Trio join the ranked in preseason

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Cary-Grove has assumed its customary spot in The Associated Press Class 6A rankings to begin the season.

The Trojans have started every season in the top 10 since their IHSA Class 7A state runner-up season in 2004. C-G is there again, holding the No. 4 spot in the Class 6A poll, which was released Wednesday.

McHenry County’s two semifinal teams from 2008, Richmond-Burton and Crystal Lake South, also start the season in the top 10 of their respective classes. R-B is No. 5 in Class 4A and South is No. 6 in Class 7A.

C-G has lost only one regular-season game since 2003 and has advanced to the playoff quarterfinals four of the past five seasons.

With quarterback Tyler Krebs, fullback Eric Chandler and running back Alex Hembrey returning, the Trojans appear ready to make another run at an unbeaten regular season.

C-G (11-1 in 2008) hosts Crystal Lake Central (6-4 in 2008) at 7:15 p.m. Friday at Al Bohrer Field in a Fox Valley Conference crossover game.

“We think we’re going to be pretty good,” C-G coach Bruce Kay said. “We have a number of offensive linemen who’ve improved through the offseason and we like how they look.”

C-G started the 2008 season projected as a 6A team, but was bumped up to 7A for the playoffs. C-G has an enrollment of 1,890, fifth-largest among 6A teams, so it could wind up in 7A again. The Trojans were in 7A in 2004, 2007 and 2008, and dropped to 6A in 2005 and 2006.

With 2,006 students, South is the 15th-smallest 7A team, so it likely would stay in that class. The Gators defeated C-G, 14-7, in overtime in their 7A quarterfinal matchup last season and junior quarterback Drew Ormseth has returned to lead the offense.

“They worked hard in the offseason,” South coach Jim Stuglis said. “After a season like that everybody wants to continue it and push it and take it to the next step.”

Huntley (9-2 in 2008) also received votes in 7A and was listed second among other teams receiving votes.

R-B (8-5) started last season 1-4, then reeled off seven consecutive victories to reach the semifinals. The Rockets return the majority of their starters (eight on offense) and realize they are a marked team this year.

“We’re playing a quality schedule,” R-B coach Pat Elder said. “It’s good that our league is unbelievable. Last year, our schedule prepared us very well for the playoffs.”

R-B opens at 7 p.m. Friday at Oregon, a team that was 12-1 last season, losing in the semifinals in Class 3A.

Solheim experience: Huntley senior golfer Katlyn Anderberg was selected to play in the Solheim Cup Junior Amateur Tournament last Monday before the professional competition took place at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove.

Anderberg was on one of 12 teams that played Monday at the Aurora Country Club. Her four-person team finished fifth.

“My coach [Ann Christiansen] nominated me and I was one of 13 players chosen from Illinois,” Anderberg said. Also on her team was Ireland’s Lisa Magoire and two players from the Kids Golf Foundation. Her team finished 5-under-par for the day.

Anderberg attended Tuesday’s practice round at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, and watched Saturday’s competition with her Huntley teammates. Anderberg still is in the college recruitment process and said she would like to play at Montana.

• Joe Stevenson covers high school sports for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at 815-526-4513. He also can be reached by fax at 815-459-5640 or by e-mail at jstevenson@nwherald.com.