Erie-Prophetstown senior wrestler Michelle Naftzger is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. She became E-P's first girls wrestler to reach 100 career wins and hopes to become a four-time state qualifier.

Newman faces off against Riverdale Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, for the title at the Cliff Warkins Memorial boys basketball tournament at Erie High School. Newman took the win 79-73.

EP hosted their annual Holiday Wrestling Tournament Saturday, Dec. 19, 2025. -Photos by Jessie Ottens

EP took the win 34-32 Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2026, in Erie. -Photos by Jessie Ottens

Newman girls take on Erie-Prophetstown in basketball Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. Newman took the win 38-22. -Photos by Jessie Ottens

Playing a scrappy Erie-Prophetstown team on the road in a defensive struggle, Newman had to grind out a 38-22 Three Rivers East win. Gisselle Martin led the Comets with 16 points.

EP defeated Rock Falls 57-53 Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in the final game of the Turkey Shoot Out in Prophetstown. Photos by Jessie Otten

After winning its first BCR Three Rivers All-Sports Championship in 2023-24, Riverdale is back on top of this year’s race through the fall season. The Rams have been boosted by first-place finishes in boys golf and girls volleyball, which placed third in Class 2A.

Erie-Prophetstown and Riverdale face off in the Turkey Tournament Shootout on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in Prophetstown. EP took game one in a win over BV but fell to the Rams this night. Photos by Jessie Otten

Here is a look at the Sauk Valley boys basketball teams as the 2025-26 season tips off this week.

Bureau Valley beat E-P 47-39 and will now face Riverdale for the championship at 7 p.m. Friday. Brynley Doty finished with a team-high 12 points with Libby Endress and Brooke Helms adding 11 each.

Bureau Valley defeated Erie-Prophetstown during the Thanksgiving Tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 at Bureau Valley High School.

With the 2025-26 girls basketball season getting started this week, here’s a look at the teams in the Sauk Valley area.

EP fell to Aurora Christian in the first round of the Class 2A IHSA football playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, by a score of 37-12.

Playing a Riverdale team that looks to be peaking for the postseason, Erie-Prophetstown struggled to get going in a 25-23, 25-19 loss in the Class 2A Rock Falls Regional final.

Top-seeded Erie-Prophetstown looked sharp in a win over Oregon to open the postseason at Rock Falls. The Rockets fell short to Riverdale in straight sets.

Erie-Prophetstown beat Oregon in straight sets Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, to advance to the Class 2A regional final on Thursday against Riverdale.

Here is a look at the seven IHSA first-round playoff football matchups in the Sauk Valley area and what to watch for. Dixon and Sterling would face each other in Class 4A if they both win.

Princeton scored on all five of its first-half drives - two set up by interceptions - and the Tigers rolled to a 48-0 rout of playoff-bound Erie-Prophetstown.

Princeton defeted Erie-Prophetstown 48-0 on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 on Bryant Field at Princeton High School. Check out photos from the game from Mike Vaughn.

Erie-Prophetstown and Princeton finished their regular football seasons Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. Photos by Jessie Ottens -Shaw Local News Network

Erie-Prophetstown's Keegan Winckler and Gaven Adams made big plays on senior night, and Derek Naftzger blocked a punt for a touchdown in a 27-14 win over Mendota

Erie-Prophetstown showed its depth can get the job done, holding on to beat Newman 25-22, 25-23 in Three Rivers East Conference girls volleyball action.

Newman volleyball plays host to Erie-Prophetstown on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025. Erie-Prophetstown won the match in two tight sets.

Teams from 38 area high schools converged on the Shady Oaks Golf Club east of Amboy for the 52nd Annual Columbus Day Invitational on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. Johnsburg's Grady Smith finished first in the boys race and Winnebago's Molly Webb was the winner of the girls race.

Erie-Prophetstown senior volleyball player Lauren Abbott leads the 29-3 Panthers in kills, hitting percentage, aces and blocks this season. She is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote.

Erie-Prophetstown football defeated Orion 40-14 Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. Photos by Jessie Ottens - Shaw Local News Network

Sterling has a big game at Geneseo, Dixon heads to Winnebago riding four straight shutouts, Newman plays at upstart Riverdale and Rock Falls faces winless IVC in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Erie-Prophetstown took on Hall in volleyball Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, during their Dig for a Cure night in Prophetstown. The Panthers won in straight sets. Photos by Jessie Otten - Shaw Local News Network

Erie-Prophetstown celebrated their homecoming week with a powder puff game, parade and a crowning of a king and queen from their separate high schools. The senior girls were the powder puff tournament winners.

The E-P Panthers continued to thrive, defeating host Princeton 25-13, 25-15 at Prouty Gym Monday night, winning going away in both sets.

Erie-Prophetstown senior golfer Izzy Johnston shot a personal best 85 to take first and help the Panthers win the Three Rivers Conference title. Her goal is to get to state. She is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week after an online vote.

Erie-Prophetstown takes on Mercer County in Week 5 football action Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. -Photos by Jessie Ottens - Shaw Local News Network

No. 3 Newman heads to Rockridge in a matchup of two undefeated teams on Friday. Dixon heads to Oregon, Sterling hosts Galesburg and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Newman, Erie-Prophetstown, Mendota and Orion compete Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in a girls golf meet at Emerald Hill.

E-P fell to Rockridge 29-12 in week 4 football action. Photos by Jessie Ottens-Shaw Local News Network

Newman bested E-P Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Roscoe Eades Field in Sterling by a score of 49-14.

Newman's Asher Ernst had two interceptions and Rylan Alvarado had two rushing scores as the two Morrison transfers made big plays in the No. 3 Comets' 49-14 win over Erie-Prophetstown on Saturday.

Erie-Prophetstown and first-year coach Rachel Bramm are off to a 10-2 start after sweeping Rock Falls Thursday night. It was a rematch of last year's regional final.

Sterling opens Western Big 6 Conference play against Moline, Dixon hosts Rock Falls, Newman hosts E-P on Saturday and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football previews.

Rock Falls and E-P square off on the volleyball court Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. E-P won on two sets.

Sterling girls golf took second at the Geneseo invite, Lucas Porter earned medalist for Rock Falls, Dixon volleyball improved to 7-1 and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

One hundred and 68 runners took part in the boys varsity race at the Oregon Cross Country Open on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025 at Oregon Park West.

Oregon’s Daniel Gonzalez placed eighth individually, while Anya Anaya paced the Oregon girls runners at the 30-team Oregon Cross Country Open on Saturday.

Sixteen teams competed in the Oregon Volleyball Tournament at the Blackhawk Center in Oregon on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. Here are match photos from Erie-Prophetstown, Oregon and West Carroll.

Erie-Prophetstown bests Hall in Week 2 action 19-7 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. -Photos by Jessie Otten/Shaw Local News Network

After Hall-Putnam County broke through and scored in the fourth quarter to pull within a score, Erie-Prophetstown responded with a TD of its own and stepped up defensively to finish off a 19-7 win in Spring Valley.

Erie-Prophetstown defeated Hall-Putnam County 19-7 on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 at Richard Nesti Stadium. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

After a one day rain delay, EP took down Kewanee 29-6, in Week 1 football action Saturday, August 30, 2025. Photos Jessie Ottens.

Here is a look at the Week 1 football matchups in the Sauk Valley area.