The Illinois high school football season gets underway Monday, Aug. 11, with the start of preseason practices. Here are some of the top storylines to watch in the Suburban Life area this season.

Here is the 2025 Suburban Life All-Area softball team.

Nazareth senior Jaden Fauske and junior Landon Thome, York senior Josh Fleming, Downers Grove North senior Brady Schallmoser and Glenbard East senior Josh Ziemer were among those named Class 4A All-State by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association just announced.

The magical postseason run by the Montini softball team came to a heartbreaking end Monday at the Class 3A Benedictine Supersectional at the hands of St. Laurence.

Montini lost to St. Laurence softball in a Class 3A Benedictine Supersectional on Monday, June 9, 2025 in Lisle.

Montini stampeded its way to a Class 3A sectional softball championship on its home field with a 13-2 run-rule victory over St. Francis in five innings on Friday evening in Lombard.

Westmont junior Kyla Babb pulled off an impressive distance double on Saturday at the state track and field meet, taking second in the Class 1A 3,200 meters and third in the 1,600. Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South and Wheaton North were among other schools with medals.

How will St. Francis' record-setting distance crew line up in Charleston? Can Westmont's Kyla Babb pull off the distance double? Here are five storylines to watch for Suburban Life area athletes at the IHSA girls state track and field meet.

Nazareth senior Chase Zidlicky was slated to be the staff ace this spring, but a rash of injuries has put additional stress on him to pitch deeper into games. Zidklicky, 7-0 with a 1.73 ERA, has been up to the task. That and notes on Riverside-Brookfield and more from Bob Narang.

Wheaton Warrenville South softball beat Wheaton North 1-0 in a wild ending, Sophia Rosner struck out 11 and homered for Benet softball, plus the rest of the baseball, softball soccer and volleyball results in Wednesday's Suburban Life roundup.

Marmion baseball took off from the first pitch with a seven-run first and never looked back in earning an 11-1 triumph Tuesday over Montini.

Wheaton Warrenville South is among a handful of Class 3A teams that remain undefeated this season heading into a challenging week. That, plus notes on Downers Grove South, Montini, Westmont and more in Chris Walker's soccer notebook.

Here are previews of boys track and field teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The track and field season is heading outdoors and here are previews of girls teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Both Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South's softball teams are off to a fast starts, in large part because of stellar pitching from Hannah Wulf and Presley Wright. That, plus Montini continues strong start during 5-0 spring break in Joshua Welge's softball notes.

Lemont, Class 3A runner-up last season, lost Ohio State recruit Jacob Parr to a high ankle sprain before the season, but the team has shaken off the early adversity and is enjoying a spring break trip to Florida. That, plus notes on Nazareth, Montini and Riverside-Brookfield.

Here is the 2024-2025 Suburban Life All-Area boys wrestling team.

Nikki Kerstein scored a game-high 21 points, including five in the final 1:17, as banged-up Montini outlasted St. Ignatius 50-44 in the Class 3A state championship game on Saturday evening at CEFCU Arena in Normal. 

The 2025 high school soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The 2025 high school softball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The 2025 high school baseball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Here is the 2024-2025 Suburban Life All-Area girls basketball team.

Montini girls basketball defeated St. Ignatius to win the Class 3A state championship on Saturday, March 8, 2025 at CEFCU Arena in Normal.

All five Montini seniors played all 32 minutes of Thursday’s late night Class 3A state semifinal game.  Their reward? They will be playing for a state championship.

Montini’s bid for its first sectional championship fell short Friday night with a 44-28 loss to Christ the King in the Class 2A Christ the King Sectional championship in Chicago.

Montini Catholic played Quincy Notre Dame on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at CEFCU Arena in Normal. Montini will play St. Ignatius College Prep for the Class 3A State championship on Saturday at 6p.m.

Montini's boys basketball team won a sectional game for only the second time in program history, beating Chicago Clark 52-46 in a Class 2A Christ the King Sectional semifinal on Wednesday in Chicago.

Montini faced Grayslake Central in a Class 3A supersectional on Monday, March 3, 2025 in Arlington Heights.

Montini recovered and never wavered after Grayslake Central had surged from 18 points down to take the lead, and the Lady Broncos made nine free throws – seven from Nikki Kerstein – to survive Monday's supersectional 51-45 to return to state.

IC Catholic Prep, after a dramatic semifinal win over rival Montini, knocked off two-time defending champion Washington 46-17 in the Class 2A final for the first state dual team championship in program history.

Montini cut the nets down for the fourth straight season following a 64-43 victory over IC Catholic Prep as they claimed another regional championship at its home gym on Friday night in Lombard.

Missouri commit Nikki Kerstein turned in a masterful effort with 24 points, 13 rebounds, four assists and three steals, leading Montini past DePaul Prep 48-31 to the 21st sectional title in program history.

Brody Kelly erased the bittersweet experience of last year's narrow defeat with an emphatic win in the Class 2A 175-pound final, leading IC Catholic Prep's three state champs while Montini won two titles and Lemont's Judah Heeg sprung a stunning upset in the 190-pound final.

Jaxon Lane has already checked off one item of unfinished business in his athletic calendar this school year. Two more to go. The Montini senior, who lost in the blood round at state last year, is one of 10 Broncos' qualifiers at this weekend's state meet in Champaign.

Does the road to a state title go through La Grange? What about big-time sectional rematches? Can Glenbard South make a return to state? Here are five storylines to watch for Suburban Life area teams as the girls basketball postseason tips off next week.

Here is a list of CCL/ESCC football players who have committed to colleges at various levels and can sign their financial aid agreement or letters of intent starting on Wednesday.

Valparaiso recruit Allia von Schlegell hit six of seven 3-pointers and scored 24 points, and Nazareth shot 61% from the floor and from the 3-point line in blowing out Montini 67-33 at the Coach Kipp Hoopsfest at Benet.

Montini faced Nazareth in girls basketball during the Coach Kipp Hoopsfest on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025 at Benet Academy in Lisle.

Montini girls basketball face Neuqua Valley in the Montini Christmas Tournament on Monday, Dec. 23, 2024 in Lombard.

Peyton Farrell had 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds and Nikki Kerstein scored 11 of her game-high 18 points in the third quarter as Montini overcame horrible shooting in the first half to beat Neuqua Valley 40-30 in the first round of the Montini Christmas Tournament.

Here is the 2024 Suburban Life All-Area football team.

Meet Friday Night Drive’s 2024 All-CCL/ESCC team, which was selected by the Friday Night Drive staff with input from coaches across the 24-team league.

Montini senior guard Nikki Kerstein puts on a show-stopping performance, and scores a career-high, in game at the iconic "Hoosiers" gym," Benet's Aria Mazza doesn't let sickness stop her hot shooting and Lyons among area teams ranked in latest poll in girls basketball notes.

Nazareth seniors set a new standard for the Roadrunners' program on and off the field after winning their third straight state championship. Plus more CCL/ESCC notes on Mount Carmel, Loyola, Montini, DePaul Prep and Joliet Catholic.

Montini rolled to its seventh state championship and first under head coach Mike Bukovsky with a lopsided 49-8 victory over Monticello in the 3A title game.

Israel Abrams spent four quarters Friday expertly distributing the ball to his playmakers, but Montini’s sophomore quarterback saved his biggest assist for last. To the teammate he shared the position with for four games.

Montini defeated Monticello 49-8 to win the Class 3A State championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Montini faces Monticello in the state title game of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Mount Carmel relished the opportunity to reach its third straight Class 7A state championship game after battling adversity this season. Plus more CCL/ESCC notes on Nazareth, Loyola, St. Rita, championship numbers and the Prep Bowl.

Andrew Hill scored 26 points to pace IC Catholic Prep to a win, and York, Glenbard West and Downers Grove North boys basketball and Montini girls basketball were also winners in Tuesday's roundup.