Grayslake North is thinking big

Grayslake North keeps reaching new heights.

As evidence, a two-story brick building is being built by the entrance to the football stadium.

“Skyboxes,” Knights coach Steve Wood joked.

The truth? A new weight room and girls locker room are being constructed.

“It’s good for us because now we get (the girls’) other locker room,” Wood said. “Our locker room is jammed right now.”

If you think the new building is big, you ought to see junior offensive lineman Dan Krajewski. He stands 6 feet 5 and tips the scales at 300 pounds-plus. He can play football, too, Wood said.

“Before the summer camp I was 320 (pounds), but I think I lost some,” Krajewski said after a recent practice under a hot sun. “I’m probably about 310, maybe.”

Another 300-pounder and new to the offensive line is 5-10 junior Scott Humphreys. A program is growing in more ways than one.

“I’m excited,” Wood said.

Big expectations are understandable.

Grayslake North put together the best season in its seven-year history last year. Led by all-state quarterback A.J. Fish, who was the captain of the Daily Herald Lake County All-Area team, the Knights did more than just earn their first state playoff berth. They went 8-1 during the regular season, winning eight straight after an Opening Night loss to Lakes, and finished undefeated in the Fox Valley Conference Fox to capture their first division championship. Their season ended with a first-round playoff loss to Notre Dame.

While the Fish got away — he’s playing lacrosse at Virginia after throwing for 2,058 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushing for 1,676 yards and a staggering 29 TDs — the Knights return other players they consider good catches.

Fish’s replacement at QB will be either sophomore Merrick Gentile or junior Titus Booker, both of whom have varsity experience. Gentile, a smooth-fielding third baseman, got a varsity baseball promotion last spring. He’s the brother of former Grayslake Central quarterback Mike Gentile. Booker started at running back and rushed for 764 yards and 12 TDs in an all-conference campaign. Wood calls him a “dynamic athlete.”

Wood also said Booker, like Gentile, throws a good ball.

“Both kids are going to play,” Wood said. “Both kids have done a great job in the off-season, and they both have a little something special to offer.”

Despite the graduation of Fish, who was as athletic as any kid in the county, the Rams will remain a spread option team.

“We don’t necessarily run a ton of option per se, like old traditional option, but we’re going to pass and run about 50/50,” Wood said. “I really don’t see us changing too much from what it’s been in the past.”

The Knights graduated a pair of all-FVC offensive linemen in Geoff Gardner and Eric York, but this year’s unit has “big” upside. Note Krajewski, for example.

Wood said the huge O-lineman “has taken off” after having never played football before his freshman year. Senior tackle Ian Pearce (6-2, 200) started last season, while senior tackle Brandon Bock and senior guard Mike Suarez also return.

“Our line is bigger than it’s ever been in the past,” Wood said. “We’re excited about that because it opens up some other possibilities.”

Slotback Brad Baker had a big season as a sophomore on varsity last year. The all-conference player led the Knights with 47 receptions (3 TDs). Andrew Martineau is a junior slotback who had an “absolutely awesome summer,” Wood said. Fellow junior Jake McHugh is another solid slot.

And then there’s big tight end/slotback Jesse Davis (6-4, 220), who broke both his tibia and fibula late last fall, ending his season and preventing him from playing basketball all winter, as well. Davis has started at linebacker since his sophomore year.

“He’s doing great,” Wood said. “He looks awesome.”

Another returning talent on defense is senior nose tackle Noe Perez, who’s also been up since his sophomore year. Pearce and Bock will share one end position, while junior Jordan Suchowski will occupy the other end. The senior trio of Davis, Joe Stark and Zach Juron play linebacker. Senior Spencer Davis and junior George Deligiannis will play outside linebacker/strong safety. The cornerbacks — Mike McGrath, Anthony Anzelmo and Freddie Williams — are all veterans. McGrath nabbed all-FVC honors last year.

“As a program, I’m really excited where we are,” Wood said. “Our sophomores are thin, but we got great kids that are going to fit really well with us in the future. Our junior class is really strong, and our seniors have tasted it and know what it’s about. I see no reason why we can’t be a successful football program again. I’m not going to predict 8-1, 9-0, conference champ, things like that. But I’ll say this: If we continue to improve and the kids continue to work, there’s no reason come Week 9 that we’re not playing for that conference title.”