Burlington Central volleyball defeated Cary-Grove in three sets, Burlington Central's Tyler Samaan led the Rockets boys golf team to an FVC dual win over the Trojans, plus more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

The 2025 high school football season starts Friday for Northwest Herald teams. Here is a look at Week 1 games, including Prairie Ridge at Cary-Grove in a matchup of the past two Fox Valley Conference champions.

Check out our team-by-team boys soccer preview with top returners, key newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Northwest Herald area.

Richmond-Burton faces Johnsburg in a Kishwaukee River Conference girls Volleyball match on Thursday, August 25, 2025, at Johnsburg High School.

Richmond-Burton's girls volleyball team began defense of its Kishwaukee River Conference title by beating Johnsburg in two sets, while Crystal Lake Central golfer Giuliana Dickson shined at RedTail Golf Club. Plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Check out our team-by-team girls volleyball preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Northwest Herald area.

Check out our five girls volleyball players to watch in the Northwest Herald area for the 2025 season.

The girls tennis season got underway this week. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Crystal Lake Central co-op girls golf won the Huntley Invite title by 15 shots, Jacobs' boys took first over Hampshire at the Crystal Lake South Invite, plus more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Marengo junior Kiley Brady recorded a hole-in-one on No. 11 at Marengo Ridge, while Prairie Ridge's girls and Marian Central's boys picked up wins in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Chase Garden led Jacobs boys golf past McHenry in FVC action, while Maggie Hanson had the top score for Marengo's girls in a win against Genoa-Kingston. And more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

A look at the Kishwaukee River Conference for the 2025 season, including team-by-team preview capsules, players to watch, five can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predicted order of finish.

Johnsburg's Nathan Frost carded a 39 to earn medalist honors in the Skyhawks’ season-opening win over Grant on Friday.

The boys golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Woodstock North’s Ben Weir placed third overall as the Thunder took third out of 12 teams to open the season at the Sandwich Boys Golf Invite. Johnsburg girls golf won its season opener in Wisconsin.

The girls golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

High school football practice officially starts Monday, and the opening night for the season for local teams is Aug. 29. Here are Joe Aguilar's five storylines to watch this season in McHenry County.

Can anybody take down Huntley in the FVC? How far can Richmond-Burton extend its KRC winning streak? Here are five girls volleyball storylines to watch in McHenry County in 2025.

Johnsburg's Carter Block broke out in a big way a year ago. The quarterback led all Kishwaukee River Conference players in passing yards and spent the offseason getting bigger and smarter for his last season as the Skyhawks look to build on a 6-4 record.

The IHSA released football schedules for the 2025 season, and Week 1 features a matchup between the past two Fox Valley Conference champions, as Prairie Ridge will visit Cary-Grove. Check out the top games to watch each week in McHenry County.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area baseball team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald Girls Soccer All-Area Team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Boys Tennis Team.

Here are six Northwest-Herald football players poised for big 2025 seasons.

The All-State baseball teams have been released, and the Northwest Herald coverage area is well represented.

Here is the All-Kishwaukee River Conference girls soccer team for the 2025 season, as selected by coaches.

Woodstock North brothers Mason and Austin Nicolai placed 18th at the IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals, which concluded Saturday at Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville. 

Johnsburg's historic run ended Saturday afternoon when it lost 8-0 to Columbia in the Class 1A state championship at North Central College in Naperville. The Skyhawks earned their highest state placement in program history.

The Johnsburg girls soccer team took on downstate foe Columbia in the IHSA Class 1A state championship game Saturday afternoon at North Central College in Naperville.

Charlie Eastland scored a sensational goal with 29 seconds remaining in regulation, giving Johnsburg a thrilling 2-1 victory over Timothy Christian in a Class 1A state semifinal Thursday.

The Johnsburg and Timothy Christian girls soccer teams met Thursday in a Class 1A state semifinal matchup with the winner to play in Saturday's championship game against Columbia.

Johnsburg will return to the IHSA state finals for the third time in program history Thursday when the Skyhawks play Timothy Christian in the Class 1A state semifinals at North Central College in Naperville.

A number of McHenry County-area girls soccer players and coaches earned honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association for the 2025 season. Here's the full list of winners.

Sandwich's Braden Behringer was named the Kishwaukee River Conference Player of the Year and Johnsburg's Evan Pohl earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Here is the rest of the 2025 All-KRC baseball team, as selected by coaches.

Marengo's Kylee Jensen was named the Kishwaukee River Conference Player of the Year and Richmond-Burton's Hailey Holtz earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Here is the rest of the 2025 All-KRC softball team, as selected by coaches.

Huntley's Tommy Nitz became the second Red Raider in as many weekends to win a state title. The senior capped his high school career in grand style with a first-place finish in the Class 3A 1,600-meter run at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Field.

Newmn scored three runs in the top of the first, then tacked on three more in the fifth to back pitchers Drake Cole and Garret Matznick in a 6-2 victory over Johnsburg in the Class 2A Mendota Sectional final Saturday afternoon.

Hampshire and Burlington Central baseball each won regional titles, Dundee-Crown's upset bid of Barrington fell just short, and Prairie Ridge's Tim Jones and Cole Palese finished sixth at the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet.

Johnsburg overcame two deficits Saturday afternoon to beat Willows Academy 3-2 in penalty kicks and win the Class 1A Dominican University Supersectional, qualifying for the state finals for the first time since 2017.

Johnsburg defeats Willows Academy in the IHSA Class 1A Supersectional soccer match on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Dominican University in River Forest.

Newman and Johnsburg face off in the Class 2A Sectional final at Mendota Saturday, May 31, 2025. Newman took the win 6-2.

Cary-Grove's Logan Abrams qualified for the IHSA Class 3A Boys Track and Field State Meet finals in the shot put and discus, Huntley's Tommy Nitz clocked the fastest 1,600 time, and Johnsburg's Brett Centnarowicz sits in second place in the 2A discus.

Hampshire softball won its second regional title in three seasons, Cary-Grove battled top-seeded Antioch but fell short in a 6-3 loss, and Huntley boys lacrosse almost upset No. 1 Barrington, falling 18-17, in a sectional title match.

Prairie Ridge's Jacob Kim and the Wolves' doubles team of Tim Jones and Cole Palese continued their Class 1A Boys Tennis State Tournament run Friday and have a chance to finish as high as fifth place when play resumes Saturday at Palatine High School.

Johnsburg is one win away from its third Class 1A state tournament appearance in program history. The top-seeded Skyhawks will meet No. 1 Willows Academy at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Dominican University Supersectional in River Forest. "This has been the dream."

Crystal Lake Central, the defending Class 3A state champion, upset Lakes in their playoff opener. Jacobs, Huntley and Dundee-Crown also earned wins to reach regional finals, and more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Prairie Ridge’s Jacob Kim and the Wolves’ doubles team of Tim Jones and Cole Palese enjoyed perfect days Thursday at the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet. Players from Crystal Lake South, Huntley, Jacobs and Johnsburg also advanced to Day 2.

Byron and Johnsburg meet up in Mendota for the Class 2A Sectional semifinal Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Johnsburg took the win 9-2.

Junior forward Liz Smith posted her second hat trick of the postseason, and Johnsburg shut out North Shore Country Day 4-0 on Tuesday to capture the third sectional championship in program history.