Sports

Rochelle faces off against rival Sycamore on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Rochelle Township High School.

Rochelle faces off against rival Sycamore on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Rochelle Township High School.

The Varsity assistant coach watches the varsity team during practice on Dec. 11, 2023, at Rockford Christian Schools.

The Varsity assistant coach watches the varsity team during practice on Dec. 11, 2023, at Rockford Christian Schools.

Byron tips off against Benton during the semifinal game on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Benton ended up with the win with a score of 50-42, continuing onto the state final 2A championship game.

Byron tips off against Benton during the semifinal game on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois. Benton ended up with the win with a score of 50-42, continuing onto the state final 2A championship game.

Rockford Lutheran's Aaron Peterson bear crawls up a hill during an obstacle course on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Camp Courage at the Pecatonica Wetlands.

Rockford Lutheran's Aaron Peterson bear crawls up a hill during an obstacle course on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at Camp Courage at the Pecatonica Wetlands.

Eastland fans cheer during a game against Pecatonica on March 1, 2024, at River Ridge High School. In the end, Pecatonica took the sectional championship over Eastland with a score of 60-50.

Eastland fans cheer during a game against Pecatonica on March 1, 2024, at River Ridge High School. In the end, Pecatonica took the sectional championship over Eastland with a score of 60-50.

Junior varsity runners lay on the ground after finishing the 3200 meter run during the boys NIC-10 conference meet on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Auburn High School.

Junior varsity runners lay on the ground after finishing the 3200 meter run during the boys NIC-10 conference meet on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Auburn High School.

Hononegah celebrates winning the Regional championship against #1 ranked team Guilford on Feb. 23, 2024 at Rockford East High School.

Hononegah celebrates winning the Regional championship against #1 ranked team Guilford on Feb. 23, 2024 at Rockford East High School.

A Guilford Valkyrie performs during their 60th-anniversary show on Feb. 27, 2024 at Guilford High School. The Valkyries performed routines from previous years to commemorate their 60 years as a group.

A Guilford Valkyrie performs during their 60th-anniversary show on Feb. 27, 2024 at Guilford High School. The Valkyries performed routines from previous years to commemorate their 60 years as a group.

Jefferson high jumper Lashawn Gathright clears the high jump bar during the boys NIC-10 conference meet on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Auburn High School.

Jefferson high jumper Lashawn Gathright clears the high jump bar during the boys NIC-10 conference meet on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Auburn High School.

Audrey Warren and Aliyah Matharu hug after beating OSU 50-65 at the Frank Erwin Center. Texas Women's Basketball played their last ever game on Saturday, March 5, 2022.

Audrey Warren and Aliyah Matharu hug after beating OSU 50-65 at the Frank Erwin Center. Texas Women's Basketball played their last ever game on Saturday, March 5, 2022.

Belvidere North offensive line Connor Brown (72) points at the playback screen while watching a replay during a playoff game at Belvidere North High School on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Belvidere North offensive line Connor Brown (72) points at the playback screen while watching a replay during a playoff game at Belvidere North High School on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Hononegah's Addison Halbert (9) returns to the field after talking to Hononegah's head coach during a game against Guilford on Sep. 19, 2024, at Hononegah High School in Rockton.

Hononegah's Addison Halbert (9) returns to the field after talking to Hononegah's head coach during a game against Guilford on Sep. 19, 2024, at Hononegah High School in Rockton.

Lucas Lowery performs a jump on an obstacle called the “gravitron” during a kids wakeboarding camp on June 13, 2024, at West Rock Wake Park at Levings Lake.

Lucas Lowery performs a jump on an obstacle called the “gravitron” during a kids wakeboarding camp on June 13, 2024, at West Rock Wake Park at Levings Lake.

Hononegah high school wide receiver Joseph Melcher (17) pushes off Batavia wide receiver Luke Alwin (12) on Nov. 11, 2023, during a playoff game at Hononegah high school. The Batavia Bulldogs ended up with the win with a score of 55-14.

Hononegah high school wide receiver Joseph Melcher (17) pushes off Batavia wide receiver Luke Alwin (12) on Nov. 11, 2023, during a playoff game at Hononegah high school. The Batavia Bulldogs ended up with the win with a score of 55-14.

The Byron Tigers hold up their 3A state championship trophy after winning the state championship game against Mt. Carmel High School on Nov. 24, 2023, at Hancock Stadium. Byron pulled out the win with a record-breaking score of 69-7.

The Byron Tigers hold up their 3A state championship trophy after winning the state championship game against Mt. Carmel High School on Nov. 24, 2023, at Hancock Stadium. Byron pulled out the win with a record-breaking score of 69-7.

Runner run down Congress Avenue, passing the Paramount Theater during the Statesman Cap 10K on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Runner run down Congress Avenue, passing the Paramount Theater during the Statesman Cap 10K on Sunday, April 16, 2023.

Senior cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson catches a touchdown pass on Nov. 12, 2022, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Senior cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson catches a touchdown pass on Nov. 12, 2022, at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Dixon’s Max Clark (42) rolls over after diving in attempt to tag North Boone’s Eli Lopez (7) during a game on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at North Boone High School.

Dixon’s Max Clark (42) rolls over after diving in attempt to tag North Boone’s Eli Lopez (7) during a game on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at North Boone High School.

Byron Tigers Caden Considine (37) yells to the sky after scoring a touchdown at the beginning of the 3A state championship game on Nov. 24, 2023, at Hancock Stadium.

Byron Tigers Caden Considine (37) yells to the sky after scoring a touchdown at the beginning of the 3A state championship game on Nov. 24, 2023, at Hancock Stadium.

Rose Cassioppi, a wrestler for the University of Iowa and former Hononegah High School student, performs a takedown move on her brother Bruno Cassioppi during their wrestling camp on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Hononegah High School.

Rose Cassioppi, a wrestler for the University of Iowa and former Hononegah High School student, performs a takedown move on her brother Bruno Cassioppi during their wrestling camp on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Hononegah High School.

Byron senior Ryan Tucker (10) takes a shot while being guarded by Benton’s Docker Tedeschi (41) during the semifinal game on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Byron senior Ryan Tucker (10) takes a shot while being guarded by Benton’s Docker Tedeschi (41) during the semifinal game on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Rylan Galvan (6) and Peyton Powell (15) celebrate a home run during a game against the Texas Tech Raiders on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Texas beat the Raiders 9-8, sweeping Tech over the entire weekend.

Rylan Galvan (6) and Peyton Powell (15) celebrate a home run during a game against the Texas Tech Raiders on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Texas beat the Raiders 9-8, sweeping Tech over the entire weekend.

The Texas Longhorns faced off against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Moody Center on Feb. 19, 2023. In the end, the Longhorns took the win with a final score of 74-48.

The Texas Longhorns faced off against the West Virginia Mountaineers at the Moody Center on Feb. 19, 2023. In the end, the Longhorns took the win with a final score of 74-48.

Running back Damarius Good (15) runs the ball downfield while fending off defense during the Texas State football spring game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Running back Damarius Good (15) runs the ball downfield while fending off defense during the Texas State football spring game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Texas Cheerleaders run across the field on Nov. 15, 2022, at Darrell K. Royal- Texas Memorial Stadium.

Texas Cheerleaders run across the field on Nov. 15, 2022, at Darrell K. Royal- Texas Memorial Stadium.

A Texas Tech fan leans onto the dugout during a game against the Texas Tech Raiders at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Texas beat the Raiders 9-8, sweeping Tech over the entire weekend.

A Texas Tech fan leans onto the dugout during a game against the Texas Tech Raiders at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, March 26, 2023. Texas beat the Raiders 9-8, sweeping Tech over the entire weekend.

Players warm up and stretch before the Texas State football spring game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Players warm up and stretch before the Texas State football spring game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, April 22, 2023.

Guilford high jumper Jaidyn Nguyen clears the high jump bar during the boys NIC-10 conference meet on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Auburn High School. Nguyen placed second with a jump of 5 feet and 10.55 inches.

Guilford high jumper Jaidyn Nguyen clears the high jump bar during the boys NIC-10 conference meet on Friday, May 10, 2024, at Auburn High School. Nguyen placed second with a jump of 5 feet and 10.55 inches.

Infielder Jack O'Dowd (27) attempts to tag out Texas Tech’s Nolen Hester (41) during a game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field against Texas Tech on Saturday, March 25, 2023. In the end, the Longhorns won 6-5.

Infielder Jack O'Dowd (27) attempts to tag out Texas Tech’s Nolen Hester (41) during a game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field against Texas Tech on Saturday, March 25, 2023. In the end, the Longhorns won 6-5.

Brett Epperson (77) kneels and closes his eyes to pray before a playoff game against Amundsen at Belvidere North High School on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Brett Epperson (77) kneels and closes his eyes to pray before a playoff game against Amundsen at Belvidere North High School on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023.

Burnet’s Brayden Hill grasps the pole in the 4A UIL State Track and Field meet, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Burnet’s Brayden Hill grasps the pole in the 4A UIL State Track and Field meet, on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

Belvidere North runner Allivia Fennessy smiles and cheers after finishing the 4x100 relay during a NIC-10 track and field meet on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Guilford High School.

Belvidere North runner Allivia Fennessy smiles and cheers after finishing the 4x100 relay during a NIC-10 track and field meet on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Guilford High School.

Guilford celebrates winning a flag football game against Hononegah on Sep. 19, 2024, at Hononegah High School in Rockton.

Guilford celebrates winning a flag football game against Hononegah on Sep. 19, 2024, at Hononegah High School in Rockton.