Blake Shallenbarger, a Woodstock graduate, has decided to end his baseball career as the sun sets on his career at Rockford University. However, Shallenbarger leaves with what most pitchers can only dream of – he never suffered defeat on the mound in college. Shallenbarger also leaves baseball with something more intangible, but something very valuable […]
Seasoned athletes and coaches understand that finding the best player for each position is the key to a strong team. That’s why it was natural for Braelan Creighton to reach out to his older brother, Landan, when he was looking for a partner for ribbon roping, a youth rodeo event. Relative recruiting Braelan acted on […]
One thing I know to be true is that when anyone finds themselves backed against a wall, they can find strength they never knew they had and use that strength to do incredible things. In 2005, my family was backed against a wall when my dad was hit by a car. By all logical medical […]
Recent air quality alerts have drawn attention to the importance of respiratory health just in time for a fundraising effort that Woodstock resident Joe Starzynski is championing. The former Woodstock City Council member will ride July 29-31 in the 2023 CowaLUNGa Bike Tour, which raises funds for the Respiratory Health Association to promote healthy lungs […]
The end of his career was far, far from what Woodstock graduate Logan List, a pitcher for Rockford University’s baseball team, desired. But this year, which was supposed to be the end for him on a baseball diamond somewhere, ended instead because of an injury. “The shoulder injury was the toughest part of my career, […]
Annual MCYSA international baseball returns to Woodstock July 15-22 The McHenry County Youth Sports Association will host the 30th Annual Summer International Baseball Tournament July 15-22. Teams from Japan, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and Canada, as well as many out-of-state teams, will participating. The tournament spans 10 days and is played in two sessions on fields […]
Woodstock High School athletic director Al Baker recently announced the newest members of the Blue Streaks’ coaching staff: two head soccer coaches. Brian Thomas will take the lead on the girls soccer team, and Santiago Rubio Gilabert will head up boys team. WHS alum Already a familiar member of the WHS soccer family, Brian Thomas […]
Two National Junior College Athletic Association Division II All-American honors – is only one of the reasons that Bull Valley resident and Marian Central Catholic graduate Mason Schwalbach made it to the Kansas State University Wildcat baseball team. Behind the honors are the numbers. First and foremost is the batting average. In both years at […]
For 60 years the Woodstock Dolphins Swim Team has been fulfilling its mission of empowering young people to be champions in life through excellence in swimming that is characterized by the values of equality, integrity, and mutual respect. But this club is not just treading water. With summer enrollment over 100, the Dolphins are experiencing […]
Special Olympics athletes from Woodstock School District 200’s brought home 17 medals, including 13 golds, at the State Championship Summer Games at Illinois State University “This weekend was so much fun at the 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games” coach Jennifer Moskowitz said. “Our athletes worked so hard and did such an amazing job!” The opening […]
Larry Lough is editor of The Independent and reports local news.
Janet Dovidio has been a freelance correspondent for The Independent for eight years.
Susan W. Murray wrote for The Independent, covering various beats, from 2005 to 2008.
Tricia Carzoli is a freelance writer and photographer that on community news.
