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.

Addison DeSomer hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, lifting Cary-Grove's softball team to a 2-1 win in a Class 3A regional semifinal. Prairie Ridge's Reese Mosolino and Crystal Lake Central's Oli Victorine threw no-hitters. Plus, more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Johnsburg faces North Shore Country Day in the IHSA Class 1A Richmond-Burton Sectional Championship Soccer match on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School.

Woodstock North baseball beat Harvard in their Class 3A playoff opener, while Huntley boys volleyball, Hampshire, Huntley and Cary-Grove boys lacrosse and Crystal Lake Central co-op and Huntley girls lacrosse all advanced in postseason action Monday.

A look back at the last week in sports in the Northwest Herald by photographers Gregory Shaver, and Patrick Kunzer for the Shaw Local News Network.

A look back at the last week in sports in the Northwest Herald by photographers Gregory Shaver, and Ryan Rayburn and Patrick Kunzer for the Shaw Local News Network.

Tears couldn't wipe the smile off the face of Huntley's Dominique Johnson on Saturday in downstate Charleston. Johnson and her 4x200 relay teammates were disqualified, but the Miami commit won two Class 3A state titles, including her third straight in the triple jump.

Johnsburg, after winning only 11 games total in the previous two seasons, shut out North Boone 5-0 Saturday behind a complete game by junior Ashton Stern, giving the Skyhawks a school-record 23 wins and the third regional championship in program history.

Jacob Kim (singles) and Tim Jones and Cole Palese (doubles) led Prairie Ridge boys tennis to a sectional title, Drake Lenckus scored seven goals for Crystal Lake South boys lacrosse in a sectional win over McHenry, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Charlie Eastland scored three goals as Johnsburg girls soccer rolled to a 7-0 victory over Cristo Rey St. Martin to reach the Class 1A Richmond-Burton Sectional final. Crystal Lake Central girls soccer won a regional title, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Huntley senior Dominique Johnson is in position to secure her third triple jump championship in a row at the IHSA Class 3A Girls Track and Field State Meet. Plus all of Friday's 2A and 3A preliminary results from the Northwest Herald area in the state track roundup.

Marian Central’s Addie Leitzen advanced to the state finals of the triple jump after taking ninth in the preliminaries on Thursday at Eastern Illinois. Plus more track and field, baseball, softball, boys lacrosse and bass fishing scores.

Prairie Ridge won the Class 2A Marmion Sectional team title after qualifying four individuals and three relay teams to the IHSA state meet. Plus more boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, baseball and softball scores.

Marengo's Kylee Jensen hit two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, to lift the Indians to an 11-1 win over Byron in their playoff opener. Plus girls soccer postseason results in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Liz Smith tallied her first career playoff hat trick to help Johnsburg beat Harvest Christian on Tuesday and capture the Class 1A Marian Central Regional championship. It's the Skyhawks' third straight regional title.

Johnsburg faces Harvest Christian Academy in the IHSA Class 1A Marian Central Girls Soccer Regional Championship match on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at Marian Central High School in Woodstock.

Woodstock's Megan Kuiper threw a perfect game with 18 strikeouts to beat Round Lake, Marian Central baseball won its playoff opener over Genoa-Kingston, plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.