As of April 1, 2025, My Huntley News is no longer publishing new content but remains active for archival use. For those of you with active subscriptions, a prorated reimbursement will be sent to you no later than May 1, 2025. Refunds will be issued to the name and address listed on your subscription. My Huntley News thanks you for your support and readership, and we welcome you to visit White Silo Media's primary publication, My Sun Day News.
Subscribe Subscriber Login Staff/Contact Advertise Submissions Jobs

 

MY HUNTLEY NEWS

THE DOORWAY TO OUR COMMUNITY
 
News Features Sports A&E Columns Hang Your Hat Obituaries Sun City

December 12, 2023

Huntley wrestler Markos Mihalopoulos, top, wins his 285 pound bout against Jacobs Dec. 7. The Red Raiders won, 45-22.
Steve Peterson
Huntley wrestler Markos Mihalopoulos, top, wins his 285 pound bout against Jacobs Dec. 7. The Red Raiders won, 45-22.

Sports • December 12, 2023

Wrestlers start strong in duals

By

HUNTLEY — Huntley’s boys wrestling team is off to a good start in dual meets. The Red Raiders stood at 5-0, 2-0 Fox Valley Conference.

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.

There were several HHS wrestlers who posted 2-0 records. They were junior Alex Gutierrez at 138; freshman Radic Dvorak at 157; freshman Gavin Niscke, 138; and senior Markos Mihalopoulos, 285.

Both contests were hard-fought battles, especially the rally over the Tigers. CLC led 26-24 after 120 pounds with three matches to go but the Red Raiders won all three bouts.

Junior Aiden Lira’s win over Dan Snow at 126 pounds gave the visitors the lead for good. He trailed 8-5 in the second period but took control 7-4 the rest of the way.

“I kept my head up and kept focus,” Lira said. “In the off-season, I worked hard to get ready for my junior and senior seasons.”

Alex Gutierrez at 132 followed Lira’s win with a dominating victory  by pin over Nick Zuelhlke in 2:52, at 132 pounds.

Then Niscke garnered a win by pin against CLC’s Julian Viveros in 4:18  to secure the team win and a 2-0 start to the FVC.

“We really have two good 132 pounders in Niscke and Gutierrez. I looked at the match ups and went with Niscke at 132,” Bertelsman said.

Sophomore Bittman had a thrilling victory early by pin at 175, for a 12-10 deficit.

“Bittman came through and did his job when we really needed the win,” Bertelsman said.

The Red Raiders and Tigers went back and forth. A win at 106 pounds by Collin Abordo gave the visitors a 24-17 lead, only to see CLC regain a 26-24 margin.

Huntley’s Alex Napientak at 165, returned to the lineup after five days off due to an injury and battled for a fourth period victory.

 

Victory over Jacobs

 

The visiting Golden Eagles led early, but Mihalopoulos’s win at 285 by pin produced a 18-13 lead.

Wyatt Theobald, at 190 pounds, picked up a victory that went into extra time against JHS. He won his match after a 2-2 deadlock after regulation, as able to execute two moves with 30 seconds left in the fifth period for a 7-2 triumph. Also, he is thrilled his younger brother Wyalon is on the varsity at 165 pounds.

“It’s awesome, I get more nervous for his matches,” Wyatt Theobald said.

 

Community effort

 

The Red Raiders and Golden Eagles combined their efforts for a food drive for the Grafton Township Food Pantry.