Alex Kantecki

Cary-Grove co-op's Kasparas Venslauskas qualified for state in four events and reset Barrington's pool record in the 100-yard breaststroke on Saturday. Venslauskas, his Trojans' teammates and swimmers from Jacobs co-op and McHenry also advanced.

Kaneland sophomore guard Amani Meeks scored a career-high 20 points, and the Knights held off a hot-shooting Laken LePage and Crystal Lake South for a 60-47 win and their second straight regional championship Friday night.

Huntley‘s already historic season turned a little more special Thursday night following a convincing 56-25 victory against Rockford Auburn in the Class 4A Rockford Jefferson Regional final. "We still have another whole level we can reach.”

Hampshire senior Anneliese Tavira won the 170-pound championship Saturday at the Schaumburg Sectional to earn her first trip to state. Tavira is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Jacobs co-op boys swimming won the FVC Invite, Woodstock's Torin Deacon advanced to state in girls bowling, Marian Central's Juliette Huff set the school's single-season points record, Rileigh Gaddini surpassed 1,000 career points, plus more in Saturday's roundup.

Hampshire made history Saturday by qualifying the school's first three girls wrestlers to state, which included two sectional champions. Plus wrestlers from Huntley, Dundee-Crown, Crystal Lake South and McHenry all advance from the Schaumburg Sectional.

Is undefeated Huntley in for a special run in the Class 4A playoffs? How many regional champions will represent McHenry County in 2025? Read about the Northwest Herald area's top postseason storylines and more in this week's girls basketball notes.

Prairie Ridge's Eli Loeding, a 6-foot-4 junior, poured in a game-high 27 points to lead the Wolves to an upset victory over McHenry and hand the Warriors their first Fox Valley Conference loss of the season. Loeding is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Adriana Wrzos scored a game-high 22 points, and fellow senior Abbey Miner made a big impact with 14 points, five assists and four steals for Marian Central in a 52-42 come-from-behind win against Rockford Christian at Landers Pavilion.

Here are the postseason assignments and schedules for girls basketball teams in the Northwest Herald area. First-round regional games tip off Saturday.

Huntley boys wrestling advanced a dozen to sectionals, Burlington Central had seven qualifiers, Huntley, Jacobs co-op and Marengo girls bowling moved on to sectionals, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Marian Central, the defending Class 1A dual team state champion, crowned six regional winners and advanced 11 wrestlers to sectionals on Saturday at Marengo.

Crystal Lake Central senior forward Leah Spychala scored a game-high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting, and the Tigers beat Hampshire 51-38 in a battle of third-place teams in the Fox Valley Conference.

McHenry senior guard Caleb Jett scored 26 points, including his 1,000th career point, to lead the Warriors past Crystal Lake South in a key Fox Valley Conference game on Jan. 31. Jett is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Football players can sign financial aid agreements or letters of intent with NCAA Division I and II schools starting Wednesday, the first day of the regular signing period. In addition to football, here are Class of 2025 commitments for all sports in the McHenry County area.