Mendota pulled away late Thursday for a 3-0 win over Coal City in the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament semifinals, advancing to the state title game for the first time in program history.

The La Salle-Peru volleyball team started strong Thursday but lost 13-25, 25-18, 25-17 to Washington in the Class 3A La Salle-Peru Sectional championship.

Gallery

The Mendota and Coal City boys soccer teams met Thursday in an IHSA Class 1A state semifinal game at Hoffman Estates High School.

Andy Puck’s career as the head volleyball coach at Princeton High School was a good read from cover to cover. He won a regional championship in his very first season in 2002 and he won another one this season, which proved to be his last.

Mary Scheri won the Spring Creek club championship for the ninth straight time while Mason Kimberly won for the seventh. Also, Princeton girls play fall travel softball

Princeton Logan and Bureau Valley will play for the seventh-grade girls basketball championship in the Starved Rock Conference tournament tonight at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Peru. No. 1 seed Spring Valley JFK will play No. 2 Ottawa for the eighth-grade title at 7:45 p.m.

Three Wolfpack Athletics youth football teams based in Ottawa captured Pop Warner Football state championships at their age level last weekend in Plainfield.

A look at the Mendota, Coal City, Columbia and Chicago Academy boys soccer teams ahead of the Class 1A state tournament.

Congratulations to The Times Athlete of the Week, Ottawa boys cross country's Connor Medina!