Hart Pisani

Aidan Connors of Plainfield North won the Class 3A 3,200-meter state championship and is now the Herald-News Boys Track Athlete of the Year.

See who all qualified for state in boys track and field from around the area.

A pair of high-scoring freshmen, a lockdown goalie, some shutdown defenders and more highlight the 2026 Herald-News All-Area Girls Soccer Team.

Katelyn Haiser of Plainfield North is the Herald-News Girls Soccer Player of the Year after scoring 31 goals this past season.

Zane Caves, a Michigan State commit, led Minooka to its first Supersectional appearance in over a decade. His pitching, resiliency and leadership helped earn him Herald-News Baseball Player of the Year.

TJ Lewis, a three-star running back from Bolingbrook, committed to Oklahoma State over the weekend.

Joliet Central junior Maverick Lewis helped earn a silver medal for team USA at the Pan American Youth and Masters Championship for Archery last month.

Peotone and Plainfield Central both finished under .500 in 2025, but both are looking to take a step forward this season.

Lincoln-Way East alumni Tyler Bell, who spent the past two years playing for Kentucky, was taken with the 10th overall selection by the Colorado Rockies in the 2026 MLB Draft.

For the first time in recent memory, Lincoln-Way East, West and Central all seem to be entering the football season in a similar boat: Replacing most of last year's production.