HHS seniors ready for next level
HUNTLEY – More than 20 Huntley High School Class of 2023 members, families and teammates gathered at the school’s Central Gym to sign on their National Letters of Intent.
One of them is Parker Schuring, whose baseball career started as a power hitter in his youngest days but has a different role now.
“I was a home run hitter,” Schuring said. “But then I injured my left shoulder and decided to become a pitcher.”
Schuring and his Red Raiders teammates will prepare soon in workouts then the senior season will beckon. Schuring has a baseball future, as many other Class of 2023 teammates, as he signed a National Letter of Intent for Northern Illinois University.
“It’s been my dream to play at Division I,” Schuring said.
After his team had a 31-5 record in the 2021-22 season including Fox Valley Conference and regional titles, he earned an All-FVC honor, Schuring went back to work.
“I pitched for GBR Rays U-17 and at local workouts this past summer was outstanding,” Schuring said. “My slider is at 76 to 78 MPH and my fastball is now at 86-88 MPH,” he added.
Also signing for future diamond opportunities on Wednesday at HHS included twins Brayden Bakes for Indiana University of the Big 10 and brother Ryan Bakes, for the University of South Carolina. Brayden Bakes switched colleges from his original choice of Wichita State due to a coaching change there. Brayden played center field for HHS last spring but Ryan injured a shoulder and was out for most of the season.
“We are super proud of them here,” HHS coach Andy Jakubowski said of the Bakes brothers. “They are tremendously talented and they became great teammates and leaders. We are hoping for big seasons for both of them and hopefully we will be able to go farther into the playoffs this year.”
Other baseball players to ink letters were: Ryan Quinlan, who is pegged for second base at Eastern Illinois University; starting pitcher Andrew Ressler selected SIU-Edwardsville; Aiden Zimmerman, Judson University; Derek Huber, Rock Valley College and Dillon Putty selected McHenry County College.
Several other seniors commented on their high school careers and their future opportunities.
“What I’ll miss is the family atmosphere. We’re together so much, we’re like a family,” volleyball senior Ciera Fletcher, headed to Edgewood College in Madison, Wis., said.
Coming off a just concluded 32-7 conference and sectional championships season, volleyball players’ selections for college were: Avary DeBlieck, Miami University; Ally Panzloff, Brown University; Maggie Duyos, Austin Peay University; Emily Willis will attend McHenry County College.
Lacrosse players Connor Ardell and AJ Baumley earned further opportunities at Lewis University and Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. respectively. Both recalled playing the sport together since youth days and next year they will conclude HHS careers with a bid to repeat regional and sectional successes.
“I started on defense but then I found more success on attack,” Ardell said. “They needed someone to fill in and I am a lefty.”
Ben Rocks also hopes to continue a successful swimming career at IUPUI in Indianapolis.
“I’ve been swimming at a high level for 10 years and in the off-season, I swim for Barrington Swim Club,” Rocks said.
Samantha Campanelli and Jessica Ozzauto, who will play at Lewis University and Leigh University in Philadelphia, respectively, are basketball players who were readying for another practice when the signing day took place.
Senior Katie Mitchell led a trio of college-bound standouts, heading into this spring off regional and sectional crowns, before attending Loyola University in Chicago next fall. Also signing were Alyssa Roos for Clarke University and Madison Smith for Heartland Community College.
