Meet the 2026 Northwest Herald All-Area girls wrestling team.

Hampshire's Matt Todd, whose Whip-Purs brought home four state medals and won McHenry County's first team state girls wrestling championship, is the 2026 Northwest Herald Girls Wrestling Coach of the Year.

Huntley senior Janiah Slaughter, who went 37-2 and became the first girls wrestler in McHenry County to win an IHSA individual state championship, is the 2026 Northwest Herald Girls Wrestler of the Year.

Emmerson Falk and Mei Shirokawa combined for eight hits, six runs and five RBIs as Burlington Central, which scored seven runs in the third inning, took down Sycamore 13-8 in nonconference softball action Tuesday evening.

Joey Lengle drew a bases-loaded walk with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting Huntley to a come-from-behind, 8-7 win over Fremd in a nonconference baseball game Tuesday.

Huntley faces Fremd in a nonconference baseball game on Tuesday, March 2026, at Huntley High School.

McHenry, Crystal Lake South, Hampshire and Richmond-Burton's baseball teams all picked up nonconference victories. Burlington Central softball fell to Belvidere and Hampshire girls soccer shut out Jefferson.

Elijah and Malachi Bell are on the move after earning All-Fox Valley Conference honors for Jacobs' basketball team this winter. The brothers plan to transfer to Marian Central, where they will play for their dad, Lafeyette, who's the boys head coach.

The 2026 boys lacrosse season is officially underway. Here are five players to watch in the McHenry County area.