Poised to contend, HHS football ready for season
HUNTLEY – Huntley’s football team’s fortunes began on a bright note the first day of practice, Aug. 8, even though the weather was hardly that on a wet day.
“We are fortunate to have the fieldhouse,” HHS first-year head coach Mike Naymola said. “When I saw the forecast, I checked and no one was using it that day.”
HHS commenced in earnest preparation for the season and Fox Valley Conference opener Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at Crystal Lake Central. The Red Raiders are ready to get back to its winning ways after a 3-6 2021 season.
“We’re real excited about the new season,” Naymola said. “Last year left a bad taste in our mouths and propelled us to be a real motivated team. It started this off-season with a lot of energy and juniors and seniors who stepped into leadership roles. We know we will have to work hard each week and earn everything we get; nothing will be given to us, I’m encouraged by our size and physicality. That starts with the offensive line and we’ve been fine-tuning things.”
The boys up front include two college prospects, one of whom has already signed a letter of intent.
Luke Griskey is a senior who will play at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. An increasing number of colleges have been inquiring about senior Luke Bower, Naymola said.
“Griskey made his choice a couple of months before school started, so that is a weight off his shoulders. He can concentrate on football,” Naymola said. “In addition to the video they send out, the colleges are impressed with the work ethic and leadership of Griskey and Bower. The whole offensive line is a tight knit-group, are leaders, hanging out all the time and talking football, it’s their drive and attitude.”
Also leading the Red Raiders charge up front are senior Payton Grannis; juniors Jack Crudele; Vinny Tibery .
They will be blocking for senior quarterback Sam Deligio, running back senior DeShaun Manning (also the top returning tackler); junior running back Hayden Janke.
Naymola said he would like to see an up-tempo style on offense and “a relentless defense that flies around the field. We want to be the more physical team and have the other team play on its heels.”
Naymola is in his 11th year total at HHS, with his previous seasons as an assistant on the offense.
“The transition has been a very seamless one,” he said. “When I interviewed for the job, after coach Matt Zimolzak stepped down, the guys were already in the weight room in off-season work. We have three former coaches on staff with Mike Slattery, coach Mike Sebestyan at Prospect; and coach Paul Reinke, who was head coach at West Chicago. We talk about everything, starting with the practice plans.”
Naymola’s background
Naymola was what he describes as an “average” wide receiver at Rolling Meadows during his prep days, “College football at Rockford College worked out better for me. I was head girls track-and-field coach at Rolling Meadows, we did not have a lot of numbers but a lot of hard-working, blue-collar kids. That helped me prepare to be a head coach.”
“I’ll take bits and pieces from all the coaches I’ve had, from Dave Millesaps at RM to (former HHS coach) John Hart and Matt Zimozlak, who re-energized Huntley football,” he added.
The Red Raiders reunited with Hart during team building exercises at Hart’s present school, Brownsberg, Indiana this summer.
Naymola is the school’s instructor for the advanced conditioning program and oversees the weight room, working closely with all Red Raiders’ head coaches.
He also mentioned the importance of development of youth football in keeping HHS competitive in Illinois’ largest football class, 8A.
“We’re super fortunate to have 80 freshmen out, some schools don’t have enough freshmen for a “B” team,” the coach noted. “We also work very closely with the Raider Youth Football program and they do a great job.”
