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Photo Credit: Luiza Magalhaes

The sports captains of Libertyville athletics represent the leadership and perseverance the Wildcats pride themselves in. They are more than just the most valuable player on their team; they are leaders who inspire the people around them. Whether it’s being the driving force behind a win when all the chips are down, or being an integral component behind the scenes at practice, the sports captains at LHS are vital contributors to the school spirit of our community.  

Kenzie Hughes 

Kenzie Hughes is an unofficial captain of the LHS varsity girls gymnastics team. In August of 2025, Hughes participated in the TV show “American Ninja Warrior” where she ended as a national finalist in season 17 of the series. She is also a two-time champion of the Ultimate Ninja Athlete Association (UNAA) in 2019 and 2023. Even though Hughes has shown an incredible amount of talent on a national level for millions of people to see, she still finds the energy to bring inspiration to her teammates when spirits are low at a meet.

“We do this thing called knucks, where we put our knuckles against each other, and take one deep big breath to let everyone relax,” Hughes said. “We started this a few years ago, but we do it because our team is relatively new, especially our varsity team.” 

Another ritual Hughes leads for the team when they might have had a difficult meet is called clap and clear, where the team acknowledges the outcome and moves on to the next meet. 

“We always clap and cheer too. If a routine does go bad, then there’s still more events,”  Hughes said.

Bryce Wegrzyn

Bryce Wegrzyn is one of the four captains of the varsity boys basketball team here at Libertyville High School. Last season, Wegrzyn averaged 19 points (PPG) and ten rebounds per game. This season at the Wheeling Hardwood Classic, Wegrzyn had an impressive 33 PPG with a record-breaking 56 points in one game. Alongside being a force to be reckoned with on the court, Wegrzyn is a supportive teammate that emphasizes the team aspect of basketball rather than individual performance.

“At the end of the day, we’re 14 guys,” Wegryzn said. “It’s like we’re all captains, we just have to respect each other and try to play our best.” 

Being a team captain is also about being a role model for the generations under them. Wegrzyn believes that since he sets an example of the team’s success in the game, he should also be able to set an example for underclassmen off the court.

“It’s really important to me to be a role model,” Wegrzyn said. “I’ve been playing solo before, so it’s good to be more connected now. We’re definitely a more bonded team than before.”

Chethen Nickerson 

Chethen Nickerson is one of the captains of the varsity boys tennis team at Libertyville High School. Last year, Nickerson played doubles with Libertyville alumni Jack Gerber, earning a record of 4-0 during the 2024 season. This year, he has been freshly recruited as the captain and is still getting used to the responsibilities of his new role. 

“I definitely want to show these guys what’s possible at the varsity level,” Nickerson said. “I want to give them the right tools so they can keep Libertyville tennis going at a high level and continue to take home some wins.” 

Nickerson also spoke about the challenges of being responsible for the direct line of communication with the head coach, having to organize the team during both practice and official play. 

“There’s a lot of logistical stuff. It’s as if I’m the connection between the players and the coach,” Nickerson said. “I do a lot with brackets and scheduling, like who we’re gonna be playing against, what the lineup is, and what the practice regimen will be for that particular day.”