Prep Sports

Ottawa graduate, two-time Times Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, and three-time state medalist Weston Averkamp has committed to continue his education at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston and his track career at the NCAA Division I level with the Panthers.

Recent Seneca graduate Evelyn O’Connor has committed to continue her education and running career at Saginaw Valley State University.

Annika Michlik has signed on to continue her education and tennis career at Illinois Valley Community College.

Dixon's Katie Drew won the 102nd Ladies Lincoln Highway golf tournament individual title on Saturday at her home course. Dixon's Reese Dambman also helped Timber Creek win a third straight team title as she competed in her first Lincoln Highway.

Marquette's Keaton Davis has signed on to continue his education at Spoon River College and his baseball career with the Snappers.

Here is a look at the top baseball players from the Sauk Valley area for the 2025 season.

Setting the tone as the leadoff hitter and shut-down closer for a fourth-place state finisher has earned Newman junior Garret Matznick the title of 2025 Sauk Valley Media Baseball Player of the Year.

Recent Seneca graduate and Times All-Area Girls Volleyball first-teamer Lainie Olson has committed to continue her education and volleyball career at Mount Mercy University.

The Streator 11-Year-Old All-Stars wrapped up the Little League District 20 championship at their age level with a 15-0 blanking of the rival Ottawa 11-Year-Old All-Stars.

The Blaze 15U defeated the Inferno 15U by a score of 11-4 for the Ottawa Girls Fastpitch (OGFA) city championship.

An appeals court ruled in favor of state champion Marian Central wrestler Jimmy Mastny and his coach Jordan Blanton, affirming that Mastny was not improperly recruited when he moved from Ogle County to attend Marian Central.

The IHSA and state champ Marian Central wrestler Jimmy Mastny have responded to an appeals court ruling in their long-running eligibility feud.

Recent Streator High School graduate Jake Hagie has committed to continue his education and baseball career at Illinois Valley Community College.

Marquette Academy's Sam Mitre has signed to continue his education at Parkland College and his baseball career with the Cobras.

Ottawa youth baseball player Ethan Farabaugh starred for Great Britain over the holiday weekend at the 2025 World Baseball Softball Confederation Europe Championship played in Hungary.

Here is a roundup of the results from the 40th annual OSF Tennis Classic over the weekend.

Hall graduate Ty Rybarczyk has made 12 appearances out of the bullpen this season for the Joliet Slammers, going 1-1 with a 4.23 ERA and 20 strikeouts to three walks in 17 innings.

Dixon's Aaron Conderman and Dean Geiger finished 1-2 in their hometown race at the 25th annual Reagan Run 5K on Saturday. Melissa Winchester was the top female finisher.

Princeton junior Casey Etheridge helped the football team reach the quarterfinals, placed fourth in Class 1A at 165 pounds in wrestling and qualified for state in the 300-meter hurdles in track and field.

Recent Marquette Academy graduate Kealey Rick has committed to continue her academic career at Illinois Valley Community College and her volleyball career at NJCAA level with the Eagles.

Henry-Senachwine senior Kaitlyn Anderson was NewsTribune All-Area First Team in volleyball, basketball and softball and led the Mallards volleyball and softball teams to unprecedented success.

Streator High School graduate Nolan Ketcham has committed to continue his education and golf career at North Central College.

More than 40 of the state's top senior baseball players participated in the Illinois Coaches Association All-Star Games on Monday at Schweickert Stadium in Peru.

A collection of 40 of the top prep baseball players this past spring from across The Times' 13-school coverage area.

Congratulations to the 2025 Times Baseball Player of the Year, Marquette all-state pitcher/leadoff man Alec Novotney.

Top high school baseball players from around the state will take the field one more time as prep players during the 48th annual Illinois Coaches Association Senior All-Star Games on Monday at Schweickert Stadium in Peru.

A look at the top boys track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

As an encore to a stellar junior season when he scored more points than any Dixon player, Darius Harrington obliterated his own scoring record on his way to taking over the top spot on the Dukes’ all-time scoring list. He is the 2024-25 SVM Player of the Year.

Alex Rodriguez competed in the recent USATF Illinois Association Junior Olympic Track & Field Championships held at Proviso East High School in Maywood, placing first in the hammer throw (41.91m), second in discus (45.71m), and third in shot (15.52m).

The 2025 Streator Little League 12U city champions are Winterrowd Funeral after surviving a Hatzer & Sons comeback and an extra inning Wednesday at Southside Park.

L-P softball coach Randy Huebbe was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, and started chemotherapy treatment during the season. He said his prognosis is good.

Congratulations to the 2025 Times Softball Player of the Year, Seneca all-state pitcher/hitter Tessa Krull.

The Times Sports staff is proud to present our picks for 40 of the top prep softball players across the area, the 2025 Times All-Area Softball Team.

A look at the best girls track and field athletes in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

St. Bede junior Lily Bosnich qualified for the Class 1A state track and field meet in four events, placed second in state in the 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles and set the area record multiple times in both hurdle events.

St. Bede junior Lily Bosnich qualified for the Class 1A state track and field meet in four events, placed second in state in the 100-meter hurdles and 300 hurdles and set the area record multiple times in both hurdle events.

Congratulations to the 2025 Times Girls Soccer Player of the Year, Ottawa junior center back Taylor Brandt.

A look at the best boys tennis players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

The schools of The Times area sent plenty of athletes to the IHSA Boys Track and Field State Meet. Here are those state qualifiers, the 2025 Times Boys Track and Field All-Area Honor Roll.

Congratulations to the 2025 Times Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, Ottawa hurdler and double state medalist Weston Averkamp.

After falling short of state last season, Princeton's Asa Gartin and Jackson Mason came back motivated this spring. The Tiger tandem went 25-5, qualified for state and went 1-2 at the state tournament.

More than 30 people attended a meeting in Joliet organized by neighbors of a future JCA stadium, including two people with school connections who gave some insight into the project.

The schools of The Times area sent plenty of athletes to the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Meet. Here are those state qualifiers, the 2025 Times Girls Track and Field All-Area Honor Roll.

This week, the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association unveiled its 2025 All-State Team, celebrating standout athletes, including Class 1A champions Marquette’s Alec Novotney and Sam Mitre.

The resolution honoring Dr. Jeff Schutt as Kendall County Citizen of the Year notes that he has dedicated “more than 20 years to coaching high school teams, instilling discipline, teamwork and perseverance in student-athletes.”

The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association released its All-State teams, and players from Newman, Rock Falls, Fulton and A-FC were selected.

A look at the NewsTribune area's baseball stat leaders for the 2025 season.

A look at the best baseball players in the NewsTribune area for the 2025 season.

St. Bede senior Alan Spencer was dominant on the mound this spring with a 9-0 record, 0.86 ERA and 105 strikeouts to earn NewsTribune Baseball Player of the Year.

The Illinois Coaches Association released its All-State softball teams in each class, with Dixon’s Bailey Tegeler and Sterling’s Mya Lira recognized in Class 3A. Newman's Gianna Vance and Lucy Oetting were also among the area selections.