As the final four seconds ticked off the clock, Naperville North senior Jack Reif held onto the ball as a New Trier player tried in vain to pry it from his hands.
The 6-foot-1, 230-pound Jack Reif’s teammates, including senior Mason Hofmann, knew a dream was about to become reality.
“He has great ball control,” Hofmann said. “He’s a super big guy, so when we need someone to keep possession, he’s the guy that you go to.”
When the horn sounded, the Navy-bound Jack Reif turned and hurled the ball to the ceiling of Stevenson’s natatorium as his mother, Naperville North boys water polo coach Kelly Reif, began jumping up and down on the pool deck.
That was the beginning of a celebration capping a storybook ending.
The Huskies, led by Jack Reif and Hofmann, had just rallied to beat New Trier 7-6 on Saturday night to win the first state championship in program history.
“Their best player shot the ball, and we got the save,” Jack Reif said. “We were able to spread out, and I knew they’d get the ball to me. I’m the biggest guy in the pool, so I was able to hold him off.
“I was just overwhelmed with emotion.”
So was Kelly Reif, the former Waubonsie Valley and Indiana star who began coaching the Huskies in 2021, when Jack Reif was in eighth grade.
“It was just like all the emotions at once,” Kelly Reif said. “We’ve worked so hard for this.
“His freshman year, I looked at this group of kids, and I said, ‘We’re winning state your senior year. Watch us.’ And with four seconds left, I just couldn’t believe it that we had the ball in the hands of one of our strongest players. I knew we could kill four seconds. I was so excited.”
Kelly Reif first introduced Jack Reif to water polo when he was 8 years old. Her husband, Myles Reif, coached the club team that included Jack Reif and Hofmann, who were the two best scorers for Naperville North (31-4) this season.
Hofmann, a Johns Hopkins recruit, finished with 171 goals and 91 assists, and Jack Reif had 121 goals and 72 assists. Each scored six goals in the Huskies’ 17-10 victory over Young in the semifinals earlier that day.
New Trier (31-3), which had won three of the four regular-season meetings with Naperville North, led 6-2 at halftime but didn’t score again. The Huskies rallied behind Hofmann, who had three goals and an assist, and Jack Reif, who contributed one goal and one assist.
Hofmann assisted junior Caden Tsao’s go-ahead goal with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter. Jack Reif led Naperville North’s strong defense the rest of the way.
“As you can see, none of the kids give up ever,” Kelly Reif said. “To be able to shut them out in the second half is incredible. You saw Jack and Mason just take charge, like ‘we’re not losing this game,’ so it was awesome.”
Hofmann had dreamed of winning a state title even before he entered high school. Doing it alongside Jack Reif made it even better.
“I’ve been playing with Jack for probably 10 years,” Hofmann said. “Almost every time I’ve played water polo, he’s been there, too, whether it’s at a practice in the morning, at a gym, or in the weight room, late-night drives to masters practice. He’s been there the whole way.
“It’s our last game playing with each other, so it’s bittersweet.”
Jack Reif never played football, despite his size. Water polo and swimming were his only sports, and playing for his mother was an added bonus.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. “Working hard at practice and then going home and talking about the practice and game-prepping with her in late nights, early mornings, I’ll never forget that.
“The bond we have is really something special. Not a lot of people get to experience that, especially winning a state championship, so I’m very proud of our team.”
Kelly Reif, who has a career record of 110-28, is equally proud.
“I feel very blessed to have this opportunity,” she said. “Not many people get the opportunity to wear the hat of mom and coach, nonetheless a state championship, so it’s just so exciting.
“I love him so much. I love all the kids so much. It’s just a really special bond that we have.”
Jack Reif also had a bond with his great-grandfather Bob Young, a Navy veteran who served in World War II and later became a high school football coach and then an Illinois High School Association official for football and basketball. Young died at age 99 one week before the Huskies won the state title.
“After our last sectional game, I found out that he had passed away,” Kelly Reif said. “So this is extra special. I’m sure he’s up there looking down and pulled us through for that one.”
Young was a role model for Jack Reif.
“He always loved telling stories about the Navy, so I really looked up to him,” Jack Reif said. “He was a great man.”
So Jack Reif jumped at the opportunity to attend the Naval Academy.
“I took it with no regrets, didn’t look back at all,” he said. “I’m really excited to serve my country.”
Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Jack Reif will be required to serve five years on active duty. He’s ready to do it for one simple reason.
“I just want to give back to the things that have given me the most,” he said. “This country has given me so many excellent things. It’s a great opportunity for myself to be successful but also to give back.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
