Peoria High School

With a win over Canton to start off the season, the Lions have already matched their entire win total from last season. The trajectory is trending up for the Peoria High volleyball team. With a slew of returning players, including an All-Big 12 selection, second year coach Cassie Gauf is excited to see what improvements can be made for the 2026 season. https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/31/6-seniors-return-for-phs-volleyball/

In case you missed it, volleyball and soccer picked up wins this week, while Kayden T. swept the week on the golf greens. Read about last weeks sports recap down below! https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/30/in-case-you-missed-it-football-drops-to-0-2-volleyball-soccer-each-win/

A long two-hour drive will provide plenty of time to think. The trip to New Lenox is the next stop for Week 2 football as the Peoria High Lions will travel on the road in a non-conference matchup with the 7A power Lincoln Way-West. After starting their season with a 48-33 loss to Peoria Richwoods, the team looks to rebound against another tough opponent. Going into this matchup, outside of the long drive, here are 5 things to know as the Lions look to steal one on the road. https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/27/5-things-to-know-for-lions-at-lincoln-way-west-football/

Congratulations to Coach Schroeder! Tonight, coach picked up his first career victory as a head coach after the Lions took down East Peoria 7-0!

With a 7-0 win over East Peoria, the boys soccer team broke an 18-game losing streak going back to 2024. New head coach Robert Schroeder has loved what he has seen from his group so far in the early parts of their young season. With a freshman goalkeeper and a junior-laden team, the future is bright as well. For now, with over 40 players on the junior and varsity rosters, the boys soccer team has plenty to smile about these days. Read about our boys soccer team below! https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/26/boys-soccer-brings-big-numbers-youth/

After allowing 5 goals in the first half, the Peoria High Lions responded and readjusted. The Lions held the Champaign Central Maroons scoreless in the second half but still came up with the 5-1 loss.

Peoria is the home for cross country. Detweiler Park is the host of the state cross-country finals, while the Peoria High Invitational and First to the Finish are the largest cross-country invitationals in the state of Illinois. The Running Lions are ready to run with some of the best of the best this season. With plenty of fresh faces back, the Lions are excited to make a push to run their best in October. Read about the upcoming coming cross country teams below. https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/25/peoria-xc-run-our-best-in-october/

It’s a new season but a same mission. The 2026 Peoria High School football Lions are the defending Big 12 Conference champions. Despite losing a bulk of talent from last year’s team, their mindset remains focused. You will see this team run fast. You will see them play hard. You will see them finish games. A conference championship and another trip to the playoffs is always on their minds. With back to back trips to the Elite 8 in head coach Aaron Montgomery’s first two seasons as head coach, he’s hopeful this year’s squad will continue the tradition of being the pride of the city. Read the 2026 season preview below https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/20/new-faces-same-motto-lions-hungry-to-defend-big-12-championship/

wasn’t the start to the season in any facet of the game. Three first-quarter interceptions set the tone for a 48-30 loss to inner-city rival Peoria Richwoods. There were plenty of moments for the team to implode, but all the way to the end, the Lions fought despite coming away with the loss. In these moments, you learn about a team. Even in their losing moments, the Lions held their heads up tall and walked through the post-game handshake with congratulations rather than excuses. Losing with pride is a life lesson. The Lions football team has shown they can be a competitive force, but also showed they can handle losing with pride. Read about what you missed below. https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/23/what-you-didnt-see-friday-night-lions-lose-with-pride/

Last year, sophomore Kayden Turner made school history by becoming the first Peoria High golfer to qualify for the IHSA Sectional since 2009. After a long summer of hooping, Turner made plenty of time to hit the greens and looks to become the first state qualifier in boys golf in 22 years. Turner has already began the season with an individual medalist title at Farmington last week. Now, it’s time to build for a spot golfing in October Read about our boys golf team down below! https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/24/turner-leads-golf-team-seeks-first-state-appearance-in-22-years/

On the way home, Jim Mattson said he could smell high school football in the air. Week 1 is just four days away. The Lions will host Peoria Richwoods in a Big 12 Conference opener against their inner city rival. Over the last 10 years, the Lions are 8-2 during Week 1. Will this year also be kind? Take a look at the last ten results below. https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/17/historically-week-1-has-been-kind-to-lions/

When Tuster Kipupa was a sophomore, he was nervous to try out for the announcements team. Now, a jovial senior, Tuster is a Tuesday tradition. Read about how Tuesdays with Tuster is now a PHS weekday tradition! https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/13/tuesdays-with-tuster-have-become-a-phs-weekday-tradition/

Football season is around the corner! SIX Lions were named to the Journal Star Preseason Watch list! Take a look below! https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/05/6-phs-football-lions-named-to-j-s-preseason-watch-list/

The Journal Star represented 287 athletes for the fall season. Well, 10 Lions are SOME NAMES YOU SHOULD KNOW! Take a look below! https://peoriahighnews.wordpress.com/2026/08/10/10-lions-named-to-journal-stars-names-to-know-list/

Tryouts for fall sports is underway but sports in general at Peoria High will feature some new faces. At this time, let’s welcome the new head coaches for the Lion teams for the 2026-27 year. Ryan McElmurry (Boys Basketball): Coach Buck led the Lions on an interim basis for part of last season, but will officially be the boys basketball coach. Coach will be joined by Coach Noble, his former coach at Galesburg when he hooped as well. Robert Schroeder (Boys Soccer): The former assistant coach is now the full face of soccer after Coach Heinlein’s departure. Coach Schroeder works in the school as an ESL coordinator and is a familiar face to many returning footballers. Shamar Hill (Girls Basketball): Hill is no stranger to the Peoria area. The former Lion alum coached a successful team at Richwoods last season. Hill takes over for the future Hall of Famer Meechie Edwards, who is on record saying, “that was my guy.”

The Peoria Options Program (POP) was excited to welcome back Peoria Grow to their classroom. Today, students made a peach parfait!

🎒 Start the 2026-27 school year off right! Don't miss these back-to-school physical events to help your student be ready for the 1st day!

In observance of Juneteenth, all Peoria Public Schools offices will be closed.

Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. We encourage our community to take time to learn, reflect, and uplift one another as we honor this important day. ❤️🖤💚

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