Hinckley-Big Rock has a team for the first time since 2019. A large group of talented freshmen are now a large group of talented sophomores. DeKalb looks to continue its upward trajectory while Sycamore has a couple holes to fill. We explore this season's softball storylines.

Sycamore, Kaneland, Indian Creek and Hinckley-Big Rock claimed regional titles on Friday. Not to mention state swimming. We take a look back in the weekend rewind.

The NIU women led the entire way against Eastern Michigan, the men were held to their lowest point total since 2021 in a loss to Ball State and Sean Harrelson finished in the Top 20 in the 100 breaststroke at state.

Sycamore junior Ema Durst won the first girls wrestling title in school history and just the third overall wrestling title for the Spartans. Kaneland's Angelina Gochis also won a championship. DeKalb's Larisza Gomez-Guevara and Alex Gregorio-Perez also won medals.

Sycamore and DeKalb are sending record numbers to Bloomington. Ema Durst looks to bounce back, Alex Gregorio‑Perez chases history, and Kaneland's Angelina Gochis hunts title No. 3 as the IHSA girls state tournament begins Friday.

Aaron Ziga scored 21 points for DeKalb on Wednesday in a home regional semifinal, but 20 turnovers turned into 25 points for Jefferson in a 70-63 season-ending loss for the Barbs.

Sean Harrelson qualified for state in four events as DeKalb-Sycamore won the Byron Sectional, while the NIU men and women both dropped MAC games on Saturday.

Tyler Lockhart took fourth for Sycamore on Saturday at the Class 2A Boys Wrestling State Tournament, leading three area wrestlers from podium, all from Sycamore. Cooper Bode was sixth for the second straight year and Liam Schroeder was fifth.

Sycamore's Liam Schroeder, Tyler Lockhart and Cooper Bode made it to the final day of the IHSA Class 2A wrestling finals and more in the prep roundup.

The boys basketball postseason begins Monday, with Kaneland, Sycamore and Indian Creek No. 1 seeds and Hinckley-Big Rock a No. 2 seed. We look at key storylines from around the area.

All four Sycamore wrestlers reached the quarterfinals at the Class 2A State Wrestling Tournament, with Liam Schroeder and Tyler Lockhart reaching the semifinals. Both DeKalb wrestlers dropped their opening matches.

Hinckley-Big Rock won the Little 10 Conference outright, Sycamore and DeKalb won their regular-season finales and the NIU women dropped a close on the road.

Ayden Shuey, Cam Matthews, Tyler Lockhart and Liam Schroeder will compete at state for the first time. Jayden Dohogne is going for a third time, while Cooper Bode is going for a second. All six are going with the same goal in mind: Bringing home a medal.

Ali Thomas had 10 of her game-high 12 points come in the second half, including the go-ahead free throws with 58.3 seconds left, to help No. 6 Batavia avoid the upset with a 39-37 victory over No. 11 DeKalb.

Sycamore's Liam Schroeder and Tyler Lockhart won sectional titles as four Spartans made the 2A wresting tournament and two Barbs made it in 3A; the Sycamore girls qualified for the state bowling tournament; the Sycamore boys won in 3 OTs; H-BR won its regional opener and more.

Alex Gregorio-Perez led four DeKalb qualifiers at its home regional on Saturday, with Sycamore qualifying three and Kaneland two. Gregorio-Perez and the Knights' Angelina Gochis were sectional champs.

Logan Schrader reached 1,000 career points and helped Indian Creek hold off Leland, Sycamore defeated Ottawa and more in the roundup.

DeKalb coach Bradley Bjelk said Thursday’s 56-39 home win over Plainfield East in the regular-season finale for both teams was a lot like the Barbs’ season. There were a lot of hot stretches, too many cold spells and when the team needed a spark, senior Naz Dean came through.

The Plainfield East girls basketball team traveled to DeKalb Thursday night to take on the Barbs.

What teams are heating up, what teams are in a slump and what teams have been on an even keel heading into the girls basketball postseason? We look at 5 things to know for Daily Chronicle area teams.

Indian Creek got the better of IMSA for the second time in three days behind 23 points from Payton Huber, Isaiah Feuerbach sored 23 for Sycamore in a win, Ava Nuckles scored 15 for Hiawatha and more in the roundup.

Sycamore's spark is back after winning Interstate 8 title, reaching 20 wins and getting a pair of revenge wins, NIU gets a pair of thrilling wins against Sun Belt teams and more in the Weekend Rewind.

DeKalb won the Belvidere Regional on Saturday with Kaneland second and Sycamore fourth, the NIU men and women both picked up nail-biter wins and more in the roundup.

Kaitlynn Doerner won the Sycamore Regional as the Spartans took second and DeKalb qualified three individuals in girls bowling, Kaneland took 25th at state in cheer and more in the roundup.

Jenna Feeney was third in the all-around and Tawonna Keith was fourth in the beam for DeKalb-Sycamore to earn a spot in the Conant Sectional, plus more in the roundup.

We take a look back at a big weekend, including the DeKalb-Sycamore boys-girls doubleheader and the DeKalb wrestling regional in the Weekend Rewind.

Sycamore's Brian Weigel took 16th at the state bowling tournament, the Genoa-Kingston girls picked up a big win at Kaneland, the Sycamore boys bounced back with a win at La Salle-Peru and more in the roundup.

DeKalb went 5-for-5 in do-or-die third-place matches Saturday at its 3A regional, including for No. 7 seed Hussul Greer. He beat the second-seeded wrestler twice and was one of nine Barbs to reach the Barrington Sectional.

Myles Newman had taken over offensively for DeKalb in a game in which points were at a premium. But his block of a Xander Lewis shot with 1:13 left helped seal a 39-37 win for DeKalb against Sycamore on Friday at the NIU Convocation Center, their fifth straight win in the series.

Despite smothering defense from Naz Dean and DeKalb all night, Sadie Lang heated up late and finished with 15 points, helping Sycamore seal a 38-26 win Friday night at the NIU Convocation Center in the annual rivalry game.

The Sycamore and DeKalb boys basketball teams met Friday in the FNBO Challenge in the Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University.

The DeKalb and Sycamore girls basketball teams met in the Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University Friday night to decide this years winner of the FNBO Challenge.

On the boys side: DeKalb's defense vs. Sycamore pace. On the girls side: Red-hot Sycamore looking for revenge against up-and-down DeKalb. The Barbs and Spartans renew their rivalry showdown at the NIU Convocation Center on Friday.

Sycamore boys bowling took second at the Rockford East Sectional on Saturday to earn a trip to state, powered by Brian Weigel's 1,324; Kaneland and Sycamore each had three champs at the I-8 girls wrestling championships; Sycamore dance qualifies for state and more in the roundup.

Marcus Johnson scored 33 points as Sycamore topped Rochelle, the Spartan girls beat the Hubs in a thriller, DeKalb took third at the DVC wrestling meet and more in the roundup.

A big third quarter propelled NIU past Western Michigan, Genoa-Kingston picked up a home win and DeKalb dropped an overtime game at Mendota.

Quinn Carrier reached 1,000 career points as Sycamore beat La Salle-Peru, the DeKalb and Sycamore boys bowling teams reached sectionals, and more in the roundup.

While senior Lily Enos won at 100 and freshman Audrey Sheldon earned the title at 155, Batavia fell just short of winning their home tournament to East Aurora, 182-181.5.

Larisza Gomez-Guevara and Aarianna Bloyd won their respective weight classes at Batavia to help DeKalb take sixth at Batavia, Payton Huber scored 22 for Indian Creek in a win at DePue, and Presley Meyer and Ari Rich combined for 31 in Genoa-Kingston's victory.

Cooper Bode, Adam Carrick and Collin Hughes picked up pins for Sycamore as the Spartans picked up a victory against rival DeKalb on Friday. Hayes Halstead and Matthew Frykman.

The DeKalb wrestling team traveled to Sycamore High School Friday night to take on the Spartans.

Collin Hughes, Liam Schroeder, Jayden Dohogne and Adam Carrick notched pins as the Sycamore boys won at Ottawa, the Kaneland girls won at Morris and more in the roundup.

Myles Newman, Derrion Straughter and the DeKalb boys basketball team earned redemption on the final against Wheaton Academy on Wednesday, capping an 11-point comeback with a 3-pointer by Newman. Straughter sprung Newman with a screen after missing a layup with 1.1 seconds left.

The Wheaton Academy boys basketball team traveled to DeKalb Wednesday night to take on the Barbs.

The DeKalb-Sycamore swim team won every event against South Elgin on Tuesday, H-BR just missed the century mark behind 25 points from Luke Badal and 21 from Marshall Ledbetter, Aidan Cooper scored 23 in a Hiawatha win, and more in the roundup.

Anna Herrmann moved into the IHSA Top 20 for 3-pointers made in a career, Elsie Betz scored 19 to help Indian Creek in its comeback against North Boone, and more in the roundup.

Marshall Ledbetter scored 26 and Luke Badal 18 to lead Hinckley-Big Rock, Blake Ides scored 30 in a Genoa-Kingston loss, Ava Nuckles scored 20 in a Hiawatha win and more in the roundup.

Sycamore picked up seven pins in a near-sweep of Kaneland, the Indian Creek girls held off Serena for a home win and more in the roundup.

Before DeKalb fielded a girls wrestling team, Alex Gregorio-Perez and Jade Weiss were battling boys in middle school gyms. On Wednesday’s senior night, the two charter members celebrated how far the sport has come with pins, helping the Barbs defeat Kaneland 47-36.

The Kaneland girls wrestling teams met Wednesday night at DeKalb High School.