Off Season

Off Season

Tailgating with Kevin and Orrin is a Daily Herald prep sports podcast.

PODCAST: Tailgating with Kevin and Orrin

PODCAST: This week's Tailgating with Kevin and Orrin asks the question...how confident should we be about having prep sports in the fall?
Naperville Central graduate Payton Thorne, left, is vying for the starting quarterback position at Michigan State.

Naperville Central grad Thorne has high hopes at Michigan State

Naperville Central graduate Payton Thorne is ready to compete for the starting quarterback position at Michigan State University.
Batavia’s Quinn Urwiler is the 2019-20 Daily Herald Fox Valley Male Athlete of the Year.

Fox Valley Male Athlete of the Year: Batavia's Quinn Urwiler

Batavia's Quinn Urwiler is the Daily Herald's Fox Valley Male Athlete of the Year
The IHSA on Wednesday released its Stage 2 Return to Play guidelines, pending approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Pending IDPH approval, IHSA rolls out Stage 2 Return to Play plan

The IHSA has submitted to the Illinois Department of Public Health a draft of its Stage 2 guidelines for reopening high school athletics in Illinois. It expands upon the allowances in Stage 1.
Warren linebacker Juan De La Cruz celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a blocked punt against Plainfield East in the Class 8A football playoffs last season.

Lake County Male Athlete of the Year: Warren's Juan De La Cruz

Warren senior Juan De Le Cruz chose football over soccer growing up and developed into a star linebacker for the Blue Devils. The two-sport standout is the Daily Herald's Lake County Male Athlete of the Year.
Naperville North football coach Sean Drendel keeps an eye on his players to make sure they’re properly distanced during the team’s first day of conditioning on Monday.
Naperville North finds safe way to gather for conditioning
Even though it's only for basic conditioning, local prep sports teams are still exciting about getting back on the field together.
Tailgating with Dave and Kevin is a Daily Herald prep sports podcast.
PODCAST: Tailgating with Kevin and Orrin
PODCAST: Naperville North football coach Sean Drendel joins this week's Tailgating with Kevin and Orrin to talk about the excitement of having his team back on the field!
Willowbrook senior quarterback and defensive back Sam Tumilty was an IHSFCA all-state selection.
DuPage County Male Athlete of the Year: Willowbrook's Sam Tumilty
Willowbrook senior Sam Tumilty, who's headed to play football and baseball at Augustana College, is the Daily Herald DuPage County Male Athlete of the Year.
Naperville Central quarterback Sam Jackson has switched his college commitment from Minnesota to Purdue.
Naperville Central's Jackson switches to Purdue
Naperville Central quarterback Sam Jackson has decommitted from Minnesota and chosen to accept a scholarship offer from Purdue.
Glenbard West senior Joey Richmond has earned the Daily Herald Prep Sports Excellence Whiz Kid Award for academic achievement.
Whiz Kid Award: Glenbard West's Joey Richmond
Glenbard West senior Joey Richmond was a three-sport athlete and straight-A student for four years.
Glenbard South varsity football coach Ryan Crissey works with his players.
Coaches ready to listen, learn
High school coaches across the suburbs have been reaching out to their players via text, telephone and social media to discuss the civil unrest that has gripped the country the past couple of weeks.
Tailgating with Dave and Kevin is a Daily Herald prep sports podcast.
PODCAST: Tailgating with Dave, Kevin and Orrin
PODCAST: What exactly does "return to play" mean? Glenbard South athletic director Tim Carlson joins this week's Tailgating with Dave, Kevin and Orrin to help sort out the details of the IHSA's recently unveiled plan!
St. Viator’s Jack Mahoney carries the ball against Marian Central last fall. The winner of the Daily Herald Prep Sports Excellence Overcoming Obstacles Award, Mahoney will play baseball at South Carolina.
Overcoming Obstacles Award: St. Viator's Mahoney made impressive return
St. Viator three-sport star Jack Mahoney was slowed by a broken leg suffered during football season, but he overcame obstacles to return for basketball season and was ready and healthy for a baseball season.
Hinsdale Central graduate Doug Kramer enters his senior year at Illinois regarded as one of the top centers in the nation.
Hinsdale Central alum Kramer hoping for 'great senior season' at Illinois
Hinsdale Central graduate Doug Kramer is headed back to the University of Illinois next week to begin training for a much-anticipated senior season with the Illini football team.
Lake Zurich’s Jack Dwyer heads into the end zone for a touchdown during action at Lake Forest last season.
Illinois State is a slam dunk for Dwyer
Lake Zurich football player Jack Dwyer missed his team's final five games last fall due to a knee injury, but his future is bright. The incoming senior gave a verbal commitment to Illinois State University last week.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
WEEK 14 TOP TEAMS
Rank School W L T Notes
1 1 Warren Football Warren Township High School 13 1 Class 8A runner-up
Notes: Class 8A runner-up
2 2 Willowbrook Football Willowbrook High School 12 1 First trip to state semis since 1975
Notes: First trip to state semis since 1975
3 3 Rolling Meadows Football Rolling Meadows High School 12 1 Best record in school history
Notes: Best record in school history
4 4 Glenbard West Football Glenbard West High School 10 1 Great team, bad draw
Notes: Great team, bad draw
5 5 Neuqua Valley Football Neuqua Valley High School 9 2 Gronowski led a great offense
Notes: Gronowski led a great offense
6 6 Hersey Football John Hersey High School 9 2 Jordan Hansen will be missed
Notes: Jordan Hansen will be missed
7 7 Batavia Football Batavia High School 9 3 Eliminated at Nazareth two straight years
Notes: Eliminated at Nazareth two straight years
8 8 Huntley Football Huntley High School 9 2 FVC co-champs competed in 2nd round
Notes: FVC co-champs competed in 2nd round
9 9 Wheaton Warrenville South Football Wheaton Warrenville South High School 8 4 Second straight trip to quarterfinals
Notes: Second straight trip to quarterfinals
10 10 Cary-Grove Football Cary-Grove High School 9 3 Nearly avenged Prairie Ridge loss in quarterifnals
Notes: Nearly avenged Prairie Ridge loss in quarterifnals
11 11 Fremd Football William Fremd High School 8 3 Second straight MSL West title
Notes: Second straight MSL West title
12 12 Lake Zurich Football Lake Zurich High School 8 4 Lost to Willowbrook in 7A quarterfinals
Notes: Lost to Willowbrook in 7A quarterfinals
13 13 Maine South Football Maine South High School 7 3 First opening round loss since 2002
Notes: First opening round loss since 2002
14 14 St. Francis Football St. Francis High School 10 2 Program is starting to roll
Notes: Program is starting to roll
15 15 South Elgin Football South Elgin High School 9 2 Upstate Eight co-champs
Notes: Upstate Eight co-champs
16 16 Antioch Football Antioch Community High School 8 3 Lost to Cary-Grove in 6A second round
Notes: Lost to Cary-Grove in 6A second round
17 17 Hinsdale Central Football Hinsdale Central High School 8 2 Brescia is one to watch next year
Notes: Brescia is one to watch next year
18 18 Montini Football Montini Catholic High School 8 3 Heartbreaking end in playoffs
Notes: Heartbreaking end in playoffs
19 19 IC Catholic Football IC Catholic Prep 10 2 Title run snapped at three straight
Notes: Title run snapped at three straight
20 20 Maine West Football Maine West High School 8 2 Third consecutive playoff appearance
Notes: Third consecutive playoff appearance
Week 15 Videos
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
 
Photo Galleries
Warren quarterback Trinate Jacobs gets sacked by Lincoln-Way East’s Sean McLaughlin during the second quarter of IHSA Class 8A state football championship game at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb Saturday.
Warren vs. Lincoln-Way East, Class 8A state football title game
Prairie Ridge captains, from left, Andrew Fryer, Blake Brown, Kyle Koelblinger and Connor Lydon hold their team’s trophy following the Wolves’ 43-21 loss to East St. Louis during the IHSA Class 6A state football title game at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb Saturday.
Prairie Ridge vs. East St. Louis, Class 6A state football title game
Warren’s Josh Turner (7) and Seamus Mellican (49) celebrate a blocked field goal attempt Saturday during the IHSA Class 8A state semifinals in Gurnee.
Warren vs. Brother Rice football
Rolling Meadows’ Nate Pedraza leads his team through the handshake line following the Mustangs’ loss to Nazareth during the Class 7A state football semifinal in Rolling Meadows Saturday.
Rolling Meadows vs. Nazareth Academy football
Prairie Ridge’s Brett Nygren (80) and nose guard Tristen Romine (51) celebrate their victory Saturday after the IHSA Class 6A playoff football quarterfinals in Crystal Lake.
Prairie Ridge vs. Cary-Grove, state football quarterfinals
Rolling Meadows’ Jimmy Golaris gets tackled by Wheaton Warrenville South’s Danny Healy during Saturday’s quarterfinal game in Wheaton.
Wheaton Warrenville South vs. Rolling Meadows, state football quarterfinals
School Graduations More Galleries