Harlem Honors Many Participants in Fall Sports Program

By Bob Balgemann, REPORTER

 A large group of Harlem High School student-athletes were honored Nov. 16 for their achievements both in the classroom and on the fields and courts. There were 49 NIC-10 scholar athletes, which means they carried a B average or better, plus many All-Conference Selections, MVPs and an elite group of five who were four-year letter winners.

Haleigh Gilligan was Captain of this year’s Girls Cross Country Team, which had three scholar athletes. Head Coach was Mike Oliveri. The Boys cross Country team, coached by Danny Savage, was a sectional qualifier, having finished fourth in a field of 10 at the Guilford Regional. Jake Elmer and Brady Johnson served as Co-Captains, with Brady and Christopher Nix being first team, All-Conference choices. Jake was special mention, All-Conference, and there were eight scholar athletes.

Derek Gross, Jacob Lee and Tyzn Runyard captained this year’s Boys Soccer Team, coached by David Chu. Tyzn and Benji Pelayo were first team, All-Conference and this squad had seven scholar athletes. The Huskies lost in the opening round of the Guilford Regional, 2-1 to Auburn. The Girls Tennis Team, led by longtime Head Coach Bill Dredge, had five scholar athletes. Co-Captains this year were Sinclair Drysdale and Emma Garcia. The Lady Huskies finished fifth at the Harlem Sectional.

Junior Austin Young earned several honors on this year’s Boys Golf Team. He was a State qualifier, NIC-10 Champion, Conference Most Valuable Player and first team, All-Conference. He also was one of five NIC-10 scholar athletes. In addition, Co-Captain Martin Schwebke was first team, All-Conference. The other Captain was Josiah Wolf, with the Head Coach being Jared Day. Team-wise, the Huskies took fifth at the Guilford Regional as Austin (74); Josiah (76) and Martin (79) qualified for the Harlem Sectional. Austin then shot a 75 and moved on to State. Kinsey Bogen and Abby Christensen were Co-Captains of the Girls Swimming and Diving Team, with Kinsey being special mention, All-Conference. This team had four scholar athletes and finished 10th in the Jefferson Sectional Meet. Head Coach was Kellie Eickstead.

The Girls Volleyball Team, coached by Amanda Hathaway, had Tri-Captains this year in Kahley Logan, Booklyn Taylor and Madison West. There were eight scholar athletes with Madison being named first team, All-Conference. The Lady Huskies won the opener of the Harlem Regional, 25-14, 25-16, over Elgin. They lost in the semi-finals to Huntley, 25-15, 25-19.

Harlem’s Football Team advanced to the State playoffs for the ninth consecutive year under Head Coach Jim Morrow. Lake Zurich prevailed in the opening-round game. Captains this year were Maxwell Dixon and Trent Willey.  Max and Brenton Shaw were first team, All-Conference; with special mention accord going to Trent and Octavio Galvez. This team had eight scholar athletes. State qualifier Carson Racich was first team, All-Conference for the Girls Golf Team, coached by Brad Sweet. In addition, Reilly Hancock was special mention, All-Conference. This team, which didn’t have a captain, had one scholar athlete. Four-year letter winners at Harlem were Jacob Lee in Boys Soccer; Dawn Foss and Carson Racich in Girls Golf; Abby Christensen in Girls Swimming and Diving; and Kahley Logan in Girls Volleyball.

Most valuable player awards went to the following:

Omar Ramirez, Commander of the Artillery in Boys Soccer, and Tanner Grable, Secretary of Defense, also for the Boys Soccer Team.

Wide receivers Anthony Byrne and Gabe Haun were Offensive MVPs for the Football Team; Octavio Galvez was the defensive MVP; and Dylan Castro, MVP for special teams. Brenton Shaw received the Outstanding Player Award.

Miranda Dooley and Marysa Kiely, MVPs for the Girls Cross Country Team.

Carson Racich, Most Valuable on the Girls Golf Team.

Kinsey Bogen, MVP in Girls Swimming and Diving.

Emerald Kounthapanya, Most Valuable on the Girls Tennis Team.

Madison West, MVP for the Girls Volleyball Team.

A special thank you was issued to the Athletic Trainer, Jason Lubben.