Gronewold’s 10th tops HHS state efforts

HUNTLEY – A quartet of Huntley High School boys track-and-field members concluded their seasons at the IHSA State Meet with senior Evan Gronewold’s 10th place finish as the best effort.

Red Raiders head coach Chris Maxedon was pleased with the efforts. “It was a very successful state meet,” he said.

Qualifying were Gronewold, shot put thrower Hayden Swim, 3,200-mile run qualifier Tommy Nitz and high jumper McHale Hood. Gronewold clocked a 50.25 in the finals, after a 50.75 in the ninth-place prelims while Nitz was 18th in the two-mile at 9:36.45, a personal best; Swim threw the shot 19.95 meters and Hood cleared 1.86 meters.

Gronewold was named team MVP and won the coaches award for most outstanding track event participant at a team awards event. He was runner-up at state in the 400 last season but he battled to recover from COVID-19 and a bad back problem.

“He rewrote our record books in the 100, 200, and 400-meters and he was a great leader,” Maxedon said of the future runner at Grand Valley State University this fall.

Swim, meanwhile, was named the most outstanding in the field events. “He made his impact on track-and-field,” Maxedon said. “He was a good leader and a better person. He was always willing to reach out and help an underclassmen.” Swim will compete in field events at Colorado School of Mines.

“He had a great three-day experience as a freshman,” Maxedon said of Nitz.

Other coaches awards went to junior Jayden Bell for the hurdles; Nitz as top newcomer; Brandon Torres for sprints; Logan Borzych as most improved and senior Charlie Kocz for distance events.

“This was one of the largest senior groups that we have had,” Maxedon said. “They stuck with it through COVID-19 and finally had a full regular season this year.”

HHS was runner-up at the Fox Valley Conference and sectional meets.

The Red Raiders boys and girls track-and-field programs will host a summer camp at the stadium for 2022-23 grades three through nine June 21-24.