When Norwalk won the Class 3A boys state basketball title in 2020, four of the top seven players in the rotation were seniors Bowen Born and Tyler Johnson and juniors Joe Brown and Ethan Carlson.

As the Warriors prepare for their state tournament return on Wednesday, the varsity roster has certainly changed but several last names remain the same. Seniors Braeden Carlson and Jack Brown, junior Redek Born and sophomore Mason Johnson all had older brothers on the 2020 championship squad. Now it’s their turn to help Norwalk chase another state championship – this time in Class 4A.

Following last week’s thrilling substate final win over Sioux City East, Redek Born told KNIA-KRLS Sports that following in their older brothers’ footsteps makes this year’s trip to Wells Fargo Arena extra special.

“In the locker room, a lot of our seniors and us were just saying how Coach (Chris) Larson and that group and Bowen (Born) went to Wells Fargo and how all of us were at those games,” Born said, “and it was just like a dream for us to go ourselves and play there.”

Bowen Born, now a standout player for Northern Iowa, paced the 2020 Warriors with an incredible scoring average of 36.4 points per game and made 107 three-pointers. Tyler Johnson also scored in double figures with 14.6 points a game and hit 63 treys.

This year’s Norwalk team is more balanced, led by Redek Born’s 18.7 points and 4.9 assists per contest. Braeden Carlson averages 14.6 points and 8 rebounds and Jack Brown scores 8.8 ppg and leads the team with 49 threes.

Another similarity between the 2020 and 2023 versions of Warrior Basketball is the win-loss record. The championship team won their final 13 games and finished 24-3. This year’s squad enters state with 16 straight wins and an overall record of 20-3.

Norwalk begins its quest for another state title on Wednesday in Des Moines, facing West Des Moines Valley in a 4A state quarterfinal at 3:45 p.m.