Hampshire Preps

Crystal Lake South sophomore Annalee Aarseth took second in the 110-pound bracket at the IHSA girls state wrestling championships on Saturday in Bloomington, while Hampshire had three medalists to take second place in the team standings.

Defending state champion Marian Central dominated its Class 1A quarterfinal matchup against Murphysboro to advance to Saturday's semifinals. Cary-Grove co-op's Kasparas Venslauskas and the Trojans' 200 free relay advanced to the state swimming consolation finals.

Here is the 2024-25 All-Fox Valley Conference boys wrestling team, as selected by FVC coaches.

Richmond-Burton's Luke Robinson poured in 41 points and surpassed 1,000 in his career in a playoff-opening victory, plus first-round wins from Marian Central and Woodstock North in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

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.

Crystal Lake South senior guard AJ Demirov set a career high with 43 points, including 30 in the second half, and the Gators battled back to beat Hampshire 77-53 Friday and earn a share of the Fox Valley Conference title.

The postseason for boys basketball begins Monday. Here are the top storylines to watch for teams in the Northwest Herald area.

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.

Collin Greenlee sank his school-record 96th 3-pointer of the season, and Woodstock's boys basketball team beat Woodstock North in overtime, Marengo girls wrapped up the KRC championship, plus more scores in Wednesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Laken LePage scored 23 points to lead Crystal Lake South into the regional finals against Kaneland. Crystal Lake Central and Burlington Central also moved on. Plus more scores in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

The stages are set for both the boys and girls wrestling IHSA individual state tournaments. Here is a list of McHenry County-area wrestlers who will compete in their respective state tournaments.

Cary-Grove and Huntley girls basketball won their postseason openers, plus more basketball scores in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

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.

Huntley sophomore Radic Dvorak captured the 157-pound championship at the Class 3A Barrington Sectional to earn his spot at state. Teammates Colin Abordo and Wyatt Theobald and McHenry's Ryan Hanson, a two-time state qualifier, also advanced.

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.

Area swimmers compete in the the Fox Valley Conference Invitational swim meet on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at Woodstock North High School.

Crystal Lake South's AJ Demirov became the Gators' all-time leading scorer, Adam Anwar scored 15 points in his return for McHenry, Huntley girls finished the regular season unbeaten, plus more results in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

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.

Huntley girls basketball won its fourth straight outright Fox Valley Conference title and tied the program’s record for most wins in a season with a 71-18 win over Prairie Ridge on Thursday. Cary-Grove's Ellie Mjaanes also surpassed 1,000 career points.

Crystal Lake Central’s 6-foot-9 JJ Parrish enjoyed a breakout performance last week, albeit in a Fox Valley Conference loss to Hampshire. Parrish had 18 points, including three dunks. Plus info on Prairie Ridge's upset win against McHenry.

Jarred Russell scored 17 points to lead Dundee-Crown to an upset win against McHenry, Hampshire’s Ryan Prowicz scored 33 to beat Jacobs, plus more basketball scores in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Marengo girls basketball earned a share of its third straight Kishwaukee River Conference title, while Huntley clinched a share of its fourth consecutive Fox Valley Conference championship. Plus more basketball scores in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

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.

Richmond-Burton finished runner-up in the Small Team Division of the IHSA Competitive Cheerleading State Finals, while Dundee-Crown finished third in the Co-ed Team Division.

Ryan Prowicz scored 22 points, Chayse Gray had a solid all-around game and Hampshire's boys basketball team beat Crystal Lake Central 63-45 Friday night to avenge an earlier season loss.

Richmond-Burton, Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake Central, Prairie Ridge, Huntley and Dundee-Crown advanced to the state finals in cheerleading, Eli Loeding led Prairie Ridge boys basketball to an upset win over McHenry, plus more scores in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

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.

Hampshire faces Crystal Lake Central in a Fox Valley Conference basketball game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Hampshire faces Crystal Lake Central in a Fox Valley Conference basketball game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, at Crystal Lake Central High School.

Michael Kirchoff scored 17 points, and Marengo's boys basketball team celebrated senior night by beating Round Lake 62-46. Plus more boys and girls hoops in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Illinois high school wrestling has entered its most exciting month of the season. Here are some of the key postseason storylines to watch for McHenry County-area teams this month.

Johnsburg boys basketball knocked in 15 3-pointers in a 90-41 win over Woodstock North while the Huntley girls basketball team stayed undefeated on the season with a win Wednesday. Plus more boys and girls basketball and boys swimming scores.

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.

Thea Scheuer won the all-around title as Prairie Ridge co-op’s gymnastics team captured the four-team regional championship at Stevenson. Richmond-Burton girls basketball earned its first KRC win of the season, and more in Tuesday’s Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Harvard's Mayra Hyde grabbed her 500th career rebound in a win over Rockford East, Huntley improved to 26-0, Prairie Ridge beat Crystal Lake South, and more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Jacobs sophomore Brett Biondo earned a top-10 finish at the IHSA Boys Bowling State Finals, Burlington Central girls wrestling advanced five to sectionals, nine cheerleading teams made it to state, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Huntley senior Aubrie Rohrbacher started her quest back to the state tournament by helping the Red Raiders win the Hampshire Regional on Saturday.

Huntley's Noah Waters is in eighth place individually and the Raiders are in ninth as a team after Day 1 of the IHSA Boys Bowling State Finals. Crystal Lake Central's Ruby Macke scored 43 points in a win over Prairie Ridge, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Finn Pivnicka and Adam Wrzos scored 19 points each, and Marian Central's boys basketball team beat Christian Life 59-44 Thursday night to equal last season's win total. Plus more in Thursday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Huntley girls basketball stayed undefeated with a 51-23 win over Hampshire on Wednesday night. Plus more girls and boys basketball scores.

Woodstock North boys basketball scored a season high in points to beat Marengo, Hampshire knocked off Huntley in FVC play, and more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

McHenry girls basketball ended a 10-game losing streak, Harvard girls defeated Woodstock North in KRC action, plus more results in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Woodstock co-op's Max Haggerty bowled a perfect game to advance to state, while Jacobs' Brett Biondo and Huntley's team also moved on. Marian Central wrestling claimed the CCC title, Woodstock co-op girls wrestling won the Harvard Open, and more in Saturday's sports roundup.

Huntley used a 26-point third quarter to knock off Cary-Grove in boys basketball, the Red Raiders wrestling team won the FVC championship outright, plus much more in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Anthony Martinez, Ben Arbotante, Luke Flaskamp, Conner Zacarias, Owen Piazza and Bobby Nuwsiima had pins for Jacobs in a win over Crystal Lake South. Plus Cary-Grove and Hampshire also won in wrestling in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Richmond-Burton senior Emmett Nelson broke the Rockets' all-time wins record over the weekend. Plus more in this week's Northwest Herald wrestling notes on Crystal Lake Central, Jacobs and postseason assignments.

Harvard senior Adam Cooke scored a game-high 27 points and surpassed 1,000 career points in a loss to Plano, Burlington Central and Dundee-Crown survived in overtime, plus more results in Wednesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Crystal Lake Central, Cary-Grove and Hampshire earned FVC girls basketball wins, while McHenry and Woodstock co-op girls bowling picked up dual victories in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Johnsburg boys basketball erupted for a season-high 95 points in a comeback win, Skye Toussaint hit the game-winning bucket for Johnsburg girls to finish third at Round Lake, Richmond-Burton won the KRC title in cheerleading, plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.