational. Norwalk finished ninth out of 14 teams in the 4A District Tournament held at Veenker Memorial Golf Course in Ames.

The Warriors lost just two varsity seniors off last year’s squad in Nathan Lesley and Lance Nielsen, and they return five players with varsity experience. Jermier paced last year’s team with an 18-hole average just below 82 strokes per round while Nicholson (82.36) and Sherwood (84.74) also averaged under 85.

Sophomores Braylon Stockwell and Grady Sigrist also have varsity experience, and Coach Wermerskirchen adds that up to six other golfers are vying for the final varsity spot.

“The kids have been playing pretty good,” he said. “We’re still trying to figure out who is going to be in that sixth spot. We’ve got some good competition for that. We’ve got a lot of veteran leadership coming back, they played a lot this summer, so they’re looking for good things.”

Wermerskirchen says that Jermier, Nicholson and Sherwood are great senior role models for the younger players.

“They’re the kind of kids that will stay late, chip and putt, and play ‘til dark, so it’s been good leadership for the freshmen to see that,” Wermerskirchen said. “They just love to play and compete, and they love to just get better.”

Norwalk’s varsity schedule includes 10 meets prior to the district tournament on Tuesday, October 4, at a site to be determined.