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.

McHenry players work out during football practice on Thursday, July 24, 2025, at McCracken Field, in McHenry as they prepare for the upcoming season.

First-year McHenry football coach Colt Nero has surrounded himself with veteran coaches, including two who will be his offensive and defensive coordinators. Like Nero, they happen to be graduates of Fox Valley Conference rival Crystal Lake South.

Youth flag football players learn skills during the Chicago Bears Mini Monsters Flag Football Camp on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at McCracken Field in McHenry.

Over 200 high schools in Illinois are expected to have girls flag football teams this year as the sport's popularity continues to rise. "There’s no shortage of opportunities."

Runners of all ages and fitness levels are invited to lace up their running shoes and attend the second annual McHenry Runathon one-hour challenge on Thursday, Aug. 7 from 8 to 9 p.m. at McCracken Field in McHenry.

McHenry's Brandon Shannon, the top pitcher in McHenry County this past season, thought he might be selected in MLB draft this week. But when teams couldn't match his asking price, he stuck to his original plan of attending the University of Louisville.

McHenry's Brian Rockweiler is the 2025 Northwest Herald Baseball Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to a record-breaking season that ended with a runner-up finish in the Class 4A state tournament.

Senior pitcher Brandon Shannon and McHenry enjoyed a historic season. Shannon set school records for career wins and single-season strikeouts and led the Warriors to a second-place finish at state. Shannon is the 2025 Northwest Herald Baseball Player of the Year.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area baseball team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team.

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

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference baseball team, as selected by coaches.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference softball team, as selected by coaches.

McHenry tried to figure out a way to scratch and claw out some offense in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday night, but Libertyville starter Josh Holst wasn't having it, tossing a two-hitter in a 4-1 Wildcats' victory.

It was Brandon Shannon’s show and his baseball. And the Louisville commit wasn’t letting go of the ball, not with McHenry going for more school history. He pitched six-plus innings as McHenry beat Brother Rice 4-1 in a state semifinal Friday night in Joliet.

The McHenry baseball team's record-setting season continues Friday when the Warriors face Brother Rice in a Class 4A state semifinal at Slammers Stadium in Joliet. Ace Brandon Shannon is expected to throw for the Warriors.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference girls lacrosse team, as selected by coaches.

Zach Readdy has been in and out of the McHenry lineup this season. Monday night, he almost took a pitch out of a minor league ballpark. Readdy had a pair of two-out, two-run hits, and McHenry rallied to beat South Elgin 8-6 in the Class 4A Kane County Cougars Supersectional.

McHenry vs.South Elgin in the IHSA Class 4A Kane County Cougars Supersectional baseball on Monday, June 9, 2025, at Northwestern Medicine Field in Geneva.

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

McHenry defeats Barrington in the IHSA Class 4A McHenry Sectional Championship baseball game on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at McHenry High School.

Landon Clements finished a home run shy of the cycle Saturday as McHenry rallied to beat Barrington 7-3 in the Class 4A McHenry Sectional final, giving the Warriors back-to-back sectional titles for the first time.

As Kaden Wasniewski gets closer to a potential return to the mound for McHenry, the Warriors at least got their sophomore baseball star back on the infield Wednesday. His efforts, including a two-run double, helped McHenry beat Huntley 5-1 in a Class 4A sectional semifinal.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference boys lacrosse 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.

Zach Readdy tripled in Jeffry Schwab with the tie-breaking run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, then got the final out in relief of Brandon Shannon as McHenry turned away upset-minded Jacobs 2-1 to win the Class 4A McHenry Regional title.

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.

Burlington Central's Chase Powrozek threw a no-hitter to lead the Rockets to an 8-0 win over Rochelle in a Class 3A regional semifinal, Hampshire and McHenry baseball threw combined no-hitters, plus more postseason scores in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

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 Ryan Rayburn 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.

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.

Former McHenry boys basketball coach Tim Paddock has been named the new coach at Woodstock North. He has not coached since stepping down at McHenry in 2017.

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.

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.

McHenry's baseball team waited a long time to win the Fox Valley Conference title again. Long-haired Bennet Baumann then delivered. His pinch-hit, walk-off single in the last of the 10th Monday gave the Warriors a 3-2 win over Prairie Ridge and the outright FVC championship.

Woodstock North's Parker Neff and Tristan Schaffter both hit home runs as the Thunder won big, Marengo girls soccer won its regional semifinal, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

McHenry's baseball team has earned a share of its first Fox Valley Conference title since 2011 and hoped to capture the title outright Friday by beating Prairie Ridge. The game was suspended because of darkness after eight innings, however, with the score tied 2-all.

Burlington Central baseball edged Huntley, Crystal Lake Central softball hit five homers to beat Hampshire, Crystal Lake South and Richmond-Burton girls soccer won their playoff openers, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Prairie Ridge faces McHenry in a Fox Valley Conference baseball game on Friday, May 16, 2025, at McHenry High School.

Huntley's boys track and field team had a lot to clap about during the Fox Valley Conference meet Thursday. The host Red Raiders overcame a deficit with two events left to beat Jacobs by one point and earn their third FVC championship in a row.

Jacobs' boys tennis team crowned four champions to win back-to-back Fox Valley Conference Tournament titles, Marian Central girls track and field advanced five entries to the Class 1A state meet, and more in Thursday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Huntley, with 159 points, easily rolled to the Class 3A Huntley sectional championship Wednesday night. Dominique Johnson paced the Red Raiders with first-place efforts in the triple jump and long jump.

McHenry baseball won a share of the Fox Valley Conference title with a 5-2 win over Prairie Ridge on Wednesday in a matchup between the conference's top-two teams. Plus more baseball, softball and girls soccer scores.