Huntley’s girls varsity swim team ended a successful season following their eighth place finish in the IHSA St. Charles North Sectional.  The team had one of their best seasons yet, posting a 6-1 record with four top-five place finishes in their weekend invitational meets.

The season started out with a nail-biting win of 91-89 against Illinois Math and Science Academy (IMSA).  This set the pace for the rest of the season, where the Raiders rolled through Elgin, Cary Grove, Dundee Crown, and Woodstock, winning by an average of 50 points in each of those matchups.

The Red Raiders took third place at both the Woodstock North and Rockford Auburn Invitationals, as well as fourth and fifth place at the Warren and St. Viator Invitationals, respectively.

The team will be graduating four key members of their team: Allison Cravens, Dasuni Dharmaratne, Lindsey Ferguson, and Jordan McGuire.  None of the four swimmers plan to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

At the Fox Valley Conference Tournament, the team placed third overall, with Cravens placing four events, Dharmaratne in three, and Ferguson in four.  McGuire did not swim in conference due to a family situation.

Not only did the team share success in the Fox Valley Conference, but they also broke records at home.  Junior Katelyn Carlson, Cravens, Ferguson, and sophomore Sydney McGuine broke the Huntley High School record for the 400 free relay.

“It was an incredible feeling to know that all of our team’s hard work had paid off,” Ferguson said.  “It felt good to look at the clock and see a time and a place that I never thought that I could get.”

A highlight of this season included Raider Nation making its first ever appearance at a swimming event.  The fans stood by the pool and chanted as the swimmers prepared on the blocks and dove into the water during their rivalry matchup against Jacobs High School.

“The Jacobs meet is one of the hardest ones and knowing the your friends are there and supporting the team made it so much more enjoyable,” Dharmaratne said.  “In all my years on the team, they never came so I loved seeing the support and spirit branch out.”

Although the Raiders will take a hit with the four graduating seniors, they have a lot of potential in Carlson and McGuine.  Underclassmen standouts include sophomores Emma Bolas and Abigail Godek.

“In the upcoming season, I hope to see we are more prepared and are being pushed harder in practice,” Bolas said.  “To see progress, effort, and goals being reached.”