Hall of Fame basketball coach Russ Zick, who coached for 40 years, led Rochelle to six regional titles and also coached at Ashton-Franklin Center and Kaneland, died at age 72 on Jan. 13. He is remembered by former players and colleagues. 'He impacted so many people.'

The Forreston Cardinals downed the Ashton-Franklin Center Raiders 84-31 in an afternoon game at Forreston High School on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.

Here is a look at the Sauk Valley boys basketball teams as the 2025-26 season tips off this week.

See who has been selected a Whiteside Area Career Center student of the month for October 2025.

With the 2025-26 girls basketball season getting started this week, here’s a look at the teams in the Sauk Valley area.

Sterling has a big game at Geneseo, Dixon heads to Winnebago riding four straight shutouts, Newman plays at upstart Riverdale and Rock Falls faces winless IVC in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Dixon hosts Stillman Valley, Sterling hosts Alleman, Rock Falls heads to Winnebago and Newman faces Mercer County on Saturday in this week's Sauk Valley football slate. Here are previews for all 14 games.

No. 3 Newman heads to Rockridge in a matchup of two undefeated teams on Friday. Dixon heads to Oregon, Sterling hosts Galesburg and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football slate.

Sterling opens Western Big 6 Conference play against Moline, Dixon hosts Rock Falls, Newman hosts E-P on Saturday and more, including picks and what to watch for in this week's Sauk Valley football previews.

Dixon's massive game at No. 1 Byron highlights the 15 matchups in the Sauk Valley area in Week 2. Newman heads to Mendota, Sterling has a nonconference home game, Rock Falls hosts North Boone and more this Friday.

Newman's Evan Bushman made key throws in a big win over Princeton, Dixon rolled at Rockford, Milledgeville stepped up in a big win over Amboy and more in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.

Here is a look at the Week 1 football matchups in the Sauk Valley area.

Josh Stone, a 1997 Oregon High School grad, takes over as AFC coach after being mentored by veteran coach Dave Smith last season. Dixon grad and former quarterback Jacob Shafer also joins the Raiders coaching staff this season.

The 2025 girls volleyball season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Sauk Valley coverage area.

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

Here is a look back at the top boys basketball players in the Sauk Valley area for the 2024-25 season.

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

St. Bede used a 32-7 run over the first and second quarters to pull away from Ashton-Franklin Center for a 64-47 victory Monday in a Class 1A Amboy Regional quarterfinal in Peru.

St. Bede beat Ashton-Franklin Center 64-47 during the Class 1A Regional quarterfinals on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025 at St. Bede Academy. The Bruins will play Forreston in the Regional semifinals on Wednesday, at 7:30p.m. in Amboy.

Here is a look at all 16 girls basketball teams in the Sauk Valley coverage area for the 2024-25 season.

FFA students from several local high schools work Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, to make easy meals for the underserved.

Fourth-ranked Dixon heads to Genoa-Kingston, Fulton and Oregon hope to get back to .500, E-PC hosts Forreston, Newman hosts Orion, E-P plays at Rockridge, Sterling heads to Galesburg and West Carroll can get to 4-0 in the Week 4 Sauk Valley football slate.

Sterling has a tough test against Metamora, Newman plays Princeton, Dixon hosts Stillman Valley, and Rock Falls hosts defending state champion Byron. Fulton at Forreston, Le-Win at Morrison, and Ridgewood at Amboy are also intriguing Week 1 matchups in the Sauk Valley area.

Here is a capsule look at the 16 volleyball teams in the Sauk Valley area. There are a number of interesting storylines and milestones among both coaches and players to look out for this volleyball season.

A preseason look at Shaw Local's eight teams playing eight-man football in 2024 – West Carroll, Polo, Milledgeville, Hiawatha, Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland, Ashton-Franklin Center, Alden-Hebron and Amboys/LaMoille.

Dave Smith is a 35-year coaching veteran in Illinois high school football. But coming back after four years of retirement, he feels like everything is brand new.The longtime former coach is back on the sidelines, taking over as the Ashton-Franklin Center head coach.

Newman Central Catholic senior Kennedy Rowzee is in fifth place in the shot put, leading Sauk Valley area state finalists from Thursday's Class 1A preliminaries in Charleston. That, plus Newman softball rolls behind Jessalin Johns' 17 strikeouts in regional in Thursday's roundup.

Both the Fulton baseball and softball teams advanced in the IHSA State Tournament, that along with more results in baseball and softball in the Sauk Valley Sports Roundup for Wednesday.

Oregon soccer claimed a regional title, A-FC baseball won a thriller in the regional opener and more in the roundup.

Teams from Amboy, Ashton-Franklin Center, DePue, Earlville, Erie-Prophetstown, Putnam County, Henry-Senachwine, Bureau Valley, Milledgeville, Morrison, Marquette, St. Bede, Indian Creek, Hall and Newman competed in the Class 1A girls track and field Sectional on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at Bureau Valley High School.

The Rock Falls softball team downed Dixon, and the Newman and Amboy baseball teams were victorious. Plus more in Tuesday's SVM area roundup.

The Newman and Sterling baseball teams won, while the Dixon baseball and softball teams lost. Those results and more in Monday's SVM area roundup.

The Sterling, Newman and Dixon softball teams, and the Dixon and Newman baseball teams won conference games. Those results and many more in Thursday's SVM area roundup.

Newman defeated Bureau Valley, while Rock Falls fell to Stillman Valley in softball games. Plus more in Wednesday's roundup.

Rock Falls senior Olivia Osborne went 4 for 4 with two RBIs, a home run and a double in a 10-8 win over Winnebago. The Sterling softball team and Newman and Oregon baseball teams also picked up conference wins. Those results and more in Saturday's roundup.

Sienna Stingley struck out 16 in a 2-hitter in Sterling softball's 9-0 win over Geneseo, while the Dixon baseball and softball teams picked up wins. Plus more in Wednesday's roundup.

Rock Falls baseball went 2-0 with wins over Forreston and Dakota, Newman's Elaina Allen won the 100 and 200 meters at the Paul Parker Invite, and Sterling's Brecken Peterson went 3-0 at trhe Metamora tennis quadrangular. That and more in Saturday's roundup.

James Leslie threw a no-hitter in Dixon baseball's win over Winnebago, while Oregon girls soccer improved to 7-0 with a win over Stillman Valley. Plus more in Tuesday's roundup.

The Newman, Rock Falls and Amboy softball teams won at home, while the Dixon baseball team picked up a road win. Plus more in Monday's roundup.

Dixon baseball swept G-K in a doubleheader, Dixon softball earned a run-rule win against Byron, and Fulton softball won the Pearl City Tournament. Plus more in Saturday's roundup.

Sterling captures girls track invite, Bureau Valley baseball and softball win: Sauk Valley Media Sports roundup for Friday, Apr. 5, 2024.

Polo softball downed Dixon, Sterling baseball went 0-2 against Galesburg, and Rock Falls softball fell to Geneseo. Plus more in Saturday's roundup.

The Ashton-Franklin Center, Milledgeville and Forreston baseball teams were victorious on Wednesday.

Check out the team-by-team baseball preview with top returners, newcomers and information about Sauk Valley area teams for the 2024 season.

Check out the team-by-team softball preview with top returners, newcomers and information about Sauk Valley area teams for the 2024 season.

The Sterling softball team scored 11 times over the final two innings to improve to 4-0 on the season Saturday with a 15-5 win over Erie-Prophetstown. Read about that and much more in Saturday's local roundup.

Here's a look at the 2023-24 SVM Boys Basketball All-Area Team.

Here's a look at the 2023-24 SVM Girls Basketball All-Area Team.

Sienna Stingley fired a four-hit complete-game shutout to open the season for Sterling softball and Dixon baseball won a close opener at East Moline. Those and more in Tuesday's roundup.

The Newman baseball and softball teams were both victorious in their season openers on Monday. The AFC baseball and softball teams also picked up wins. Plus more in our sports roundup.