Despite things not going Newman's way for most of the game, the Comets baseball team still battled its way back and brought the tying run to the plate before falling 9-7 to Boylan in the Class 3A Belvidere Regional final. 'We never gave up.'

Newman junior Joel Rhodes and Sterling sophomore Aron Rivera both went 1-2 on Thursday in singles play to wrap up the season at the IHSA state tennis meet. Sterling's Micah Peterson and Jacob Prevo fell after a close doubles match in consolation.

Embracing being pushed up a class, the Newman baseball team won its Class 3A postseason debut after an 8-0 regional semifinal win at Belvidere. Michael Morse and Liam Nicklaus pitched the combined shutout, and Garet Wolfe had four RBIs.

The IHSA boys track and field state meet takes place Thursday through Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Here is the full list of state qualifiers from the Sauk Valley area. Dixon is chasing a state trophy in 2A and Morrison is the defending 1A champion.

Here is a look at where area baseball teams are opening play in the IHSA postseason. Newman received a No. 1 seed in its Class 3A debut, Dixon is a No. 2 seed, Forreston is a No. 1 seed in 1A and Fulton is a No. 3 seed.

Oregon sophomore Jillian Hammer won the IHSA state title in the 300 hurdles and took third in the 100 hurdles. Newman, Forreston, Amboy, Bureau Valley, Fulton and Dixon also had strong finishes in Charleston.

Sterling's Aron Rivera beat Newman's Joel Rhodes 6-2, 6-4 in the third-place match at the Class 1A Geneseo Sectional tennis meet. The Golden Warriors were second as a team.

Sterling and Newman both had boys tennis players qualify for state after reaching the semifinals at the Class 1A Geneseo Sectional. Milledgeville's Loren Meiners had the regional-title-winning hit against Eastland in extras, and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman, Forreston, Bureau Valley, Oregon, Fulton and Amboy had girls advance to Saturday's state track and field finals. Bureau Valley softball advanced in the postseason, Sterling baseball won twice and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Morrison boys track and field took third at the Class 1A Erie Sectional on Thursday, and Erie-Prophetstown was fifth as area athletes qualified for the state meet next week.

Newman Central Catholic High School’s Class of 2026 graduated Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during a ceremony in the high school’s gym in Sterling.

Local teams competed for a chance at the at state tournament Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in boys Class 1A track and field held in Erie. Photos by Jessie Ottens

The Newman High School Class of 2026 Commencement Ceremony was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling.

The IHSA girls track and field state finals take place Thursday through Saturday at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Here is the full list of state qualifiers from the Sauk Valley area.

Eighth-seeded Erie-Prophetstown softball led top-seeded Riverdale 3-2 before falling just short in the regional semifinals. Milledgeville and Eastland softball advanced, Dixon and Oregon girls soccer advanced and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Fulton freshman Kerby Germann had the walk-off hit, and Jessa Read pitched a complete game in a 4-3 regional semifinal win at Newman. The Steamers advance to face top-seeded Morrison in Friday's regional title game.

Here is a look at the sectional meets that local boys track and field athletes are competing in on Wednesday and Friday. Dixon is looking for its first sectional title since 2002. Morrison and Forreston-Polo are defending sectional champions.

Fulton beats Newman 4-3 in a walk-off Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in the Newman Class 1A softball regional semifinal.

The Illinois Valley Baseball ‘King of the Valley’ Tournament Update is underway. Here’s a look at Friday’s scores

Dixon's Daniela Lovett qualified for state track in the 3,200 after running a personal best. Newman and Erie-Prophetstown boys track had wins at the Three Rivers meet, Fulton softball won the NUIC West and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Derek Prieto won the 200 and 400 as Sterling took third at the Western Big 6 Conference track and field meet. Dixon's Brady Lawrence pitched a complete game, Dixon softball won 14-1 and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman's sprinters had a big day and the Fulton girls took second at the Class 1A Erie Sectional track and field meet on Wednesday. Amboy, Bureau Valley, Erie-Prophetstown and Morrison also had girls qualify for state.

Local teams Amboy, Erie-Prophetstown, Fulton, Bureau Valley, Morrison, St. Bede and Newman compete with others in the Erie Girls Class 1A Sectional track and field meet Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Four programs who have won four state championships and made 10 state tournament appearances between them since 2015 headline the the inaugural Illinois Valley Baseball Tournament to be held Friday and Saturday at Schweickert Stadium and JA Happ Field in Peru.

Here is a look at where the Sauk Valley girls track and field teams will be competing on Wednesday and Friday with a shot at qualifying for state. Fulton, Oregon and Sterling all won sectional titles last season.

Sterling boys tennis beat Newman 4-1, Newman baseball beat Amboy 10-0, Rock Falls won 2-0, Dixon lost to Byron 8-2, Newman softball beat Amboy 8-7, results from the Milledgeville boys track invite and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Eight Sauk Valley students have qualified for the Youth Equestrian Development Association National Championships, which will be held the first week of June in Lexington, Virginia.

Sterling's Lily Martinez hit two home runs in a 16-1 softball win over Rock Falls. Newman softball won 11-1, Forreston baseball beat Milledgeville 6-0, Dixon boys track took second in Geneseo and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon baseball rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 4-3 walkoff win over Byron. Sterling girls track took second at the Big 6 meet, Oregon was second at the BNC meet, Fulton was second at the NUIC meet and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The IHSA has released the postseason softball schedules. Here is a look at where Sauk Valley area teams are competing. Morrison received a No. 1 seed and will compete at the Newman regional. Oregon and Milledgeville are No. 2 seeds.

Milledgeville softball beat Morrison 4-3 to take first in the NUIC South. Layla Wright had two home runs for Sterling, Dixon softball beat Oregon 2-1, track and field results, and more in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Newman Comets strive to do three things well every time they step onto the ball diamond - hit, pitch and play good defense. They did all three enroute to a 9-1 win at Princeton in a Three Rivers East tussle at Prather Field.

Dixon baseball held on to win 9-8 at North Boone in eight innings as Jake Zepezauer scored on an error and Jagger Kemp had the save. Rock Falls baseball fell 4-3 at Byron, Eastland's Tatum Grim had two home runs and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman senior softball player Brenleigh Cook is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week, presented by Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning. She had the game-winning hit in a 9-8 win over Hall and is one of the Comets' top hitters. Here is a Q&A with her.

Morrison senior Brady Anderson's record-breaking track season continued at the Oregon Hall of Fame Classic. Amboy freshman Ian Hassler won the discus, while Rochelle, Erie-Prophetstown and Oregon also had wins on Friday.

Lucille Oetting plans to attend St. Louis University and continue her athletic and academic career in softball and physical therapy.

Sterling's Rosie Cantu hit two home runs in an 8-5 softball win at Rock Island. Eastland's Keara Kaus had two home runs, Zoey Silva pitched a one-hitter, Brady Anderson won four races, Newman's Garret Matznick pitched a one-hitter and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Madisyn Eikenberry led Rock Falls with five RBIs in an 18-3 win. Morrison softball beat Eastland 15-5, Newman softball won, Fulton's Braedon Meyers pitched a one-hitter, Dixon baseball won and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Newman baseball team faced an early deficit again against Mendota, but the Comets took advantage of walks while Michael Morse and Liam Nicklaus threw strikes. Newman won 9-2 in five innings due to rainy conditions.

Newman baseball beat Mendota 9-2 in a soggy home game in varsity baseball Thursday, April 30, 2026.

Newman's Ray Sharp, Eastland's Tyler Zumdahl and Oregon's Jarrett Reynolds were named IBCA Coaches of the Year on the boys side. Newman's Herb Martin, Eastland's Nicole Brinker and Dixon's Luke Ravlin were recognized on the girls side.

Newman High School will perform the Disney classic "Frozen". Shows will begin at 7 p.m. April 17, at 7 p.m. April 18 and at 2 p.m. April 19 at Centennial Auditorium on the campus of Sterling High School.

Jameson Hanlon had four hits and Michael Morse had four RBIs as Newman beat Eastland 10-0 on Wednesday. The Comets improved to 11-1 with the win.

Newman baseball beat Eastland 10-0 Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Newman graduate and St. Ambrose University sophomore golfer Ellie Rude hit a hole-in-one last week and placed 12th at the Judson Spring Invite.

Sterling graduate and Augustana College senior Blake Nettleton was named Co-Pitcher of the Week by the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin. He had 15 strikeouts in 8⅓ innings in a 9-0 win over North Central on Saturday.

Newman baseball pulled away with eight runs to finish a 12-2 Three Rivers East win over Princeton in five innings on Monday.

Newman graduate Brendan Tunink hit a home run in his first at-bat with the Ontario Tower Buzzers, the Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers playing in their inaugural season. Tunink has three home runs in his first three games.

Newman welcomes Princeton in baseball Monday, April 6, 2026. Newman took the win 12-2.

Newman scored nine runs in the first inning and Gianna Vance pitched a two-hitter as the Comets beat Lena-Winslow 9-1. Newman's younger players also stepped up in the win.