Ty Reynolds

All season long, the Sterling boys track team has had en eye toward the state meet in their relay races. On Friday, all the preparation for the big stage paid off, as the Golden Warriors qualified for the finals in all four relays at the IHSA Class 2A State Meet in Charleston.

Sterling junior Brecken Peterson lost his opening match Friday on the second day of the meet in the Chicago suburbs, falling 6-3, 6-0 to Chicago U-High's Dash Smith in the consolation fourth round.

Nearly 40 area athletes qualified for the IHSA Class 1A Boys Track & Field State Meet in 17 out of the 18 events, but only a handful advanced to the finals out of Thursday’s preliminaries. Out of the plethora of state qualifiers, just 17 will compete on Saturday, in 11 events.

Nearly 40 area athletes qualified for the IHSA Class 1A Boys Track & Field State Meet in 17 out of the 18 events, but only a handful advanced to the finals out of Thursday’s preliminaries. Out of the plethora of state qualifiers, just 17 will compete on Saturday, in 11 events.

For the second straight year, Sterling’s Brecken Peterson has advanced to Day 2 of the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet.

A fast start on offense and a strong pitching performance by Burlington Central was too much for Dixon to overcome Thursday in a Class 3A Rochelle Regional semifinal, as the Rockets topped the Dukes 8-0.

Burlington Central's Michael Person struck out 13 in a one-hitter as the Rockets defeated Dixon 8-0 in their Class 3A Rochelle Regional semifinal on Thursday afternoon at the Douglas A. Creason Athletic Complex.

Morrison sophomore Bella Duncan has been tough in the circle and at the plate this season for the Fillies, and has been voted by readers as the Sauk Valley Media Athlete of the Week.

Brian Weidman made it two Senior Lincoln Highway Tournament titles in three years this past weekend, shooting a 36-hole total of 146 to win medalist honors by six shots.

West Central thwarted several Morrison scoring chances, then scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning to win their Class 1A St. Bede Sectional semifinal 1-0 on Wednesday to advance to the title game against host St. Bede.

A pair of local boys tennis players punched their tickets to the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament at last weekend’s Rochelle Sectional. Sterling junior Brecken Peterson has been there before – twice, in fact – while Newman junior Logan Palmer is eagerly anticipating his first trip.

Stingley allowed just one baserunner through her three innings of work in Tuesday's Class 3A Belvidere Regional semifinal, and combined with Ellie Leigh on a no-hitter. They got plenty of run support, as Sterling defeated Boylan 16-0 in four innings.

Sterling's Brecken Peterson and Newman's Logan Palmer each placed top 4 on Day 2 of the Rochelle tennis sectional, while Fulton baseball rolled to a regional title against Forreston, and Rock Falls baseball and Oregon softball fell in regional championship games on Saturday.

Bureau Valley senior Jillian Hulsing was just happy to get a chance to compete at the state meet in her final season with the Storm. She never imagined she’d end up in fourth place in the high jump. It was one of several medals won by area 1A athletes at the state meet Saturday.

Sterling senior Alice Sotelo took a .31-meter lead into the finals after Friday’s prelims at the IHSA State Meet at O’Brien Field on the campus of Eastern Illinois University, but couldn’t hold onto that spot Saturday, finishing in second place.