Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE — Mark Osmialowski was on the staffs of the past three Wawasee High School head football coaches — Mike Eshbach, Jon Reutebuch and Matt Thacker.
After eight seasons as a Warriors assistant, Osmialowski is now the man in charge.
As Class 4A Wawasee gets ready for its 2026 season opener Friday, Aug. 21 at 3A Jimtown, Osmialowski shared his thoughts about team culture and ran down the probable starters.
“I’ve really been trying to establish our identity as F.A.M.I.L.Y.,” Osmialowski said. “It's an acronym.
“It means Forget About Me. I Love You. It’s trying to get through to these boys that if you quit playing selfish and start playing selfless and for the guy to the left and the right of you, that's when success will start happening.
“We’re trying to create that brotherhood and that bond between all of us to really forge a relationship together and try to build the strongest team that we can.”
After the opener comes contests vs. 3A West Noble Aug. 28, vs. 5A Concord Sept. 4, at Northridge Sept. 11, vs. 5A Warsaw Sept. 18, at 4A NorthWood Sept. 25, vs. 5A Goshen Oct. 2, at 4A Plymouth Oct. 9 and vs. 4A Mishawaka Oct. 16. The last seven regular-season games are in the Northern Lakes Conference
Wawasee went 1-9 overall and 0-7 in the NLC in 2025 with the victory coming in Week 1 vs. Jimtown. The last conference triumph was achieved in 2024 against visiting Goshen.
The 2026 Warriors’ roster of nearly 75 players in four grades — enough for varsity, junior varsity and freshman teams — and features 20 seniors.
In Grade 12 are Kaden Andrew, Jaxon Brown, Keny’n Burney, Gavin Cleveland, Brock Coday, Cam Collins, J’Ceon Evans, Tony Helman, Logan Hoffer, Luke Lehman, Jaylen Lowery, Martin Moreno, Max Pena, Blake Rolston, Parker Schmidt, Logan Stahl, Josh Wilson, Quintin Woolwine, Brody Young and Johnny Zachary.
Wawasee alum and former Northridge head coach Chad Eppley has joined the Warriors as offensive coordinator and installed a spread scheme.
Zachary returns at quarterback. In 2025, he completed 21-of-44 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns and ran 50 times for 127 yards and four TD’s.
Osmialowski says he expects Andrew to start at tailback and sophomore Mason McKibben at fullback.
Andrew had 33 rushes for 275 yards and one TD in 2025 while McKibben had 80 carries for 276 yards and one TD. Both players caught six passes — Andrew for 168 yards and three TD’s and McKibben 73 yards.
“We’re going to be pretty adaptable with our formations based on our personnel that we have,” Osmialowski said.
When Wawasee goes to “11 personnel” Andrew can be moved to tight end.
Leading the wide receiver corps are Lowery, Burney, Lehman, Evans and junior Luke Nettrouer.
Schmidt and junior Dirks Miller are back on the offensive line. Junior Kingston Brenneman moves from running back to center. Also in the mix are Wilson, Woolwine and junior Will Loehr.
In preseason, sophomore Cash Walter has been punting and placekicking. Hoffer (who is also on the boys tennis team) is another punter.
Osmialowski moves from the offensive to the defensive side of the ball in 2026. The Warriors’ base formation will be a 3-4.
He expects Rolston to be his starter at nose tackle with Young and Woolwine as ends.
Linebackers are Pena (59 total tackles) and Brown (44 total tackles) outside with McKibben and junior Westen Haab on the inside.
In the secondary, there’s Lehman and junior Aidan Beer at safety with Burney, Lowery and Evans a part of the corner combination.
“We have probably two or three guys that'll play consistently both ways,” Osmialowski said. “We have some depth.
“If they need to get breathers we can rotate them in and out.”
Wawasee held its Green and Gold scrimmage Aug. 8 and its Week 0 scrimmage at Knox Aug. 14.
Besides Eppley, Osmialowski’s coaching staff features Austin Baker, Derek Bontrager, Rob Chalk, Ben Champoux, Brayden Clark, Caleb Dingeldein, Nick Feldman, Brenden Hanna, Scott Hatfield, Blake Haynie, Ryan Hoover, Michael Kerby, Joe Leach, Zac McKee, Chase Pinion, Dustin Stutsman, Jordan Swain and Andy Zaebst. Shay Trump is the strength coordinator.
