High School Honors — All-state, all-area captain, all-conference, conference defensive MVP as a senior… academic all-conference honoree. Career – Edge rusher on Barrington High School… helped his team win 12 games and advance to the state semifinals his senior year… team captain as a senior… broke the school record and state of Illinois sack leader (16) his senior campaign… amassed 78 tackles, including 30 for loss and 16 sacks, and 30 hurries as a senior… registered 40 tackles, including five for loss and three sacks, and six hurries his junior campaign… had a career-best five sacks in one game… also lettered in lacrosse and wrestling.
Personal — Born 9/28/2005… business major… parents are Jason and Leanna Van Ness… has three older siblings (Lukas, Hanna and Ella)… high school coach was Joe Sanchez… older brother, Lukas, was a former Hawkeye and first-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2023… teammate of DL Andrew Kraus at Barrington HS… enjoys wake surfing away from the football field.