The Record News and Sports

New conference foes, a whole new division, a trip to Indy and a Big Ten stadium — we look at all the fun and quirks inside the 2026 football schedules of New Trier, Loyola and Highland Park. All that plus an earlier start to the season this year makes for a lot of excitement in this summer episode.

That's a wrap! Another high school sports season in the book, and we get all nostalgic about the past nine months. How does this year compare to others? Was it quietly among the best? And what are some of the top teams, moments and championships? We cover it all and relive a decorated high school sports year that ended with a major championship.

It's a: Championship Pod! Times 2! New Trier girls soccer and Loyola girls lacrosse capped dominant seasons by hoisting state titles. We break down a dramatic state finals for the Trevians and hear from senior Quinn Brahm, and also a far-less-dramatic but equally impressive finish for the Ramblers, who were near untouchable in 2026. Then, we recap a busy and fun spring and take stock of our local baseball, softball and volleyball programs.

New Trier tennis was apparently sick of playing second fiddle to four-time reigning champ Hinsdale Central and snatched the state title away thanks to a clutch doubles finale. And there is plenty more to cover, including New Trier soccer powering through the bracket, NT baseball keeping its season alive, big-time Trevians relays, power-packed postseason lacrosse battles and more. We get it all in for one of our biggest shows of the year.

A tough postseason road got New Trier in the regional finale, but what a season it was for the 18-win Trevians. We talk about all the accolades. Plus, girls track stars compete at state, while the plenty of boys are on their way. And when we talk a *huge* week in local sports, with soccer, volleyball, baseball, lacrosse and more peaking. What are our teams' chances?

The postseason is well underway and our first major trophies have landed, with New Trier boys and girls water polo winning sectionals and local girls track/field athletes punching state tickets. We discuss the playoff paths for the rest, including suddenly hot New Trier baseball. Can they pull off a big run? We look at softball, soccer and volleyball brackets, too, and talk boys track chances.

Highland Park and Deerfield took their rivalry outside for a first-of-its-kind volleyball match. We talk about the special night and hear from Giants coach Jenna Hotwagner. Plus, we hit all the spring favorites — baseball, softball, track/field, water polo — to check in on our teams as the playoffs fast approach.

Trevians girls soccer lost a toughie in tournament play. Are they still the best? (Hint: Yes they are). We talk their busy week and look at their postseason road. We also catch up on New Trier baseball, which may be turning a corner, and Highland Park baseball, which keeps on winning. We check in on softball squads, too. Plus, track and field postseason competition is coming; how are New Trier girls looking and do the boys have a shot at a repeat?

New Trier volleyball was on quite a run before suffering a setback over the weekend. Star Oliver Potterfield suffered a likely season-ending knee injury and we talk if the Trevians can rebound. On the diamond, NT softball keeps circling the bases during its hot streak, while NT baseball can't seem to put it together. Plus, Loyola took care of rival New Trier in resounding fashion in a lacrosse doubleheader

New Trier soccer is showing what it takes to be No. 1. We talk the Trevians statement win over Loyola and if they can live up to the hype of being the state's top-ranked team. We also talk New Trier baseball's tough patch, as well as if and how they can get out of it. Plus, QB Jackie Ryder commits to Purdue and we hear from him; and former Trevs hooper Jake Fiegen lands with a big-name program.

It's springtime, but we're breaking down big football news. Coach John Holecek is back at the helm of the Ramblers — what? why? how? We answer some of those questions and speculate on others, including what is a high school football GM and is Loyola starting a trend. In more gridiron news, New Trier quarterback Jackie Ryder announces his BIG (Ten) commitment. We also break down The Record's reporting on the athletics divide between Loyola and Evanston, recently deepened by a coach's remarks.

Local baseball is underway and our teams (Loyola, New Trier, Highland Park) have found early-season successes. We talk what that means for the season. Do they have what it takes? We do the same exercise for our softball locals, as Loyola and New Trier should be factors all year. We end with some boys hoops chatter. Sure, the season is over, but a pair of ex New Trier hoopers have made big college decisions.

New Trier girls hockey got it done for the second straight season, winning back-to-back state crowns for the first time since the early 2000s. We talk about their late-season and early-game surges, and hear from coach Ben Piskor. Then it's out with the cold and in with the spring season. We discuss early baseball, softball and soccer results, and give our thoughts on who's got the goods to make a run this spring.

For the second time in three years, Loyola girls hoops advanced to the 4A title game, but unlike two years ago, the Ramblers fell short this time. We talk the how and why of the state-title game and also hear from coach Jeremy Shoenecker. New Trier Green hockey also came up short in the state title game, and we give that a look while also reviewing the upcoming girls hockey finals and our favorite moments of the winter season.

The Loyola Academy juggernaut powers on, winning sectional and supersectional girls hoops titles over the past week. We break down their championship chances and ask: Are the Ramblers amid a dynasty? Plenty more playoff hoops, from record breakers (NSCD) to season enders (New Trier). Plus, local swimmers and divers came home with several state medals, and we preview the hockey state championship on Friday.

Lots going on and we eclipse the hour mark for the first time in a while as we talk postseason winter sports. Leading off, Loyola girls are off to the state's final eight thanks to a sectional win. Who can stop them? The boys are just getting started, and will Loyola and New Trier survive a tough Friday night? Plus, Ramblers wrestlers put on a show at the state championships. Is Kai Calcutt a Loyola legend? And we don't forget hockey or North Shore Country Day hoops in this one.

New Trier star Christopher Kirkpatrick made a surprising — and successful — return to the court against Evanston on Friday. We talk through the big night and what it means for the Trevians and the sectional. Plus, girls playoff hoops are underway and look through the brackets. A number of local wrestlers and gymnasts punched their state tickets — who and how.

Girls hoops playoffs begin next week, boys in two weeks, so which of our teams are most ready? We talk through it, including Loyola boys big win over St. Pat's. We also look to the mats, where plenty of Loyola, New Trier and Highland Park grapplers are headed to the sectional round and a chance at state. Plus, we got postseason gymnastics and hockey talk and hear from New Trier girls bball coach Stephanie Kuzmanic about a special night last week.

New Trier boys basketball has found a groove, ripping off six straight as the postseason nears. We talk about what's working and how they can keep it up, while also hearing from junior Matthew Logue. Meanwhile, Loyola wrestling nabbed the team regional title while winning a handful of individual brackets. We also talk Loyola boys and girls hoops, state cheerleading and dance competitions, and more.

After some difficult losses, both New Trier and Loyola collected big victories — the Trevians winning four straight and the Ramblers collecting the Jesuit Cup over St. Ignatius. We discuss how they did and if all is well. Plus, Loyola girls continue to lay waste to the competition, and a pair of Regina Dominican seniors join an exclusive club. We also chat wrestling and gymnastics as the postseason nears.

Loyola gets its heart broken by an Evanston buzzer beater. We talk what it means and what's next for the Ramblers. New Trier boys get back on track against Kenwood, but can they keep it up with a big weekend? Loyola girls? They keeping rolling. We also hear from Charlie Tilson, the New Trier product and former MLB player who is back with other former pros with a youth baseball program.

Following a hot start, both New Trier and Loyola boys hoops have hit rough patches — and for different reasons. The Trevians are adjusting without their star and primary ball-handler, while the Ramblers offense appears stuck in the mud. We discuss if and how they right their ships. Plus, the perfectly righted ship that is Loyola girls hoops, as well as Giants basketball, boys swimming, gymnastics and more.

Our local hoops teams had a busy holiday season and we dribble you through it. New Trier earned a trophy at Pontiac without star Christopher Kirkpatrick. We talk how they did it and what we know about Kirkpatrick. Loyola boys went down to Florida and won three times and are back with a big week. Ramblers girls won their host Christmas tournament and keep keeping on, while Highland Park boys and girls continue to find their way.

Nice wins from Loyola (over Kenwood) and New Trier (over Deerfield) keep both teams humming right along into the winter break. We talk their holiday-tourney potential. Loyola girls took its first loss of the year, and we discuss the Ramblers tough slate. Plus, New Trier gymnastics has a new look this year. Who is in the lineup and what are the expectations? Plus, we save football talk until the fourth quarter after a big decision by the IHSA to expand the playoff field.

Since its tough loss to rival Loyola, New Trier boys hoops has taken care of its business with big wins against Mount Carmel, Maine South and Lane Tech. We talk about the Trevs rebound. The Ramblers stood alongside top-ranked DePaul, but could not keep pace. Why? Plus, girls hoops, where Loyola keep winning, New Trier is a work in progress, and Highland Park is still the CSL North team to beat. We also talk wrestling, gymnastics and more winter sports.

Loyola boys and girls hoops took it to New Trier in the teams' annual Thanksgiving doubleheader. We talk what that means right now and the rest of the way. We also ask if the Ramblers and the Trevians are Top 10 boys teams this season. What about top 5? Also can Loyola girls, despite losing a program great, compete for a state title again?

A young New Trier swim/dive team made a splash at the state finals, racing to fourth place with a mostly underclassmen lineup. We talk who came through and what does it mean for the Trevians future. Loyola and HP left a mark too. Then, we pivot to the winter season and basketball: who's up, who's down and who's got the goods? And since football is still going on, we spend some time on our favorite moments of the quarterfinals and the best semifinal matchups this weekend.

New Trier volleyball made its third straight — but maybe their most unlikely — run to the Class 4A final eight. The junior-heavy Trevians may have been overpowered by Benet, but we look inside their 11-match winning streak that got 'em there. Plus, swimming sectional and state talk, cross country recap, and way-too-early hoops chatter.

Our local teams faced stiff competition in the postseason's opening round and couldn't hold up. We review the defeats. Now, New Trier, Loyola and Highland Park are done for the year, and we look at what they accomplished and what's next. We also recap another championship season for Trevians field hockey, who posted a dramatic victory to win it all.

All three of our teams — New Trier, Highland Park and Loyola (by a hair!) — made the playoffs. We look at their matchups and their chances of escaping the first round. And, per usual, we gripe about the postseason selection process and how it can and should be better. Plus, Trevians tennis three-peats and we hear from their coach, Jerry Morse-Karzen.

Look out! Will Loyola Academy football miss the playoffs AND pay fewer than nine games for the first time in decades? We talk about Ramblers uphill climb to save their season. Then there's New Trier and Highland Park, both of which are playoff bound and banked a big win apiece. Can the Trevians get to a sixth win? Plus, girls tennis and boys soccer chatter.

New Trier football earned a very satisfying victory in Evanston's house, while Loyola was tripped up on the road. We break down the pivotal results and how both teams react in Week 8. Plus, Highland Park stayed with its winning ways and New Trier boys golf traveled all the way to state only to again compete with their biggest rival — and come out on top. Girls didn't do so bad either!

Highland Park's makes a CSL North statement with rout of reigning champs, Loyola takes care of its business — are Ramblers getting better each week? But the Trevians stumble and need to rebound and quick. Can they best their biggest rival for the first time in three seasons? We talk it out and give our Week 7 predictions, as well as talk state golf with New Trier golfers' big sectional performances.

Winning cures what ails you, as all three of ours teams found out last Friday night. In this Victory Pod, I (Joe w/o Michal) recap decisive third wins by the Trevians, Ramblers and Giants. Looking ahead, New Trier and Highland Park have tall tasks with league powers coming to town in Week 6.

We love a victory pod, so I guess his must be a defeat pod. All three of our squads (New Trier, Loyola, Highland Park) ran into Week-4 troubles, and we break down where it all went wrong, while also spending plenty of time on where it can turn around in Week 5 — with all three teams having good opportunities to vent their frustrations on the field.

A lot of hype surrounds Loyola football's sophomore class, and the young Ramblers got to show their stuff on Friday in Wheaton. We talk about the big night, and how they'll fare on the road at big and bad Brother Rice. We also talk about disappointing Fridays for New Trier and Highland Park, especially the Trevians who watched an important third win slip away.

Each 2-0, New Trier and Highland Park football are off to hot starts. We look at how they've done it and if they can keep it up. We also talk about Week 3 and the return of Loyola after a week away. Plus, we hear from Trevians volleyball coach Hannah Hsieh following a big win over Loyola and a recent big milestone for the longtime coach.

What an opening week for North Shore football. New Trier gets its first opening-week win since 2021, Loyola escapes Merrillville in final seconds, and Highland Park and Lucas Gordon take care of Leyden. We review what we saw on the field and what it means, if anything, for the rest of the season.

And away we go! The countdown to football season is over. Our local teams all kick off on Friday night. Who? What? Where? We have all of your answers in this episode, plus top players, top matchups, big questions, and Week 1 and season predictions. Prepare yourself.

The 2025-'26 school year has begun, meaning so has the preps season, and we start things off by talking about our hopes and dreams. What are we looking forward to? What could happen both this fall and the rest of the year? In advance to our BIG football show (next week): Here we go.