NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - Football wasn't just the only sport getting started on Monday. It was also the first day for the rest of Illinois high school fall sports: volleyball, boys soccer, girls tennis, cross country, golf and others.

Two of those Central Illinois teams who each made runs to their respective state championships come into the 2025 season with very different team outlooks.

Normal U-High boys soccer are the defending 1A state champs, avenging a title game loss in 2023. However, they graduated 15 seniors after last season.

This fall leaves them with only two seniors on their roster and a few dozen underclassmen.

"We've got a young group. We might be one of the youngest teams in the state. We've got 45 players total and only two seniors. You know, 70% of our program right now

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