For story number six in Norwalk’s Top 10 countdown from the past school year, we look back to the 2023 cross country season. Led by senior Noah Buhrow’s medalist performance, the Warrior boys placed 13th in Class 4A in their fifth consecutive trip to the State Cross Country Championships in Fort Dodge.

Competing on a blustery day at Lakeside Municipal Golf Course, Buhrow earned All-State status in his fourth and final state meet, placing 14th out of 130 runners with a five-kilometer time of 15:48.4. Earlier in the season, Buhrow took third place in the Little Hawkeye Conference Meet and second place in the 4A State Qualifying Meet. He tells KNIA Sports that bringing home a 4A state medal was a huge accomplishment.

“It means a lot to me. I never thought I’d be All-State if I’m being honest,” Buhrow said. “Coming into freshman year, you never really expect it but I work hard, the team works hard. We (did) great this year. I know we’ve got guys in the coming years that are going to do even better than I did this year, so I’m excited to see how that plays out.”

The Norwalk boys entered state by placing second at the conference meet and third in their State Qualifying Meet at Southeast Polk. The Warriors finished 13th out of 16 teams at State, but their score of 250 was only 23 points behind eighth place. Junior Tony Anania finished 28th individually in 16:08 and will be one of six returning state meet competitors for Norwalk this fall. Also competing at state were sophomores Teegan Kralik and Sam Parker and juniors Grant Wallace, Corbin Oswald and Henry Groos. We’ll hear more from Anania later in the countdown.

Buhrow, who finished just 11 seconds out of fifth place, is the Warriors’ second 4A state medalist in as many years. Donovan Card finished 15th in 2022.