Jayce Boatwright

SYRACUSE – A year ago there was plenty of anticipation, intrigue and expectation setting surrounding the Wawasee boys basketball program. The team boasted a huge senior class with plenty of potential. By season’s end Wawasee had made it to the sectional title game, falling to NorthWood, and had totaled 14 wins, its most since the 2010-11 campaign.

Entering this year there is still plenty of intrigue and anticpation, but the expectations have not been set because this year’s Warrior squad is a cast of virtually all new players.

“Our four seniors did not see a ton of playing time on the varsity level last season,” head coach Steve Wiktorowski said of this year’s class. “They’ve all been waiting their turn, they’ve all had a good summer, they’ve all noticeably improved. I think they’ve all taken the challenge that this is the chance they’ve been waiting for. They want to prove themselves.”

And there is a lot to be proven. Outside of Jayce Boatwright, the varsity experience on this Wawasee team is far from abundant. But fellow seniors Stephon Miller, Chase Rookstool and Parker Hatfield all have the ability to make an impact on the varsity roster. Despite not having much fanfare surrounding their upcoming season, the senior class is embracing its role and hoping to turn a few heads.

“We’ve all taken on a much bigger role than we had to last year, obviously,” said Boatwright. “But it’s great to be able to take on that leadership role with these other seniors.”

Wawasee’s roster will hold four sophomores to start the season in addition to the four seniors and three juniors. There’s no doubt that it’s an inexperienced team, and approaching that issue has been one of the main offseason goals.

“We’ve talked a lot about what traps inexperienced teams fall into, what do they struggle with,” said Wiktorowski. “We’ve focused on those things. One thing I really like is that we ahve a very mature group despite how young they are. We’ve talked about being consistent with our effort and taking on new roles.

“A player might have to be the focus on offense now, he might have to take the big shot or being our guy on defense. That’s a big change from just coming off the bench for a few minutes.”

Cameron Schlabach, Cayden Wegener, Tyler Smith and Jairus Boyer are just a few of the underclassmen that have made their presence known this offseason.

Wiktorowski has noticed the willingness of his underclassmen to step up in practice. Boatwright has seen, and felt, that same willingness from a group of guys trying to get noticed.

“They’re not afraid to take on the seniors,” remarked Boatwright. “They’re coming at us and we’re going right back at them. They’re ready for whatever is thrown at them justt as much as we are.”

But the public does not see the practices, the rest of the Northern Lakes Conference does not see the intensity and drive this team has. All that is known outside the walls of the Hardwood Tee Pee is that the Warriors are a bunch of unknowns this year, but that is not a problem for Boatwright.

“I’m ready to surprise some people,” Boatwright stated. “No matter what people are saying about us, we want to have that shock factor. We’re ready.”