Huntley lacrosse players start early

HUNTLEY — The future of Huntley boys lacrosse came ready to take center stage at youth night May 10 at Huntley’s Red Raider Stadium.

The youngest of them played had a scrimmage while waiting for the junior varsity and varsity battles with Cary-Grove to reach halftime. Then the signal came for the approximately 20 players to take the field.

“We have seen a lot of good growth in recent years,” Dan Pupich, president of Huntley Youth Lacrosse League, said. “We used to not have enough girls for separate teams, but we combined with Crystal Lake and Hampshire.”

Their season is wrapping up, and included a tournament title for a juniors team.

Dan Pupich said his son Bobby, the Red Raiders’ leading scorer this season, was once learning the ropes as Friday’s players were.

“There is some learning involved in the beginning with catching the ball, then passing it,” Dan Pupich said.

Coaches like it that the players, some as young as 8-years-old and younger, grow up playing against area counterparts whom they will face in future Fox Valley Conference matches.

“They love it, they were amped up for it,” youth lacrosse coach Mike Novack said. “They got to warm up with the varsity players who gave them a clinic on passing.”

Novack’s son Bryce and Bryant Santos did battle to kick off the scrimmage.

“It was awesome and fun,” HHS head boys lacrosse coach Dominic Saccomanno said.

The night ended at Red Raider Stadium with some youth players joining the newly crowned Fox Valley Conference champs for a photo.