J.T. Pedelty

The Illinois Coaches Association announced its 2026 ICA All-State teams this week, with 11 Herald-News area softball standouts selected for first-team honors and dozens more for other ICA accolades.

The Illinois Coaches Association this week announced its lists of ICA All-State selections from the recently completed 2026 softball season, with numerous Times-area standouts honored.

After an uncharacteristically quiet performance the night before, Marquette baseball's offense came out swinging Saturday with three runs in the home half of the first inning. It proved to be the difference in Marquette’s 4-1 win over Freeburg in 2A's third-place game.

In the short term, when the Marquette baseball team won the Class 2A St. Bede Supersectional, it sent the Crusaders back to the IHSA State Finals. In the long term, it also guaranteed Marquette will remain in Class 2A for baseball through at least the 2028 season.

Here are The Times area’s state qualifiers and their postseason accomplishments, the 2026 Times Girls Track and Field All-Area Honor Roll.

The IHSA’s board of directors this week finalized expectations for the 35-second shot clock, which will be required for varsity boys and girls basketball contests beginning with the upcoming 2026-27 IHSA season.

Presented here are The Times area’s state qualifiers and their postseason accomplishments, the 2026 Times Boys Track and Field All-Area Honor Roll.

The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its 2026 IHSBCA All-State Teams, honoring many of the state's top prep players including 15 standouts from teams across the Herald-News coverage area.

The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its 2026 IHSBCA All-State Teams, honoring many of the state's top prep players including a half-dozen standouts from teams across The Times coverage area.

Numerous Times-area baseball players received all-conference accolades following the conclusion of the 2026 season, headlined by Ottawa and Marquette each having a student-athlete take home their conference's player of the year award.