Class 4A state softball champion Lincoln-Way West highlights the list of area all-conference selections.

The Illinois Coaches Association announced its 2026 ICA All-State teams this week, with 11 Herald-News area softball standouts selected for first-team honors and dozens more for other ICA accolades.

Outside of Lincoln-Way West softball's historic state championship, it was a busy weekend around the Herald-News coverage area. Here are a few of the other top stories in our Weekend Rewind.

Any state championship is special, but the one Lincoln-Way West brought home was made all the more spectacular by everything it took to earn it.

For the first time in school history, Lincoln-Way West has won a team state championship as the softball team downed Mundelein 6-1 in the Class 4A title game on Saturday.

Lincoln-Way West takes on Mundelein in the 4A state softball title game Saturday, June 6, 2026, in Peoria. Lincoln-Way West took the title 6-1.

Lincoln-Way West's softball team upset top-ranked Marist 2-1 and advanced to the IHSA Class 4A state championship game behind a gutsy performance from pitcher Abby Brueggmann and the rest of the Warriors.

Lincoln-Way West defeated Marist 2-1 in the Class 4A semifinal game on Friday, June 5, 2026 at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The Lady Warriors will play Saturday in the State Championship at 4:45p.m.

Lincoln-Way Central baseball broke out for three runs in the first inning, added four in the second and never looked back in claiming an 8-2 win over Marist to advance to the Class 4A Lincoln-Way Central Sectional title game against Sandburg at 10 a.m. Saturday.

The Lincoln-Way girls lost to Maris 11-9 in the Lockport Supersectional lacrosse match while the Lincoln-Way boys were bested by St. Ignatius.

Bolingbrook boys volleyball falls in sectional championship and more in the Herald-News Tuesday Roundup

Outside of the state medals claimed by our area’s boys track and field athletes at the IHSA State Finals, it was a busy championship weekend around the Herald-News coverage area. Here are a few of those top stories in our Weekend Rewind.

Lincoln-Way Central upsets Lincoln-Way East to win regional title and more in the Herald-News Saturday Roundup.

Plainfield North headed up the list of area Class 3A and Class 2A athletes that qualified for Saturdays boys state track finals and more in Friday's Herald-News Roundup.

Reese Rourke hit two home runs while Abby Brueggmann and the defense held Lockport to one run as Lincoln-Way West won its first ever sectional championship in softball.

A wealth of area track and field athletes in Class 1A advanced to the IHSA State Meet's finals, Coal City and Wilmington baseball set up another regional championship rivalry matchup and more in the Herald-News Thursday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way West has entries in 12 of the 18 events at this years Class 3A boys state track and field meet

Alex Panos' no-hitter highlighted Lincoln-Way Central's regional win and more in Wednesday's Herald-News roundup.

Lemont knocks off Mother McAuley in softball sectional semifinals and more in the Herald-News Tuesday Roundup.

After Lincoln-Way West made quick work of Lincoln-Way Central, Lockport won a pitchers dual against Lincoln-Way East to set up a clash in Friday's sectional title game.

Plainfield South and Bolingbrook baseball both won extra-inning thriller to open the IHSA postseason, Joliet Central, Reed-Custer and Plainfield East won play-in games, plus more in the Herald-News Monday Roundup.

Outside of the many state medals claimed by area girls track and field athletes at the IHSA State Finals, it was a busy and successful weekend around the Herald-News coverage area. Here are a few of those top stories in our Weekend Rewind.

Lemont boys tennis wins JCA Sectional and more in the Herald-News Saturday roundup.

Plainfield East headed up the list of girls state finalists at the Class 3A state track meet and more in Friday's Herald-News Roundup.

Wilmington’s McKenna Van Tilburg will be heading to Saturday’s finals in four events after a spectacular performance in prelims of the IHSA State Meet. Plus more from the Herald-News area.

Lincoln-Way East boys track and field took second at the Rich Township Sectional, plus softball regional results in the Herald-News roundup.

Lockport, Minooka and all three Lincoln-Ways were among girls soccer regional winners, plus more in Tuesday's Herald-News Roundup.

Lockport beats Andrew in baseball and more in the Herald-News Monday Roundup.

Lemont baseball blanked Romeoville in eight innings, Coal City baseball won twice and Lincoln-Way East won a girls water polo sectional title in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup

Lincoln-Way West edges Lincoln-Way Central in baseball and more in the Herald-News Friday Roundup

Wilmington beats Andrew in baseball and more in the Herald-News Thursday Roundup.

Much of the focus for the softball season is on the upcoming postseason, but that hasn’t taken away from the fact that several conference races have yet to be decided.

Mia Forystek of Lincoln-Way Central led a wealth of girls state track and field state qualifiers in Wednesday's Herald-News Roundup.

Area teams from Kankakee, Bradley-Bourbonnais and Lincoln-Way East, Central and West were among 18 teams competing in the IHSA Class 3A Chicago Heights Girls Track and Field Sectional on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.

Here are the IHSA postseason schedules for baseball teams across the greater Joliet/Plainfield/Morris area.

Brady Kozlowski and Brayden Carlson led Minooka's offensive explosion, Gavin Berger, Tryce Farrell and Kellen Forsythe led one for Coal City and more in Tuesday's Herald-News roundup.

Lockport, Joliet Catholic and Lincoln-Way Central were among baseball winners, while Plainfield Central, Joliet West and Minooka picked up softball wins in Monday's Herald-News Roundup

Lincoln-Way West's Abby Brueggmann threw a no-hitter and allowed just one ball to be hit out of the infield, while teammate Hannah Borchert was 2 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs in a 4-0 win over Lockport

Lincoln-Way East baseball beats Joliet West in eight innings and more in The Herald-News Saturday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way Central and Lockport each picked up a SouthWest Suburban Conference baseball win, and more in Friday's Herald-News roundup.

The Plainfield Central baseball team's 15-game win streak was snapped by district rival Plainfield South and more in Thursday's Herald-News Roundup

Here are the IHSA postseason schedules for softball teams across the greater Joliet/Plainfield/Morris area.

Adam Redmond and Peyton Globke powered Lincoln-Way West baseball past Andrew, Paige Seivert, Hannah Borchert, Jess Noga, Molly Finn and Reese Cusack all homered for the Warrior softball team and more in Wednesday's Herald-News roundup.

Several area boys volleyball teams and players are approaching or have reached milestones, plus postseason seeds have been announced. This and more in the Herald-News Boys Volleyball Notebook.

Joliet West, Lemont, Seneca and Wilmington were among softball winners in Tuesday's Herald-News roundup

Lincoln-Way East, Providence and Plainfield North were among baseball winners in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup

Minooka baseball defeated Wilmington led by a big game from Joey Rutz, Plainfield Central softball handled Plainfield South, and Dwight and Coal City scored team wins in the Herscher Invitational. That and more in the Herald-News Friday Roundup.

Lincoln-Way West softball scored four runs in the opening inning and just kept putting runs on the board as the Warriors beat Lincoln-Way Central 11-0 for their 20th victory.

Minooka and Romeoville each recorded walk-off wins in baseball in Thursday's Herald-News roundup

Gardner-South Wilmington wins in baseball and more in the Herald-News Wednesday Roundup.