Rick Armstrong

East Aurora's Kenneth Cooley (4) breaks through against Benet's Jason Garcia (11), Ewola Moukoulou (20) and Brett Nolan (12) during a game at the 64th annual Ron Johnson Thanksgiving Tournament at St. Charles East on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.

Kenneth Cooley’s basketball coach calls him Mr. Touchdown, but he does more than score for East Aurora. ‘Everything.’

November 22, 2023 at 7:21 a.m.

What's next for East Aurora senior Kenneth Cooley? Follow the bouncing ball and see. He will have a tough time matching his exploits on the football field — the accolades...

Oswego East's Mason Lockett (2) drives to the basket against West Aurora during a first-round game in the Hoops for Healing Tournament at Naperville North on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023.

A growth spurt hit Oswego East’s Mason Lockett. ‘I was short, real short.’ He comes up big against West Aurora.

November 20, 2023 at 10:13 p.m.

Mason Lockett used to dream about playing against the big boys. Now he's one of them. It's obvious he belongs. Lockett, a 6-foot-3 sophomore point guard, was one of four...

Aurora University's Tyler Adkins (17) throws a pass against Coe during an NCAA Division III playoff game at Spartan Athletic Park in Montgomery on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023.

A steady diet of Tyler Adkins earns historic playoff victory for Aurora University. ‘He played like Brett Favre.’

November 18, 2023 at 10:24 p.m.

Can this kid play? Can he ever. Meet Tyler Adkins, the Aurora University freshman quarterback who made his first college start Saturday in a historic NCAA Division III playoff game...

Yorkville's Jason Jakstys (32) takes a shot against the Oswego East during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Yorkville on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

Wait a minute. Illinois recruit Jason Jakstys takes center stage for Yorkville. And? ‘I’d really like to get one.’

November 17, 2023 at 8:09 p.m.

No doubt, Yorkville's Jason Jakstys is excited about getting to play in the Big Ten. But to Jakstys, an Illinois recruit, it's a case of first things first. And the...

Oswego East's Jehvion Starwood (22) goes up for a basket against the Yorkville during a Southwest Prairie West game on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023.

Rick Armstrong’s top 10 boys basketball teams and 25 players to watch in Aurora-Elgin area for 2023-24 season

November 17, 2023 at 11:14 a.m.

Oswego East and Yorkville, both with Division I recruits, headline talented group, including seven teams that won at least 20 games last season. Top 10 Teams 1. Oswego East (29-6)...

St. Charles North's Haley Burgdorf (23) celebrates with teammates after defeating Geneva in a DuKane Conference match in St. Charles on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023.

‘Stepped up’: St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf is the 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Volleyball Player of the Year

November 16, 2023 at 11:36 a.m.

The plan was good. Back in August, St. Charles North's Haley Burgdorf knew that to be true as she prepared to start her second season on the varsity. A 6-foot...

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Kenneth Cooley’s basketball coach calls him Mr. Touchdown, but he does more than score for East Aurora. ‘Everything.’

A growth spurt hit Oswego East’s Mason Lockett. ‘I was short, real short.’ He comes up big against West Aurora.

A steady diet of Tyler Adkins earns historic playoff victory for Aurora University. ‘He played like Brett Favre.’

Wait a minute. Illinois recruit Jason Jakstys takes center stage for Yorkville. And? ‘I’d really like to get one.’

Rick Armstrong’s top 10 boys basketball teams and 25 players to watch in Aurora-Elgin area for 2023-24 season

‘Stepped up’: St. Charles North’s Haley Burgdorf is the 2023 Beacon-News/Courier-News Girls Volleyball Player of the Year

Wrestling with success, Ben Brown turns it up a notch in playoffs for Batavia defense. ‘Most intense guy I know.’

Rick Armstrong’s Aurora-Elgin area football rankings and players of the week

Ask and you shall receive? It works for Isaiah Brown. Batavia needed a great game. ‘And he just had a great game.’

Jimmy Ramey and Caleb Jones take Sandwich from suspended season to Class 4A quarterfinals. ‘Absolutely incredible.’