Naperville North boys water polo won the IHSA state championship for the first time in program history on Saturday night. The Huskies trailed New Trier 6-2 at halftime, but the defense shut out the Trevians in the second half to win the 2025 state title by the score of 7-6.
The Naperville North girls water polo team brought home the third-place trophy. The Huskies sent retiring head coach Andy McWhirter out a winner in his final game with a 12-9 victory over York in the third-place matchup.
Naperville Park Board approves deals to prepare for possible indoor space referendum
Two consultants will help the Naperville Park District prepare for a possible bond referendum to generate funds for new indoor recreation space under contracts the park board approved at its most recent meeting.
The board approved spending a total of $129,000 on planning, public engagement, and architectural services to prepare for a potential ballot question related to funding a new indoor facility.
Find out what prompted their decision.
Neuqua Valley instructor named Health Education Teacher of the Year
Neuqua Valley High School teacher Laura Walan was recently named as the 2025 Health Education Teacher of the Year.
She was awarded the honor by the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
Read more about what earned her this recognition.
District 203 continues budget review
Naperville School District 203 officials continue to review the proposed 2025-26 school year budget, with a targeted adoption date of June 16 in mind.
Administrators first unveiled the budget proposal in early May, and several workshops are on the docket before a public hearing and potential adoption next month.
Learn more about the budget proposal, and the review processes that have been taking place.
Granger Middle School student competing in Scripps National Spelling Bee
Shruthi Ayyagari, a seventh-grader at Granger Middle School is one of 243 students taking part in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Find out more about how she earned her spot in the competition, which kicks off today.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Ten BYU football players received Phil Steele postseason honors today, including five who were named All-American among 10 who received Big 12 All-Conference recognition.
All-American honorees include safety Faletau Satuala, who was named second team, and running back LJ Martin, who was a third-team selection. In addition, linebacker Jack Kelly, center Bruce Mitchell and safety Tanner Wall received honorable mention honors.
SATUALA, a 6-4, 210-pound sophomore from Bountiful, Utah, was previously named second-team All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. He played in all 14 games for No. 12-ranked BYU, leading the Cougars in tackles (84) and forced fumbles (2) and was third on the team in interceptions (3) and tackles for loss (7.5). He was also previously named All-Big 12 First Team by Sports Info Solutions and All-Big 12 Third Team by the conference coaches.
MARTIN was previously named second-team All-American by Pro Football Network as well as Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Year and first team Big 12 by the conference coaches. In addition, he was named first-team All-Big 12 by both Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior from El Paso, Texas, led the Big 12 in yards rushing (1,305), yards per game (100.4) and all-purpose yards (1,560). He was also second in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (12).
KELLY was previously honored by the Big 12 coaches as first-team All-Big 12 and received honorable mention honors as Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. The 6-2, 240-pound senior captain from Kearns, Utah, finished the regular season third in the Big 12 in sacks (10), fourth in tackles for loss (13.5) and tied for fifth in forced fumbles (2). He was also previously named to the Pro Football Network All-Big 12 Third Team.
MITCHELL was also honored by the Big 12 coaches as first-team All-Big 12 and honorable-mention Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was also named Pro Football Network first team All-Big 12 and to the 2025 Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Football Team. The 6-4, 305-pound junior from Kearns, Utah, was on the midseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy and was the sixth-highest graded center in the country during the regular season by PFF. He was also twice named to the PFF National Team of the Week at center.
WALL, a two-year captain, helped lead BYU to a 25-4 record as the starting safety. He was previously honored as first-team All-Big 12 by the conference coaches. The 6-1, 205-pound senior from Arlington, Virginia, finished the year second on the team in tackles (71) and interceptions (4). In September, Wall was named to the prestigious 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team by the American Football Coaches Association. He was also a finalist for both the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and the Pop Warner College Football Award and was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.
PHIL STEELE BIG 12 ALL-CONFERENCE Phil Steel first team Big 12 All-Conference selections included Kelly, Martin, Mitchell, Satuala and punt returner Parker Kingston, who was also named second-team All-Conference at wide receiver. Wall was also named to the All-Big 12 Second Team.
Third-team honorees included long snapper Garrison Grimes and defensive tackle John Taumoepeau, while fourth-team selections included linebacker Isaiah Glasker and cornerback Evan Johnson.
First Team – LJ Martin (running back) – Bruce Mitchell (center) – Jack Kelly (linebacker) – Faletau Satuala (safety) – Parker Kingston (punt returner) Second Team – Parker Kingston (receiver) – Tanner Wall (safety) Third Team – John Taumoepeau (defensive tackle) – Garrison Grimes (long snapper) Fourth Team – Isaiah Glasker (linebacker) – Evan Johnson (cornerback)
The top high school volleyball players in the state regardless of class are featured in the AL.com Super All-State team.
The team was compiled by the AL.com high school sports staff with input from coaches.
AL.com named Player of the Year, Attacker MVP, Setter MVP, Defensive MVP and Coach of the Year. Award winners are listed separately, but considered part of the Super All-State team.
AL.COM SUPER ALL-STATE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
(Players listed alphabetically)
Ava Bartlett, Addison, 5-11, Jr., Middle
Bennett Boulo, St. Paul’s, 5-10, Sr., Setter/Right Side
Kendall Buckley, Bob Jones, 6-0, Sr., Outside Hitter
Millie Burgess, Vestavia Hills, 6-1, Sr., Outside Hitter
Mary George Vandergriff, Guntersville, 5-8, Sr., Setter
Elise Wheeler, Pleasant Valley, 5-9, Jr., Setter
Bea Wiggins, Spain Park, 5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
McGill-Toolen’s Alice Wood sets the ball during a 2025 match. (Erin Nelson Sweeney)Erin Nelson Sweeney
Alice Wood, McGill-Toolen
5-9, Jr., Setter
ATTACKER MVP
Daphne’s Ella Lomax attacks during a 2025 match. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
Ella Lomax, Daphne
5-11, Sr., Outside Hitter
DEFENSIVE MVP
Thompson’s Kenzly Foote readies for play against McGill-Toolen during the AHSAA Class 7A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
Kenzly Foote, Thompson
5-7, Sr., Defensive Specialist
SETTER MVP
Spanish Fort’s Cailyn Boykin sets the ball against Hazel Green during the AHSAA Class 6A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
Cailyn Boykin, Spanish Fort
5-8, Jr., Setter
COACH OF THE YEAR
Cherokee County coach Tiffany Rieger walks to receive the trophy during the AHSAA Class 4A volleyball state championship at Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025. (Dennis Victory | preps@al.com)Dennis Victory
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M volleyball’s Maddie Waak signed her first professional contract with Major League Volleyball’s (MLV) Atlanta Vibe, the organization announced Saturday.
Coming off the Aggies first NCAA national title, Waak was signed to Atlanta’s roster ahead of the 2026 MLV season. The setter directed the Maroon & White’s explosive offense, as she paced the nation in assists per set at 11.50 and ranked third in overall assists with 1,357 which earned her AVCA Third Team All-America honors.
“I’m so proud of Maddie [Waak] and can’t wait to watch the start of her pro career,” head coach Jamie Morrison said. “It’s been a goal of ours since I joined the program to help players reach the next level of the game following college, and I know Maddie will do incredible things in Atlanta. She has developed into an elite setter and all-round player and will thrive in the MLV.”
The Katy, Texas, native orchestrated the most efficient offense in Texas A&M history, as the group hit at .297 percent as a unit which was a program record. Her 1,357 assists and 11.50 dimes per set both rank as rally-scoring records, while she became the first Aggie since 2019 to log back-to-back 1,000 assist seasons. Waak’s consistency was on full display throughout the 2025 campaign, as she eclipsed 40 assists 19 times, 50 assists six times and set her career high of 63 versus Nebraska in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
Her versatility is what separated her from other setters in the country, as she set single-season career highs in all facets of the game. Offensively she recorded 59 kills and 34 aces, while on the defensive end she registered 238 digs and 50 blocks.
Waak’s impressive performances with the Aggies earned her a plethora of honors to go with her All-America nod, including becoming an All-Region selection, All-SEC First Team member, NCAA Lincoln Regional All-Tournament Team pick and five-time SEC Setter of the Week.
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LONGVIEW – Division I state champion Decatur landed the two top honors in voting for the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 4A All-State Volleyball Team for the 2025 season.
Voting was conducted by TSWA members based on nominations from coaches and media members from around the state.
HONOLULU – The second-ranked University of Hawai’i men’s volleyball team opened the 2026 season with a straight-set win over NJIT, Friday, at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Set scores were 25-11, 25-16, 25-14.
The Rainbow Warriors (1-0) extended their win streak in season-openers to 13 dating back to 2014 and did so in dominant fashion, hitting .517 as a team with 13.5 blocks and six aces.
Kristian Titriyski led the way with a match-high 12 kills, hitting .455 with two aces, four digs, and two blocks. Setter Tread Rosenthal ran an efficient offense as Hawai’i only recorded four attack errors in 60 attempts in the match. The junior tied his career high with eight blocks to go along with a team-high three aces. Newcomer Trevell Jordan added four kills and six blocks.
The Highlanders (0-1) hit .045 as a team and did not record a block or ace in the match. Andre Aleixo recorded a double-double with team-highs of 10 kills and 10 digs.
UH scored the first five points of Set 1 and never looked back. The Warriors later bunched up six unanswered to push their lead to double digits at 17-6. Titriyski finished the set with four kills while Rosenthal tallied four of his eight blocks in the frame. UH hit .556 and held the Highlanders to .000.
The second set was much more competitive as NJIT trailed by just three until the middle of the set. A 7-2 run, capped by Rosenthal’s third ace made it an eight-point UH lead. Hawai’i tallied five blocks in the set and hit .550 while NJIT had its most efficient set offensively with 11 kills.
UH used a 7-1 run to break open Set 3 with a 13-6 lead. Reserves Ofeck Hazan and Finn Kearney got in the mix as each recorded a pair of blocks in the frame and the Warriors once again held the Highlanders to .000 hitting.
The teams play again on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. at Bankoh Arena.
