Fulton Preps

Three CCL/ESCC teams have advanced into the Class 5A semifinals. Can Morris break up the conference logjam and keep it from being a conference clash in the final? Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 5A playoffs.

Looking for a postseason Cinderella Story? They are all over the Class 4A field. Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 4A playoffs.

There's a lot of postseason pedigree in the final four of the Class 3A field, but not of all that pedigree has been achieved in this classification. Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 3A playoffs.

A number of new faces are in the Class 2A semifinals. Will the remain stalwart, Maroa-Forsyth move through? Or will the state be represented by two new teams in the Class 2A final? Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

Things rarely go to the expectation in the postseason but the four teams that remain in the Class 1A bracket are the same four teams that most favored to get to the semifinal round. Steve Soucie breaks down the semifinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 1A playoffs.

The second round of the 8A playoffs didn't do much to pare down the list of teams with realistic aspirations of reaching the state title game. Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 8A playoffs.

It's a mixed bag in the Class 7A field as some of the favorites have found their way into the quarterfinals, but one of the quadrants has boosted the hopes of some lower seeds. Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 7A playoffs.

The seeds have largely held in the Class 5A bracket, but now that most of the lower seeds have been removed will that trend hold? Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 5A playoffs.

Dixon senior QB Cullen Shaner and Newman senior linebacker/running back Daniel Kelly were both named All-State by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association on Wednesday. A number of Sauk Valley 8-man players and honorable mentions were also recognized.

Seeds haven't mattered much in the Class 4A draw as several low seeds have positioned themselves to make a deep run in the bracket. Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 4A playoffs.

The defending state champions Byron was knocked out by Montini in the second round. Do the Broncos assume the favorite role now? Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 3A playoffs.

Most of the top seeds have showed they've earned that billing in the Class 2A postseason. Will that trend hold in the quarterfinals? Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

There were a lot of teams that could stake a claim to being a legitimate threat to winning the Class 1A State title heading into the playoffs. And they are all still here. Steve Soucie breaks down the quarterfinal round of the 2024 IHSA Class 1A playoffs.

Top-seeded teams all moved along with little difficulty. Will that trend continue in Round 2? Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 8A playoffs.

Big time matchups can be found all over the list of Class 7A second round games. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 7A playoffs.

It was largely an opening round in Class 5A where the favorites moved to the second round, but the next round should provide some very intriguing matchups. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 5A playoffs.

FFA students from several local high schools work Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, to make easy meals for the underserved.

4A seems even more wide open now after defending champion Rochester was surprised by Peoria Notre Dame in the first round. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 4A playoffs.

Favorites advanced through the first round creating a number of titanic second round matchups in Class 3A. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 3A playoffs.

Nearly all the higher seeds advanced into the second round which creates some big time showdowns. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

The favorites survived Week 1 of the playoffs in Class 1A, but a few potential Cinderella squads have showed up to the dance. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 1A playoffs.

A late Fulton rally pushed Galena to the brink of a third set Tuesday, but the defending Class 1A state-champion Pirates scored three straight to end the Steamers’ season and move on to the title match with a 25-16, 27-25 victory in their 1A Polo Sectional semifinal.

Fulton fell to Galena in two sets at the 1A Polo Sectional on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

Fulton beat Polo to win a regional volleyball title in Class 1A and Eastland fell short against top-seeded Galena in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Lincoln-Way East and Loyola can't meet for a third consecutive time in the Class 8A title game because they are on the same side of the bracket, who will emerge as a new challenger? Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 8A playoffs.

Mount Carmel is still the leading threat to capture the 7A crown, but several other teams appear poised to mount a stern challenge to the Caravan. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 7A playoffs.

Are we lining up another Cary-Grove/East St. Louis battle for the title? Or can another team join the mix. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 6A playoffs.

Nazareth became the first team in state history to win a state title with five losses last season. Nazareth is back in the field trying to defend, but will another lower seed make an epic run? Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 5A playoffs.

Rochester is looking for another state title, but there's a whole host of teams looking to challenge that run to another piece of hardware. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 4A playoffs.

Byron dominated the Class 3A field last year, if they are to repeat they have some difficult obstacles in their way. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 3A playoffs.

The defending champ isn't in the Class 2A field, who will step into the role of favorite? Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

Is 1A more wide open that it has been? Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2024 IHSA Class 1A playoffs.

Fulton's Miraya Pessman and Chloe Wilkin combined for 12 kills in Monday's 25-5, 25-5 win over Mooseheart to open the postseason.

Sterling's Ryan Gebhardt set the career field goal record, Dixon was sharp in shutout, Fulton finishes on a bright note with Wooden Shoe's return, and Newman is motivated after a loss heading into the playoffs in Week 9's Sauk Valley notes.

In the resurrection of a longtime rivalry, the Wooden Shoe traveling trophy stays with the Fulton Steamers with a 41-7 win over the Morrison Mustangs in the regular-season finale.

The Fulton Steamers downed its rival Morrison Mustangs in the battle for the traveling Wooden Shoe trophy on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. The Steamers won the game 41-7.

Fulton junior golfer Jacob Voss, who shot a season-best 70 at state golf to tie for fifth place and help Fulton take second as a team, is the Sauk Valley Athlete of the Week in an online vote. Here is his Q&A with Drake Lansman.

Newman hosts Mon-Rose in a battle of TRAC champs, Sterling hits the road to Moline seeking a sixth win, the Wooden Shoe game between Morrison and Fulton returns with playoff hopes alive, Dixon hits the road to North Boone and more in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Amboy, Fulton and Milledgeville volleyball all picked up wins in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Dixon is confident and motivated after loss to Byron, Fulton's Braedon Meyers threw a school record six TDs, Jungerman steps up for Newman and Sterling bounced back in fifth win in Week 8's Sauk Valley football notes.

Fulton volleyball player Reese Germann is the Steamers' new career digs leader after breaking Averi Leitzen's record. Germann now holds the single-match, season and career digs records at Fulton.

The Fulton boys golf team looks to be among the top handful of teams at state in Class 1A, Kaden Brown is Forreston's first at state, and Dixon's Oros and Sterling's Hubbard are set to compete again this weekend at the 2A meet.

Dixon's Leah Carlson had 13 assists and three aces in a three-set win at Byron; Rock Falls, E-P, Milledgeville and Fulton volleyball picked up wins; and Dixon boys soccer won in Tuesday's Sauk Valley roundup.

The Fulton Steamers traveled to Pecatonica on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 for a NUIC game with Durand-Pecatonica.

Oregon swept Dixon and six other area volleyball teams earned wins in Thursday's Sauk Valley roundup. Girls tennis and boys soccer also competed.

The Riverdale Rams posted their second consecutive regional golf win on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 winning the team title at the 1A Lanark Regional with a 305 score. Fulton finished second with a 314 and Erie-Prophetstown third with a 339. All three teams will play at the Rockford Lutheran Sectional on Monday, Oct. 7 at the Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Club.

Sterling beat Beloit Turner 32-0, Morrison won its first NUIC game, Fulton and E-PC picked up wins, E-P won in the final seconds and Milledgeville and Polo rolled to 5-0 in Friday's Week 5 Sauk Valley football roundup

Fulton boys golf won the NUIC title, Dixon was fourth at the Big Northern meet and Eastland's Trixie Carroll recorded her 1000th kill in Thursday's Sauk Valley Roundup

Fulton boys golf finished the regular season 12-0, Sterling's Hubbard took ninth at the Big 6 meet, Dixon boys soccer won and Newman and Sterling girls tennis each earned dual wins in Monday's Sauk Valley roundup.

Fourth-ranked Dixon heads to Genoa-Kingston, Fulton and Oregon hope to get back to .500, E-PC hosts Forreston, Newman hosts Orion, E-P plays at Rockridge, Sterling heads to Galesburg and West Carroll can get to 4-0 in the Week 4 Sauk Valley football slate.