Red Raiders turned back in 2nd round loss

HUNTLEY — Huntley advanced to its fifth second round playoff clash in school football history and hoped a large following would witness a quarterfinal round bid.

St. Ignatius College Prep, seeded 24th, achieved its second straight playoff upset with a 35-23 win over the eighth-seed Red Raiders in the Class 8A second round game in Chicago on Nov. 3.

The Red Raiders ended the season at 9-2, but battled to the final buzzer. HHS scored its final points on a Braylon Bower 20-yard touchdown pass to senior Jacob Witt with three minutes left.

Bowlers shoot for state meet return

HUNTLEY — After earning a spot in the IHSA Boys Bowling State Tournament last season, the Red Raiders are motivated for a strong 2023-24 season.

Back on the traveling squad are juniors Austin Tenglin, Matthew Fishman, Joseph Humphrey, Landen Conforti, Matt Hoglind and Nick Gaspari. Freshman Noah Waters is also a part of the traveling competition group.

Fourth-year head coach Jacob Wagner summed up the early season work.

“Our turnout was great,” Wagner said. “We currently have 32 total boys signed up for bowling with 17 freshmen, seven sophomores, and eight juniors.

Willis helps Scots volleyball advance

HUNTLEY — A recent Huntley volleyball standout and a teammate from Marian Central helped lead their college team to the second round of post-season action.

Huntley alumna Emily Willis described her team as ready for the post-season. McHenry County College advanced in the Region IV tournament with the first round win Nov. 1 as they swept Illinois Valley, 25-23, 25-21, 25-15.

“We are super motivated and had amazing practices,” Willis said.

Willis contributed six kills and 11 digs against Illinois Valley.

Warren halts Huntley volleyball at sectional

HUNTLEY — Huntley volleyball players gathered around head coach Karen Naymola for one final time this season.

The team’s bid for a fourth straight sectional championship, which ended at its home court Oct. 30, may not have come to pass, but the resiliency is something the Red Raiders will take from a 2-1 upset at the hands of Gurnee Warren. The sectional’s top seeded Red Raiders fell in a tough 22-25, 25-15, 20-25 loss to the second seed Blue Devils.

The final chapter of the 31-7 Huntley season included recovery from a previous injury, but also new injuries.

Zuzzio looks back on cross country career

HUNTLEy — Zach Zuzzio’s Huntley cross country career came to a close when he crossed the finish line at the Lake Park Class 3A Sectional meet Oct. 28.

“I’ll miss all of it,” Zuzzio, who finished 35th, said.

Zuzzio recently answered questions about their cross country career.

Describe your initial years of cross country.

Zuzzio: “When I first joined cross country I thought of it as a way to condition myself for baseball. I still enjoyed running, especially coming from a state championship team in eighth grade, but it was never my main focus.”

Nitz, girls cross country on to state

HUNTLEY — Keeping a good post-season run going strong was the goal for Huntley’s girls squad and lead boys runner Tommy Nitz.

The Red Raiders girls, earned a third place and IHSA State Meet spot at the Class 3A Sectional Meet Oct. 28 at Lake Park’s campus course in Roselle. The girls squad moves on as a team to the IHSA State Cross Country Meet Nov. 4 at Detweiller Park in Peoria. Freshman Haley Rahman led the girls effort with a 21st place time of 18:21.1.

Playoff win warms Huntley’s hearts

HUNTLEY — A night of tough weather conditions and a challenging foe did not stop Huntley from a Class 8A first round playoff win over Niles West.

The final seconds were ticking down as Huntley had a football victory formation. The celebration of the Red Raiders’ 26-14 Class 8A playoff win had begun, with a chant of “start the buses” on Oct. 28.

Led by three touchdowns and 146 yards rushing from Haiden Janke and a key punt block, Huntley overcame Niles West to gain an achievement that has been three years in the making.

Volleyball squad reaches 7th heaven

HUNTLEY — The Red Raiders volleyball team earned a spot in its own Class 4A sectional tournament by winning the Rockford East Regional over Dundee-Crown. HHS gained its seventh straight regional crown.

Huntley, the sectional’s top seed, improved to 31-6 record as it beat Dundee-Crown, 25-12, 25-13 on Oct. 26. Huntley will face second-seed Warren Township, at the home sectional semifinal Oct. 30. Warren, seeded second for the sectional, won the Jacobs regional over the home team, 2-1, to advance.

A steady effort led the Red Raiders to the successful night at Rockford East.

Cross country leader Allison reflects on career

HUNTLEY — Huntley’s girls cross country team had one senior, Ava Allison, as the Red Raiders won the IHSA Class 2A Hampshire Regional championship Oct. 21. The team is ready for the sectional meet at Lake Park Oct. 28.

Allison contributed a sixth place finish at regional. She recently answered questions about her cross country career.

Describe your initial years of cross country.

Allison: “I loved cross country when I started and I still love it. I joined cross country because my mom used to sign me up for fun obstacle course races when I was younger.

Elgin ends HHS soccer season

HUNTLEY — Huntley’s boys soccer team’s memorable 2023 season included several achievements, but came to an end with a 4-1 loss to Elgin at the Class 3A Round Lake Sectional Oct. 24.

Huntley senior Hudson Nielsen scored the team’s lone goal, on a second half penalty kick. He finished with 18 goals on the season and 43 total points.

“Every game has been for my teammates,” Nielsen said. “I love every single one of them. It feels good to score a goal for the team in my last game.”

Williams marks 4-year volleyball career

HUNTLEY — Huntley senior Lizzy Williams has experience in big post-season matches, as the Red Raiders have advanced to the Super-Sectional the last three seasons.

The Red Raiders (30-6 record) will try for a seventh straight regional championship against Dundee-Crown at Rockford East on Oct. 26. Williams, who has been on the varsity team for four seasons, recently answered survey questions about her career.

Describe your initial years in volleyball.

Williams: “I started playing volleyball when I was around 5 or 6-years old.

Red Raiders salute seniors, gain regional final

HUNTLEY — Senior night and a successful start at the Rockford East Class 4A Regional tournament were the latest accomplishments for the Red Raiders volleyball squad.

The Red Raiders turned back host Rockford East, 25-12, 25-10 at the regional semifinal Oct. 24 for a 30-6 overall record. Huntley advanced to play Dundee-Crown Oct. 26 at Rockford East in the regional final. The winner advances to the Huntley Sectional Oct. 30.

Head coach Karen Naymola commented on the post-season victory.

“I thought the girls played really relaxed and confident,” Naymola said.

Nitz, Rahman rule races, win titles at regional

HUNTLEY — The Class 3A Regional Cross Country meet at Hampshire’s course proved to be a successful one in multiple areas for Huntley.

The Red Raiders returned with two individual champions, freshman Haley Rahman won the girls race and junior Tommy Nitz took first in the boys’ three-mile course. The girls won the team championship, with 34 points while the boys earned a top six finish (qualify for sectional) at third with 92 points. The IHSA Class 3A Sectional Meet Oct.

Huntley strives for playoff win

HUNTLEY — Huntley will play in its 20th IHSA Football Playoff game when the Red Raiders welcome their first round foe Niles West at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in a Class 8A match-up.

The visiting Wolves Niles West Wolves, a Central Suburban League member finished 6-3 in the regular season, 3-2 in league games.

“We are preparing for Niles West the same way as we would any opponent,” Huntley head coach Mike Naymola said. “They appear to have great team speed and are very aggressive defensively.

Doubles duo gains first round state win

HUNTLEY — A win at the Class 2A IHSA State Tennis Tournament was the highlight for the Huntley doubles team of Kate Burkey and Carlie Weishaar.

After a 6-2, 6-4 win over Batavia’s Erin Connelly and Addi Long, the Huntley could not gain a second win and finished 1-2 at Palatine High School. Naperville North’s Gabbie Lee and Brooke Coffman beat the Red Raiders 6-0, 6-0 in the winners bracket second round. Then in the consolation round, Peoria Richwoods’ Julia Wojtowicz and Olivia Reynolds, won 6-4, 6-2.

Red Raiders soccer advances to sectional

Huntley's boys soccer team had a winning plan for penalty kicks on how to stop them and score them when it mattered most. With both the Red Raiders and Dundee-Crown's seasons on the line in a Class 3A Regional Final, Huntley prevailed 1-0 on penalty kicks Oct. 20. Huntley will face Elgin Oct. 24 at Round Lake, with the winner going to the sectional final Oct. 27.

B-day special: boys soccer in regional final

HUNTLEY — Huntley’s boys soccer team’s top goal scorer, Hudson Nielsen, made his 18th birthday celebration a memorable one.

Nielsen, a senior, reached 17 goals on the season with a hat trick and added an assist. The Red Raiders advanced to its Class 3A regional final with a 6-0 shutout of Rockford Jefferson Oct. 17.

“We had a meeting and decided that Nielsen has the ‘it’ factor,” Huntley coach Matt Lewandowski said. “He can turn around a match when he wants to.

Nitz, girls titles highlight FVC cross country

HUNTLEY — Huntley’s girls cross country team placed three runners in the top 10 as the Red Raiders won the Fox Valley Conference championship at the Plato Park course Oct. 14.

The Red Raiders returned with an individual champion as junior Tommy Nitz defended his FVC boys crown with a time of 15:19.00, beating Will Gelon of Prairie Ridge’s 15:29.35. All runners competed against conditions this rainy, muddy Saturday morning.

“As a team, you acknowledge that the conditions on a given day are the same for everyone,” HHS coach Matt Kaplan said.

Red Raiders ready for Rockets

HUNTLEY — The more than 20 Huntley senior football players worked to go out with a big splash against Dundee-Crown, on a night when the musical theme was likely “Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head.”

The weather was frightful, from wind and drizzle to a downpour, but the Red Raiders dominated D-C, 35-7, Oct. 13 for a 7-1, 7-1 FVC record.

Senior Zach Rysavy made it a night he won’t soon forget. He returned a Chargers’ punt 50 yards for a touchdown.

Volleyball squad set for FVC finish

HUNTLEY — Entering the final week of the regular season, Huntley’s volleyball team earned a tough three-set win over Cary-Grove and finished in the top third of a huge tournament.

The Red Raiders were 27-6 heading into the week. The Fox Valley Conference champs (15-1) have league battles against Dundee-Crown Oct. 17 and Burlington Central Oct. 19, both at HHS. Then it is on to the Rockford East Class 4A Regional five days later.

Huntley lost the first set to C-G, 19-25, but bounced back with 25-16, 25-17 victories Oct.

Doubles duo qualifies for state tennis

HUNTLEY — The other courts at the indoor The Racket Club were clear when Huntley’s girls tennis doubles tandem of Kate Burkey and Carlie Weishaar battled two Lake Zurich twin sisters in a doubles final.

Juniors Burkey and Weishaar recorded three wins by 6-0, 6-0 sweeps. They reached their goal as they advanced to the Oct. 19-21 Class 2A IHSA Girls State Tournament as runner-ups at the Cary-Grove Sectional Oct. 14.

Burkey and Weishaar posted a 3-1 record at the sectional.

Soccer nets FVC crown share; regional next

HUNTLEY — The Red Raiders boys soccer team regained its momentum on offense in the regular season finale.

Huntley secured a share of the Fox Valley Conference championship with a convincing 4-0 win over Burlington Central Oct. 10. The Red Raiders tied Crystal Lake South with 8-1 league records and were 14-5-1.

Hudson Nielsen got the scoring going with two penalty kicks in the first half with a 2-0 lead. They upped his goal scoring total to 14 on a team which has topped 50 scores.

Naymola earns Bears’ Coach of Week honor

HUNTLEY — The Chicago Bears have officially named head coach Huntley head coach Mike Naymola as the team’s High School Coach of the Week for Week 7. This recognition is part of the Coach of the Week and High School All-Stars award programs.

In support of these initiatives, the Bears will make a $2,000 donation to the Huntley High School football program. The athlete All-Star Week winner was Nick Peipert, the Barrington High School quarterback, and direct a $500 donation to a youth program of Peipert’s choosing, according to the team web site.

Laughlin enjoyed football at early age

HUNTLEY — Jack Laughlin, a senior defensive back for the Huntley football team, described his football experiences with the Red Raiders.

Describe your youth football years.

Jack Laughlin: “During my youth football days I played for the Huntley Mustangs. I started playing in fourth grade and have been playing since.”

Any recent grads who helped influence your work ethic?

Laughlin: “Some recent grads that have helped me get better and influence are Josh Witt and Connor Ardell. These people were the main reason i showed up every day because they made the sport so much fun and enjoyable.”

Line vet Tiberi shares experiences

HUNTLEY — Red Raiders offensive lineman Vinny Tiberi had an early start on his battles on the line of scrimmage. The senior answered survey questions ahead of Senior Night, Oct. 13 against Dundee-Crown.

Describe the togetherness of the senior class has since reporting freshman year.

Tiberi: “My class has a special bond like no other, due to us being the COVID-19 year. We had a shortened season by two games which made us appreciate football more.”

Describe your youth football days, other sports growing up?

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