As season nears, Chicago-area high school football recruits look beyond ‘the cool stuff’ in scholarship searchBefore the first day of football practice, we checked in with some of the top recruits in the Chicago Tribune’s suburban coverage areas. July 27, 2023
Column: To Russia with love? Despite turbulent times, East Aurora’s Ryan Boatright plays overseas. ‘You think about it.’Ryan Boatright, an East Aurora graduate, national champion at Connecticut and eight-year professional, played last season in Russia. July 27, 2023
Column: Could call from Hall of Fame in Canton finally be coming for Ken Anderson? ‘We’ll have a party in Batavia.’No NFL quarterback has parlayed Division III experience into NFL career like the one Batavia's own, Ken Anderson had July 25, 2023
Transfer tumult: Chicago-area high school basketball players increasingly change schools in era of college portalThe NCAA has an official transfer portal. It appears that an unofficial portal has opened up in Illinois for high school basketball. July 21, 2023
Column: Carson Wentz. Easton Stick. Trey Lance. NFL success gets Batavia’s Ryan Boe to North Dakota State. ‘Pretty cool.’Ryan Boe, a senior preparing for his third season as Batavia’s starter, verbally committed in late June to a scholarship offer from the Bison. July 20, 2023
Suburban Chicago student-athletes in ‘class of COVID’ look back at high school careers shaped by pandemicFor student-athletes in the “class of COVID” in the Chicago suburbs, the canceled season in spring 2020 was only the beginning. July 14, 2023
Column: Mike Thorgesen takes over at Kaneland, where he played football with brother, dad coached. ‘It’s pretty cool.’Kaneland's Mike Thorgesen joins younger brother Boone, who is preparing for his third season leading Geneva, as a head coach. July 13, 2023
West Aurora’s Katharine Stephens leverages experience with Chicago Dutch Lions. ‘It’s fun to see the new generation.’Katharine Stephens, a West Aurora graduate who earned her master's degree at Loyola, is back this summer with the Chicago Dutch Lions. July 13, 2023
From batting cages to the ball field, Josh Colaizzi becomes a breakout star for Bartlett. ‘The kid has that X-factor.’As a freshman, Bartlett outfielder Josh Colaizzi hit .385 with 23 runs, six steals, six doubles, 20 RBIs and a team-high 40 hits as a 14-year-old. July 11, 2023
Column: Oswego East’s RayJ Dennis, unanimous choice for MAC’s player of the year, transfers to Baylor: ‘I love him.’Oswego East graduate RayJ Dennis, a unanimous choice for conference player of the year, uses transfer portal to join Scott Drew at Baylor. July 11, 2023
Column: Yorkville’s Jason Jakstys, a rising senior, earns Power Five offer from Illinois. ‘It’s neat to have that.’Illinois was the 10th Division I offer for Jason Jakstys. His first came in February from Illinois State. He added another from Valparaiso. June 23, 2023
Back to work. St. Charles East’s Jake Zitella is 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball Player of the Year. ‘We’ll see.’Illinois recruit Jake Zitella, an all-state third baseman as a senior, batted .484 with 32 runs, 13 doubles, a triple, nine homers and 39 RBIs. June 23, 2023
Introducing the 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Baseball All-Area TeamPlayers from St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Yorkville, Oswego, Oswego and West Aurora highlight the first and second all-area teams. June 23, 2023
Introducing the 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball All-Area TeamPlayers from Class 4A state runner-up Yorkville lead way, while Madi Reeves, Addison Koth, Kaitlyn Schofield and Leigh VandeHei repeat. June 22, 2023
More from Madi. Yorkville’s Madi Reeves is 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Softball Player of the Year. ‘One to remember.’The Miami of Ohio recruit was dominant, earning Beacon-News/Courier-News Player of the Year honors for the second time in her career. June 22, 2023
Column: After suffering a lost season due to injuries, Jake Nosek returns in big way for Metea Valley. ‘I’m so excited.’Metea Valley's 6-8 junior Jake Nosek has big-time guard skills playing the wing for Mustangs June 20, 2023
Column: Lyons alum Christy Penrod gets to heart of the matter in return to racing. ‘We’re trying to find our groove.’Christy Penrod's return to street stock racing comes with a twist. The Lyons graduate is driving the car once piloted by an old rival. June 20, 2023
Introducing the 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer All-Area TeamPlayers from St. Charles North, which reached a supersectional, and defending state champion Metea Valley lead the first and second teams. June 16, 2023
‘Fierce competitor’ Bella Najera of St. Charles North is 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Soccer Player of the YearFollowing her older brother and sister, Michigan State recruit Bella Najera starred during a three-year varsity career for St. Charles North. June 16, 2023
Column: West Aurora’s Hannah Beatus wraps up six-year college career in grand style. ‘I can leave the game confident.’The ace pitcher ended her career on the last day of May as Grand Valley State finished second in the NCAA Division II College World Series. June 15, 2023
Tired and sore, Yorkville’s Madi Reeves irons out details in final game. ‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for this team.’Madi Reeves felt good enough to go the distance again but wasn’t quite 100% in 9-1 loss to the RedHawks in the Class 4A state title game. June 10, 2023
Baseball and softball scores for the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake CountyScores and highlights of high schools and local colleges from the Southland and Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County coverage areas. June 10, 2023
Jensen Krantz’s soft liner hits hard as Yorkville rallies to win in 13th inning. ‘I felt like we had it in the bag.’The Foxes trailed 3-2 in a Class 4A state semifinal, but Jensen Krantz’s single on a liner just out of the shortstop’s reach drove in two runs. June 09, 2023
Column: With Wilbur the pig as a mascot, Yorkville finds strength to reach state: ‘We definitely have a lot of props.’Yorkville's Katlyn Schraeder on Wilbur the pig: “After anyone hits a home run, somebody makes sure Wilbur is there with us to celebrate." June 08, 2023
Usually a starter, Joliet Catholic’s Michael Tuman comes in and closes out 2A state title: ‘It was definitely exciting.’Michael Tuman tossed three hitless innings as the Hilltoppers sealed a second straight 2A state title with a 4-2 win over Columbia. June 07, 2023
Column: With an ace in freshman Ava Lorenzatti, Beecher begins another parade of softball success. ‘That was awesome.’The 7-1 loss to Rockridge in the state championship game didn’t take any of the damper off a pretty cool welcome home Saturday evening. June 07, 2023
Historic night. Huge hit. Oswego East’s Eric Lewis won’t ever forget it. ‘Feels great to do it on a stage like this.’Eric Lewis' two-run double produced the only ones the Wolves could muster in a 5-2 loss in the Class 4A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional. June 06, 2023
Baseball and softball scores for the Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake CountyScores and highlights of high school and local colleges from the Southland and Aurora, Elgin, Naperville and Lake County coverage areas. June 05, 2023
After struggles at plate, Yorkville’s Sam Davidowski doesn’t get outfoxed in supersectional. ‘Now look at where she is.’Sam Davidowski delivered a two-out RBI single for an insurance run in a 2-0 victory over Bradley-Bourbannais in a Class 4A supersectional. June 05, 2023
Mike Polubinski produces winning RBI in ninth as Oswego East ousts Oswego for sectional title. ‘Just a battle of wills.’It worked out as planned for Mike Polubinski, who had the winning RBI in a 2-1 win over Oswego in the Class 4A Romeoville Sectional final. June 03, 2023