SPORTS HEADLINES

  • THE WILMINGTON FOOTBALL team runs out of the woods between a line of 62 revved up motorcycles before the semi-final game on Saturday. They shutout El Paso Gridley 41-0 to advance to Friday's 1 p.m. 2A state championship game in Normal, IL against Maroa-Forsyth. Photo by Alyssa Ohlund

    Wildcats are State bound
    11/25/2025 - 4:09pm

  • A FIRST EVER—Coal City soccer captains (from left) Dane Noffsinger, Luke Munsterman, Julian Micetich, Carter Nicholson and coach Steve McCleary hold the 3rd place state trophy for 1A soccer. It was a history-making day Friday when the Coalers defeated Chicago Academy 6-1 to win the soccer trophy.

    Photo by Alyshia Nicholson

    , ,

    COALER JULIAN MICETICH leaps to head the ball during Thursday’s game state semifinal game against Mendota.
    Photo by Amy Walker

    Coal City soccer caps historic season with a state trophy
    11/11/2025 - 3:06pm

  • WILDCATS WORK TOGETHER! THE D-LINE (from left) Declan Moran, Logan Van Duyne, Zach Ohlund and Jack Cutter work together to stop West Hancock in their tracks allowing no extra yardage.
    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Fast attack ‘Cats to square off against undefeated Seneca
    11/04/2025 - 1:34pm
  • Coalers-Dixon to 'duke' it out again
    11/04/2025 - 1:06pm
  • Playoffs tickets for Friday can be bought in advance
    11/04/2025 - 1:04pm
  • Buy playoff tickets in advance
    10/28/2025 - 4:11pm
  • Wilmington, R-C at Herscher, Coal City to compete at Seneca
    10/14/2025 - 2:22pm

  • WILDCAT JACK CUTTER gets ready to hike the ball during Friday’s game against Peotone. Cutter missed the first two games of the season due to injury but was back at center on Friday to help the Wildcats to a 41-13 victory.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Wildcats to hit the road to face Herscher
    09/16/2025 - 1:50pm
  • Miners win three vs. Manteno
    09/11/2025 - 8:22am
  • Coal City Miners take on Chanooka Braves
    08/26/2025 - 4:19pm
  • Helicopter to drop 2,600 weiners for an attempt at world record
    07/15/2025 - 3:47pm

  • ‘CATS CELEBRATE their sectional championship win over Bishop McNamara.
    Photos by Eric Fisher

    ,

    A FIRED UP Lucas Rink celebrates after getting a strikeout to win the Sectional Championship over Bishop McNamara.

    ,

    PLAY STOPPER—Wilmington third baseman Cooper Holman dives for a hard hit ball in the bottom of the seventh inning of the sectional championship game. Holman got up and threw the runner out at first to end a late threat by Bishop McNamara during a 5-4 victory.

    Eureka shutout the ‘Cats in Super Sectional
    06/03/2025 - 3:33pm

  • Coal City High School held its Signing Day for seniors going on to play collegiate athletics. A dozen seniors have announced their intent to continue their playing careers in college. Those students are: [from left, seated]: Gabe McHugh will play baseball at Kankakee Community College, Dylan Young will join the Augustana College football team and Aiden [AJ] Wills will play baseball for Aquinas College. In row two: Chloe Pluger will play soccer at Eureka College, Sydney Hughes will participate in cheerleading at St. Ambrose University, Kaycee Graff will play softball at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, Emma Rodriguez will join the St. Francis University volleyball team, Abby Viano will play volleyball at Joliet Junior College, Madi Petersen will play softball at Wartburg College, Corinna Barlkey is joining the Augustana College soccer team, D’Arcy Ness will play softball at Joliet Junior College, and Juliana Covington will join the softball team at the College of DuPage.

    Coalers sign on to play for new teams
    04/22/2025 - 3:28pm

  • STATE CHAMPIONS! Coal City won the Class 1A state dual team wrestling title Saturday, March 1, defeating Vandalia 32-25 at Grossinger Auto Arena in Bloomington, capping off a 33-7 season. Team members include (kneeling, from left) Jake Munsterman, Jason Piatak, Dom Grassity, Owen Petersen, Culan Lindemuth, Cooper Morris, Luke Munsterman, Brody Widlowski, Bobby Rodriguez, Aidan Kenney, Jaela Vasquez and Addison Harvey. Standing are coaches Joe Widlowski, Zach Berman, Joe Breneman and Jim Looper plus wrestlers Evan Greggain, Mason Garner, Trace Wilson, Landin Benson, John Keigher, Alec Waliczek, Cade Poyner, Noah Houston, Brody D'Orazio, Brock Finch, Alex Carlson and coaches Nick O'Bert, Bob McGuinn and head coach Mark Masters.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

    ,

    COAL CITY COACHES Mark Masters (right) and Jim Looper point out a near pin during the state championship match on Saturday.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Coalers reign over the state
    03/05/2025 - 11:27am

  • FOURTH IN STATE—Coaler Aidan Kenney went 3-2 during the IHSA state individual finals to earn fourth place at 144 pounds.
    Photo by Kelly Van Duyne

    ,

    COAL CITY SENIOR John Keigher opened the state tournament with back to back wins at 215 pounds. He finished in fifth place.

    Seven state medals for the Coalers
    02/25/2025 - 3:54pm

Wilmington Region

STATE CHAMPIONS—The Wilmington football team won the Class 2A state trophy Friday at Hancock Stadium in Normal, defeating Maroa-Fosyth 42-6.

12/02/2025 - 5:02pm
Dominant 'Cats
Fitting that a defense that had allowed only 15 points in four playoff games got the ball rolling for Wilmington (13-1) in Friday's Class 2A championship game against Maroa-Forsyth (11-3) in Normal. Defensive back Billy Moore intercepted a pass at...
Kuzma Care named Chamber’s 2025 Member of the Year
Wilmington Park District planning biggest Christkindl Market yet
Mudpuppies search may lead to vanished mussel
Mayor: Hotel would fill serious need
Planning Comission to hold hearing on four-story hotel

Coal City Region

COAL CITY High School social studies teacher Emily Vandergrift (left) was selected by students as the November Teacher of the Month. The recognition is organized by the school's chapter if Educators Rising which is represented by Maria Campagna.

12/02/2025 - 4:56pm
Coal City's first Teacher of the Month
Emily Vandergrift “makes learning fun” and is “very understanding to all her students.” These statements were just a few from students who nominated her as Coal City High School’s first Teacher of the Month. The program to recognize outstanding...
New Village seal includes historic mining tools
CCHS proud to have 22 State Scholars
Grundy County Health issues warning on listeria in pasta meals
Coalers to get first-ever shot at state trophy
Coalers-Dixon to 'duke' it out again

Braidwood Region

12/04/2025 - 2:58pm
Custer Township special meeting
The Custer Township Board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. to approve and pass the property tax levy for the 2026 fiscal year. The meeting will take place at the Custer Town Hall, 35332 Grant Ave., Custer Park and is open...
State Police seek witnesses to fatal hit and run
RC 2nd graders tell how to cook a turkey
Braidwood eyes fourth TIF to facilitate proposed data center
Smiles, Support and Stories: The heart of the RCHS English Department
“Skinny Kid” from Braidwood muses on his life in books

Capitol News Illinois

  •
more

Columnists

Capital Facts

Rich Miller covers Illinois politics in-depth every week
Sunday Cocktail

Make a new cocktail each Sunday with expert mixologist Brian Rung
Time Was

Sandy Vasko's award-winning column on the area's rich history