First, Huntley boys basketball Colin Kalamatas returned to Burlington Central Dec. 15, where he coached the girls hoops squad for four years. Then Will Benson, who led the Huntley boys basketball team to two regional championships in nine seasons, is back at the HHS gym Dec. 21, as head coach of Stevenson.

Benson, whose Patriots are 4-3 in the early going, commented on the first clash with the Red Raiders.

Freshman Noah Waters led the way with a 658 series and a 256 high game for a two match sweep.

HHS won in a 3,604 to 2,960 pins victory over the Rockets Dec. 14 at Four Seasons Bowl. Also providing 600 plus efforts were Landen Conforti's 654, Matthew Fishman rolled a 653 while Austin Tenglin had a 613. Nick Gaspari contributed a 514.

The Huntley boys bowling team gained its 10th dual match win by beating Burlington Central at Bowl-Hi Lanes Dec.

HHS has gained a seven game win streak heading into a clash at Burlington Central Dec. 15. Huntley comes into the game in first place, 7-2, 5-0 in FVC play.

Two of the latest wins, 69-12 over Crystal Lake South Dec. 12 and 62-11 romp over Jacobs Dec. 5, have included continuous time in the fourth quarter. HHS was pushed some by Crystal Lake Central in a 57-47 win Dec.

A trio of bowlers finished in the top 10 to lead the way to the Andrew tournament title for the Red Raiders.

“We won the tournament with a total of 6,392,” Huntley coach Jacob Wagner said. “Matthew Fishman finished fourth, Noah Waters seventh, and Joey Humphrey 10th.

A 16-2 third quarter Huntley run turned the tide. Omare Segarra tallied 11 points and had eight rebounds while Lucas Crosby also had 11 tallies. Jeff Cruickshank had an eight points, four rebounds game. The Red Raiders will face Crystal Lake South, a squad they beat 55-48 for the Johnsburg Thanksgiving title.

Huntley beat Jacobs, 45-22, on Dec. 7 then also downed Crystal Lake Central, 39-26 the next night in FVC battles.

“I would give us a B plus grade. We have to stop trailing early and need some polishing but I also thought our underclassmen came though,” Huntley coach BJ Bertelsman said after the win over CLC.

Napientak is competing at 165 pounds, McGuine at 150 pounds and Mihalopoulos at 285. On team photo day, the trio reflected on their wrestling careers.

“All three hard in the off season so hopefully they will leave it all on the table in February,” HHS coach BJ Bertelsman said.

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“I'm pleased with the progress this team has shown so far,” Red Raiders coach Eric DeBello said. “It has been a total team effort. When we have started slow someone has stepped up to hold up the team. I don't think we are firing on all cylinders yet. We have had a few high individual games but no real high series.”

Coach DeBello commented on individual efforts to begin the season.

The Huntley bowlers leaped in celebration when Nicholas Gaspari's bowling ball knocked down all 10 pins for a memorable perfect game by someone who has bowled for just three years.

What was his approach as the ninth, then 10th, and finally 11th strike throws rolled the 60 feet and then were entered to the screen?

“I tried not to think about it,” Gaspari said of the feeling as 300 became a possibility.

"The growth of girls wrestling is amazing. There used to be just four girls on a team, and now, they have coaches dedicated only to girls teams," Casey, a Red Raiders senior, said. Casey, a state qualifier last season, took home the best finish at fifth, at the Dan Gable Donnybrook Girls Tournament Dec. 2. She was 3-0 with all three wins by pin and to top it off, met the Olympic hero Gable.

“I worked on every small thing I was doing wrong – a lot of repetition,” Fishman said after a recent Red Raider dual win over Johnsburg.

Fishman has notched topped a 700 mark for a series against Harvard Nov. 27, but it came the same night as a near 300 perfect game, a 299, by the Hornets' Gael Roman.

From left: Jason, Charlie, Jon, Ellie and Carrie Giambarberre of Huntley. There were visits by Santa Claus, a Grinch, other holiday favorite character, face painting, games and more. Education Foundation Vice President Rich Bobby, who played a Grinch, said efforts of the group include scholarships, support of educational projects requested by teachers, the Robotics program at Marlowe Middle School and more.

The Red Raiders beat Cary-Grove, 34-27, Nov. 28 then topped Hampshire, 43-42, as HHS's league win streak reached 30 games. HHS stood at 4-2, 2-0 FVC.

Huntley's defense and rebounding strengths set the pace against the Trojans.

“I thought our team played extremely hard in our win against Cary-Grove,” Red Raiders head coach Steve Raethz said. “We defended really well and that contributed to helping us win the game.”

Students talked with Huntley business owners whose careers ranged from finance, to real estate and veterinarian. They learned about housing, 401Ks, and importance of good credit, to name a few topics covered. Students researched the careers for salary and education information and selected such factors as the family situation, housing, child care and other costs.

"I was 11-or 12-years-old when I started bowling," John DeBello said.

The youngster's try at bowling has turned into a family effort that continues all these years later.

Grandfather John DeBello, 71, and his wife Mary both bowl competitively. Erica DeBello is the daughter of HHS coach Eric DeBello and mom Trish. They were all present to watch Erica bowl and cheer on the Red Raiders squad against Johnsburg at Huntley's Bowl-Hi Lanes Nov.

Kosowski may now wear a whistle for drills as the new head girls wrestling coach for the Red Raiders. This is the first season of separate head coaches and teams for girls and boys wrestling. He is eager to get going and continue success of the girls squad.

Several Red Raiders wrestlers posted perfect 3-0 records at the season opening Palatine Fremd quad meet Nov. 21. Huntley downed Fremd 33-29, Grayslake Central 42-22 and Lake Zurich 60-12.

Recording 3-0 records were: senior Markos Mihalopoulos at 285 pounds; freshman Gavin Nischke at 132; senior Shane McGuine at 150; freshman Radic Dvorak at 157 and soph Cameron Abordo at 113.

The Red Raiders completed a 2-2 Dundee-Crown Thanksgiving tournament with a 60-22 thumping of South Elgin Nov. 21 following a 43-29 victory over St. Viator. They open the Fox Valley Conference slate at Cary-Grove (4-1 record) Nov. 28 to start defense of their FVC championship. HHS faces rival Hampshire (1-3) away Dec. 1.

Losses were to Boylan Catholic, 46-42 and Hononegah, 44-37.

Crosby began a celebration after the lay-up was good and then he got up, made a free throw that topped off a 55-48 victory. The Red Raiders had an outstanding opening week from start to finish at the Johnsburg Thanksgiving Tournament, with a 4-0 championship.

Crosby and Ethan Blackmore shared high scoring honors with 12 points each.

The Red Raiders topped Grant Nov. 20 in a non-alliance meet, 3,330 to 3,307 pins. Austin Tenglin led with a 638 series followed by Joseph Humphrey's 602. Matthew Fishman contributed a 548; Landen Conforti a 542; Noah Waters a 508 and Matthew Hoglind had a 492.

Huntley beat Woodstock, 3,916 to 3,521 pins at Bowl-Hi Lanes Nov. 22.