HHS featured championships by senior Ally Panzloff 's 48.73 meters in the discus throw; senior Alexandria Johnson in the long jump with a 5.96 meters  and sister sophomore Dominique Johnson in the triple jump, 12.35 meters.

Head coach Jason Monson explained the feeling from when the title was determined to a welcome home.

“The ride home was long but it was exciting because we knew the community would show up,” Monson said.

The 17-3-3 Red Raiders won their own tourney at Red Raider Stadium in convincing style, a 5-0 triumph over DeKalb which followed an 8-0 pasting of Rockford East.

Sparked by a hat trick of goals by leading scorer Helzer, the Red Raiders moved on to sectional for the first time in six seasons. Huntley travels to Machesney Park Harlem to face Lake Zurich in the sectional semifinals May 23.

"That is three straight years without a single defeat in the FVC," Saccomanno said.

The Red Raiders dismissed Crystal Lake South, 17-4, May 17 for an 8-0 league record.

"Obviously it is what we wanted to do and the players worked really hard for it - it was a big goal," Saccomanno said. "It's good to see their hard work rewarded."

Freshman No. 1 singles player Will Geske became the first Red Raider to win the Fox Valley Conference championship at that slot in the FVC  tournament May 11-12. Geske will bring a 19-1 record to sectional while the first doubles team of Ben Hein and Jonathon Stec are 13-7. Geske beat Jacob Kim of Prairie Ridge, 7-5, 6-4.

The Red Raiders that day were also awarded the top seed at the IHSA Grayslake North sectional and had won nine straight matches. Head coach Dominic Saccomanno has had a long coaching relationship with the Class of 2023, dating back to U12 summer tournaments.

"I remember meeting coach Saccomanno for the first time," senior  Liam Manning said.

The Red Raiders have high goals going into the IHSA Class 3A Girls State Track and Field Meet May 18-20 at Eastern Illinois University after a 109 point showing. Eight events qualified to go to Charleston.

"To win a sectional is incredible," Huntley coach Jason Monson said.

As she did in basketball season, Morgan is a team captain on a successful squad.

"It's very special," said Morgan McCaughn after the Red Raiders downed Crystal Lake South 5-0 May 9. She said always bringing a positive attitude each day was the most important aspect.

For McCaughn, her start in soccer included being coached by her dad, Kyle, who is also the Crystal Lake South head girls soccer coach.

Raethz was an award winner from District 6. The accolades were presented to winners at the IBCA Coach of the Year luncheon at Illinois State University's Redbird Arena in Normal May 6.

"It was a very nice event and the IBCA does a great job of promoting basketball around the state and honoring the successes of players, coaches and teams," Raethz said.

The Red Raiders wrote another chapter in its dominance of the Fox Valley Conference Track and Field Meet at Red Raider Stadium May 5. With four conference records and individual championships, the HHS squad amassed 149 points to swamp runners-up Prairie Ridge's 82.

The effort gives the Red Raiders momentum heading into the Class 3A IHSA Sectional Meet May 10 here, ahead of the Girls State Track and Field Meet May 18-20 at Eastern Illinois University.

"What Hood has accomplished as a high jumper is pretty amazing," Red Raiders boys track and field coach Chris Maxedon said.

"We found out that he might be a decent jumper last year at an indoor meet,” Maxedon said. “After the event was over, the mats were still out and he jumped over 6’1” in crocks. At that point we told McKale that he needed to try the high jump.

Flash forward 13 years later, on a sun-splashed Thursday at Huntley High School. Starting with captains Ryan and Brayden Bakes, sons of Melissa and Chris and concluding with Aiden Zimmerman, son of Laura and Brian, the 17 Class of 2023 members enjoyed senior day traditions. A total of 14 players will be playing baseball next year at Midwest colleges, while Ryan Bakes will attend South Carolina University.

The players are seniors Ryan and Brayden Bakes; senior Dillon Putty and sophomore AJ Putty and senior Mike Dabe and sophomore Ryan Dabe.

"I have never had three sets of brothers on the same team," Huntley coach Andy Jakubowski said. "The one thing that all sets of brothers have in common is that they are all character guys and they show up each and every day."

"We're 7-3 and three losses have all come to teams in the top five," Red Raiders coach Dominic  Saccomanno said. "It definitely prepares us to be in a good position and to fine tune our whole system."

HHS had not played since an 8-6 win over Barrington April 18 due to weather postponements, but through 10 matches, Saccamanno has a good idea of the team's dedication.

Ferrara joined an elite group as she gained her 100th goal in two varsity seasons. She went on to add two more goals in a hard-fought 9-8 overtime loss to Stevenson. Ferrara tallied a school record 59 goals last season and had 39 goals this season before the match against the Patriots.

It all began in fifth grade when Ferrara, daughter of Nicole and Sam, discovered lacrosse.

Geske He has posted a 14-1 overall record, 6-0 in the FVC and just one win went to three sets. Geske earned five victories over conference opponents in a two-week span, including one three-set triumph.

"Geske has had an excellent start to the season," HHS coach Barry Wells said. "Playing No. 1 singles as a freshman is hard to handle, but he has a lot of experience outside of high school so I was not surprised by his success so far.

The Red Raiders head coach for the past 17 seasons, Andy Jakubowski, was about to make history. When the third out of the sixth inning was recorded, Jakubowski gained his 500th career triumph after a 12-2 HHS win. The team's 15-3 record also meant an 8-2 league mark.

"I've been blessed with great players, supportive parents, coaches and administration for 28 years, 23 as a head coach," Jakubowski said.

The Red Raiders earned their third victory of the season in a 20-5 rout of Plainfield April 21. That followed a strong effort in a 6-3 loss to Crystal Lake Central April 19 in a Fox Valley Conference battle.

"We have a lot of young new talent and every game that we play we get closer and closer as a team," Huntley coach Joe Domka said.

Doors open for bidding at 6 p.m. and the event runs until 9 p.m. Raffle winners will be drawn about 8:45 p.m.

"The auction is our primary source of fundraising for spring," HHS Booster Club President Shannon Corso said. "Every ounce of funds raised will go directly back to our student athletes in one form or another."

Auction items that could draw interest, club officials said, include several "basket" prizes: golf course prizes for foursomes packages to six different area golf courses; reserved student parking spots; BBQ baskets; gym memberships; sporting events and museums; many baskets with gift cards to local establishments.

The Red Raiders moved to 9-2-1 record, 2-1-1 FVC with a 1-0 victory at Prairie Ridge April 18. A second half goal from junior Gabi Farraj was the match winner.

The Huntley squad is led on offense by senior forward Grace Helzer, who has chalked up 28 total points on 12 goals and four assists (before the win over the Wolves).

This is the first year in Huntley history where every single varsity athlete on the boys volleyball team has experience in the sport, making a huge difference in the success of the program.

“I think it's hard for any varsity coach to imagine having a lineup with 20 to 50 percent of the team having never played the sport before,” Head Coach Gerald Marchand said.