Xavier boys know defense won’t be easy

CEDAR RAPIDS - The boys are back for more.

Xavier's boys' basketball team stands 1-2 heading into Tonight's game at Waterloo West, but is ranked fourth in Class 3A in The Gazette's second poll.

On March 12, history was made as the Saints brought home their first state championship boys' trophy in school history. Senior Spencer Dempewolf, one of the players on the 2016 team, is looking forward to another great season and is willing to back it up with hard work.

'I feel like we have great team chemistry,” Dempewolf said. 'Both last year and this year we have a great group of guys that are ultimately team first players. I don't see any issues getting in the way of another championship this year.”

The Saints have high expectations - and room for another state championship trophy.

'We are definitely going to work toward being as successful as last year,” Dempewolf said. 'We have some good pieces coming back and I feel like it's going to be a fun season, but we're definitely not a completed product yet. We have a long way to go but that's just a part of the process.”

Dempewolf has been playing since he was 4 years old on AAU and school teams. He has a passion for the game and shows it through his commitment.

'I have played so long I have gained a love for it and I have put a lot of hours into it,” he said. 'I try to put in like 45 minutes to 1 hour a day but during football season it's hard to balance the time.”

Dempewolf is a two-sport athlete and a member of National Honor Society, Key Club and Spanish Honor Society. He still finds time do his school work and spend time with family. Dempewolf feels being a two-sport athlete has improved his time management skills.

'There are going to be late nights because practice gets off late and stuff, but you just have to find the perfect balance because ultimately school comes before sports,” Dempewolf said.

The Saints know another state championship run won't be easy.

'We definitely need to prove how strong we are in these first few weeks because nothing will be given to us,” senior Bryce Schulte said. 'We have a great group of guys that are ready to work their tails off and we have nine or 10 of us that know what it takes to win a championship.”