Dr. Jeff Schutt recalled seeing his son, Jaden, running around the house wearing various college basketball jerseys when he was a kid. Particularly one from Duke. “Duke was always one of his …

After the spring season was wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic, Kyle Shimp had another year of eligibility left in baseball at the University of Iowa. The 6-foot-7 left-handed pitcher is not…

His brother Michael, who is older by four years, set a great example. But Tyler Jansey put his own twist on a similar path at Batavia. It has the senior linebacker going places, starting in January…

Chad and Karissa Hejza apparently were onto something, naming their firstborn of three kids after Hall of Fame shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. Oswego senior Cal Hejza has become a fixture at the position,…

There could be a storybook finish in store for guard Riley Mont and West Aurora still to come, but it wasn’t happening Monday night. This was simply the first chapter. All things considered, …

They go way back. Their connection, though, has really grown the past three years. Ryan Boe and Batavia offensive coordinator Sean Anderson don’t complete each other’s sentences, but th…

Fun in the sun? He’s looking forward to it, but Matthew “Mojo” Weerts was in no rush. He has time to learn the appropriate SPF sunscreen numbers for life in a high desert valley i…

West Aurora senior Abbey Kuhn knows the best is yet to come for her in the pole vault. It will simply have to be in her next chapter. Fortunately for Kuhn, who tied for second place in her specialt…

In this case, the customer was definitely right. Chris Toth, an All-American offensive tackle, can now smile at the memory. Sometimes, it’s funny how things work out. And sometimes, it makes …

When it comes to work ethic, RayJ Dennis has it covered like no other player ever coached by Oswego East’s Ryan Velasquez. “What makes him special is he’s relentless at getting be…

Where was everybody? Lauren Carlini knew, of course, but it still was a bit unnerving to walk Saturday morning through desolate John F. Kennedy Airport in Queens, New York to catch a flight home to…

In one game, Nick DeMarco showed everything that he means to St. Charles North. The senior shortstop/pitcher hit a three-run homer Sunday at Wheaton Warrenville South, and North Stars coach Todd Ge…

Artistry. That creative skill we admire is not limited to the work produced in the studio of a talented painter or sculptor. Hardly. We can find and appreciate artistry of many kinds in many places…

As a freshman, Tyler Jansey was up on the varsity for Batavia in the fall 2019, seeing action on special teams, at fullback and eventually at linebacker. “I think it’s so valuable, real…

Not only was senior pitcher Jack Watson dominant yet again Thursday for Batavia, the emotion of the big moment spilled out of him as well throughout the rivalry game. Facing the host Vikings in the…

Nick Santoro couldn’t have experienced a wider range of emotions last Monday. Early in the day, his college career at Wisconsin-Whitewater ended in the NCAA Division III regional finals with …

At times, it takes a standout skill to impress college coaches. Yorkville junior Hogan Schmitt knows what he brings to the table. “In baseball, you have to have something that separates you,&…

It was there all season, and so was she. This spring, senior infielder Riley Mont wore a bulky black brace on her right knee outside of her West Aurora uniform pants. It provided a stark reminder o…

Preparing for her freshman season at Lewis, Kathryn Schmidt knew she had a chance to make a difference right away for the young Flyers. The 6-foot forward did not anticipate, however, being the tea…

Junior safety Julian Bell was a huge part of North Central College’s run to its second NCAA Division III national championship in three seasons. How he got to that point, however, was quite a…

For Indian Creek’s Cooper Larsen, it made sense for basketball. And it made sense in dollars and cents. Larsen, a 6-foot-3 senior forward, figures to be a key member of coach Lance Robinson&#…

Mike Murphy has coached at every level of basketball imaginable. He has coached professionally and at the NCAA Division I level. He has been a varsity boys head coach and a high-level AAU coach, an…

After quarterback Kyle Oroni went down with an injury Friday night, Batavia knew other players were going to have to step up. Mojo Weerts took that as a challenge. And in the second half, the senio…

Just look at Batavia’s Chase Osborne now. Players come in all shapes and sizes, and football coaches — the good ones, anyway — know it’s not wise to pigeonhole prospects bas…

Want to see Dennis Piron squirm? Don’t bother watching the Batavia coach on the sideline during another one of those tight games his teams so often seem to play. He’s been through too m…

Maybe it’s true what they say about everything being bigger in Texas. Junior defensive lineman Malachi Smith appears to be living proof of that concept for Batavia. The coaches happily welcom…

A record crowd turned out Sunday to welcome home the Red Stars’ World Cup players, but it was a local girl who stole the show. Naperville native Vanessa DiBernardo scored her first goal of th…

Feelin’ hot, hot, hot. Well, almost. While everyone else in Lake Zurich’s stadium struggled to keep feeling in fingers and toes, Batavia’s Tyler Jansey seemed to warm up to the ta…

As a little girl, Geneva senior Katie Montgomery found her place on the soccer field by the process of elimination. Goalkeeper then became her home. “When I was younger, it was one of those t…

Even during the team’s drive in 2018 to the Class 7A state championship game, St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak was talking up running back Josh Bridges. That season, the North Stars rode o…

Her teammates are preparing to play soccer in college, regardless of whether there is a high school season or not. But for St. Charles East’s Christina Hull, time is of the essence. She is no…

Senior pitcher Anthony Johnson has a knack for getting out of jams for Batavia. It’s nothing new, really. “I guess I’ve always done that,” Johnson said. “My freshman y…

Despite graduation losses, Class 4A state runner-up Yorkville is team to beat. Oswego East, South Elgin and Oswego will challenge.

This girl is on fire. And she has their backs. Riley Mont’s softball teammates at West Aurora knew what they were missing last season when the silky-smooth fielding shortstop was sidelined wh…

Drew Iutzwig doesn’t need to review video of Batavia’s 2018 football opener at Lemont to explain the most important play of his junior year. It’s ingrained in his memory for good …

The poster child for Batavia’s offense has been senior running back Charlie Whelpley. The Bulldogs feature a balanced and talented offense this season, but they have found another level in th…

Entering his all-important junior season, Yorkville pitcher Simon Skroch wanted to make a decision on his collegiate future, but he also didn’t want to rush through the process. However, when…

There’s no doubt Dana Wagner was qualified when she was hired as athletics manager at Waubonsee Community College in October. Removing the “interim” tag that was in her job descri…

State runner-up Batavia and state powerhouse St. Charles North headline the 72 players on the Aurora and Elgin all-area football team. First team offense Austin Barrett, St. Charles East, senior, l…

In this case, Diamonds are a coach’s best friend. Geneva juniors Tommy and Will Diamond — two-thirds of triplets that include “older” sister Maddy — could have been tr…

Geneva’s Michael Rumoro felt a few jitters heading into his varsity debut Friday night. The junior running back was looking forward to his first taste of action after spending last season on …

Batavia’s Isaiah Brown didn’t have to be asked twice. With concerns about the health of a few of his players on offense, Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron turned to the junior wide receiver a…

With his sterling academic record, South Elgin’s Davion Cherwin will have plenty of college options available to him. The senior running back would like those options to include football. Ill…

St. Charles East’s Madelyn Rouse took a roundabout way to her commitment to the University of Iowa. The senior pitcher’s path to Iowa City actually started in Orlando. Rouse met Renee G…

Senior forward Trevon Roots let it be known he wanted the challenge for Marmion. In December, when the Cadets ended up losing to Burlington Central, Roots didn’t spend much time in that game …

FIRST TEAM OFFENSE Orlando Garcia School: East Aurora. Year: Senior. Position: Athlete/quarterback. Accolades: All-conference. Key stats: Completed 84 of 160 passes for 1,148 yards, 10 TDs; 147 car…

It’s not hard to imagine what Sara Tarr will do as an encore for West Aurora. Stay tuned. The sophomore shortstop batted .514 in her varsity debut last spring, a season shortened to only 22 g…

The end of the line for Justin Sartori’s college baseball career is drawing near, but the Aurora University first baseman figures he also has some unfinished business. It starts at noon Frida…

This Cinderella story continues, but don’t search for the glass slippers. Hardly. Katelyn Serafin is all about the spikes, whether she’s firing away in the circle or swinging away in th…

Top five teams 1. Metea Valley: Goalkeeper Nikki Coryell, defender Paige Buranosky and forward Kayla Hurst are the lead returning starters from a Class 3A sectional qualifier. 2. Geneva: Jenna Domi…

Matt Miller took what he described as “the world tour” of colleges after graduating in 2001 from Waubonsie Valley. The star point guard played for four different schools before graduati…

Who’s the man? There was little doubt Monday at West Aurora as football practice in Illinois opened for the 2023 season. And the nod goes to junior wide receiver Terrence Smith. “You do…

In his first season of high school football, senior middle linebacker Adam Van Rensburg has turned out to be a revelation for Geneva. And in a way, as expected. Much like the gems mined in his nati…

Twenty years from now, it will make for an interesting trivia question at an Oswego East class reunion. Where did the Wolves get their first win over crosstown rival Oswego in football? Trick quest…

Top 10 Teams 1. St. Charles North: One of the most balanced and deepest teams in the state, North Stars are paced by a pair of Notre Dame-bound seniors in shortstop/closer Nick DeMarco and left-han…

Batavia junior Ryan Boe has seen just about every pressure-packed moment one could encounter on the football field. As a quarterback, he helped lead the Bulldogs to the Class 7A state championship …