The season came to a close at the MCJGA Tournament of Champions at Woodstock Country Club Aug. 8.

Huntley's Maddie Sloan led the local results as she won girls 16-18 Player of the Year honors. Teammate Miranda Hoeft took second in her class for the tournament, age 13-15.

Sloan dominated play all summer and finished with more than 900 total points in 13 events.

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Community spirit was the winner overall while the fire fighters won the contest 7-5 at the Veterans Memorial Park diamond in Sun City Aug. 6. The 22nd annual softball game was part of Huntley's National Night Out Day and Enjoy Huntley Week activities.

The game had the visiting police department members take an early lead, but first baseman of the HFPD, Keith Schroeder, had the big hit with a three-run double in the HFPD win.

Huntley Historical Society was the beneficiary of the Second Annual Beer Mile event, held at the grounds of Sew Hop'd Brewery and Tap Room in Huntley. More than 60 participants took to the beer drinking and running course. Some competed as relay teams while others did so individually.

“We had the Beer Mile last year and had about 40 runners,” Historical Society member Lonnie Oldham said.

“Summer camp for football is basically preseason so in my opinion it's essential to getting your team ready for the season,” Red Raiders head coach Mike Naymola said in mid-June. “We have competition all over the field. Lots of kids are trying to earn spots and the competition element of that is going to pay dividends in the end.

This year's MCYSA tournament will be the 31st annual event. It begins with session one on July 12 through July 15, followed by the second session, July 18-21. Games are played at Crystal Lake's Lippold Park and Veterans Acres and other locations.

The area will be contributing several teams to the 99-team field, including two from Huntley, the Citius Navy 8U and Raiders Baseball Academy 13U.

Meyers was one of three members of the IADA Class of 2024 Hall of Fame, along with Terry Dobbs who worked at Palatine and Greg King of Sterling, at the May IADA meeting. Meyers explained that due to his retirement as Johnsburg High School Athletic Director in 2003, he is one of the elder statesman so honored.

Rita Castens is the new HHS Athletic Director as of July 1, while Matt Landvick was named HHS Assistant Athletic Director in separate Huntley Community School District 158 (D158) Board of Education meetings.

Castans was appointed by the D158 BoE to succeed Glen Wilson as AD, as Wilson will return to the classroom this fall. Landvick's role is a new position.

The highlight at the Illinois Elementary Sports Association (IESA) meet from both schools was eighth grader Myla Wade of Heineman's squad earning second place in the eighth grade 400-meter run. Her time was 59.16 seconds.

“Wade ran a personal best and Heineman school record running a 59.16, and placing second in state. This girl is a dynamic runner and embraced the challenges that this event brings,” Heineman track-and-field coach Katy McCrystal said.

Tommy Korn was the Tigers' pitcher who closed out the championship, a 3-2 comeback win over Lemont, at Joliet's Duly Health Care Field June 8.

Tommy Korn's mom Jennifer works in Huntley Community School District 158 as a Speech-Language Patholigust, in the LIGHT program.

Seniors Malachi Paplanus, a pitcher and designated hitter Kyle Larson along with juniors first baseman AJ Putty and second baseman TJ Jakubowski and sophomore pitcher Drew Borkowski were named All-FVC. The Red Raiders won the league title with a 14-4 record. HHS has won the league championship for six straight seasons.

HHS was 29-8-1 overall following a 22-7 loss to McHenry in the Class 4A sectional final clash at Hampshire June 3.

The Hurricanes' final results are:

Gabi Ford led the way as she brought home two medals, first place in the division F6 softball throw and second place in the division F^ 50-meter run;

Parker Goering won second place in division M16 softball throw;

Luis Martinez took fourth place in division M15 softball throw and

Chase Goering took home fourth place in division M17 softball throw.

Jeff Cruickshank in the high jump, Tommy Nitz in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs and the 4x200-meter relay of Vinny Costa, Dominic Giuseffi, Lex Giron and Talon Sargent earned all-state honors May 25.

Cruickshank earned seventh place in the high jump with a leap of 1.98 meters, 6-feet, 4.25 inches.

“I was happy with seventh, but felt I could have done better.

The Red Raiders had achieved a 30-win season with a 5-3 verdict against sectional rival Barrington three days earlier.  The Huntley squad fought until the final strike against Mundelein in the Class 4A Leyden super-sectional but the 36-1 Mustangs earned the trip to state with a close 2-1 win.

Sophomore Ava McFadden gave the Red Raiders, 30-10 final record, one final chance for a seventh inning tie with a triple.

Mike Huff, a member of the American League West Division Champion White Sox, addressed the Huntley White Sox Fan Club recently. He has found a new niche in baseball, after careers in real estate and once in a while broadcasting White Sox games.

Instead of tracking down fly balls as he did in his seven-year MLB career, he seeks to grow the game for the younger generations.

When the final ground ball hit by a Barrington player was secured by first baseman AJ Putty in the sectional semifinal the Red Raiders had achieved their objective. They advanced to the IHSA Class 4A Hampshire sectional final, with a 6-3 verdict over the Broncos.

HHS's next game, against McHenry for the sectional crown, was to be continued June 3 due to weather June 1.

Huntley dominated Rockford Jefferson 25-1 in the regional semifinals May 22. The Red Raiders outlasted DeKalb and the weather, for an 8-0 regional final championship May 24. This marks eight straight years the Red Raiders have advanced to IHSA Sectional play. The HHS squad, 27-7-1, faces Barrington at the Hampshire sectional at 4:30 p.m. May 29.

“We had some adversity the week before with tying Libertyville (1-1) and losing to Palatine (4-3) and Antioch (5-0).

Neuqua Valley (15-8) claimed the spot in the IHSA Streamwood super-sectional with a convincing 16-7 victory. Huntley closed its season at 16-6 overall May 24.

“I'll remember the culture we created here – that it is more of a family,” senior Nico Andrews said.

HHS outlasted St. Charles East 17-9 in the semifinals of its own IHSA Sectional. This victory followed a 14-5 win over St. Charles North in the first sectional match. HHS's sectional final is May 24, with the top seeded  Red Raiders and third seed Neuqua Valley seeking a spot in the Streamwood super-sectional on May 28.

On a blustery May 21 at Red Raider Stadium, which included a 20-MPH wind, the contest was concluded only after a two-overtime Barrington win over Huntley, 1-0. The Fillies (18-1-2) winning goal occurred on a long shot with about eight minutes left in the second OT. Barrington moved on to the Class 3A Huntley sectional final May 24.

In the semifinal battle, Huntley used stellar defense led by goalie Maddie Lackovic, who stopped a Barrington offense which had scored 79 goals this season.

Dominique Johnson defended her championship in the triple jump while the 4x200 and 4x100-meter relay squads also brought home gold. Advancing to end on the podium was the title winning 4x100-meter relay team of Sophie Amin, Emmy Byers, K'Leigh Saenz and Vicky Evtimov and the first place winning 4x200-meter relay of Johnson, Byers, Saenz and Evtimov.