Extra Prep

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels chat with Unity girls' cross-country runners Olivia Shike, Reagen Stringer and Erica Woodard and coach Kara Leaman as the Rockets prepare to open the 2023 season and chase their third-straight IHSA Class 1A state championship.

Joey Wright and Jeff Primmer call the second half of St. Joseph-Ogden and Monticello football on Aug. 25, 2023.

Listen to Joey Wright and Jeff Primmer's call of St. Joseph-Ogden and Monticello football on Aug. 25, 2023.

Joey Wright and Colin Likas visit with Le Roy softball coach Doug Hageman and the entire Panthers roster as the program enters the IHSA Class 1A state finals with a 32-6 record and a chance at its first-ever state championship.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels chat with Urbana High School Athletic Director Steve Waller and administrative assistant Tyler Laing. A top priority for Urbana in 2023-24 is fielding a varsity football team, something it hasn't done for a full season since the 2019 IHSA football campaign.

Joey Wright and Colin Likas chat with Salt Fork's Garrett Taylor and Tuscola's Ella Boyer – and their parents – after the pair were named The News-Gazette's 2022-23 male and female athletes of the year.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels talk with Champaign Central baseball coach John Staab and players Mitchell Crompton and Owen Hobbs after the Maroons' 15-4 start to the 2023 season and before a week that features two games against rival Centennial.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels chat with St. Joseph-Ogden baseball after the Spartans' 19-4 start to the 2023 season. Featuring head coach Josh Haley and players Luke Landrus, Adam Price and Braxton Waller.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels talk with Champaign Central boys' tennis players Ezra Bernhard and Elliot Gulley and head coach Scott Davis ahead of the Maroons' match with cross-town rival Centennial scheduled for April 20, 2023.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels visit The High School of St. Thomas More to catch up with the Sabers' girls' basketball team ahead of the Class 1A state finals at CEFCU Arena in Normal. Head coach Erin Quarnstrom gives a brief interview before every player on the roster answers a randomized series of three questions.

Tuscola boys basketball head coach Justin Bozarth joined SportsTalk on WDWS to discuss his team's upcoming appearance in the Class 1A state championship at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Joey Wright and Colin Likas chat with Tuscola boys' basketball head coach Justin Bozarth and the entire Warriors roster ahead of the program's first appearance in the IHSA state finals since 1989.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels chat with Centennial varsity girls' soccer coach Thair Al-Saqri, junior varsity coach Lindsay Aikman and players Payton Kaiser and Yameli Salinas ahead of a Champaign-Urbana soccer doubleheader that will take place at Demirjian Park.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels talk with Rantoul track and field head coach Nick Cole and athletes Brianna Dixon, Aiden Pacunas and Preston Seals ahead of a boys' invitational that the Eagles will host on April 8.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels visit Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin High School to chat with baseball coach Mark Dodd, players Karson Stevenson and Owen Miller and assistant coach Michael Grant. 2016 Bismarck-Henning graduate Dylan Dodd – Mark's son – is expected to make his MLB debut for the Atlanta Braves against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 4, 2023.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels stop by Unity High School to chat with head coach Aimee Davis and players Ashyln Miller, Reece Sarver and Ruby Tarr after the Rockets' 5-1 start to the 2023 season.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels welcome Nolan Miller, Tim Norcross and Aidan Williams to The News-Gazette studio as several Maroons prepare to compete in the IHSA state meet in Westmont.

Joey Wright, Matt Daniels and Colin Likas break down all four classes of the IHSA boys' basketball playoffs and predict who will advance to the state finals at State Farm Center from March 9-11.

Joey Wright and Mattt Daniels visit Mahomet-Seymour High School to chat with girls' basketball players Durbin Thomas and Savannah Orgeron and head coach Garret Risley as the Bulldogs prepare for the IHSA postseason.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels visit Tolono to chat with Unity wrestlers Hunter Eastin, Nick Nosler and Kyus Root as well as Rockets head coach Logan Patton ahead of the IHSA wrestling postseason.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels visit Salt Fork High School for a chat with boys' basketball players Blake Hettsmanberger, Blake Norton and Garrett Taylor and head coach Andrew Johnson, as well as girls' basketball players Karlie Cain, Alexa Jamison and Macie Russell and head coach Brian Russell.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels visit Centennial High School for a visit with boys' basketball players Gurmane Springfield and Sathvik Thatikonda and head coach Tim Lavin as the Chargers ready for a busy second half of the season.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels chat with Champaign Central boys' basketball players Chris Bush, Chris Chen and Axel Baldwin ahead of the Maroons' cross-town battle with Centennial at Coleman Carrodine Gym on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels chat with Tuscola girls' basketball head coach Tim Kohlbecker and senior players Izzy Wilcox, Harley Woodard and Ella Boyer after the Warriors' 18-0 start to the 2022-23 season.

Joey Wright and Matt Daniels visit Monticello High School, where senior forwards Will Ross and Drew Sheppard are key pieces of head coach Kevin Roy's program. All three join the program for a conversation on all things Sages basketball, plus a look at more from around the area.