See the best prep sports images of 2021 from the Daily Herald photo staff.
Prairie Ridge players pile on each other including Will Komar after beating St. Viator in the Class 3A sectional baseball title game at St. Viator High School on Friday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Grayslake North's Tony Hines (11) loses his helmet as he is being tackled during football Saturday March 20, 2021 in Grayslake.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Glenbrook South's Arturo Moyo, right, leaps for a header next to Stevenson's Daniel Saltzman during Tuesday's game in Glenview.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Barrington's Jessica Horwath hits against Edwardsville in the Class 3A IHSA volleyball third place match at Illinois State University on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Vernon Hill's Jack Sweeney, left, swipes the ball from Glenbrook North's Ryan Cohen during Tuesday's game in Vernon Hills.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Glenbrook North, wearing green, plays Evanston under the lights during the during first football game of the season Friday in Northbrook.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Glenbrook South quarterback Michael Bauer gets tackled by Maine South's Chris Petrucci during Friday's game in Glenview.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
South Elgin's Alex Noworol (3) pulls in a touchdown pass as Larkin's Jacob Smith (3) and Dontrell Maxie (2) closes in Saturday April 10, 2021 in Elgin.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
Barrington celebrates their two-set win over Libertyville in a Regional playoff final volleyball match in Buffalo Grove on Thursday, October 28, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Maine South's Alexander Gonzalo sticks out his tongue as he scores in a cloud of dust against Glenbrook South in a baseball game in Park Ridge Tuesday, April 27, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Wheaton North's Luke Beedle celebrates his second quarter touchdown with teammate Caleb Varney putting them up 14-0 over Hoffman Estates in the boys Class 7A football playoff game in Wheaton on Friday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Grayslake Central's Mia Morello reacts as she watches the bar stay on the standards and she clears 12 feet 6 inches in the pole vault at the Lake County girls track meet at Antioch High School Thursday, May 20, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Libertyville's Abby Gordon (second from right) celebrates with her teammates as O' Fallon's Aubrey Mister looks on in the Class 3A girls state soccer semifinals at Hoffman Estates High School on Friday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Metea Valley David Macdonald talks to his team in the final points against Mother McAuley in the Class 4A IHSA volleyball championship match at Illinois State University on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Benet Academy's Clare Lopatka plays against Ottawa's Ella Marvel in the second round of the Rolling Meadows girls tennis invitational at Fremd High School in Palatine on Saturday, October 2, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Naperville Central's Blake Roegner during the state boys tennis finals at Hersey High School Saturday June 12, 2021 in Arlington Heights.
Brian Hill | Staff Photographer
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comSt. Francis' Anna Paquette and Jess Schmidt, right, celebrate a late point against Conant at the Fremd girls volleyball tournament in Palatine on Saturday, September 4, 2021.
Maine West's Jack White slides safely into second base against Vernon Hills in a baseball game in Des Plaines Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Glenbrook North's Peter Bazianos celebrates with his teammates a point late in game three against Lake Park at the state boys volleyball finals in Glen Ellyn on Saturday.
Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer
Metea Valley's Morgan Rank dives to save a Mother McAuley shot in the Class 4A IHSA volleyball championship match at Illinois State University on Saturday, November 13, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
Glenbrook South shortstop Maddie Kapsimalis makes a diving catch of an infield fly ball during Tuesday's game in against Glenbrook North.
Joe Lewnard | Staff Photographer
Antioch quarterback Quade Moll is tackled by Wauconda's Colin Husko after losing his helmet in a football game in Wauconda on Friday, September 24, 2021.
John Starks | Staff Photographer
