The La Salle-Peru, Hall-Putnam County and Mendota games were delayed by inclement weather on Friday. Jack Brady wins his first game as St. Bede coach. That and more in this week's football notebook

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Hall, Putnam County, Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Amboy co-op and Henry-Midland boys cross country teams entering the 2025 season.

Hall used a big run in the first set and then came through in a back-and-forth second set to come away  with a 25-20, 25-20 victory over Mendota on Tuesday.

Something a little different to help get runners in shape and excited for the season is what Ottawa cross country coach Dan Heaver had in mind when putting together the Ottawa Nautical Mile Relays. Mission accomplished.

Hall defeated Mendota in two sets 25-20, 25-19 on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at Mendota High School. Check out photos of the match by Kyle Russell.

Cross Country teams from Hall, L-P, Mendota, Princeton, Seneca, St Bede, Ottawa, Streator, and Somonauk/Leland competed in the Ottawa Nautical Mile Relay on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025 at Catlin Park in Ottawa.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Amboy-LaMoille-Ohio, Henry-Midland and Fieldcrest girls cross country teams.

The La Salle-Peru boys soccer team won the Earlville War on 34 Tournament, the Mendota girls tennis team won the Newman Invite and more results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota defeated Streator 8-1 during the Streator Invitational boys soccer tournament on Saturday Aug. 30, 2025 at the James Street Recreational Area in Streator. Mendota went 3-0 during Streator Boys Soccer Invitational tournament.

The Mendota boys soccer team went 3-0 at the 30th Streator Boys Soccer Invitational on Saturday while the host Bulldogs finished 0-3 but gained valuable experience.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Mendota and Princeton girls tennis teams for the 2025 season.

Shaw Local Radio is proud to bring you five high school football broadcasts on Friday night, Aug. 29, including Oregon, Genoa-Kingston, Dixon, Amboy, Streator and Mendota

Joseph Perez shot a 74 to help Hall place fifth at the La Salle-Peru Invite and more golf, volleyball, soccer, cross country and tennis results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

A look at the Week 1 matchups for the La Salle-Peru, St. Bede, Hall-Putnam County, Mendota, Princeton, Bureau Valley, Fieldcrest and Amboy co-op football teams.

The Henry-Senachwine boys golf team won the Stark County Rebel Invite and more golf, soccer, volleyball and cross country results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

With seven starters back from its Class 1A third-place team, the Mendota boys soccer team is looking to bring home a state title this fall.

The Mendota boys soccer team won 9-0 in its opener, the Henry-Senachwine and Earlville volleyball teams won their season openers and more boys soccer, volleyball and golf results in Monday's NewsTribune roundup.

Monmouth-Roseville (Mississippi) and Newman (Rock) are the defending division champions in the Three Rivers. Here's a look how this year's divisions stack up and who are the teams to beat.

Volleyball starts Monday. Here are five players to watch in the NewsTribune area this fall.

After going 25-88 under two head coaches over the last 13 seasons, the Mendota football team is looking to turn things around under new head coach Jim Eustice.

Jon Gruden, as he does, carries the box into an office with the letters “SEMO” on the side. Just a few seconds into opening the box, Gruden says the Redhawks were “quarterbacked by Jim ‘Freaking’ Eustice.”

The Mendota volleyball team will be very young this season, starting two juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.

St. Bede and Fieldcrest competed in the St. Bede Early Bird Tee Off Classic and more golf results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

A look at the girls golf teams in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at all the boys golf teams in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Mendota senior quarterback Aden Tillman's improvement was "off the charts" during the summer under new coach Jim Eustice.

With football teams around the state opening official practices for the 2025 season Monday, here are five storylines to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area this fall.

The St. Bede football team got to face former coach Jim Eustice and his new Mendota team in a joint practice Thursday that also included Sandwich.

Mendota, St. Bede and Sandwich football teams held a joint practice on Thursday, July 31, 2025 at Mendota High School.

Chance Blumhorst is going home. The LaMoille head boys basketball coach has resigned after three seasons to take over as athletic director at Mendota High School, his alma mater.

A look at the top games to watch in the NewsTribune/BCR area for the 2025 football season.

Princeton has made five straight Class 3A quarterfinal appearances, six in the past seven years along with six Three Rivers Mississippi championships. Here’s an early look at their 2025 season, which will find the Tigers playing at home five times with four road trips.

A look at the best girls track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the best baseball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the NewsTribune area's baseball stat leaders for the 2025 season.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

A look at the top softball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Shaw Media’s Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame banquet always comes with a lot of laughs and smiles and fun remembrances each year. This year’s sixth annual event also came with sorrow and sadness Thursday at the Auditorium Ballroom in downtown LaSalle.

A look at the best girls soccer players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

Mendota senior Crystal Garcia had career highs in goals (31) and assists (15) to lead the Trojans to a school record for wins and their first regional title since 2012. Garcia is the 2025 NewsTribune Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

Henry's Lauren Harbison was named Class 1A First-Team All State in softball, other players from St. Bede, Princeton, Earlville, Henry and Fieldcreset also earned all-state honors and the Three Rivers announced its all-conference baseball team.

L-P junior Taylor Vescogni was named the Interstate 8 Conference Player of the Year and the Three Rivers East, Lincoln Trail and Little Ten also released all-conference teams.

Mendota senior Crystal Garcia was voted NewsTribune Athlete of the Week after scoring the only goal in the Trojans' 1-0 win in the regional championship and also scoring in the sectional semifinal.

Sandwich junior Sunny Weber completed the distance triple crown on Saturday, adding to her state cross country title won last fall by repeating as Class 2A 3,200-meter run champion and winning the 1,600 in a record-setting time. She led the area medalists in Charleston.

Sandwich junior Sunny Weber completed the distance triple crown on Saturday, adding to her state cross country title won last fall by repeating as Class 2A 3,200-meter run champion and winning the 1,600 in a record-setting time. She led the area medalists in Charleston.

Sandwich junior Sunny Weber completed the distance triple crown on Saturday, adding to her state cross country title won last fall by repeating as Class 2A 3,200-meter run champion and winning the 1,600 in a record-setting time. She led the area medalists in Charleston.

L-P senior Nick Olivero placed second in the L-P tennis sectional, the Mendota girls soccer team lost in a sectional semifinal and more results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam advanced to the 2A state finals in two events and L-P's Elli Sines qualified in one along with baseball and softball regional action in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Henry-Senachwine and Earlville softball teams advanced in regional play, area boys track and field athletes qualified for state out of the El Paso-Gridley Sectional and more in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Mendota's Mariyah Elam looks to defend her 2A state high jump title, while L-P's Elli Sines and Princeton's Camryn Driscoll hope to return to the medal stand.