A WARRIOR STUDENT MEDIA Publication
McHenry Community High School | Volume 5, Issue 3 | November 6, 2023
"And he never thinks of me / Except when I'm on TV"
See side two for the full review
FEATURE
Photo by: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty Images / TNS
Stop by “Bus Stop”
Maggie Demski Copy Editor
SPORTS
Every fall at MCHS, people gather to watch the fall play. There are lights in the audience as people file in to find their seats. The house lights go out, the stage grows brighter; the show begins. The Fall play this year is Bus Stop, a story about people who get stranded in a diner because of a blizzard. It is double casted, meaning that there are two different casts for the same show. “I double cast for a very simple reason,” said Andrew Hillier, the director of Bus Stop. “I had the talent and why not give as many students as possible the opportunity?” With the double casting it brings on different hardships and challenges, like having to adjust time management to fit the different schedule. It also has the better parts like being able to practice for the director and assistant director, so getting two opinions on how the show should run. But even with the two opinions, problems can still come up. “Difficult,” said Edward Riley Rosales,
This year's fall play “Bus Stop” is double casted, making it different from the other fall plays
who plays Carl the bus driver, when asked about working with two directors, “because a lot of people do not put their full effort. When their with the assistant director … It makes it difficult when people aren’t focusing because then it distracts people and the act we’re doing won’t progress as fast.” While there may be some lows in the process there are always the highs in the production, like getting to know and trust castmates and crew, also just to put on the production. “There’s a sense of trust within the cast,” said Hanna Covalt who plays Cherie, “and I think that’s really important especially for school plays… So it’s definitely a lot better to build up that sense of trust with the other actors." No matter what happens, the show goes on. This play is going to be on two separate weeks, Nov. 3 and Nov. 11 for the first cast, and Nov. 4 and Nov. 10 for the second cast. Tickets are $6.25 for students and seniors, and $8.25 for everyone else. Students and parents can find links to buy tickets on posters around the school, or on the MCHS website in the events section.
Saying goodbye
Senior nights are a memorable way for high school athletes to end their seasons
Seniors on the girls swim team are honored on the walls of the pool at the Upper Campus. Senior nights, which have already occurred for most fall sports, can be very meaningful and memorable for the athletes, parents, teammates, and coaches. | Photo by Mackenzie Sroka
Mackenzie Sroka Editor-in-Chief Walking into the decorated gym, the sight of the student section filled with supporters catches the eye. As the warm hand of each parent upon the either side wraps around the arm, tears fill the eyes. Watching and listening, the teammates read letters off, only increases the tears about to leave the eye. Finally the moment of hearing the future plans of each teammate graduating happens. The tears release from the eyes when the fact of not furthering volleyball is
Cast members of “Bus Stop” go through their scripts during rehearsal in October in the Teaching Theatre at the Freshman Campus. | Photo by Haley Passarelli
announced since this will be the last game on a team and within high school. Senior nights consist of teammates and coaches honoring the seniors on the team. Typically, they consist of the seniors on the team being announced at the game or match, and the underclassmenunder classman write letters and give each senior a small gift. For some teams there is more of a unique way to honor seniors based upon their sport. “Since I am on the swim team, during our break in the meet, we honored our seniors. We were brought out by our
parents to stand on the blocks,” said Allison Tomaszewski, a senior varsity swimmer. “Once we were on the blocks with our parents next to us, we had a teammate that was close to us bring us flowers. We took pictures and were announced by name, what we wanted to do and where we want to go college, along with how long we have been swimming.” Being honored on senior night can be very meaningful, sad, and a whole mix of emotions for seniors to experience. “Senior night was really exciting, but also sad for me. I was very excited to get to experience my own senior night after watching three ones before it,” said Ella Boland, a senior volleyball player. “I wanted to have a great night to remember my last home game at McHenry. Of course senior night was also very sad. It is sad leaving behind the underclassmen that I have gotten to know and become close with.” Watching seniors be honored at senior night can even be emotional for underclassmenunderclassman, but once they become a senior it can become even more emotional for the players. “It felt so unexpected and fast,” said Charlie Ortiz, a senior varsity soccer player. “I remember watching my teammates from last year such as Javi Ortiz and Emer Hernandez, and not feeling too many emotions. As I was a senior this year, everything fell down on
me and I was on the verge of tears on senior night, but I kept myself together.” Senior night can be an opportunity for seniors to look back on their highschool years and their career as a young athlete. “It was very special to me because it allowed me to look back and reflect on all the hard work I have put in over the years and remember all the accomplishments I made with the team,” said Madison Donovan, a senior varsity golfer. “But, I think being a senior and being in the position showed me that being a good person, and demonstrating good leadership to the team is way more rewarding than all the achievements I have had.” Senior night is something that can be very meaningful and special for coaches, players, and parents. However, not all teams have a senior night to honor their senior athletes. “I do wish we had a senior night because as a senior looking at other sports recognizing them with a senior night and seeing that we didn’t get one sucks,” said Bradin Amelio, a senior varsity golfer. “I wish golf was looked at just as much as other sports and was given the opportunity of a senior night.” Senior night is an opportunity for senior athletes to be appreciated and honored. This can be an important and memorable experience for the students to say goodbye to highschool and potentially their particular sport.