Coaches’ daughters enjoy girls hoops season
HUNTLEY — Sometimes it’s a good idea to come early to Huntley High School’s girls basketball games.
Fans can watch the up-and-coming underclassmen play their games, but look closely and another youth movement is taking place. Quinn Henricksen, age three and one-half, daughter of assistant coach Clay Henricksen, and Poppy Green, eight months, daughter of assistant coach Sam Andrews-Green, steal the show as they play with Red Raiders’ unbeaten hoops team (31-0 regular season) members.
On senior night, Feb. 10, Quinn wore an “I love the seniors” pink t-shirt, with numbers of her heroes, Isabella Boskey (4), Anna Campanelli (11), Ava McFadden (34) and Madison Diaz (45). Poppy greeted the quintet as they entered the gym. Quinn joined the team celebration after it won the Fox Valley Conference title the next game, over Prairie Ridge and gained a 31-0 mark with a win over Dundee-Crown Feb. 14.
“Quinn has had a lot of fun with the girls and really has loved being around them,” dad Clay Henricksen said. “I am so fortunate as a father that the girls on the team have not only played with her but accepted her and loved her as one of the team. They always welcome her whether it be a shoot around, pre-game, post-game, or our team activities. They include her as one of her own.”
Quinn, whose mom Erin (Steitz) played on head coach Steve Raethz’s teams and graduated in 2009 (a regional title year), has a younger sister, Emma. Quinn has her own sports interests, currently gymnastics. “She is in a gymnastics at HUGS once a week. She loves to jump on the trampoline and hang on the monkey bars especially. We also enjoy watching basketball and soccer together,” dad said.
“Quinn loves being around the team,” Henricksen said. “We have a poster that all of the girls signed hanging up in her closet that we look at and practice names with. She calls them the ‘basketball girls’ and asks if I am going to see them. Just last game I looked up into the stands to wave to her and instead she is trying to get Campanelli’s and McFadden’s attention.”
Poppy Green made her debut along the Red Raiders sideline for the Nov. 19 season opener against Hononegah. Either Jack Green, Poppy’s dad, or aunt Ali Andrews, are the chief baby sitters of Poppy, but the varsity team can be seen playing with her as well.
“The team was excited to have Poppy at their games and absolutely love her company,” Sam Green said. “Each of the players enjoy holding her, making her smile and laugh, and spending time with her. Poppy’s reactions are priceless, and she clearly loves being around the girls just as much as they love having her there. She is always having fun with them, and it is such a joy to see their special bond. One of their favorite things to do with Poppy is bringing a basketball to her. She will eagerly hit it with her hand and have the best time playing along with them. It’s the sweetest sight and the girls love sharing thodr moments with her.”
Henricksen’s parents, Bruce and Lisa, attend many HHS games as they make a short trip from Walworth, WI. Dan attend and Kirstin Seitz also attend games, celebrate in wins and help with travel.
“My dad is a basketball junkie and loves being at the games,” Henriksen said. “My mom also just as much as any mom that I know. She makes the girls cookies quite often and they have really been a part of this season aa much as anyone. They have always been a big supporter of me and my coaching career and as a result have always given me the impetus to strive for more and be the best coach that I can.”
Coaches’ hoops background
Sam Green is the daughter of Chet and Pam Andrews and is a 2013 HHS alumna. Her sister, Ali, then a frosh, also played on the 2012-13 Class 4A State Tournament squad, which finished fourth. Sam then played hoops at Truman State (MO). She described how her coaching interest began.
“I have been part of the HHS staff for six years,” Green said. “Since high school, I’ve always enjoyed helping with our little kids’ summer camps, and I continued to assist when I was home from college. Once I joined the coaching staff, I took on a larger role, including coaching our spring feeder teams. I would also help out with our summer basketball camps. Through those experiences, I knew coaching was something I wanted to pursue. I have been fortunate to have coach Raethz as a role model. He always welcomed me into the program and gave me opportunities to be involved, which further fueled my passion for coaching. I truly enjoy working with the program that meant so much to me growing up.”
Henricksen, meanwhile, played basketball and baseball at Grayslake North High School, and baseball at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.
“I started coaching basketball immediately after I graduated (Grayslake North),” he said. “My head coach (Todd Grunloh) was so welcoming and encouraged me as I started to coach. Whenever I was away from college, I was with the team, whether it be volunteering, coming to games, coaching during summer league games, going to team camps, whatever I could do to continue to be a part of the program. That experience really jumped stated my love for coaching.”
Will Quinn and Poppy continue their family’s choice in hoops careers, or select other sports or interests? Check in the future – HHS, classes of 2040 or 2043, respectively. Their sports lives are off to an interesting start.
