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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
The Wheaton Academy boys lacrosse team has a top-10 preseason ranking, and they're just a season removed from a state championship in 2023. So needless to say, the Warriors will be a strong contender in this season's journey. Coach Geof Wiesenborn says that his squad will be playing a "tough schedule that includes some of the top teams in the state," a lineup that includes Lake Forest, New Trier and Loyola.
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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Hinsdale Central has been a standard setter for girls lacrosse since the beginning. The Red Devils won the state title in 2018, and finished second in 2019, 2022 and 2023.
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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
The principal question for the 2025 girls water polo season, as it has been for almost a decade, is simple. Can anyone slow down Stevenson? The Patriots have appeared in eight of the last nine state championship games, winning six titles. The previous two came in 2023 and 2024, so now they’re looking for a three-peat. “Our ultimate goal is to be playing on the last weekend of the season,” said Patriots coach Jeff Wimer.
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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Get ready for what could be a wide open race to this year’s boys water polo state tournament. Lyons returns to defend its 2024 state title, but watch out for Naperville North. They made it to the final four last season, but fell 7-6 to Stevenson in their semifinal matchup. “With six of seven starters returning,” said Huskies coach Kelly Reif, “we’re looking to have a strong showing again this season.” Coming back for another go around for Naperville North will be three outstanding seniors.
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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Midway through Saturday’s boys state swimming championship meet, Hinsdale Central sophomore Luke Vatev talked about the Red Devils’ chase for a title three-peat. Hinsdale Central won the state crown in 2023 and 2024, and Vatev was confident a third straight victory was in the works. “I think it’s going to happen,” said Vatev, “and that would be super cool.
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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Hinsdale Central, seeking its third consecutive state championship, got off to a great start at Friday’s preliminaries at FMC Natatorium in Westmont. How about setting a national record in the first event of the evening? The Red Devils’ foursome of Luke Vatev, Joshua Bey, Henry Guo and Matthew Vatev won the 200 medley relay in the time of 1:26.75. That bested the standing national mark of 1:26.88 by 13 seconds.
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1 month ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Waubonsie Valley came into Tuesday night’s Class 4A Bolingbrook sectional semifinal with 29 wins on the season against just 1 loss. At halftime against the host Raiders, though, their stellar season was in serious jeopardy. Bolingbrook, playing tough and tenacious basketball, ran out to a 14-2 first quarter advantage, and led 30-18 at halftime behind 14 points apiece from sophomores Sydney Dodd and Skylar Wakefield. Then after intermission, Waubonsie Valley turned on the jets.
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2 months ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Midway through the second quarter at Thursday’s Class 4A Willowbrook regional championship, Lake Park was executing its game plan to perfection. In their bid to upset No. 1 seed St. Charles East — and avenge two earlier losses to the Saints in DuKane Conference play — the Lancers used a patient offense and tough defense to lead by 3 midway through the second quarter. Then St. Charles East, who won the DuKane this season with a 14-0 record, responded.
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2 months ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Take care of the basketball, play lockdown ‘D’, and shoot the lights out. That was the second half recipe for success for West Aurora Tuesday night in a stunning 41-30 victory over visiting Glenbard South. Sophomore Syncere Williams led the charge on offense for the Blackhawks after intermission, scoring all 13 of her points in the final two quarters. And the West Aurora defense didn’t give up a second half field goal to the Raiders until 1:30 remained in the game.
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2 months ago | 
dailyherald.com | Bill Esbrook
Neuqua Valley sophomore swimmer Jack Langan says that the better the opposition, the more he gets motivated. Saturday at the DuPage Valley Conference boys swimming championship meet at Metea Valley, he used that mindset to his advantage. Langan won the 200 individual medley in the time of 1:56.76, and the victory helped propel the Wildcats to the conference title. Neuqua Valley edged Naperville North 301-286 for the crown. Waubonsie Valley was third with a score of 222.
