The Norwalk football team faces a challenging non-district schedule in 2023 and will turn to the west as a member of Class 4A, District 6 for the next two seasons.

The Warriors finished 5-4 overall last fall and narrowly missed qualifying for the 4A playoffs. They will open the season on Friday, August 25, with a non-district game at Carlisle, then host Indianola in Week 2. The remaining non-district schedule includes games at Newton and ADM.

Carlisle and ADM were both state semi-finalists last season in Class 4A and 3A, respectively. Indianola advanced to the 4A quarterfinals and Newton was a 4A playoff qualifier.

Following off-season reclassifications by the Iowa High School Athletic Association, Norwalk will compete in Class 4A, District 6. They will host 2023 district games against Winterset, Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson and Lewis Central while traveling to Dallas Center-Grimes and Glenwood. Lewis Central was last year’s 4A state runner-up and Glenwood lost to LC in the 4A quarterfinal round.

Norwalk Activities Director Josh Tobey tells KNIA-KRLS Sports that the Warrior coaching staff is excited about the competition they will face throughout the season, noting that the nine-game schedule features a good mix of facing solid veteran football teams and younger squads that are rebuilding.

Seven of this year’s games will kick off at 7:00 p.m., with the exception of 7:30 kickoffs at Carlisle and Newton.