The Cubs have been one of the best teams in Major League Baseball this summer, and 'Locked On Cubs' podcast partners Matt Cozzi and Sam Olbur, both of whom grew up in the Chicago suburbs, have kept fans up to date after every game

High school football practice officially starts Monday, and the opening night for the season for local teams is Aug. 29. Here are Joe Aguilar's five storylines to watch this season in McHenry County.

Can anybody take down Huntley in the FVC? How far can Richmond-Burton extend its KRC winning streak? Here are five girls volleyball storylines to watch in McHenry County in 2025.

How will Prairie Ridge follow up a historic season? Who are the top FVC and KRC contenders? Which returning players have the most scoring power? Here are five boys soccer storylines to watch in McHenry County in 2025.

Prairie Ridge traveled to Grant for a scrimmage on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Grant High School in Fox Lake.

Prairie Ridge’s 5-9 quarterback/defensive back Luke Vanderwiel is ready for a big season. The senior rushed for 1,005 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, despite missing four games because of a broken bone in his left leg.

The IHSA released football schedules for the 2025 season, and Week 1 features a matchup between the past two Fox Valley Conference champions, as Prairie Ridge will visit Cary-Grove. Check out the top games to watch each week in McHenry County.

Once cut by his high school baseball coach Glen Pecoraro, Austin Padjen now replaces him at Prairie Ridge. The Prairie Ridge graduate spent the past five seasons as Crystal Lake Central's pitching coach. "It’s very full circle, and it's very humbling."

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area baseball team.

Scott Busam helped lead Prairie Ridge to a historic season. The Wolves won their first Fox Valley Conference championship since 2016 and advanced to the Class 3A state semifinals for the first time. Busam is the 2025 Northwest Herald Softball Coach of the Year.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team.

Prairie Ridge junior right-handed pitcher Reese Mosolino found another gear in the postseason, tossing five shutouts in seven games and leading the Wolves to their best season ever. Mosolino is the 2025 Northwest Herald Softball Player of the Year.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald Girls Soccer All-Area Team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Boys Tennis Team.

Here are six Northwest-Herald football players poised for big 2025 seasons.

The All-State baseball teams have been released, and the Northwest Herald coverage area is well represented.

Crystal Lake Central co-op junior Anna Starr already cemented herself as one of the state's best players. But Starr took her game to yet another level, earning her the Northwest Herald Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year for a third straight season.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference baseball team, as selected by coaches.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference softball team, as selected by coaches.

Hampshire's Bria Riebel, Crystal Lake Central's Oli Victorine, Prairie Ridge's Ady Kiddy and Reese Mosolino and Harvard's Tallulah Eichholz were named to the Illinois Coaches Association All-State first team in Class 3A and 4A, released late Sunday.

History tends to repeat itself in regards to the IHSA Football Playoffs, but the new enrollment numbers could lead to a bracket that looks a lot different in the next postseason chase. Here is Steve Soucie's 2025 IHSA football preseason playoff projection.

Prairie Ridge pounded out 17 hits, including four by senior Ady Kiddy, while junior ace Reese Mosolino tossed one last shutout, and the Wolves celebrated a 12-0, five-inning win over St. Laurence Saturday in the Class 3A state third-place game.

Chatham Glenwood defeated Providence Catholic 3-2 in the Class 3A State title game on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Prairie Ridge shut out Burbank St. Laurence 12-0 to win the IHSA Class 3A State third place game on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Prairie Ridge, making its state debut, was unable to come up with the big hit Friday, while Glenwood jumped on the Wolves early for a 5-0 win in the Class 3A semifinals. Prairie Ridge will face St. Laurence at 9 a.m. Saturday for third place.

Prairie Ridge fell 5-0 to Glenwood in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinal at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in East Peoria on June 13, 2025.

Prairie Ridge seniors Ady Kiddy, Kendra Carroll and Autumn Ledgerwood and the rest of the 28-1-1 Wolves will look to go out on top when they make their first state appearance in program history this weekend in Peoria.

Kendra Carroll raced home for the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth inning, and Reese Mosolino closed out another shutout as Prairie Ridge beat Antioch 1-0 Monday to earn its first state appearance.

Prairie Ridge defeats Antioch in the IHSA Class 3A Kaneland Supersectional softball game on Monday, June 9, 2025, at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference girls soccer team, as selected by coaches.

Woodstock North brothers Mason and Austin Nicolai placed 18th at the IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals, which concluded Saturday at Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville. 

Hinsdale Central sophomore Maggie Conley scored 10 points, consisting of a hat trick and seven assists, to lead the Red Devils to an 18-6 win over Crystal Lake Central co-op and a third-place finish at the state tournament Saturday.

A collision at second base went the way of Prairie Ridge, which scored five runs in the sixth inning to come back and beat rival Crystal Lake Central 5-2 on Friday for the Wolves' first sectional championship since 2009.

The Crystal Lake Central and Prairie Ridge softball teams met Friday afternoon to decide the winner of the Class 3A Sycamore Sectional final.

Prairie Ridge junior Reese Mosolino, calm as ever, pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning, and the Wolves' bats backed her up with three doubles to beat Belvidere North 3-0 and reach the Class 3A Sycamore Sectional final.

The Prairie Ridge softball team met Belvidere North Thursday in a Class 3A sectional semifinal at Sycamore High School. The winner will advance to Friday's championship game against Crystal Lake Central.

Charlie Taczy's one-run complete game Wednesday powered Cary-Grove past Prairie Ridge and into Saturday's Grayslake Central Sectional championship game.

Prairie Ridge faces Cary-Grove in the IHSA Class 3A Grayslake Central Sectional semifinal baseball game Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Grayslake Central High School.

A number of McHenry County-area girls soccer players and coaches earned honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association for the 2025 season. Here's the full list of winners.

Huntley's Tommy Nitz became the second Red Raider in as many weekends to win a state title. The senior capped his high school career in grand style with a first-place finish in the Class 3A 1,600-meter run at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Field.

Hampshire and Burlington Central baseball each won regional titles, Dundee-Crown's upset bid of Barrington fell just short, and Prairie Ridge's Tim Jones and Cole Palese finished sixth at the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet.

Prairie Ridge's batters drew 11 walks and delivered clutch hits early as the Wolves defeated Lake Forest 9-5 Saturday for their first regional championship since 2021.

Cary-Grove's Logan Abrams qualified for the IHSA Class 3A Boys Track and Field State Meet finals in the shot put and discus, Huntley's Tommy Nitz clocked the fastest 1,600 time, and Johnsburg's Brett Centnarowicz sits in second place in the 2A discus.

Ady Kiddy's aggressive baserunning and Reese Mosolino's strong pitching helped lead Prairie Ridge past Harvard 1-0 Friday as the Wolves won their 25th game and second straight Class 3A regional championship.

Hampshire softball won its second regional title in three seasons, Cary-Grove battled top-seeded Antioch but fell short in a 6-3 loss, and Huntley boys lacrosse almost upset No. 1 Barrington, falling 18-17, in a sectional title match.

Prairie Ridge's Jacob Kim and the Wolves' doubles team of Tim Jones and Cole Palese continued their Class 1A Boys Tennis State Tournament run Friday and have a chance to finish as high as fifth place when play resumes Saturday at Palatine High School.

Crystal Lake Central, the defending Class 3A state champion, upset Lakes in their playoff opener. Jacobs, Huntley and Dundee-Crown also earned wins to reach regional finals, and more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Prairie Ridge’s Jacob Kim and the Wolves’ doubles team of Tim Jones and Cole Palese enjoyed perfect days Thursday at the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet. Players from Crystal Lake South, Huntley, Jacobs and Johnsburg also advanced to Day 2.

Burlington Central's Chase Powrozek threw a no-hitter to lead the Rockets to an 8-0 win over Rochelle in a Class 3A regional semifinal, Hampshire and McHenry baseball threw combined no-hitters, plus more postseason scores in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Addison DeSomer hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, lifting Cary-Grove's softball team to a 2-1 win in a Class 3A regional semifinal. Prairie Ridge's Reese Mosolino and Crystal Lake Central's Oli Victorine threw no-hitters. Plus, more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.