Eddie Carifio

The NIU football team will wrap up its season Friday at home against Kent State, playing its final MAC after 38 years in the league.

It's a familiar story for Sycamore. A key play is injured is injured, another one steps up. This year it was Gavin Crouch who stepped up, scored 29 goals and was the Daily Chronicle 2025 Player of the Year.

There were not shortage of explosive scorers across the area, so much so that even a goalie was a threat to score. We look at the best on the Daily Chronicle 2025 All-Area Boys Soccer Team.

NIU knocked off Chicago State while Genoa-Kingston and Kaneland won their season openers. That and more in the roundup.

As the year went on, teams became more and more focused on stopping Khiara Thomas. The Sycamore junior left-side hitter found other ways to contribute while still maintaining her attack, helping the Spartans win a regional for the second time in three years.

Last year's all-area volleyball first team was all seniors. This Daily Chronicle 2025 All-Area Volleyball Team has just one senior among its ranks. We look at the best the area had to offer.

Presley Meyer scored 24 and earned a spot on the all-tournament team in a Genoa-Kingston win.

Dario Milivojevic, Tanner Glock and St. Francis forced five Belvidere North turnovers to earn a spot in the Class 5A state championship game against Providence Catholic. The Spartans had lost in the semifinal round the last three years.

The NIU men picked up a win at Loyola Chicago, the NIU women got their first win under coach Jacey Brooks and Sadie Lang scored five points in the final 1.7 seconds to lead Sycamore to a 55-53 win over Marengo.

Kaneland and Sycamore bring back loaded rosters and should make for an interesting battle in the Interstate 8 while DeKalb looks to replace all its starters from a 20-win regional champ. We look at each area team and their expectations.

Five seniors highlight a group of players to keep an eye on this year as the boys basketball season is set to start next week.

The Sycamore bowling team swept Ottawa in a conference match while Presley Meyer and Ari Rich scored all but two of Genoa-Kingston's points in a loss.

Some state placers, some hungry young wrestlers and one of the best in the country highlight five girls wrestlers to keep an eye on this season.

With the girls wrestling season set to start next week, we look at each team and what they expect out of the 2025-2026 season.

The reigning wrestler, a former freshman phenom looking for a stronger sophomore campaign and a potential new freshman standout highlight five wrestlers to keep an eye on this season.