SPORTS HEADLINES

  • ‘CATS CELEBRATE their sectional championship win over Bishop McNamara.
    Photos by Eric Fisher

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    A FIRED UP Lucas Rink celebrates after getting a strikeout to win the Sectional Championship over Bishop McNamara.

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    PLAY STOPPER—Wilmington third baseman Cooper Holman dives for a hard hit ball in the bottom of the seventh inning of the sectional championship game. Holman got up and threw the runner out at first to end a late threat by Bishop McNamara during a 5-4 victory.

    Eureka shutout the ‘Cats in Super Sectional
    06/03/2025 - 3:33pm

  • Coal City High School held its Signing Day for seniors going on to play collegiate athletics. A dozen seniors have announced their intent to continue their playing careers in college. Those students are: [from left, seated]: Gabe McHugh will play baseball at Kankakee Community College, Dylan Young will join the Augustana College football team and Aiden [AJ] Wills will play baseball for Aquinas College. In row two: Chloe Pluger will play soccer at Eureka College, Sydney Hughes will participate in cheerleading at St. Ambrose University, Kaycee Graff will play softball at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Emma Rodriguez will join the St. Francis University volleyball team, Abby Viano will play volleyball at Joliet Junior College, Madi Petersen will play softball at Wartburg College, Corinna Barlkey is joining the Augustana College soccer team, D’Arcy Ness will play softball at Joliet Junior College, and Juliana Covington will join the softball team at the College of DuPage.

    Coalers sign on to play for new teams
    04/22/2025 - 3:28pm

  • STATE CHAMPIONS! Coal City won the Class 1A state dual team wrestling title Saturday, March 1, defeating Vandalia 32-25 at Grossinger Auto Arena in Bloomington, capping off a 33-7 season. Team members include (kneeling, from left) Jake Munsterman, Jason Piatak, Dom Grassity, Owen Petersen, Culan Lindemuth, Cooper Morris, Luke Munsterman, Brody Widlowski, Bobby Rodriguez, Aidan Kenney, Jaela Vasquez and Addison Harvey. Standing are coaches Joe Widlowski, Zach Berman, Joe Breneman and Jim Looper plus wrestlers Evan Greggain, Mason Garner, Trace Wilson, Landin Benson, John Keigher, Alec Waliczek, Cade Poyner, Noah Houston, Brody D'Orazio, Brock Finch, Alex Carlson and coaches Nick O'Bert, Bob McGuinn and head coach Mark Masters.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

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    COAL CITY COACHES Mark Masters (right) and Jim Looper point out a near pin during the state championship match on Saturday.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Coalers reign over the state
    03/05/2025 - 11:27am

  • FOURTH IN STATE—Coaler Aidan Kenney went 3-2 during the IHSA state individual finals to earn fourth place at 144 pounds.
    Photo by Kelly Van Duyne

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    COAL CITY SENIOR John Keigher opened the state tournament with back to back wins at 215 pounds. He finished in fifth place.

    Seven state medals for the Coalers
    02/25/2025 - 3:54pm
  • Eight still in hunt for state medals
    02/22/2025 - 12:14pm
  • Six of 19 area wrestlers win their prelim
    02/21/2025 - 8:41am

  • COAL CITY’s Brody Widlowski (right) won a 4-1 decision over Reed-Custer’s Jeremy Eggleston to become a three-time state qualifier on Saturday. Widlowski has a perfect 24-0 record as he enters the state finals on Thursday.
    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Coalers rule sectional with 13 state qualifiers
    02/18/2025 - 4:22pm

  • COAL CITY HIGH SCHOOLl and Hall of Fame wrestling coach Mark Masters achieved his 500th career dual team coaching win on Friday, Jan. 31. The Coalers hosted Prairie Central and Pontiac in a wrestling doubleheader that evening and won both contests. Masters and the Coalers enter state series action Saturday with the IHSA Regional at Herscher.

    500 wins and counting
    02/04/2025 - 4:03pm
  • KofC Youth free throw contest to be held Jan. 25
    01/21/2025 - 4:24pm

  • Todd Lockwood (standing, second from left) was inducted into the Illinois Track Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Saturday, Jan 11. Standing by his side while receiving the award was his family: wife Ruth, sons Brett (left) and Drew, and grandchildren Audrey (left) and Harper.

    Wilmington gains another Hall of Fame coach
    01/14/2025 - 4:18pm

  • WILMINGTON JUNIOR Ryan Kettman slips away for a touchdown against DuPec during Saturday’s playoff game on the road. Kettman rushed for a total of 160 yards, scored two touchdowns and made two interceptions in a 22-13 victory.
    Photo by Alyssa Ohlund

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    WILDCAT SOPHOMORE Declan Moran is about to tackle DuPec quarterback Cooper Hoffman for a loss during Saturday’s game. Moran and the Wildcats pressured Hoffman all game including this stopper which had Moran getting up punching air.

    Injury doesn’t stop the ‘Cats
    11/19/2024 - 4:28pm

  • CHARGED UP COALERS—The Coal City football team came out fired up Saturday and took care of business on their home turf, beating Dixon 20-13 to advance to the Final Four teams in the 4A playoffs. Doing his best to electrify Emmett Easton (12) during the Coal City team intro is Coaler super dad Bill Waliczak who is waving the Coaler flag. Coal City gets to come onto the home field one more time, this Saturday at 1 p.m. when they will host Chicago DePaul for the state semifinal.
    Photo by Amy Walker

    Coalers hosting with state berth on line
    11/19/2024 - 4:25pm

  • DIVING FORWARD after making one of his three catches on Saturday is Coaler Gabe McHugh. Coal City advances to the quarterfinal round on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they will host Dixon.
    Photo by Amy Walker

    Coalers set to 'duke' it out with Dixon
    11/12/2024 - 4:14pm

  • THE LADY WILDCATS celebrate a hard-earned point and hopefully there will be a lot more celebration on Thursday at 5:30 when they play for the Sectional Championship in Manteno. Players include (from left) Rachel Smith, Skylar Knight, Molly Southall, Maggie Lindsey and Reese Van Duyne.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Let's go Lady Cats! Sectional championship game next
    11/06/2024 - 2:46pm
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    Two local teams to play for volleyball regional championships
    10/30/2024 - 12:10pm

Wilmington Region

LOVE’S TRAVEL CENTER opened early Thursday on Illinois 53 near North River Road when Wilmington Chamber of Commerce members and city officials held a ribbon cutting to mark the occassion. Love’s general manager James Riley (with scissors) prepares to cut the ribbon next to Chamber president Steve Evans and employees of the new fuel stop. Love’s, which includes a Hardee’s Restaurant, will be open 24/7.

06/10/2025 - 3:36pm
Love's Travel Center opens
The new Love’s Travel Center extended some love right from the start. During a celebratory ribbon-cutting, Love’s presented two generous $5,000 donations — one to Kuzma Care Cottage, Wilmington’s local food pantry, and another to the Children’s...
‘Nurse of the Year’ found niche by comforting those in crisis
Dog alerts sleeping couple of house fire
Ribbon cutting held at the Landing Pad
Fire district moving into new station
Rivals Road solar developer offers $$$ for city council's approval

Coal City Region

The Legacy League were the first to hit the new pickle ball courts at North Park. Meeting Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m., the group continues to grow and is now up to 14.

06/17/2025 - 3:03pm
Pickleball fever lands at North Park
The paddles are flying, the balls are bouncing, and the laughter is echoing across all six courts at North Park in Coal City. Pickleball has taken the world by storm and is on the rise here in the village as new courts have opened. The sport is...
Lilleys to be honored as Homecoming grand marshals
Board approves payment from solar developer
Lady Coalers rally for regional title
John Cullick honored for 50 years of service
They're graduates now!

Braidwood Region

06/17/2025 - 3:06pm
Braidwood struggling to keep up with demand for water
The City of Braidwood issued a notice to water users urging them conserve usage as the municipality struggles to meet the demand. Mayor Todd Lyons issued a notice Monday, explaining that water use restrictions are being implemented due to the aging...
Freak to serve as Summerfest Grand Marshal
Braidwood resident questions feasibility of data center
A complex story of a local prisoner of war
Braidwood to appoint interim city administrator
RCHS honors John Varland

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