Joe Stevenson

Jacobs definitely will miss linebacker Paulie Rudolph, a four-year varsity player and leader, but the Golden Eagles are confident they will have a strong defensive unit with a lot of players returning.

Prairie Ridge defensive lineman Gavin Tinch, who will start for a third varsity season, has the attention of a lot of NCAA Division-I coaches heading into his senior season.

Casey Duval will take over as Johnsburg's athletic director and Eric Toussaint will be the Skyhawks' new baseball coach, the school recently announced.

Prairie Ridge graduate Valerie Tarazi is not done with competitive swimming, although her eligibility at Auburn is exhausted. She trained with her college team and will swim for Palestine in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. "It’s been my dream my whole life."

McHenry pitcher Brandon Shannon liked Louisville once he visited the campus and the Cardinals reciprocated. Shannon, who will be a senior this year, committed to the NCAA Division-I Cardinals on Monday.

Sports writer Joe Stevenson is retiring after 35 years with the Northwest Herald, 42 years overall in the business. This is his farewell column.

Huntley scored 158 1/2 points and won 11 Fox Valley Conference titles to take the Northwest Herald All-Sports Award for a ninth consecutive time.

Evan Jager, a 2007 Jacobs graduate, finished fourth in the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials on Sunday night in Eugene, Oregon. Normally, the top three runners make the Olympic team, but Jager may have a shot because of his world ranking to still make Team USA.

Jacobs graduate Cameron Krutwig was dropped from one Spanish team, but thrived with Forca Lleida, which he helped earn a promotion for the 2025 season.

Prairie Ridge 2019 graduate Dom Listi thrived at NCAA Division III North Central College, then had a productive 2024 season at D-I Indiana State. Now, Listi is transferring to Clemson to finish his baseball career.

Jacobs graduate Evan Jager finishes fourth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials on Sunday night. The two-time Olympian still may have a shot at his third trip to the Olympics.

Jacobs graduate Evan Jager battled his way into the 3,000-meter men's steeplechase finals from Friday's qualifying heat at the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials.

Marian Central's Christian Bentancur is the only athlete in IHSA history to get 200 receptions in football and 2,000 points in basketball in a career. Bentancur is the 2024 Northwest Herald Male Athlete of the Year.

Cary-Grove's Ryan Passaglia felt regret at missing some of his children's athletic events in the spring the past few years when he was the Trojans' head baseball coach. He has resigned, but will remain as an assistant football coach.

Burlington Central's Brady Gilroy played shortstop, center field and pitched for the Rockets, and did it all quite well. Gilroy was a driving force for Central, which was Fox Valley Conference runner-up, and he is the 2024 Northwest Herald Baseball Player of the Year.