By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Chris Renna didn’t come into the Hun School football program as a highly touted player.
But he’s exactly the kind of player the program relies on for its success.
“When I got the job he was already accepted,” Hun coach Todd Smith said. “I made a point to meet him and now three years later he is a two-way starter. I think that is one of things we’re trying to do, which is make sure kids we get at a young age are invested in and develop and get a chance to play as juniors and seniors.
“Sometimes these kids get overlooked, but from my perspective, these kids have worked hard and invested the time and earned the right to play.”
Renna, a Medford Lakes resident, came to Hun as an undersized repeat sophomore. Now, three years later, he’s a starter at tight end and linebacker looking to continue to play football at the college level.
“When I came to Hun I was a late bloomer,” said Renna, who along with his teammates will put their undefeated record on the line at Peddie on Saturday. “I was super small my first two years of high school at my public school. I came to Hun and my sophomore year I got a coupe reps on varsity. Playing mostly JV was different from playing at my old school. I was also playing varsity lacrosse as a sophomore and I never expected that. I was mostly coming to Hun hoping it would get me into a better college.”
Since arriving at Hun the same year Smith became head coach, Renna and the Raiders have enjoyed nothing but success. Hun has won 20 straight games and a win over Peddie on Saturday would go a long way towards helping the team to a third straight Mid-Atlantic Prep League title.
“Like any other thing, there is always room to improve,” said Renna, whose father, Mike, played at West Windsor-Plainsboro High and went on to become a two-time All-American at Delaware. “We’ve had a great season, but we can still improve any game. It’s hard to believe we just have two games left. I sat back after the Lawrenceville game and couldn’t believe there are only two games left. Everyone says it to you that the time goes fast, but you never realize it until it happens.”
For Renna, the move to Hun has been a perfect fit. The extra year of high school has helped him develop as a player and a student.
“I have had fun,” he said. “I love the team. I have been having a fun experience. I don’t care how I do personally. For me the best part of being on the tea, is meeting the new kids.
“It really is fun when you meet the new guys. They don’t know what to expect. Some come from different schools in different states. They are coming to this environment where were in pre-season we are jumping around and having water balloon fights. They’ve never done this on a football team. It’s a different aspect to the team.”
The Raiders face their biggest challenge of the season against a Peddie team that is 5-1 and also 3-0 in the MAPL. The winner on Saturday is likely headed to the MAPL title.
“Peddie is a good team,” Smith said. “We don’t know who is out and who is not for them as far as injuries. Even with the guys out they are still without question the most talented team in the MAPL. They have 10 or 12 new players. It only looks like they have two kids on defense from last year. They have a lot of talent. We have to play good, sound football.”
As one of the seniors on the roster, Renna plans to do all he can to make sure the Raiders are at their best.
“I’ve gotten older and now as a senior compared to my sophomore year it is different,” said Renna, whose uncle, Jim, also played at WW-P and went on to play at Princeton University. “I’m not a captain, but I have a slight leadership role. You get the feeling some of the kids look up to you in a way. So you have a bigger impact on the team.
“It is going to be fun against Peddie. It’s been the game we have had circled on the calendar all year. There has been a certain intensity to the practices. We know this is the game we need to win to keep our streak alive.”
As the Raiders head into their biggest game of the season, Smith is happy to have a player like Renna on board. He’s been a key to their success the last three years.
“He’s a great kid,” Smith said. “He was on a couple special teams his first year. He repeated his sophomore year and that is paying dividends now. It’s given him an extra year to grow and prepare and develop as a player college.
“His father did a PG year after high school and went on to the University of Delaware and was a two-time All-American offensive tackle and got some time in the NFL. He is taking after his father.”
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