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December 4, 2022

Huntley head girls basketball coach Steve Raethz gives instructions to his team. Raethz achieved his 400th career victory at HHS Dec. 2.
Steve Peterson
Huntley head girls basketball coach Steve Raethz gives instructions to his team. Raethz achieved his 400th career victory at HHS Dec. 2.

Sports • December 4, 2022

Raethz’s 400th victory celebrates successes

By

HUNTLEY — Huntley’s tasty treat looked sweet as it had been placed on the first row of the bleachers at Jacobs High School.

A successful tenure of 24 years led to a post-game presentation as HHS coach Steve Raethz marked his 400th career win, all at Huntley. A 6-0 record to start the 2022-23 season reached the milestone, whose start at the school came in 1999-2000. Jessica Ozzauto paced the Red Raiders effort with 15 points against Jacobs.

“The accomplishment means a lot for all the players and coaches over the years here at Huntley,” Raethz said after an 45-16 win over Jacobs. “A lot of people worked very hard for this over the years. I have had a lot of great players and coaches who cared about the kids. We started at 2-23 the first season and even though we did not get the outcomes we wanted, the teams always had a willingness to play hard.”

Raethz said he was fortunate in the early 2000s to get the opportunity to lead the girls basketball program as a rookie head coach. Huntley was a Class A school in those days.

The accomplishment is important to the present group wearing the HHS red, black and white. “We’re so happy for him because he has done a lot for the program,” senior Mallory Winters said.

Following the win at the Algonquin school, Raethz explained his hoops start.

“I played basketball at Hoffman Estates High School then was a starter for three seasons at St. Norbert College(Green Bay, WI),” Raethz said.

Path to 400

Overall career totals for Raethz entering this season were 11 regional championships, three sectional championships and six straight FVC titles. Raethz said he that has contact with players from his early days at Huntley.

A breakthrough season was in 2002-03 with the first regional crown in Class A and a first 20-win season, 20-9. Sectional advancements also came in a 2006-09 stretch in various classes. HHS has been in 4A since 2010-2011.

Two years later, the Huntley squad broke through to the Class 4A state tournament. Captains were Sam Andrews, Haley Ream and Amanda Kaniewski. Alli Andrews was a top scorer and rebounder. Sam Andrews and Ali Andrews both scored more than 500 points. The regular season highlight was a double overtime win over Crystal Lake South as Ali Andrews totaled 28 points.

The first sectional crown was earned by a 46-37 win over Machesney Park Harlem followed by a 47-43 super-sectional win over Streamwood in a close 45-41 battle at Dundee-Crown. Sam Andrews’ 17 points paced the Huntley effort. Although the state tournament experience included two losses, to Rolling Meadows and Chicago Whitney Young, the 26-6 season marked the halfway point for Raethz’s 400th win at 200.

Post 2012-13, the Red Raiders enjoyed regional titles in 2013-14 to 2015-16 (best 30-4 record) with sectional wins the last two years. The latest regional triumphs were in the last two campaigns.

According to IHSA preseason records, Raethz’s 400th career single school record neared the top 50, as the last in that group was former Warren coach Bruce Campbell’s 402 total.