Features 2/10

Sleepless nights, the waiting game and a playoff under sunset: U-High duo, Normal Community’s Siegrist shake off pressure to advance to state

Oct 8

Sleepless nights, the waiting game and a playoff under sunset: U-High duo, Normal Community’s Siegrist shake off pressure to advance to state

A trio of golfers from Normal shined at the Class 2A Normal U-High Sectional, including two Pioneers golfers and Savanna Siegrist of NCHS.

Normal U-High volleyball rides wave of confidence from winning ways

Wesley Stombaugh

Oct 7

Normal U-High volleyball rides wave of confidence from winning ways

Normal U-High volleyball is tracking toward another 30-win season with a talented roster and multiple big wins to their name.

Escaping the rough: PND’s Coulter putting it all together with hopes of returning to state

Jonathan Michel

Oct 7

Escaping the rough: PND’s Coulter putting it all together with hopes of returning to state

Peoria Notre Dame sophomore golfer Jack Coulter overcame multiple difficulties to become a regional champion with hopes of going to state.

Ironmen football embraces favorite and underdog roles ahead of Week 5 clash with Bloomington

Jonathan Michel

Oct 4

Ironmen football embraces favorite and underdog roles ahead of Week 5 clash with Bloomington

Normal Community has its eyes set on continuing its time at the top of the Big 12.

Bloomington football’s seniors saving the best for last

Jonathan Michel

Oct 4

Bloomington football’s seniors saving the best for last

Bloomington has a large class of seniors that have been key contributors for multiple years and are making their final one count.

Metamora boys golf savors first regional title in program history: “This is a great feeling”

Jonathan Michel

Oct 3

Metamora boys golf savors first regional title in program history: “This is a great feeling”

Metamora boys golf won the Class 2A East Peoria Regional by one stroke for its first regional title in team history.

Bloomington football credits offensive line with helping team to undefeated start

Wesley Stombaugh

Sep 27

Bloomington football credits offensive line with helping team to undefeated start

Bloomington's offensive line and its multi-faceted rushing attack have helped the Purple Raiders to their first 4-0 start since 2004.

Peoria High seeing Green as the present, and future, of Lions’ program

Jonathan Michel

Sep 27

Peoria High seeing Green as the present, and future, of Lions’ program

Junior quarterback Breon Green has been a catalyst for Peoria High's strong-performing offense.

Simundic setting culture in first year at the helm of Washington volleyball

Wesley Stombaugh

Sep 23

Simundic setting culture in first year at the helm of Washington volleyball

In her first year at Washington, Paloma Simundic is looking to establish a tight-knit culture among the team. So far, so good.

Two speedsters and a truck: Metamora spreading workload with talented backfield trio

Jonathan Michel

Sep 20

Two speedsters and a truck: Metamora spreading workload with talented backfield trio

Metamora is leaning on not one, not two but three men in the backfield to spearhead its offense.

Breaking the drought: East Peoria soccer back on winning track

Jaylen Harris

Sep 17

Breaking the drought: East Peoria soccer back on winning track

East Peoria's boys soccer team has broken a nearly three-year long losing streak with new head coach Gabe Carreno at the helm.

El Paso-Gridley volleyball's powerful offense leads Titans to 15-1 start

Wesley Stombaugh

Sep 16

El Paso-Gridley volleyball's powerful offense leads Titans to 15-1 start

El Paso-Gridley volleyball has gone on a tear through a frenetic first half of its season. The Titans are off to a 15-1 start ...

Metamora’s “Legion of Zoom” helping its defense thrive

Jonathan Michel

Sep 13

Metamora’s “Legion of Zoom” helping its defense thrive

Metamora's fast and experienced secondary has helped carry the Redbirds to a 2-0 start.

“I’m grateful he came back”: Reunited Humphrey and Jones look to make Washington’s rivalry game count

Jonathan Michel

Sep 12

“I’m grateful he came back”: Reunited Humphrey and Jones look to make Washington’s rivalry game count

The sheriff of Washington’s offense has a new sidekick in town, but the two aren’t new to each other. Far from it, in fact.

Normal West volleyball starting hot, navigating tough schedule with mix of youth and experience

Wesley Stombaugh

Sep 9

Normal West volleyball starting hot, navigating tough schedule with mix of youth and experience

Normal West's volleyball team has established itself among the area's best, with top-tier talent and a challenging nonconference schedule.

Manual coach Dennis Bailey helping lead his football team on and off the field

John Komosa

Sep 7

Manual coach Dennis Bailey helping lead his football team on and off the field

Manual football coach Dennis Bailey practices what he preaches to his team about never giving up.

Bloomington’s seasoned veterans paving way for Purple Raiders to flourish

Jonathan Michel

Sep 6

Bloomington’s seasoned veterans paving way for Purple Raiders to flourish

Seniors are a key component to the success of every high school football team. Have lots of them, and you’ll go far.

Normal U-High’s turnaround helped by hitting the books and playing smart

Jonathan Michel

Sep 5

Normal U-High’s turnaround helped by hitting the books and playing smart

Football is a game highly dependent on skill, speed and toughness. But a quote from Yogi Berra about baseball also translates to the...

Maturity helps Normal West QB Mangruem be primed for big junior season

Jonathan Michel

Aug 30

Maturity helps Normal West QB Mangruem be primed for big junior season

Jrue Mangruem carries a level of maturity that most high school juniors don’t have. One look at the Normal West quarterback and it’s...

Mullens brothers the perfect fit for PND football

Jonathan Michel

Aug 30

Mullens brothers the perfect fit for PND football

Peoria Notre Dame’s brand of football requires two things. One is having tough players that can run the ball. The service-academy style...