The 2025 football season is just around the corner. Here's a preview of where the teams in the DuKane Conference stand, as well as five players to watch, five can't miss matchups, and Steve Soucie's conference predictions.

The annual "Battle of the Butts" Lineman Challenge was held on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at West Aurora.

Here is the 2025 Suburban Life All-Area softball team.

Wheaton Warrenville South senior and Illinois recruit Ashlyn Adams, who scored a school-record 27 goals and had 16 assists and led the Tigers to the DuKane Conference and their first sectional title since 2003, is the Suburban Life girls soccer Player of the Year.

Here is the 2025 Suburban Life All-Area girls soccer team.

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.

Wheaton Warrenville South dropped a quarterfinal round game to Lane Tech at the IHSA State Boys Volleyball Tournament on Friday, which marked the first time in state history a Chicago Public League team earned a win at the state tournament.

Hana Stoner had singles to start two Wheaton North scoring rallies, Hannah Wulf struck out four in a four-hitter and the Falcons turned the tables on two regular-season losses to Wheaton Warrenville South with a 4-1 win in the Class 4A Oswego Sectional semifinal.

After some key saves in net by Olivia Oschner, Michelle Ruan sunk the game-winning penalty kick to help Naperville North to a 3-2 victory over Wheaton-Warrenville South in PKs to get them to state for the first time since 2019.

Junior all-stater Simon Bratt made sure Wheaton Warrenville South would make an appearance at this weekend’s boys volleyball state finals at Hoffman Estates High School. Bratt’s 19 kills and 4 aces propelled the Tigers to a 25-12, 25-21 win over crosstown rival Wheaton North.

Wheaton Warrenville South senior Amari Williams broke 37 seconds for the first time to defend his Class 3A state title, Downers Grove North broke the Class 3A 4x800 state record to defend its title and Glenbard South junior Kyle Quaid-Bowman won the Class 2A pole vault.

Wheaton Warrenville South defeated St. Charles North in the Class 3A Glenbard West Sectional final against St. Charles North on Friday, May 30, 2025 in Glen Ellyn.

Will Downers Grove North go for a repeat in the 4x800 relay? Can Benet's Finn Richards get the distance double with a 3,200 title? And what about football stars from York and Wheaton Warrenville South? Here are 5 storylines to watch for Suburban Life-area athletes this weekend.

Illinois commit Ashley Adams scored a hat trick with three goals in just 44 minutes, while sophomore Kelsey Clousing was on the receiving end of both her assists as Wheaton Warrenville South cruised to a 7-0 victory over Glenbard West.

Wheaton Warrenville South defeated Glenbard West in a Class 3A Glenbard West Sectional semifinal game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 in Glen Ellyn.

Dylan McCabe drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning, and Matt Steinberg induced a game-ending double play in the bottom half to help St. Charles East hold on for a 6-5 victory over Wheaton-Warrenville South.

Wheaton North won its sixth straight DuKane Conference tennis championship on Saturday.

Even with one event remaining, Batavia used six wins to successfully defend it's DuKane Conference championship. St. Charles North and Wheaton-Warrenville South rounded out the top three.

Presley Wright is pitching more than she ever has before for her high school team, and the Wheaton Warrenville South senior admits her body does have a limit. She seems no worse for wear lately with two 1-0 shutouts of Wheaton North in the last week.

Illinois recruit Ashlyn Adams scored a goal on a 39-yard free kick banger that sailed over St. Charles East goalie Sidney Lazenby’s fingertips in the sixth minute, and Wheaton Warrenville South went on to beat St. Charles East 2-0 for the Tigers' first DuKane Conference title.

Wheaton Warrenville South hosted St. Charles East in girls varsity soccer on Friday, May 15, 2025 in Wheaton.

Wheaton Warrenville South softball beat Wheaton North 1-0 in a wild ending, Sophia Rosner struck out 11 and homered for Benet softball, plus the rest of the baseball, softball soccer and volleyball results in Wednesday's Suburban Life roundup.

Downers Grove South's Lamb twins are following in their family's soccer footsteps at the school, Westmont on a roll, plus regional finals to watch and Wheaton Warrenville South controls its destiny in the DuKane race in Chris Walker's soccer notebook.

St. Francis girls Margaret Andrzejewski, Erin Hinsdale, Elena Mamminga and Allie Sheldon, who set a Class 2A state finals record in the 4x800 last spring, are running faster than ever this spring. Question is, what events will they run in Charleston?

York swept all four relays and took a close second to Neuqua Valley at the 91st DuPage County boys track meet on Friday in Wheaton. Willowbrook was third in the team finish.

After losing the DuKane Conference indoor girls track and field title in heartbreaking fashion, St. Charles North used five victories on the day to win its first conference title in program history.

Wheaton North senior pitcher Jake Williams scattered seven hits while walking two and striking out seven in a complete-game shutout that led the host Falcons to a 3-0 win over DuKane Conference rival Wheaton Warrenville South, snapping the Tigers' four-game win streak.

Addison Yurchak plans to attend college at one of the country’s elite academic institutions, MIT, a career in medicine in mind. The Downers Grove South junior shortstop also has designs to keep playing softball. Meanwhile she leads the Mustangs as a third-year varsity player.

With three straight 2-0 victories against West Aurora, Andrew and host Plainfield North, Glenbard West had a good showing in the Plainfield Classic tournament. That, plus notes on Lemont, Downers Grove South, Benet, Hinsdale South and Morton in Chris Walker's soccer notebook.

Lily Bobor and starting pitcher Avery Arnold had run-scoring doubles in Wheaton Warrenville South's four-run first inning, and the Tigers went on to a 13-5 win over Glenbard West on Tuesday.

Wheaton Warrenville South scored a dominating 25-16, 25-15 DuKane Conference boys volleyball win at Wheaton North on Tuesday night.

Seniors set the pace for multiple schools at Wheaton Warrenville South's Red Grange Invitational on Friday night.

Wheaton Warrenville South shut off entry to its goal in claiming a 2-0 win over Wheaton North on Thursday.

Wheaton Warrenville South is among a handful of Class 3A teams that remain undefeated this season heading into a challenging week. That, plus notes on Downers Grove South, Montini, Westmont and more in Chris Walker's soccer notebook.

After a disappointing loss to Oswego in Thursday’s pool play, the Benet volleyball team beat Metea Valley and St. Charles North on Saturday to win the Silver Division title at Wheaton Warrenville South's Tiger Classic.

Junior Izzy Barnhart led Wheaton to victory with a game-high four goals as the United snapped a three-game losing streak with their 10-6 win on Tuesday at St. Francis.

Hinsdale Central posted its fourth straight shutout and won for the fifth time in sixth games on Monday night. That, Hinsdale South coach Jen Belmonte earns her 100th win plus notes on Lyons, Wheaton Warrenville South and more in Chris Walker's Suburban Life soccer notebook.

In a game where the teams combined for 34 hits, Geneva scored four runs in the top half of the eighth inning to get a 13-10, extra-inning victory over Wheaton Warrenville South in its DuKane Conference opener.

Wheaton Warrenville South hosted Geneva in boys varsity baseball on Monday, April 14, 2025 in Wheaton.

Oswego sophomore Leah McKenzie continued a sizzling start to her season with a solo home run, and NIU recruit Aubriella Garza struck out eight in a five-hit gem as the Panthers won at Wheaton Warrenville South 2-1 in a matchup of unbeatens.

Wheaton Warrenville South hosted Oswego in girls varsity softball on Thursday, April 10, 2025 in Wheaton.

The track and field season is heading outdoors and here are previews of girls teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Led by the strong hitting of Simon Bratt, Wheaton Warrenville South wore down visiting Geneva on Tuesday night.

Both Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South's softball teams are off to a fast starts, in large part because of stellar pitching from Hannah Wulf and Presley Wright. That, plus Montini continues strong start during 5-0 spring break in Joshua Welge's softball notes.

Lyons Township girls soccer hosted Wheaton Warrenville South on Thursday, March 27, 2025 in Western Springs.

Illinois recruit Ashlyn Adams and Kelsey Clousing teamed up for two goals, and Adams finished with a hat trick in leading Wheaton Warrenville South's 3-2 win at Lyons.

Led by a four-win day from Elizabeth Wende, Batavia held off a big effort from St. Charles North to secure its fifth consecutive DuKane Conference indoor title.

Batavia pulled off seven victories to help claim its third DuKane Conference boys indoor track and field title in four seasons.

Here is the Suburban Life All-Area boys basketball team.

The 2025 high school soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.