Burlington Central’s Tyler Samaan Shines at Cary-Grove Invite

Burlington Central’s Tyler Samaan showcased his golfing prowess at the Cary-Grove Invite, held at Foxford Hills in Cary on Saturday. Samaan claimed medalist honors with a score of 2-over-par 74, leading his team to victory over nine competing schools. Burlington Central finished with a total score of 320, narrowly defeating Lake Zurich, which finished with 322.

The event highlighted strong performances across the board. Prairie Ridge took third place with a score of 329, while Crystal Lake Central, Huntley, and McHenry rounded out the top six with scores of 334, 340, and 351, respectively. Other teams included Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove, and Dundee-Crown, who finished seventh through ninth.

In individual standings, Huntley’s Austin Matich, McHenry’s Alex LaShelle, and Burlington Central’s Matthew Zierk tied for fourth with scores of 78. McHenry’s Dane Currie finished seventh with a score of 79, while Cary-Grove’s Wyatt McKinney and Prairie Ridge’s Mason Zimmerman tied for eighth at 80.

Meanwhile, in girls volleyball, Crystal Lake Central secured the Gold Bracket title at the Jacobs Invite in Algonquin, finishing fifth overall. The team triumphed over Belvidere North with scores of 25-20 and 25-21 in the final match. Seniors Emily Mazza and Alexis Hadeler were recognized for their outstanding performances and named to the all-tournament team.

The tournament saw a series of ups and downs for Central, who opened with losses to Boylan and Barrington but rallied back to defeat Warren and Boylan again, securing a spot in the fifth-place match. Key contributors included Tessa Popp, who recorded 49 digs and seven aces, and Reilly McCardle, who had 42 digs.

In another volleyball event, McHenry demonstrated dominance at the Rochelle Invite, winning all five matches to claim the championship title.

Switching to boys soccer, Huntley celebrated a solid victory, defeating Larkin 4-2 in a nonconference match. Tyler Murray was a standout player, netting two goals, while Finley Williams and Aiden Felz added one goal each. Goalkeeper Ethan Knaus made five crucial saves to secure the win.

In boys cross country, several teams competed in notable events. At the St. Charles East Leavey Invite in Geneva, Huntley finished fourth among eleven teams, with Andrew Raistrick achieving an individual time of 15:54.80 for 11th place. The Harlem Invite saw Hampshire securing second place with 59 points, closely trailing Belvidere, which scored 46. Burlington Central finished fourth with 102 points.

In the girls cross country events, Burlington Central took the title at the Harlem Invite with a score of 46, while Hampshire placed third. Central’s Hailey Ramono and Addison Davis recorded top finishes, with Ramono placing fifth and Davis finishing ninth.

Additionally, at the Crystal Lake South Rich Eschman Invite, Crystal Lake South placed second overall, following Lake Zurich. Key individual performances included Caroline Lucas, who finished fifth, and Johnsburg’s Clara Nicoline, who also secured fifth place.

The competitive spirit continued in flag football, where St. Charles North defeated Hampshire 50-0. However, Hampshire rebounded with a close victory over DeKalb, winning by a single point, 7-6.

Overall, the events of the weekend showcased impressive talent across various sports, highlighting both individual and team achievements. The performances at the Cary-Grove Invite and other competitions underscore the dedication and skill of young athletes in the region.