Whether she was in the back row, setting the ball or taking big swings on the front line, former Rochelle volleyball standout Sylvia Hasz was a versatile weapon throughout her three years with the Lady Hubs, all of which resulted in Interstate 8 All-Conference First Team recognition. 

Rochelle Township High School and the Forge Wrestling Club were well represented during the 2024 U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U National Championships at the FargoDome earlier this month. The annual freestyle and greco-roman wrestling tournaments bring together the most elite high school male and female wrestlers in the entire nation.

Three young swimmers from Rochelle made a splash at the YMCA Long Course State Championship held at the Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana from July 12-14. Clara Lofthouse, Josie Slattengren and Sydney Burke swim for the Dekalb County Swim Team at the Kishwaukee YMCA in Sycamore.

The Rochelle Hub football team welcomed the Forreston Cardinals in for a combined practice and scrimmage Tuesday morning, when the purple and white geared up for its second day of the team’s two-week padded camp for returning and incoming high-schoolers.

Junior defender Betty Flores was named an Interstate 8 All-Conference First Team honoree for the second consecutive season. Flores returned for her third season with the Rochelle Lady Hub varsity soccer team this spring, scoring two goals and adding one assist while anchoring the defensive line. Flores was also named a team captain this season.

Former Rochelle track and field standout Zach Sanford launched his name into the record books during his sophomore season at the University of Dubuque. With an emphasis on improving his speed and technique, Sanford set several personal records in each of his four events and was close to qualifying for nationals during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

Players from Fairways Golf Course went to Emerald Hill in Sterling to participate in the 102nd Annual Lincoln Highway Men’s Championship tournament. The Fairways team finished fourth with a final score of +43 in the 54-hole, best-against-bogey event.

Rochelle Little League’s 11U Baseball All-Stars headed to River Forest for the Illinois Little League State Championship tournament over the weekend. Rochelle played two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday, finishing 1-2 in the state tournament.

Rochelle Little League’s 10U Softball All-Stars traveled to Evergreen Park for the Illinois Little League State Championship tournament over the weekend.

Returning seniors Jack Tilton and Xavier Villalobos were players to watch on both sides of the ball on Thursday evening, when the Rochelle Hub varsity football team resumed its summer schedule with a series of 7-on-7 scrimmages at Sterling High School. 

From the moment she took the court for her first Division III volleyball match at Cornell College, Rochelle Township High School alum Clare Green has been a consistent contributor at a high level. That trend continued into Green’s junior season, where the former Lady Hub standout eclipsed 1,000 assists for the third straight year to lead her team into the NCAA tournament.

Senior quarterback Carson Lewis connected on a large number of deep balls down the field on Tuesday evening, when the Rochelle Hub varsity football team took the field at Kaneland High School for a series of 7-on-7 scrimmages against schools from across the area.

The Rochelle Rays are back in action for the 2024 summer swim season. Rochelle traveled to face the Geneseo Gators on July 11 before returning to Spring Lake Pool for a home meet against the Dixon Dolphins and South Beloit’s Catch the Wave on July 13. 

A second chance allowed former Rochelle student-athlete Nate Burdin to return to the baseball diamond at Rockford University after an elbow injury nearly derailed his collegiate career. 

Rochelle Little League’s 10U Baseball All-Stars battled in the Illinois Little League State Championship tournament in Paris over the weekend. Rochelle faced Mendota, River Forest and Ridge Beverly Little League in the tournament, finishing 0-3 over three games.

Rochelle Little League’s 12U Baseball All-Stars battled in the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship tournament at Gartner Park in Sterling this week. Rochelle went 2-2 over four games, reaching the final round before ending the tournament in second place.

Rochelle Little League’s 10U Softball All-Stars won all three of their games to take home the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship at Floyd J. Tilton Park in Rochelle this week. Rochelle will advance to compete in the Illinois Little League State Championship.

Rochelle Little League’s Junior League Baseball All-Stars took the field for the 2024 Illinois Little League State Championship tournament in Elgin over the weekend. Rochelle went 2-1 over three games to finish fifth out of the 10 qualifying teams in the final standings.

Rochelle Little League’s 12U Softball All-Stars were on the diamond for the 2024 Illinois Little League State Championship tournament at Scripps Park in Rushville over the weekend. Rochelle went 0-4 over four games after winning the District 19 Championship tournament.

Former Rochelle soccer standout Lizbeth Milan has been a leader since she first earned her starting defensive role with the Lady Hubs during her freshman season.

Former Rochelle student-athlete Cooper Hasz is set to make the leap from the NJCAA level to the NCAA Division III level for the upcoming 2024-25 men’s basketball season. After two solid seasons with the Kishwaukee College team, Hasz has committed to continuing his academics and his basketball career with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers next year.

The Rochelle Little League 10U Baseball All-Stars went 3-1 over four games to win the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship tournament at Wallingford Park in Rock Falls this week.

Rochelle Little League held its annual in-house Minor League Boys All-Star Game at Bill Wilkinson Field earlier this week. The All-Star event is held each year at the end of the regular season.

Rochelle wrestlers Elias and Nehemiah Andronic faced off against the best youth athletes in the nation during the 2024 USA Wrestling Kids Nationals this past weekend.

The Rochelle Area Track Club traveled to Lake Park High School on Saturday for the 2024 Bob Nihells Youth Open. The event featured 23 track and field clubs from three states. Below are the notable results from the local athletes who participated in Saturday’s meet.