Walled Lake Western football reloads in 2024 with its sights set on a Lakes Valley Conference 3-peat and a trip to Ford Field

There is no question Walled Lake Western enters 2024 with a target on its back. The Warriors have taken home the Lake Valley Conference title each of the past two seasons and are riding a 19-game conference win streak dating back to October 8, 2021.

“We realize teams want to come for us, obviously winning the league (the past two years),” said senior Troy Temple, who plays free safety and wide receiver for the Warriors. “We have a target on our back, but we have our level, our Warrior level, and that’s where we play at.”

While Walled Lake Western did lose some key pieces to graduation including quarterback Jaxon Lippert, running back Gavin Noonan, and linebacker Ethan Baskins, the Warriors once again reload with a core group of seniors that have three to four years of Varsity experience.

“We have so much (of our scheme) in right now that we are further than we were last year (at this time),” said senior linebacker Shane Rachner. “I mean we went far last year, but we want to go further this year so we are all chipping away at it, we’re all going that extra step, we’re putting in 100 percent to just get back to the (Regional Championship) and make things different this time.”

The Warriors felt like they let that Regional Championship game slip away after falling to Mason in overtime, 44-41. That has fueled them throughout the off season. Every day in practice and in the weight room they hold an overtime period to make sure they are prepared for that extra period if it comes up again.

“We have a lot of brothers on the team who love each other and are willing to die for each other,” explained senior offensive and defensive tackle Liam Vaughan. “Just that bond looking to your left and right, we trust (our teammates) whole heartedly.”

“Our expectations are daily, and no body has higher expectations for our program than ourselves,” said head coach Kory Cioroch. “They are just hungry, and they want to go further than we did last year."

“I think that being able to roll some guys out, 7 or 8 kids on both side of the ball, that have done this before gives me a lot of confidence,” added Cioroch.

“Every practice this year the goal has been to be a champion, every rep, every play,” said Vaughan. “That’s our goal, a state championship, nothing less.”

Their road to Ford Field starts on Thursday, August 29, when the Warriors open their season at Waterford Mott.