Fall sports are almost here: what to watch across west-central Illinois

The wait is nearly over. Illinois High School Association fall sports practice opens in mid-August, and west-central Illinois has plenty to watch this season.

In football, the Galesburg Silver Streaks return to Western Big 6 play, the conference that also sends them against Quincy, Moline, Rock Island, Geneseo, Sterling, Alleman and United Township. Around the smaller schools, programs like Monmouth-Roseville, United, Knoxville, ROWVA, Abingdon-Avon and West Central open their own conference chases.

Volleyball, boys and girls cross country, girls swimming and boys soccer round out the fall calendar across the area’s high schools. On the college side, the Knox College Prairie Fire and Monmouth College Fighting Scots renew one of the oldest rivalries in the country in the Midwest Conference this fall.

Full schedules, previews and opening-night coverage are on the way. Check back as the season nears.