The Illinois high school football season gets underway Monday with the start of preseason practices. Here are some of the top storylines to watch in Kendall County this season.

While the Land of Lincoln has its share of Bulldogs, Eagles, Tigers and other standard nicknames, we also have some more unusual prep mascots. Here are the stories behind some of the most interesting ones

With the release of the 2025 statewide football schedule, here are the top games to watch in the Record Newspapers coverage area.

Nate Hill, a 34-year-old Plano native who will be entering his 11th school year in the school district this fall, will do so as the high school’s new athletic director. Hill, previously a special education teacher and baseball and basketball coach, started his job as AD July 1.

Here is the 2025 Record Newspapers All-Area baseball team.

Here is the 2025 Record Newspapers All-Area softball team.

Here is the 2025 Record Newspapers All-Area girls soccer team.

This week, the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association unveiled its 2025 All-State Team, celebrating standout athletes, including Class 1A champions Marquette’s Alec Novotney and Sam Mitre.

Senior catcher Kiyah Chavez and junior pitcher Jaelynn Anthony of Class 4A state champion Oswego were among those named Class 4A First Team All-State by the Illinois Coaches Association in voting announced this week.

Here is the All-Kishwaukee River Conference girls soccer team for the 2025 season, as selected by coaches.

Plano senior Tristan Meszaros, who took fourth in the Class 2A 100-meter dash after running a time of 10.63 seconds, and followed it up finishing the Class 2A 200 in 22.13 for seventh, is the Record Newspapers Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is his Q&A.

Sandwich's Braden Behringer was named the Kishwaukee River Conference Player of the Year and Johnsburg's Evan Pohl earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Here is the rest of the 2025 All-KRC baseball team, as selected by coaches.

Marengo's Kylee Jensen was named the Kishwaukee River Conference Player of the Year and Richmond-Burton's Hailey Holtz earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Here is the rest of the 2025 All-KRC softball team, as selected by coaches.

Oswego sophomore Dontrell Young won medals in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes at the IHSA state track meet, Oswego East's Zach Morrisroe won two throws medals and Yorkville's Owen Horeni was second in the 800, leading area medalists in Charleston.

Kaedin Bond and Jacob Gross each hit home runs in the first inning as La Salle-Peru scored seven runs on the way to a 17-2, four-inning win over Plano in a Class 3A Morris Regional semifinal Thursday.

Oswego East baseball rallied past Downers Grove South 5-3 in eight innings in a regional semifinal, and Plano softball lost its regional opener in Wednesday's Record Newspapers roundup.

Can Oswego sophomore Dontrell Young get a medals sweep in the sprints? Can Oswego East senior Zach Morrisroe go out with a bang in the throws? Can Plano senior Tristan Meszaros add to a record season? Here are five Kendall County storylines to watch at the IHSA state track meet.

Can Sandwich's Sunny Weber become a repeat, and maybe double, state champion? Can Yorkville's Courtney Clabough take home more throwing medals in her final state meet? Can Newark win more field medals? Here are area storylines to watch at this weekend's girls state track meet.

Sandwich defending state 3,200-meter champion Sunny Weber swept the 3,200 and 1,600 at the Class 2A Sterling Sectional, teammate Molly Russelburg recorded 2As best pole vault and Yorkville's Courtney Clabough swept the shot put and discus at the Class 3A Rock Island Sectional.

Woodstock's Ellery Shutt placed first in the 3,200 and 1,600 meters, and the Blue Streaks' depth shined to win their third Kishwaukee River Conference Boys Track and Field Meet in four years on Tuesday.

Area athletes compete in the Kishwaukee River Conference boys Track and Field Meet on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School in Richmond.

Richmond-Burton freshman Anthony Harvey struck out eight in a complete game three-hitter for his first varsity win, out-dueling Plano ace Jason Phillips 2-1 in the Kishwaukee River Conference series finale in Plano.

Woodstock, which sat in third place after 16 of 18 events, stormed back to win the Kishwaukee River Conference Girls Track and Field Meet championship Tuesday for the fourth time in five years.

Area athletes compete in the Kishwaukee River Conference Girls Track and Field Meet on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at Marengo High School.

Sunny Weber’s coach at Sandwich wanted her to make a statement on the national stage this spring. She was looking for redemption last weekend. The Sandwich junior did both at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational in California. That, plus Plano's big night in the track notebook.

Plano junior Kaylee Klatt, who won the 100-meter high hurdles at Kaneland’s Amy Holmes Invitational in a career-best time of 16.23 seconds, is the Record Newspapers Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is her Q&A with Joshua Welge.

Sandwich junior Brady Behringer navigated through a jam just three batters into Wednesday's game, struck out 10 and took a shutout into the fifth inning, and the Indians held off a late Plano rally for the second straight day for a 7-4 win and sweep of the two-game series.

Plano hosted Sandwich in boys varsity baseball on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

Lindsey Cocks gave her dad the perfect birthday present last week in Plano, a walk-off home run ball, and is leading a potent Reapers' lineup this spring. That, plus notes on Yorkville and Oswego East in Joshua Welge's softball notes.

Here are previews of girls track and field teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

The track and field season heads outdoors soon. Here are previews of boys track and field teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

Baseball season is officially here and there are no shortage of interesting stories to watch as the season unfolds. Here are five storylines in particular to follow in the Record Newspapers coverage area.

The 2025 girls soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

The high school softball season starts this week. Here are five players to watch in the Record Newspapers coverage area.

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

The 2025 high school baseball season starts next week. Here are five players to watch in the Record Newspapers area.

Here is the 2024-2025 Record Newspapers All-Area girls basketball team.

Here is the Record Newspapers All-Area boys wrestling team.

Sandwich senior Dom Rome was named the Kishwaukee River Conference Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Check out the full All-KRC team for the 2024-25 season, as selected by coaches.

Plano senior guard Josie Larson repeated as the Kishwaukee River Conference Girls Basketball Player of the Year, while Marengo led the All-KRC team with three selections. Check out the full team here.

Here is the 2024-25 All-Kishwaukee River Conference girls wrestling team, as selected by KRC coaches.

Here is the 2024-25 All-Kishwaukee River Valley Conference boys wrestling team, as selected by KRC coaches.

Yorkville seniors Jack Ferguson and Ryder Janeczko each ended out their wrestling careers with third-place finishes at the IHSA boys wrestling individual state meet to lead the seven All-State finishes from Kendall County-area wrestlers.

Sycamore faces off against Plano in the girls basketball 3A regional semifinal Monday, Feb. 17, 2025 hosted by Sterling High School. Plano won 61-51 and will play Sterling for the regional title on Thursday.

Morris's Paxton Valentine, Sycamore's Carson West, Sterling's Zyan Westbrook and Plano's Prince Amakiri all won championships at Saturday's IHSA Class 2A Washington Boys Wrestling Sectional.

Can Plano add to its best season ever? Can Yorkville Christian win its first regional? Can Oswego East continue its hot streak? Here are the postseason storylines to watch for Kendall County-area teams this month.

Plano's girls score senior night victory over Sandwich, 57-25.

Johnsburg made critical adjustments late against Plano on Tuesday night to win 58-52 and keep up near the top of the Kishwaukee River Conference race.

While Yorkville Christian dominated the Kaneland Class 2A Individual Wrestling Regional Saturday to win its fourth in a row team title, the other tournament schools will be well represented at next week’s Washington Class 2A Sectional. 

Sandwich put a damper on Plano’s senior night with a 43-31 victory Thursday in their Kishwaukee River Conference wrestling dual.