Area high school runners compete in the McHenry County Cross Country Meet on Saturday, August 30, 2025. at Emricson park in Woodstock.

Burlington Central volleyball defeated Cary-Grove in three sets, Burlington Central's Tyler Samaan led the Rockets boys golf team to an FVC dual win over the Trojans, plus more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

The 2025 high school football season starts Friday for Northwest Herald teams. Here is a look at Week 1 games, including Prairie Ridge at Cary-Grove in a matchup of the past two Fox Valley Conference champions.

Check out our team-by-team boys soccer preview with top returners, key newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Northwest Herald area.

Richmond-Burton's girls volleyball team began defense of its Kishwaukee River Conference title by beating Johnsburg in two sets, while Crystal Lake Central golfer Giuliana Dickson shined at RedTail Golf Club. Plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Check out our team-by-team girls volleyball preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season in the Northwest Herald area.

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.

The girls tennis season got underway this week. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Check out our team-by-team girls swimming preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team for the 2025 season.

Chase Garden led Jacobs boys golf past McHenry in FVC action, while Maggie Hanson had the top score for Marengo's girls in a win against Genoa-Kingston. And more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

A look at the Kishwaukee River Conference for the 2025 season, including team-by-team preview capsules, players to watch, five can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predicted order of finish.

The boys golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Woodstock North’s Ben Weir placed third overall as the Thunder took third out of 12 teams to open the season at the Sandwich Boys Golf Invite. Johnsburg girls golf won its season opener in Wisconsin.

The girls golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

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.

Woodstock North’s Parker Halihan was not immediately sold on the pitch to play quarterback. But the former wingback grew into the position, and last year led the Thunder to the most wins in program history. Now he's one of 19 starters back for first-year coach Jeremiah Homuth.

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.

Yorkville, Dixon and Woodstock North were among the schools participating in a 7 on 7 football tournament on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area baseball team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Woodstock North baseball beat Harvard in their Class 3A playoff opener, while Huntley boys volleyball, Hampshire, Huntley and Cary-Grove boys lacrosse and Crystal Lake Central co-op and Huntley girls lacrosse all advanced in postseason action Monday.

A look back at the last week in sports in the Northwest Herald by photographers Gregory Shaver, and Ryan Rayburn and Patrick Kunzer for the Shaw Local News Network.

Jacob Kim (singles) and Tim Jones and Cole Palese (doubles) led Prairie Ridge boys tennis to a sectional title, Drake Lenckus scored seven goals for Crystal Lake South boys lacrosse in a sectional win over McHenry, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Charlie Eastland scored three goals as Johnsburg girls soccer rolled to a 7-0 victory over Cristo Rey St. Martin to reach the Class 1A Richmond-Burton Sectional final. Crystal Lake Central girls soccer won a regional title, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Huntley senior Dominique Johnson is in position to secure her third triple jump championship in a row at the IHSA Class 3A Girls Track and Field State Meet. Plus all of Friday's 2A and 3A preliminary results from the Northwest Herald area in the state track roundup.

Marian Central’s Addie Leitzen advanced to the state finals of the triple jump after taking ninth in the preliminaries on Thursday at Eastern Illinois. Plus more track and field, baseball, softball, boys lacrosse and bass fishing scores.

Former McHenry boys basketball coach Tim Paddock has been named the new coach at Woodstock North. He has not coached since stepping down at McHenry in 2017.

Prairie Ridge won the Class 2A Marmion Sectional team title after qualifying four individuals and three relay teams to the IHSA state meet. Plus more boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, baseball and softball scores.

Marengo's Kylee Jensen hit two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, to lift the Indians to an 11-1 win over Byron in their playoff opener. Plus girls soccer postseason results in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Woodstock's Megan Kuiper threw a perfect game with 18 strikeouts to beat Round Lake, Marian Central baseball won its playoff opener over Genoa-Kingston, plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Woodstock North's Parker Neff and Tristan Schaffter both hit home runs as the Thunder won big, Marengo girls soccer won its regional semifinal, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Prairie Ridge, Johnsburg, Genoa-Kingston and Woodstock rounded out the top five teams at the Class 2A Genoa-Kingston Sectional Friday behind team champion Rockford Boylan, with all four schools sending athletes to next week's state meet in Charleston.

Burlington Central baseball edged Huntley, Crystal Lake Central softball hit five homers to beat Hampshire, Crystal Lake South and Richmond-Burton girls soccer won their playoff openers, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.