Here are five storylines to watch during the 2026 softball season across The Herald-News area.

Here are the 2025-26 All-Interstate 8 Conference boys wrestlers, as voted on by I-8 coaches.

Here is the 2025-26 All-Interstate 8 girls wrestling team, as voted on by I-8 coaches.

Lincoln-Way East’s Nate Jackson finishes fourth in diving at the IHSA State Meet, and more in Saturday’s roundup.

Lockport girls wrestling moves three into the semifinals at state. Providence and Coal City boys wrestling move into team semifinals. Lemont and Providence basketball win regionals, Plus more results in Friday's Herald News Sports roundup

Lincoln-Way East downs Sandburg in 4A regional semifinals and more in the Herald-News roundup.

Morris traded a handful of lead changes and four first-quarter ties with Kankakee, but the Kays proved too much to handle in a 25-point decision in the IHSA Class 3A Geneseo Regional semifinals on Wednesday.

Gardner-South Wilmington, Romeoville and Coal City were among boys basketball regional winners in Monday's Herald-News Roundup

Morris' RJ Kennedy scored a career-high 28 points to lead his team to a 52-41 win over Sterling in the Class 3A Geneseo Regional.

Providence sophomore Justus Heeg won his second state title on Saturday at State Farm Center in Champaign, and was one of three Celtics to reach the top of the awards stand.

Joliet West finished second at the state bowling meet and more in Saturday's Herald-News roundup.

Coal City, Providence, and Joliet Catholic advanced multiplier wrestlers to the state finals, plus many more scores in Friday's Herald News Sports Roundup

Metamora's girls basketball team outscored Morris 22-3 in the second quarter and cruised to a 62-28 win in the Class 3A Metamora Regional title game on Friday night.

Providence advanced seven wrestlers and Coal City moved six into the semifinals at state wrestling. Wilmington boys basketball sets season wins mark. Plus more scores in Thursday's Herald News Sports Roundup,

Morris, Joliet Catholic and Dwight all scored boys basketball wins in Wednesday's Herald-News Roundup

See what to expect from local teams this boys basketball postseason, which begins Monday.

Lockport's Justin Wardlow, JCA's Jason Hampton and Coal City's Brody Widlowski are all searching for their fourth state medal this weekend in Champaign

In similar fashion to last month's matchup at Kankakee, Morris stormed ahead late to top the Kays on Tuesday, this time in the semifinals of the IHSA Class 3A Metamora Regional.

Lincoln-Way Central upset T-F South to advance to the regional finals, Lockport, Bolingbrook and Lincoln-Way East also earned wins, plus more scores in Tuesday's Herald-News sports roundup.

Joliet Catholic's Abby Dulinsky scores her 1,000th career point as the Angels breezed into a Class 2A regional title game with a win over Beecher. Plus more girls basketball regionals in The Herald-News Monday Roundup.

Providence claimed seven boys wrestling champs at sectionals and more in the JHN Saturday roundup.

Joliet West girls bowling won a sectional title, Minooka and Lincoln-Way West also qualified for state, and more scores from around the area in Friday's Herald-News sports roundup.

Morris' Cami Pfeifer made three 3-pointers in the second half and Lily Hansen scored her 1,000th career point among a team-high 23 in a 56-45 win over Manteno

Coal City rallied for a win over Manteno in the Illinois Central Eight. Plus more scores in Thursday's Herald-News sports roundup.

Peotone bested Cissna Park in boys basketball and more in the Monday prep roundup.

Providence is a No. 1 sectional seed in Class 3A, while Minooka is a No. 2 seed and Bolingbrook No. 4 in Class 4A as the IHSA girls basketball postseason is set to begin.

Illinois’ 2025-26 girls basketball postseason tips off this Saturday for small schools and next Monday for larger schools. Here's a look at what awaits teams from across The Times coverage area.

Jaymon Hornsby and Lincoln-Way East win thriller over Lincoln-Way Central. Plus more area scores in Tuesday's Herald-News sports roundup.

The Morris girls basketball team overcame a halftime deficit to beat L-P, while the Cavalier boys held on to beat Morris.

Dwight's boys and Reed-Custer's girls were among winners on the hardwood in Monday's Herald-News roundup.

L-P defeated Morris 48-38 on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Sellette Gymnasium at L-P High School.

Morris played L-P on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Sellette Gymnasium at L-P High School.

The top prep sports action from the weekend across the Will and Grundy county area, led by regional girls wrestling titles for Lincoln-Way and Minooka, state cheer championships for Morris and Lincoln-Way East, and Joliet West boys basketball winning again.

Lincoln-Way East won the Class 3A state cheerleading title, while Morris won the 2A crown. That and more in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup.

Nick Brzezniak scores 22 as Lincoln-Way Central picks up the road win. Plus more scores in Friday's Herald News Sports roundup

Joliet West's girls bowling team won the Minooka Regional on Friday, finishing 731 pins ahead of second place.

Providence boys wrestling advance to team state. Plus more scores from around the area in Thursday's Herald News Sports Roundup

The IHSA girls wrestling postseason opens this weekend, with Herald-News area wrestlers facing two separate and distinct roads to the finals in Bloomington.

A Joe Hoesktra bucket with 1:14 remaining and TJ Horton steal with 4 seconds left lifted the Streator boys basketball team to a 47-42, Wednesday night win over Morris.

Gardner-South Wilmington dominated Iroquois West and more in the Herald-News prep roundup.

Streator defeated Moris 47-42 on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 in Pops Dale Gymnasium at Streator High School. Check out photos from the game by Tom Sistak.

Behind 18 points from Landrie Callahan, Providence won its 26th game to advance in the GCAC Tournament. Plus more area scores in Tuesday's Herald News sports roundup.

Owen Sanders had 16 points and seven rebounds to help lead Ottawa to a 44-31 win over Morris

Lockport dominates Joliet Central in boys basketball and more in the Herald-News Monday roundup.

A roundup of the top prep sports action from the weekend across the Herald-News coverage area, led by Joliet Catholic's state champion competitive dance team and a wealth of area wrestlers who fought to regional championships.

The Joliet Catholic dance team won the IHSA Class 1A state title, Lockport's boys bowling team finished second in the state and more in Saturday's Herald-News Roundup.

Batavia saw 12 of its 13 wrestlers advance to the upcoming sectional and won the title at the Class 2A Morris Regional on Saturday.

Minooka girls wrestling won three individual titles to claim the Southwest Prairie Conference title. Lincoln-Way West leads the way at state in boys bowling, plus more in Friday's Herald News sports roundup.

Madelyn Kiper scored 20 breaking her single season scoring record as Minooka won its 20th game of the season. Plus more area scores in Thursday's Herald News Sports Roundup,