Newman's Landon Near won the Class 1A 113-pound championship, while Dixon's Charlie Connors placed second during the IHSA state boys wrestling finals at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday.

Sherrard threw the first punch Friday at Lancaster Gym, then Dixon countered. But the Tigers finished things off down the stretch, surging from a late deficit to top the Dukes 63-61 in a back-and-forth regular-season finale that set the stage for the postseason.

Dixon boys play host to Sherrard Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, for the final game of the 2026 regular season. Sherrard won 63-61 on a game winning shot with 10 seconds left.

While Geneva made key plays in Thursday's Class 3A Dixon Regional championship, Dixon suffered one of its worst shooting nights of the season in a 49-40 Vikings victory at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon and Geneva meet in the Class 3A girls basketball regional Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. Geneva took the hard fought win 49-40.

Dixon started strong and never looked back in a 55-10 win over Rockford East in their Class 3A Dixon Regional semifinal Monday night at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon walloped Rockford East 55-10 in the girls basketball Class 3A regional semifinal in Dixon. Dixon will play in the regional championship on Thursday.

Last-second victories. Avenged losses. Blood-round wins, an undefeated champion and tight decisions. Saturday’s 1A Byron Sectional was an exciting one as area wrestlers advanced to state.

Wrestlers punch their ticket to the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 at the Byron Class 1A wrestling sectional.

Dixon built a double-digit lead early in the seconds quarter and never trailed again in a 69-61 BNC win over Rock Falls on Friday night at Tabor Gym.

The Rock Falls Rockets host the Dixon Dukes in a Conference basketball game. The game was held at Forest Tabor gym in Rock Falls on Friday, February 13, 2026

Dixon got contributions from its entire roster as it rolled to a 72-33 win over Harvest Christian on Wednesday.

Dixon girls beat Harvest-Westminster Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, 72-33.

A perfectly timed offensive rebound led to a decisive three-point play as Dixon pulled out a 45-43 BNC win over Stillman Valley on Saturday night at Lancaster Gym.

Wrestlers from Dixon, Sterling, Rock Falls, Oregon, Erie-Prophetstown, Fulton, Polo, Rochelle, Byron and Stillman Valley, competed at the Belvidere Regional on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.

Dixon girls basketball hosts Stillman Valley on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. Dixon took the game 45-43.

Girls bowling teams from Dixon, L-P, Mendota, Ottawa, Rochelle, Sterling, St. Bede and Hall competed during the IHSA girls bowling Regional meet on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 at the Illinois Valley Super Bowl in Peru.

The Dixon wrestling team took care of business against Morrison to advance to team dual state for just the second time in program history.

Morrison and Dixon wrestlers face off for a chance at the state tournament Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Oregon. Dixon took the win 57-20.

Dixon led by double-digits less than three minutes into the game and never trailed in a 60-53 victory Tuesday night over Big Northern Conference rival Oregon at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon and Oregon boys basketball face off in a BNC showdown Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. Dixon took the win 60-53.

Individuals from Amboy, Dixon, Hall-Putnam County, Mendota, Marquette, St. Bede Princeton, and Sandwich all competed during the Class 1A Regional meet on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at Princeton High School.

A big third-quarter run turned the tables for Dixon on Wednesday against Alleman, and the Dukes pulled away for a 59-48 nonconference win at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon boys take on Alleman Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026, in boys basketball. The Dukes took the win 59-48.

Dixon used smothering defense and a couple of offensive surges to pull away from Genoa-Kingston for a 51-23 victory in their Big Northern Conference game Tuesday night at Lancaster Gym.

The Dixon Duchesses beat G-K 51-23 Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, in Dixon.

Dixon wrestler Jack Ragan is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. He eclipsed 100 career wins this season and hopes to place at state.

The Dixon Duchesses took on the Byron Tigers in a Girls basketball Conference game.The Byron Tigers won over the Dixon Duchesses 46-43 in overtime. The girls basketball game took place at Byron on Saturday, January 24th, 2026.

Dixon erased a five-point deficit in the final minute of regulation, but Byron pulled out a 46-43 victory in overtime to knock Dixon from the ranks of undefeated in the Big Northern Conference on Saturday afternoon.

The Dixon wrestling team had dominant performances over Oregon and Rock Falls to win a seventh straight Big Northern Conference title.

Here are pictures of Rock Falls, Dixon and Oregon wrestling in meet at Rock Falls. The event took place on January 21, 2026.

Playing its fifth game in eight days, LaSalle-Peru struggled early Tuesday but pulled away for a 69-46 victory over Dixon.

L-P defeated Dixon 69-46 on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026 in Sellett Gymnasium at L-P High School.

Morrison and Fulton win in the NUIC. Dixon earns a win on the mat. Plus more results from around the area in Friday's Sauk Valley Media sports roundup,

Junior Ahmyrie McGowan recorded a quadruple-double, and Dixon shot 61.5% from the field before emptying the bench late in the third quarter of a 64-19 victory over Oregon in a Big Northern Conference game Thursday.

Dixon beat BNC conference rival Oregon 64-19 in basketball Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.

Dixon High School announced on Wednesday night that assistant Brad Winterland has been hired as its new head football coach.

The Dixon boys wrestling team has a potent lineup and high hopes this season. The Dukes look to finish the season strong after sweeping a home triangular against Sterling and Freeport on Tuesday night.

Dixon, Sterling and Freeport boys faced off in a wrestling triangular Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, at Dixon High School.

Wrestling teams from Dixon, Princeton, Richmond-Burton and Coal City competed during the 62nd annual Lyle King Princeton Invitational boys tournament on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 at Princeton High School.

Morgan Hargrave hit a 3-pointer just before halftime to give Dixon the lead and momentum in a 48-31 win over St. Francis on Saturday.

Dixon girls basketball hosted and beat Wheaton St. Francis 48-31 Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026.

Confidence and aggressiveness were the name of the game Friday night for Dixon, as it used a huge third-quarter run to break open a tie game and pull away for a 53-37 victory over Stillman Valley at Lancaster Gym.

Dixon's Jared Shaner felt like it was time to step down after a successful run leading the Dukes' football team.

The Duchesses bounced back with a 52-43 win over Stillman Valley to take third at the Dixon Christmas Classic on Monday night.

Dixon takes on Stillman Valley in the Third Place game of the 47th Annual Christmas Girls Holiday Classic at Dixon High School on Monday, December 29th, 2025.

Dixon fell 54-52 to Byron after leading by eight in the fourth quarter in Saturday's Christmas Classic semifinals.

Dixon and Byron face off in the Duchesses Basketball Christmas Classic semifinal Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. Byron edged out a win 54-52.

Dixon started off hot from the perimeter and never looked back Friday to advance to the semifinals of the Dixon Christmas Classic, building a double-digit lead by the end of the first quarter in a 67-27 win over Aurora Central Catholic in their final pool-play game on Day 1.

The Dixon Duchesses played the Aurora Central Catholic Chargers in the Dixon Holiday Tournament. The game took place at Dixon High School on Friday, December 26th, 2025