Newman's Landon Near won the Class 1A 113-pound championship, while Dixon's Charlie Connors placed second during the IHSA state boys wrestling finals at the State Farm Center in Champaign on Saturday.

Last-second victories. Avenged losses. Blood-round wins, an undefeated champion and tight decisions. Saturday’s 1A Byron Sectional was an exciting one as area wrestlers advanced to state.

Little Jack Henegar got a big smile on his face when he saw his dad on the floor at the Storm Cellar. He was still smiling along with his dad, Jon, the BV coach when the coach’s Storm girls team scored the first 26 points of the game of the game on the way to dominating 51-11 win

Wrestlers punch their ticket to the state tournament Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 at the Byron Class 1A wrestling sectional.

The Dixon wrestling team took care of business against Morrison to advance to team dual state for just the second time in program history.

Morrison and Dixon wrestlers face off for a chance at the state tournament Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026, in Oregon. Dixon took the win 57-20.

Morrison won its first wrestling regional title in school history as five wrestlers won their weight classes. Newman, E-P, Rock Falls and Fulton also had wrestlers advance to the sectional.

Several local teams hit the mats Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in the Class 1A wrestling regionals held at Riverdale (Port Byron).

Reed-Custer hosted over 25 teams across the region for its Comet Classic Wrestling Invite on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.

Bowling teams from the area competed in the Sterling Regionals on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 at Blackhawk Lanes in Sterling.

Morrison and Fulton win in the NUIC. Dixon earns a win on the mat. Plus more results from around the area in Friday's Sauk Valley Media sports roundup,

EP hosted their annual Holiday Wrestling Tournament Saturday, Dec. 19, 2025. -Photos by Jessie Ottens

Here is a look at the Sauk Valley boys basketball teams as the 2025-26 season tips off this week.

Forreston beat Morrison and Eastland downed Stockton in action at the Forreston High School Girls Basketball Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.

With the 2025-26 girls basketball season getting started this week, here’s a look at the teams in the Sauk Valley area.

Dixon showed no quit until the very end against Coal City. Newman's seniors left their mark, and three area 8-man teams are in the semifinals in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Dixon's defense continues to help set the tone heading into the playoffs. Newman was challenged by Mon-Rose to end the regular season, and Polo's 70 points were the most the Marcos scored since at least 1935 in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

There's always the usual suspects in 1A, but some new names look poised to potentially crash that party. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 1A playoffs.

Sterling got a fifth win after beating Rock Island 42-14. EPC got its fifth win, Rock Falls fell just short to Rockford Lutheran and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Dixon hosts Genoa-Kingston, Newman faces Mon-Rose in a battle of 7-1 teams, Sterling heads to Rock Island, Rock Falls (0-8) faces Rockford Lutheran (0-8), Polo (7-1) hosts South Beloit (7-1) and more in this week's Sauk Valley slate.

Newman scored a school record 79 points on Saturday against Kewanee. Jake Whelan scored Dixon's first defensive TD this season, Sterling scored 31 unanswered against Quincy and Morrison reclaimed the Wooden Shoe in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

In the second meeting between the two rivals since the Wooden Shoe came up for grabs after a brief hiatus, Morrison snapped a three-game rivalry losing streak Friday against Fulton to repossess the traveling trophy.

Sterling has a big home game against Quincy, No. 5 Newman hosts Kewanee on Saturday, No. 10 Dixon heads to Streator, Fulton and Morrison face off for the Wooden Shoe trophy and more in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Rock Falls seeks more leadership from key players after a promising start against IVC led to another loss. Dixon's Landon Knigge had a five-TD first quarter, and Sterling is looking for another bounceback in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Dixon and Newman each got their sixth wins after earning road victories. Oregon fell to Stillman Valley, Morrison and Fulton won and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Sterling has a big game at Geneseo, Dixon heads to Winnebago riding four straight shutouts, Newman plays at upstart Riverdale and Rock Falls faces winless IVC in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Dixon hosts Stillman Valley, Sterling hosts Alleman, Rock Falls heads to Winnebago and Newman faces Mercer County on Saturday in this week's Sauk Valley football slate. Here are previews for all 14 games.

Milledgeville, Amboy, Morrison and Polo were among the eight teams who competed at the Polo Invite on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 at Polo High School. Milledgeville went 8-0 to take first.

Local High School teams gather at Hoover Park in Sterling for the Rock River Run, held on Saturday, September 27, 2025.

No. 3 Newman heads to Rockridge in a matchup of two undefeated teams on Friday. Dixon heads to Oregon, Sterling hosts Galesburg and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Milledgeville and Polo face off in the Battle for the Blacktop game this Friday as each team is 3-0. No. 3 Newman heads to Orion, Dixon heads to North Boone, Oregon hosts Rock Falls and Sterling is at 3-0 UT. Here is a rundown of this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Sterling opens Western Big 6 Conference play against Moline, Dixon hosts Rock Falls, Newman hosts E-P on Saturday and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football previews.

Rock Falls tied North Boone late before falling 21-14. Oregon beat Rockford Lutheran, Forreston won, Eastland-Pearl City beat Morrison 22-0, results in 8-man and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup

Dixon's massive game at No. 1 Byron highlights the 15 matchups in the Sauk Valley area in Week 2. Newman heads to Mendota, Sterling has a nonconference home game, Rock Falls hosts North Boone and more this Friday.

Sterling fell at Metamora, Oregon's Cooper Johnson had 192 yards rushing and three TDs in a win, Draven Zier had five touchdowns and more in Friday's Sauk Valley football roundup.

Here is a look at the Week 1 football matchups in the Sauk Valley area.

The 2025 girls volleyball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Sauk Valley coverage area.

A look at the Northwest Upstate Illini Conference for the 2025 season, including team-by-team preview capsules, players to watch, six can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predicted order of finish.

After a 3-6 finish in their first year in the NUIC, Morrison is hoping to be at their best every week in their second season in the league. The Mustangs return six starters on offense and five on defense.

Who steps up next for Dixon? Will Morrison transfer Rylan Alvarado lead Newman's backfield? Can Sterling revitalize its run game? What is next for Rock Falls under its new coach? Here are six questions in the Sauk Valley area this season as practice kicks off.

Bella Duncan’s statistics were eye-popping, while her energy and enthusiasm were infectious for a Morrison team that reached its first Sweet 16 since 2017. Duncan is the SVM Softball Player of the Year for 2025.

Here is a look at the top softball players from the Sauk Valley area for the 2025 season.

The IHSA just released its statewide football schedule for the 2025 season. Here is a game to watch each week in the Sauk Valley coverage area.

Here is a look at the top baseball players from the Sauk Valley area for the 2025 season.

Here is a look back at the top boys basketball players in the Sauk Valley area for the 2024-25 season.

The Illinois Coaches Association released its All-State softball teams in each class, with Dixon’s Bailey Tegeler and Sterling’s Mya Lira recognized in Class 3A. Newman's Gianna Vance and Lucy Oetting were also among the area selections.

Morrison junior sprinter Brady Anderson is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week. He won the state title in the 100, took second in the 200 to teammate Levi Milder and anchored wins in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.

Sprinters Levi Milder and Brady Anderson and two relay wins led Morrison to the Class 1A state title, while Sterling earned medals in three relays in the 2A meet.

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.