SOUTHINGTON — As enrollment and participation numbers decrease around the state of Ohio, smaller schools have been feeling the squeeze more than ever.

In addition to the regular challenges coaches face in getting their team ready for the season, some have been doing so with the uncertainty of whether or not they’ll have enough players to even start a season, let alone finish it once injuries begin to impact their already thin rosters.

Chalker has been no stranger to those uncertainties.

In 2021, coach Justin Kren took over the program after an 0-5 season the year prior. The 2020 incarnation of the Wildcats started the season with 16 players, not enough for an intrasquad scrimmage. It was going to be an uphill battle. Kren’s first season was shaping up to be the same way.

Due to low num

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