J.T. Pedelty

The Streator Bulldogs enter Year 2 of Jay Slone’s tenure as head coach with big goals – both short- and long-term – and, they believe, things trending in the right direction after a 1-8 campaign in 2025.

The Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland Falcons have a team motto for the 2026 season: “Earned, not given.” Indeed, with the bulk of last year’s leaders gone, this fall’s cast of Falcons will be trying to earn their own place in the successful football co-op's history.

With the opening day of the 2026 high school girls volleyball season fast approaching, here are just five of the storylines The Times Sports staff will be watching when the first serves go up next Monday evening.

Brezdyn Simons (23) of Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland throws as Ridgewood's Cam Galle (23) applies pressure last season in rural Streator. (MaKade Rios for Shaw Local)

Week 1 of the 2026 IHSA football season comes early this year, with Seneca, FCW, Dwight, Sandwich and Streator all on the road, while Ottawa and Marquette start out on their home fields.

With opening serve scheduled for Monday, here is a team-by-team look at the seasons ahead for the high school girls volleyball teams across The Times area.

The Times area has a lot of girls volleyball talent, and here are just five players The Times Sports staff is expecting big things from in 2026.

Led by a 193-yard rushing performance from Wes Weatherford, Ottawa's football team opened the 2026 season Saturday with a 21-14 victory over the visiting Plano Reapers.

Paced by Brennen Stillwell's medalist-earning 2-under-par 70, the Streator boys golf team on Monday bested five-time defending champion Ottawa and five other teams for the championship of the Streator Invitational.

The 2026 IHSA girls tennis season is here, and so is The Times preview of the seasons ahead for the Streator Bulldogs and Ottawa Pirates.