A look at the Fox Valley Conference for the 2025 season, including team-by-team preview capsules, players to watch, five can't miss games and Steve Soucie's predicted order of finish.

The boys golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Check out our five top boys golfers to watch in the Northwest Herald area for the 2025 season.

The girls golf season is already underway. Check out our team-by-team preview with top returners, newcomers and info on each local team from the Northwest Herald area.

Jacobs senior twins Connor and Carson Goehring hope to fuel another winning season for the Golden Eagles. The quarterback and wide receiver share many interests, including sports and cars.

Jacobs prepares for the 2025 season during its football practice on Tuesday, August 15, 2025, at Jacobs High School in Algonquin.

High school football practice officially starts Monday, and the opening night for the season for local teams is Aug. 29. Here are Joe Aguilar's five storylines to watch this season in McHenry County.

How will Prairie Ridge follow up a historic season? Who are the top FVC and KRC contenders? Which returning players have the most scoring power? Here are five boys soccer storylines to watch in McHenry County in 2025.

Over 200 high schools in Illinois are expected to have girls flag football teams this year as the sport's popularity continues to rise. "There’s no shortage of opportunities."

The IHSA released football schedules for the 2025 season, and Week 1 features a matchup between the past two Fox Valley Conference champions, as Prairie Ridge will visit Cary-Grove. Check out the top games to watch each week in McHenry County.

After 20 years at Jacobs, Jon Betts is returning to his alma mater as McHenry's girls tennis coach. Betts, a 2001 McHenry graduate, will still coach Jacobs' boys in the spring. "I love the community."

Former Harvest Christian Academy boys basketball coach Lafeyette Bell has been named the new coach at Marian Central. Bell led Harvest Christian to 21 wins and a Class 1A regional championship in 2024.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area baseball team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Softball Team.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald Girls Soccer All-Area Team.

Jacobs senior Augie Nelson and sophomore Jack Soto didn't experience many growing pains in their first season playing doubles together. The FVC No. 1 doubles champions and state qualifiers are the 2025 Northwest Herald Boys Tennis Players of the Year.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area Boys Tennis Team.

The Blue Team beat the Red Team 29-7 at the 51st annual Shrine Game at Illinois Wesleyan University's Tucci Stadium, capping off a week of sport and service for football stars from across the state.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference baseball team, as selected by coaches.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference softball team, as selected by coaches.

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference girls soccer team, as selected by coaches.

Woodstock North brothers Mason and Austin Nicolai placed 18th at the IHSA Bass Fishing State Finals, which concluded Saturday at Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville. 

Here is the 2025 All-Fox Valley Conference boys lacrosse team, as selected by coaches.

A number of McHenry County-area girls soccer players and coaches earned honors from the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association for the 2025 season. Here's the full list of winners.

Huntley's Tommy Nitz became the second Red Raider in as many weekends to win a state title. The senior capped his high school career in grand style with a first-place finish in the Class 3A 1,600-meter run at Eastern Illinois University's O'Brien Field.

Hampshire and Burlington Central baseball each won regional titles, Dundee-Crown's upset bid of Barrington fell just short, and Prairie Ridge's Tim Jones and Cole Palese finished sixth at the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet.

Zach Readdy tripled in Jeffry Schwab with the tie-breaking run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, then got the final out in relief of Brandon Shannon as McHenry turned away upset-minded Jacobs 2-1 to win the Class 4A McHenry Regional title.

Cary-Grove's Logan Abrams qualified for the IHSA Class 3A Boys Track and Field State Meet finals in the shot put and discus, Huntley's Tommy Nitz clocked the fastest 1,600 time, and Johnsburg's Brett Centnarowicz sits in second place in the 2A discus.

Hampshire softball won its second regional title in three seasons, Cary-Grove battled top-seeded Antioch but fell short in a 6-3 loss, and Huntley boys lacrosse almost upset No. 1 Barrington, falling 18-17, in a sectional title match.

Prairie Ridge's Jacob Kim and the Wolves' doubles team of Tim Jones and Cole Palese continued their Class 1A Boys Tennis State Tournament run Friday and have a chance to finish as high as fifth place when play resumes Saturday at Palatine High School.

Crystal Lake Central, the defending Class 3A state champion, upset Lakes in their playoff opener. Jacobs, Huntley and Dundee-Crown also earned wins to reach regional finals, and more in Thursday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Prairie Ridge’s Jacob Kim and the Wolves’ doubles team of Tim Jones and Cole Palese enjoyed perfect days Thursday at the IHSA Class 1A Boys Tennis State Meet. Players from Crystal Lake South, Huntley, Jacobs and Johnsburg also advanced to Day 2.

Burlington Central's Chase Powrozek threw a no-hitter to lead the Rockets to an 8-0 win over Rochelle in a Class 3A regional semifinal, Hampshire and McHenry baseball threw combined no-hitters, plus more postseason scores in Wednesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Addison DeSomer hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, lifting Cary-Grove's softball team to a 2-1 win in a Class 3A regional semifinal. Prairie Ridge's Reese Mosolino and Crystal Lake Central's Oli Victorine threw no-hitters. Plus, more in Tuesday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Woodstock North baseball beat Harvard in their Class 3A playoff opener, while Huntley boys volleyball, Hampshire, Huntley and Cary-Grove boys lacrosse and Crystal Lake Central co-op and Huntley girls lacrosse all advanced in postseason action Monday.

Tears couldn't wipe the smile off the face of Huntley's Dominique Johnson on Saturday in downstate Charleston. Johnson and her 4x200 relay teammates were disqualified, but the Miami commit won two Class 3A state titles, including her third straight in the triple jump.

Jacob Kim (singles) and Tim Jones and Cole Palese (doubles) led Prairie Ridge boys tennis to a sectional title, Drake Lenckus scored seven goals for Crystal Lake South boys lacrosse in a sectional win over McHenry, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Charlie Eastland scored three goals as Johnsburg girls soccer rolled to a 7-0 victory over Cristo Rey St. Martin to reach the Class 1A Richmond-Burton Sectional final. Crystal Lake Central girls soccer won a regional title, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald roundup.

Huntley senior Dominique Johnson is in position to secure her third triple jump championship in a row at the IHSA Class 3A Girls Track and Field State Meet. Plus all of Friday's 2A and 3A preliminary results from the Northwest Herald area in the state track roundup.

Huntley overcame early obstacles Friday afternoon to beat Jacobs 3-0 and win the Class 3A Huntley Regional championship, the Red Raiders' third straight regional crown.

Jacobs faces Huntley in the IHSA Class 3A Huntley Girls Soccer Regional championship match on Friday, May 23, 2025, at Huntley High School.

Marian Central’s Addie Leitzen advanced to the state finals of the triple jump after taking ninth in the preliminaries on Thursday at Eastern Illinois. Plus more track and field, baseball, softball, boys lacrosse and bass fishing scores.

Jacobs freshman Samuel Santa Ines won the No. 1 singles championship as the Golden Eagles captured their second Fox Valley Conference Boys Tennis Tournament in a row. Santa Ines is the Northwest Herald Athlete of the Week.

Cary-Grove junior Logan Abrams, who had foot surgery last November, is "almost there" as he showed in the Class 3A Huntley Boys Track and Field Sectional Thursday. He won the shot put and discus, convincingly, while Kaneland comfortably won the team title.

Local athletes compete in the Huntley IHSA Class 3A Boys Sectional Track and Field Meet on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Huntley High School.

Prairie Ridge won the Class 2A Marmion Sectional team title after qualifying four individuals and three relay teams to the IHSA state meet. Plus more boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, baseball and softball scores.

Marengo's Kylee Jensen hit two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam, to lift the Indians to an 11-1 win over Byron in their playoff opener. Plus girls soccer postseason results in Tuesday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Woodstock's Megan Kuiper threw a perfect game with 18 strikeouts to beat Round Lake, Marian Central baseball won its playoff opener over Genoa-Kingston, plus more in Monday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Woodstock North's Parker Neff and Tristan Schaffter both hit home runs as the Thunder won big, Marengo girls soccer won its regional semifinal, and more in Saturday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.

Burlington Central baseball edged Huntley, Crystal Lake Central softball hit five homers to beat Hampshire, Crystal Lake South and Richmond-Burton girls soccer won their playoff openers, and more in Friday's Northwest Herald sports roundup.