The sport of swimming first brought Kyle and Jamie Ruiz together in third grade. The 2004 Sterling graduates, who reconnected through swimming after college and eventually got married, are still giving back today as teachers and coaches.

Gallery

Boys swim teams from Olympia, Morrison and L-P competed during a triangular swim meet on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 at the Illinois Valley YMCA in Peru.

Sterling freshman Sarah Doughty won the Sterling girls bowling regional, while wrestlers from Oregon, Amboy, Polo and West Carroll advanced from various regionals on Saturday. Plus more in our local sports roundup.

Newman boys basketball senior Lucas Simpson broke his own school scoring record with 47 points in a win over Bureau Valley, and Newman girls basketball senior Jess Johns surpassed 1,000 career points in a loss to Bureau Valley on Thursday. Plus more in our local sports roundup.

The Dixon boys bowling team placed 4th at the Freeport Regional to advance to the Rockford (Jefferson) Sectional, the Amboy girls basketball team topped Polo, and the Sterling and Rock Falls wrestling teams earned dual-meet wins. Plus more in Wednesday's roundup.

The Eastland boys basketball team topped Forreston, the Morrison girls basketball team rolled past Orion, and the Sterling girls bowling team edged Dixon on Monday. Plus more in our local sports roundup.

Newman senior forward Jess Johns surpassed 1,000 career rebounds, the Sterling girls basketball team edged Rock Island, and the Newman wrestling team went 2-0 at the Dakota triangular on Thursday. Plus more in our local sports roundup.

Rock Falls senior Aydan Goff reached 1,000 career points in a win over Stillman Valley, and the Oregon wrestling team won the Stillman Valley Holiday Tournament on Saturday. Plus more in our local sports roundup.

Several boys basketball players from the Sauk Valley area were recognized on the Three Rivers all-conference teams.