SPORTS HEADLINES

  • 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

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    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

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    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
  • Eight still in hunt for state medals
    02/22/2025 - 12:14pm
  • Six of 19 area wrestlers win their prelim
    02/21/2025 - 8:41am

  • COAL CITY’s Brody Widlowski (right) won a 4-1 decision over Reed-Custer’s Jeremy Eggleston to become a three-time state qualifier on Saturday. Widlowski has a perfect 24-0 record as he enters the state finals on Thursday.
    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Coalers rule sectional with 13 state qualifiers
    02/18/2025 - 4:22pm

  • COAL CITY HIGH SCHOOLl and Hall of Fame wrestling coach Mark Masters achieved his 500th career dual team coaching win on Friday, Jan. 31. The Coalers hosted Prairie Central and Pontiac in a wrestling doubleheader that evening and won both contests. Masters and the Coalers enter state series action Saturday with the IHSA Regional at Herscher.

    500 wins and counting
    02/04/2025 - 4:03pm
  • KofC Youth free throw contest to be held Jan. 25
    01/21/2025 - 4:24pm

  • Todd Lockwood (standing, second from left) was inducted into the Illinois Track Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame Saturday, Jan 11. Standing by his side while receiving the award was his family: wife Ruth, sons Brett (left) and Drew, and grandchildren Audrey (left) and Harper.

    Wilmington gains another Hall of Fame coach
    01/14/2025 - 4:18pm

  • WILMINGTON JUNIOR Ryan Kettman slips away for a touchdown against DuPec during Saturday’s playoff game on the road. Kettman rushed for a total of 160 yards, scored two touchdowns and made two interceptions in a 22-13 victory.
    Photo by Alyssa Ohlund

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    WILDCAT SOPHOMORE Declan Moran is about to tackle DuPec quarterback Cooper Hoffman for a loss during Saturday’s game. Moran and the Wildcats pressured Hoffman all game including this stopper which had Moran getting up punching air.

    Injury doesn’t stop the ‘Cats
    11/19/2024 - 4:28pm

  • CHARGED UP COALERS—The Coal City football team came out fired up Saturday and took care of business on their home turf, beating Dixon 20-13 to advance to the Final Four teams in the 4A playoffs. Doing his best to electrify Emmett Easton (12) during the Coal City team intro is Coaler super dad Bill Waliczak who is waving the Coaler flag. Coal City gets to come onto the home field one more time, this Saturday at 1 p.m. when they will host Chicago DePaul for the state semifinal.
    Photo by Amy Walker

    Coalers hosting with state berth on line
    11/19/2024 - 4:25pm

  • DIVING FORWARD after making one of his three catches on Saturday is Coaler Gabe McHugh. Coal City advances to the quarterfinal round on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they will host Dixon.
    Photo by Amy Walker

    Coalers set to 'duke' it out with Dixon
    11/12/2024 - 4:14pm

  • THE LADY WILDCATS celebrate a hard-earned point and hopefully there will be a lot more celebration on Thursday at 5:30 when they play for the Sectional Championship in Manteno. Players include (from left) Rachel Smith, Skylar Knight, Molly Southall, Maggie Lindsey and Reese Van Duyne.

    Photo by Eric Fisher

    Let's go Lady Cats! Sectional championship game next
    11/06/2024 - 2:46pm
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    Two local teams to play for volleyball regional championships
    10/30/2024 - 12:10pm

  • THE LADYCATS are conference champs with an overall record of 14-0. Players include (front, from left) Addison Billingsley, Reese Van Duyne, Skylar Knight and Sami Liaromatis. Back row: Maggie Lindsey, Aly Allgood, Taylor Stefancic, Molly Southall, Makenzie Rodriguez, Coach Kelly Van Duyne, Cole Drown, Rachel Smith, Melia Hincherick, Aubrey Strong.

    Courtesy photo

    Lady ‘Cat champs ready for the playoffs
    10/27/2024 - 2:33pm
  • Coaler soccer team to play for regional championship
    10/20/2024 - 12:50pm

Wilmington Region

FOR OVER 45 YEARS the building at 1085 S. Water Street in Wilmington served as a grocery store, opening as Baron’s Foods, changing to Bellettini Foods in 1987 and lastly as Valles Produce. It has been sold and with intentions of turning it into a youth center.
Photo by Eric Fisher

04/15/2025 - 4:05pm
New owners plan to convert vacant grocery into a youth center
Shawn and Donna Matthews are the proud new owners of the former Valle’s Produce Market at 1085 S. Water Street. The rural Wilmington couple purchased the property, in part, to establish a youth center. Shawn Matthews spoke of his plans for the...
Route 66 at a top speed of 39 mph
Voters re-elect Dietz as mayor
Ordinance would require everyone to carry loaf of bread
Mayoral candidates make final plea to a full house
Excitement building over ‘Spring into Wilmington’ event

Coal City Region

THE SUCCESS of Constellation’s Fishing for a Cure charity bass tournament couldn’t be achieved without the help of dozens of workers and volunteers. They gathered Saturday at the end of the tournament to present a $150,000 check to K9s For Veterans. In the 24-year history of the tournament over $1 million have be raised for various charities.
Photo courtesy Constellation

04/15/2025 - 4:02pm
Constellation's charity fishing tournaments top $1 million
Constellation’s “Fishing for a Cure” tournament, held Saturday, April 12 on Braidwood Lake, raised an event record $150,000 for the local charity K9s For Veterans, putting the tournament over the $1 million mark in donations during its 24-year...
Can you spell W-I-N-N-E-R-S
FBLA students compete at state, three going to nationals
Coaler assistant wrestling coach, athletic director to be honored
Goodwill opens local donation center
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd

Braidwood Region

04/15/2025 - 4:09pm
Residents cry foul with vote to keep Altiery on the payroll
Well over 100 residents jammed city hall in protest of a motion to keep City Administrator Tony Altiery as a city employee before approval by the Braidwood City Council on April 8. For months prior to the April 1 election, a social media campaign...
Braidwood Council to create new position to keep Altiery
Lyons by a landslide
Walleye roundup at a record rate
Date set for Easter egg hunr
$40 million data center proposed in Braidwood

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