control the ball and limit possessions, and then throw the ball when we need to.” Gilbert averaged 32 points per game a sea- son ago and went over the 40-point threshold three times. The Tigers hope to blend a methodical of- fense with a bend, but don’t break defense that surrendered fewer than 23 points in nine of its 11 outings last fall. Hawthorne and fellow standout linebacker Bowen Kruse leave holes on that side of the ball as well, and Gilbert will need to retool its secondary against the number of aerial attacks it will face. Wesselmann, Griffin, Grooters, Van Cleave, Holden Boshart, and Rowan Sents will all see time up front. Blake Bell was the team’s lead- ing tackler a season ago (53 1 ⁄ 2 stops) and he’ll return at a linebacker position. Warg, Canton- wine, and Tate Larson will all see time in the middle of the field as well. On the back end, Fierce, Aidan Rash, Leyva, Larson, Ean El- dred, Landon Witek, and a host of others could get looks at containing opposing teams’ pass- ing attacks. “This is a defense that will probably have some rough patches here and there, but I think they can be really good,” Lundt said. ‘But if we can control the ball on offense, it puts less stress on this group.” Lundt is also hopeful players will step up and provide depth. The fewer players that have to play significant snaps on both sides of the ball, the better. A member of 4A District 5 for the next two seasons, Gilbert faces a new schedule in 2025 that includes non-district clashes with Carroll, Mason City, Boone, and Webster City. The dis- trict is a mini Raccoon River Conference with
the Tigers, Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Bal- lard, and North Polk. Des Moines North rounds out the district. “With the district being a lot of schools we commonly know, it’s just going to up the in- tensity,” Lundt said. Gilbert’s nine opponents went a combined 38-49 a season ago. North Polk, the Tigers’ Week 9 opponent, went 13-0 and claimed the 4A state championship. Ballard (5-5 in 2024) and Carroll (6-4 in 2024) were also playoff teams. “If you look at our district, North Polk as the returning state champion has to be the favorite,” Lundt said. “Until they get knocked off, they have to be. But I honestly think it’s wide open. “We’re familiar with all of our non-district opponents as well. Mason City has their quarterback back, Boone is going to be pretty good this year, and you always know what Webster City is going to do (with its single wing offense).” The schedule is formidable, but there’s also plenty of reason for optimism. It all goes back to that thin margin for error. It served the Tigers well a season ago, and with the vet- eran leadership and skill they have in place, it could be a similar situation in 2025. “We have to be undefeated at everything we can control,” Lundt said. “We have talent, but you also have to rely on your discipline and your hard work ethic when you get in tough situations. That’s a small detail that will be sig- nificant in close games.” Will the season be perfect? Of course not. But will it be exciting? You better believe it.
FALL 2025 | GAME ON 19
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