Wilmington ran away from Sandwich, Reed-Custer blanked Harvard, Manteno doubled up Plano and more in Friday's Daily Journal football roundup.

The 2025 boys cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team previews with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team in the Northwest Herald area.

The 2025 girls cross country season is underway. Check out our team-by-team previews with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team in the Northwest Herald area.

Crystal Lake Central's boys and Huntley's girls won the McHenry County Cross Country Meet on Saturday. Cary-Grove's Jameson Tenopir won the boys individual title and Prairie Ridge's Emaline Foster won the girls individual title. And more in Saturday's roundup.

NIU trailed Holy Cross in the fourth quarter, but Dev'ion Reynolds returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, had its offense wake up at the right time despite an injury to starting quarterback Josh Holst and beat the Crusaders 19-17.

Area high school runners compete in the McHenry County Cross Country Meet on Saturday, August 30, 2025. at Emricson park in Woodstock.

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.

Crystal Lake Central boys golf beat Jacobs in a low-scoring match, Prairie Ridge, Dundee-Crown and Burlington Central volleyball opened FVC play with wins, and more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

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'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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

How will Prairie Ridge follow up a historic season? Who are the top FVC and KRC contenders? Which returning players have the most scoring power? Here are five boys soccer storylines to watch in McHenry County in 2025.

Marengo players work out during football practice on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at Marengo High School, as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Marengo defensive end Brady Kentgen enters his fourth varsity season with big goals for his senior season. Marengo will rely on a physical defense as it tries to build on last year's 5-5 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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Morrison answered a solo home run by Marengo's Kylee Jensen in the top of the fourth inning with six runs on six hits in the bottom half, and pitcher Bella Duncan shut down the Indians the rest of the way for a spot in Friday's Class 2A Marian Central Sectional final.

Morrison faces Marengo in the IHSA Class 2A Sectional Semifinal softball game on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at Marian Central High School in Woodstock.

Newman takes on Marengo in Mendota in the Class 2A Sectional semifinal matchup Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Newman won a well-played game 5-3.

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.

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.

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.

Marengo faces Rockford Christian in IHSA Class 2A Regional Championship baseball game on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

Marengo overcame a rocky fourth inning to beat Rockford Christian 14-5 and win the Class 2A Richmond-Burton Regional championship on Saturday, the program's second regional title in three seasons.

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.

Marengo faces Aurora Central Catholic in the IHSA Class 2A Regional Championship softball game on Friday, May 23, 2025. at Marengo High School.

Ari Rodriguez hit a go-ahead home run in the fourth inning, Gabby Christopher ripped two doubles and drove in three runs, and Marengo beat Aurora Central Catholic 6-3 on Friday for the Indians' 25th regional title.

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.