Normal West has had strong players come and go over the last few years with Nate Moore, Gavin Camp, Max Ziebarth – the latter two of which now play football for Illinois State – and more.
However, the Wildcats’ losses from last year’s roster were a bit larger than the norm, leaving behind a roster with more than 10 underclassmen and just three juniors and seniors combined. That’s not to say that Normal West won’t be competitive this year, as it tries to leverage its youth with an increased focus on defense and tempo.
The young roster, led by senior Michael Zaleski and junior Maliq Givens, aims to garner valuable experience against a Big 12 slate that brings its rigors every year, plus a non-conference schedule peppered with strong teams.
Hear from head coach Ed Hafermann and get to know more about this year’s Normal West team in their season preview below: