Ema Durst went 35-1, claimed the first girls wrestling state championship in Sycamore history and is the Daily Chronicle Girl Wrestler of the Year.

From a state champion in Kaneland to state placers in DeKalb and Sycamore, we look at the best around in the Daily Chronicle 2026 All-Area Team.

Dixon baseball improved to 3-0 after an 8-5 win at Rockford Jefferson. Eastland softball beat Lena-Winslow, Fulton fell to Ridgewood 10-0 and more in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Newman was firmly in control with a 10-0 lead at Sterling before the game was called early due to lightning on Thursday. The Comets' offense is off to a hot start this season.

The Sandwich baseball team dropped a pair of games in Tennessee on Thursday, while Dwight earned a one-run Tri-County Conference victory over Woodland/Flanagan-Cornell.

Newman's Brenleigh Cook and Claire Von Holten each had five RBIs in a win. Oregon softball beat Amboy, Newman baseball won 12-3, Dixon boys track & field won and more in Wednesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Putnam County baseball team earned a conference win over Henry, plus more baseball and softball results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Seneca softball's Hayden Pfeifer twirled a perfect game, Streator baseball 10-runned Illinois Valley Central, Fieldcrest's Drew Overocker drove in seven runs, plus more in The Times Wednesday Roundup.

The Mendota softball team topped Marquette 9-4 on Wednesday, receiving a two-homer, five-RBI performance from Addy Perryman and a complete-game pitching win courtesy of Lexie Saylor.

The statewide portion of youth wrestling season culminated earlier this month with various state tournaments including dozens of participants from the extended Ottawa/Streator/Morris area.

Owen Mandrell and Owen Laws each had two RBIs in Rock Falls' 7-3 win over Eastland. Fulton and Forreston baseball won, and Morrison softball beat Fulton to improve to 4-0 in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Hall and Mendota baseball teams scored in the seventh inning to pull out wins, plus more baseball and softball results in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Marquette baseball's Griffin Dobberstein homered twice, while Georgia Kirkpatrick scored a hat trick to lead the Ottawa girls soccer team to a season-opening win. That and more in The Times Tuesday Roundup.

Sterling drew seven walks and had 12 hits, while Lily Martinez and Layla Wright held Dixon to four hits in a 13-3 road win on Tuesday.

The Plainfield South baseball team was more solid than host Streator in the fundamentals Tuesday, and over seven innings it added up to a 10-1 Cougars win over the Bulldogs.

Seneca senior Camryn Stecken hit a two-run homer in the third inning to help spark Fighting Irish softball in an 11-1, five-inning win over St. Bede in their Tri-County Conference opener.

The Ottawa baseball team used a go-ahead, two-run single by Logan Cottingham in the sixth inning to earn a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over Plano at King Field in Ottawa on Tuesday.

A look at the La Salle-Peru, DePue-Hall, Mendota, Princeton and the new St. Bede JV girls soccer teams.

La Salle-Peru senior Kamryn Oscepinski is the NewsTribune Girls Bowler of the Year for the second year in a row after she won conference and regional titles and finished 40th at state.

Here’s a look at the top girls bowlers in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

Sterling's Layla Wright pitched a perfect game and had four RBIs in a road win. Newman, Oregon and Rock Falls softball also had wins. Newman, Sterling and Dixon baseball won, plus track & field results and more in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Marquette softball won a wild one at Newark thanks to six Kelsey Cuchra RBIs, with other area winners including Streator, Ottawa Dwight and Fieldcrest baseball. That and more in The Times Monday Roundup.

The Marquette baseball team kept its strong start to the season going Monday, as the Cru scored 11 times in the second inning and finished with 21 total hits in a 21-1 victory in five innings over host Newark.

Here's a look at the season ahead for the Streator and Ottawa boys tennis programs.

With the boys tennis season upon us, here is a look at the season ahead for a number of teams across the Herald-News area.

Here is a preview look at each softball team across the Sauk Valley coverage area as the 2026 season gets underway.

There will be a lot of familiar faces in the Sterling softball lineup this spring. After losing only three senior starters from 2025, expectations are high for the Golden Warriors.

Dixon boys and girls track & field both had invite wins. Dixon, Milledgeville and Forreston baseball also won. On the softball diamond, Sterling beat Erie-Prophetstown 9-1 in Saturday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The IVCC baseball team earned two walkoff wins, plus high school results in Saturday's NewsTribune roundup.

Serena, Streator, Ottawa and Marquette baseball as well as Ottawa, Newark, Seneca and Marquette softball were winners on an unseasonably beautiful Saturday. That and more in The Times Saturday Roundup.

A look at the top boys bowlers in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

La Salle-Peru junior Aiden McCray is the 2025-26 NewsTribune Boys Bowler of the Year. He had a 204 average, placed second in the Interstate 8 Conference Tournament and finished 35th at state.

The Mendota baseball team beat Amboy, Putnam County softball topped Bureau Valley and more in Friday's NewsTribune roundup.

The Marquette baseball team opened the season on Friday with a big win in Jacksonville, while Seneca and Sandwich also picked up victories. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

Wyatt Cassens was 4 for 4 in Sterling's 13-3 win over E-P. Newman, Fulton and Eastland baseball won, Dixon and Rock Falls softball won and more in Friday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Here are five of the top returning baseball players to watch in the Sauk Valley area as the 2026 season gets underway. Newman, Sterling, Fulton and Forreston are among the teams with key seniors back.

Morrison softball edged Sterling 2-1 as Ava Duncan pitched a complete game with 13 strikeouts. Sterling baseball beat Princeton 9-7, while Fulton softball and baseball beat Polo in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The L-P girls soccer team won its opener, plus baseball and softball results in Thursday's NewsTribune roundup.

Ottawa's Addie Russell pitched the Pirates softball team to a 5-1 win over Oswego on Thursday, while the Newark and Earlville/Leland baseball squads picked up wins. Plus, more results from around the Times area.

The Hall and Streator baseball teams opened their seasons Thursday at the SHS Athletic Fields, with the Bulldogs dominating early and the Red Devils late in an eventual 9-9 tie ballgame.

Marquette sophomore Lily Brewer's fourth inning solo home run sparked an eight-run Crusaders rally in a 10-0 victory in five innings over Streator in both team's season opener on Thursday at June Gross Field in Ottawa.

La Salle-Peru senior Kiely Domyancich is the NewsTribune Girls Wrestler of the Year for the second year in a row after going 35-5, winning a regional title and advancing to state for the third time in her career.

A look at the top boys and girls wrestlers in the NewsTribune area for the 2025-26 season.

The Henry baseball and softball teams lost their season openers, plus more results in Wednesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Seneca senior Lila Coleman placed second, leaping 5.23 meters in the long jump at Wednesday's Normal West Lady Wildcat Indoor Invitational, while Somonauk's Alexis Punsalan finished fifth in the pole vault.

With the high school girls soccer season getting underway this week, here is a look at the 2026 season for Ottawa, Streator, Serena co-op and Hinckley-Big Rock co-op.

Results from the La Salle-Peru and Mendota girls track and field teams in the Sycamore invite in Tuesday's NewsTribune roundup.

Here are five of the top Sauk Valley area softball players to watch this season as the 2026 campaign gets underway.

In an area loaded with baseball talent and as the season gets underway, here are our picks for five players to watch across The Times coverage area.

The Marquette baseball team, while having a few spots to fill due to graduation, brings back a ton of experience and talent, especially on the mound. The Class 2A Crusaders are coming off back-to-back 1A titles and will be looking to keep the success rolling.