Free Press Advocate

Wildcats end 38-year drought

Published by admin on Tue, 03/03/2026 - 2:45pm

For nearly four decades, the banner space inside Wilmington High School’s gym remained unchanged, a reminder of a championship season that had become more history than memory. On Friday night, that wait finally ended. With a determined second-half rally and a loud home crowd behind them, the Wilmington boys basketball team defeated Seneca, 54-43, to capture the IHSA regional championship—the program’s first since 1988 under then coach Mike Cluver. The Wildcats (22-10) didn’t just win a title — they grew into it after trailing earlier in the game. The Fighting Irish didn’t make it easy.

Eight area wrestlers medal at state

Published by admin on Sun, 02/22/2026 - 11:01am
STATE FINALS RECAP
Eight local wrestlers brought home some serious hardware from the IHSA State Individual Tournament which concluded Saturday, led by a strong showing from Coal City and a title-match run from Wilmington.
 State Runners-Up
• Logan VanDuyne (Wilmington, 190) – fell in a 13-12 thriller in the finals
• Aidan Kenney (Coal City, 157) - lost by 4-0 decision to Dillon Hinton (Vandalia) 

Four area wrestlers advance to state championship matches

Published by admin on Sat, 02/21/2026 - 11:45am

Three wrestlers from Coal City and one from Wilmington will take the Grand March at 5:30 p.m. today before squaring off for the 1st place matches at 6 p.m. inside the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Coal City's Aiden Kenney (157), Brock Finch (175) and Cade Poyner (215) have a shot at claiming the state title in their weight classes after winning their first three matches. Also up for the title bout at 190 pounds if Wilmington's Logan Van Duyne.

Seven area wrestlers advance to Final Four

Published by admin on Thu, 02/19/2026 - 8:53pm

Seven of 18 local wrestlers have made it through the first day of the IHSA state wrestling tournament, advancing after two wins each.

Coal City has six wresters still in the hunt for a state title, advancing to Friday's semifinal round where a victory would give them a entry into the state champion match on Saturday night.

IHSA football proposal passes, practice to begin August 5

Published by admin on Fri, 02/13/2026 - 12:46pm

Following the conclusion of voting at midnight on February 12, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on February 13 that member schools voted to approve a special by-law proposal impacting the start date of the 2026 football season and the number of practices required per player to compete in the first contest.

The proposal passed by a margin of 290 in favor, 245 opposed, and 67 with no opinion. Voting opened on January 29 and seventy-five percent (602) of the IHSA membership cast a ballot in the special election.

WHS cheer team qualifies for final round

Published by admin on Fri, 02/06/2026 - 2:47pm

The Wilmington competitive cheer team is the only one of three teams that will advance to the state finals on Saturday, finishing eighth in the preliminary round of the IHSA Class 1A State Cheerleading Competition at Grossinger Auto Arena in Bloomington.

Wilmington posted a score of 88.10, good enough to land inside the top 10 and earn one of the coveted advancing spots to Saturday's final round, where teams will compete for a possible state trophy. Only the top 10 teams from Friday's preliminaries advance.

Free Throw Contest open to area boys and girls

Published by admin on Tue, 01/20/2026 - 3:45pm

All boys and girls ages 9 through 14 are invited to participate in the local level of competition of the Knights of Columbus Free Throw Championship.
The Wilmington Knights of Columbus #11149 will host the local contest on Saturday, Jan. 24. Registration will be 8:30 a.m. and competition will begin at 9 a.m. in the St. Rose Parish gymnasium, 626 S. Kankakee St., Wilmington.
All young people, not in another local contest, are invited to participate. Each will vy for the best of 15 consecutive free throws.

IHSA Board calls special meeting of Legislative Commission to address 2026 football start date

Published by admin on Thu, 01/15/2026 - 10:02am

During its meeting on January 14, 2026, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors approved action for Board President Dan Tully to call a special meeting of the IHSA’s Legislative Commission on January 27.

Strohm signs to pitch at JJC

Published by admin on Tue, 12/30/2025 - 12:20pm

IHSA expands football playoffs to 384 teams

Published by admin on Wed, 12/17/2025 - 12:13pm

Several significant changes have been approved by members of the Illinois High School Association, including expansion of the Football Playoffs from 32 teams per class to 48 teams per class, increasing the number of total playoff qualifiers from 256 qualifiers to 384 in 2026.

There are no changes to the number of playoff classes in football, which remains at eight. The season start date remains the same (August 10 in 2026), but the first regular-season games will be played one week earlier (August 20 in 2026), eliminating the Week Zero scrimmage.