News-Gazette Preps

Providing high school sports coverage throughout Champaign and Central Illinois. Tweet @ngpreps or use #ngpreps for your thoughts, opinions and score updates.

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

There's a lot ahead for @CHAR_GERS junior Sophia Marquez.

The junior has two state swims coming up this Friday and has a cello solo in the near future as well. There was also a trip to D.C. that has now inspired another route for her to take. @ngpreps
https://t.co/mtsvr76YUp

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

Congratulations to our latest @ngpreps Athlete of the Week winners!

Boys: Brennon Hutson (@ALAHKnights)
Girls: Bailey Malloch (@maroonathletics)

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

@mshsathletics @athleticsurbana And here's a look at the complete list of honorees from the 2026 flag football season:
https://t.co/3CMwNveO9S

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

Harding joins three of her teammates and three other athletes from @mshsathletics and @athleticsurbana on the complete All-Area First Team. Check out the squad here:
https://t.co/vyMDGhUM8P

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

A consistent passer doubling as a dynamic runner, @maroonathletics sophomore Eden Harding was an easy choice for the 2026 @ngpreps Flag Football Player of the Year.

The two-time recipient led the Maroons to new heights in the young sport this fall: https://t.co/0jLO5GtqjP

[News-Gazette Preps @ngpreps]

Thursday's N-G sports cover feat. @Matt_LucasNG on Eden Harding of @maroonathletics as our 2026 All-Area girls' flag football Player of the Year, plus @mdaniels_NG's latest Daily Pitch & @srrichey on #Illini MBB in aftermath of loss at Texas Tech.

@APSE_sportmedia
@ngphotostaff

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

It’s time to vote for The News-Gazette Athletes of the Week! Voting is open and closes Thursday at noon.

Nominees from: @CHAR_GERS, @maroonathletics, @mshsathletics, @PCHS_Hawks, @SagesAthletics, @ALAHKnights, @unihighsports and Clinton. @ngpreps
https://t.co/FlWGcaAsKn

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

There was much to be happy about locally yesterday at Detweiller Park. @ngpreps

At the IHSA state XC meet, both @mshsathletics and @SagesAthletics came away with trophies and nine runners earned All-State recognition. More from a fun day in Peoria:
https://t.co/uqXYKrUYI4

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

It's fair to say that @mahometfootball head coach Jon Adkins was happy after the way his group handled Crete-Monee.

The pass game was sharp when it was asked to be and the physicality his group displayed showed why the Bulldogs still haven't been beaten.
https://t.co/Hc4CcHpKxE

[Matt Daniels @mdaniels_NG]

Don't blink. It's a phrase @SJOFootball coach Shawn Skinner uses often. On Saturday, the Spartans didn't blink and earned a long-awaited playoff win against rival Unity.

'We got the outcome we wanted.'

My story as unbeaten SJ-O continues it season

https://t.co/qdElcZlYnN

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

HT: Mahomet 27, Crete-Monee 7

Fisher is dialed in tonight. He completes three 3rd-&-long passes (two shown here) and the Bulldogs score right before half. The 11-yard strike to Snyder makes it all M-S through one half. Fisher: 6-8, 116yds, 3TD

[Matt Daniels @mdaniels_NG]

FINAL: SJ-O 35, Unity 21. Spartans improve to 11-0 on the season, while Rockets finish 9-3

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

Hello from Mahomet, the site of tonight’s 5A second-round battle between Crete-Monee (8-2) and the home Bulldogs (10-0).

I’ll have updates for @ngpreps once the game kicks off at 4pm. M-S will start on offense.

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

@unihighsports @SagesAthletics @mshsathletics Congrats to @SagesAthletics and @mshsathletics on bringing back a little something for the trophy case!

Monticello boys: 2nd in 1A
M-S girls: 3rd in 2A

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

@unihighsports @SagesAthletics @mshsathletics Mahomet’s Tate Bode (38th, 15:06.4) and Tayten Gergen (42nd, 15:07.5) lead the Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish.

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

@unihighsports @SagesAthletics @mshsathletics Here come the 2A boys. Mahomet-Seymour, Urbana’s Sebastian Bretl here locally.

[News-Gazette Preps @ngpreps]

Illini Pella Saturday SportsTalk | 11-7-26 https://t.co/WkFw8sQkLp

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

@unihighsports @SagesAthletics 2A girls about halfway done. @mshsathletics’ Anniston Huff in the top group.

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

.@unihighsports’ Clara Knutson and Clinton freshman McKenna Beck finish towards the top for the local area.

Knutson is 15th with a time of 17:42.4. Illineks are ninth as a team. Beck finishes 20th with a time of 17:45.6. @SagesAthletics’ Taylor Mabry was 24th (17:51.9).

[Matt Lucas @Matt_LucasNG]

Reporting from Peoria this morning from the IHSA XC State Finals at Detweiller Park. Several @ngpreps area athletes here today. I’ll have updates once we start at 9am. Here’s today’s schedule and a look at who’s competing: