Volume 1, Issue 1

The McHenry Messenger

McHenry High School | McHenry, Illinois | Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

THE HOMECOMING ISSUE

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE The varsity football player kicker who kicks like a girl

INSIDE

For many, Homecoming is a high school fantasy. But what happens when the reality is different? PAGE 4 Since last year’s referendum, MCHS has already undergone many rennovations.

Catch up on the updates. PAGE 5 Meet the West Campus senior whose TikTok videos about her Homecoming dress have earned her attention. PAGE 7

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

Table of Contents

3

DOES SOCIAL MEDIA JUDGE VSCO GIRLS UNFAIRLY?

5

WEST BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SCIENCE WING

7

THE SENIOR STAR WHO MADE HER OWN DRESS

National Honor Society inducts a new round of members to its prestigious organization

pg.6

After spending two years kicking for the frosh-soph team, Gracie

East and West’s powder puff football players hit the field on Wednesday night

Gasmann has become an asset

pg.8

to the Warriors. So what’s it like

pg.9 football team?

VARSITY FOOTBALL’S HOPEFUL SEASON START

—Plus!

On The Cover being the only girl on the varsity

11

“Mario Kart Turbo” has taken MCHS by storm, but what makes the mobile game is so appealing?

pg.12

In Each Issue

Opinions ...................... 3 News ............................. 5

Cover Photo By: Karina Lucarz

Features ...................... 7

Sports .......................... 11

Entertainment ......... 12

Editor’s Note

2

The McHenry Messenger Mission Statement The McHenry Messenger’s primary mission is to inform and engage the students and staff of McHenry High School as well as its broader community.

As a student-driven publication, it is important to us that we represent every group within both campuses, provide a platform for them to speak their truths, and ensure access to objective, balanced information that they need to know.

We also hope to engage our audience by covering the subjects most relevant to them and presenting it in an entertaining, accessible manner.

Published by

McHenry High School in McHenry, IL

Editorial

Alayna Trimingham, Opinions Editor Kyla Henige, News Editor Jared Bysiek, Features Editor Zach Brown, Sports Editor

Staff Writers

Stacy Correra, Chase Creech, Hayley DuHamel, Ciara Duncan, Michelene Havard and Oliver Simpson

Contributing Photographers and Artists Special Thanks to

Newsie Advisor

Bella Alexander, Karina Lucarz, Bailey Musnicki and Cora Schaad Matt Connor, Amy Maciaszek, Gina Nomikoudis and Visual Image Photography Colton Rasnake Dane Erbach

Both the McHenry Messenger’s print and digital editions have been established as designated forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues related to their audience. Though the student media advisor is responsible for teaching students sound journalism skills and judgment, this paper does not engage in prior review and, thus, all content published by both editions of the McHenry Messenger reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself (unless attributed accordingly).

If you would like to get in contact with the McHenry Messenger, please email the advisor at erbachdane@dist156.org or call (815) 385-7077 and leave a message on his voicemail.

Working Hard for Homecoming

Putting together this paper has been quite the roller coaster. A week before today, we were sitting down and discussing some of the biggest, most current, and most important events to put in our first-ever printed edition of the McHenry Messenger. We’ve managed to come up with articles that we hope reaches out and entertains everybody.

For our first issue, we decided to focus on Homecoming, since it’s Homecoming week this week. We’ve written about the football team (and a special player on it), the upcoming powder puff game, our expectations about the Homecoming dance, and even some students who have gone above and beyond to prepare for the week. We also wrote about some non-Homecoming subject, like the induction of NHS students and the most recent Mario Kart game.

Our newspaper staff has worked hard for the past week, on gathering facts and perspectives, setting up and transcribing interviews, and writing like crazy. It’s vital to us that we provide articles that reach out to every student in our school, every group, and to make both buildings feel like we are one school. We want to be able to share stories that give meaning to our community, and school environment, whether it’s good or bad.

We want to give you a voice and make sure everybody is heard, whether it be the students, staff, or the broader community. Welcome to our first issue.

Sincerely,

Kyla Henige News Editor

Visit TheMcHenryMessenger.com for more news, features, and opinions

This issue was printed by the McHenry High School Print Shop Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Opinions

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

3

Illustration By: Bailey Musnicki

Judgment without guilt?

It may seem like lighthearted fun to judge VSCO girls, but should social media really persecute people online for being themselves? trying to just be alive with interests. There is always some excuse to make fun of girls.

VSCO girls are made fun of for wearing large t-shirts and drinking from expensive water bottles, and before them it was

The final bell rings. A girl shuffles e-girls with chains and dyed hair, and before through the hallway, clutching her key chain e-girls it was basic white girls, and it just never tightly in her hand. Last time her key chains jingled around, her friends around her giggled really seems to stop. This distaste for girls expressing themselves is exhausting. Jokes stop and called her a “VSCO girl.” She doesn’t realize it yet, but this is the same reason why she being fun when repeated over and over, and this trend of labeling girls is doing just that. stopped drinking coffee from Starbucks, and Boys and men do get some of this the same reason why she stopped wearing the treatment as well in some cases; but in others, fluffy boots she saved up weeks worth of her they are praised for following the same trends allowance for in middle school. as girls. The same labels used to make fun of

The way someone dresses has always been a place for judgment from others, girls is instead often used to uplift boys. E-boys are attractive, and e-girls are trying too hard. but since the era of the internet, more oppor It’s the same style, and the same tunities have come to push these judgments trend. So that brings the question to the table, even further. Girls have an even harder time

By Alayna Trimingham @/skshdsji Opinions Editor

is this about the trends being harmful or embarrassing for the user… or is this really about something else?

The labels people put on e-girls, or that other people put on them, do not define who they are. Using a label to create a negative character out of someone is just an easy way out from feeling guilty about their judgment.

But at the end of it all, all these girls are really doing is dressing and following harmless trends. Since when does that make a person worthy of being laughed at?

It never has, and never should be.

We pretend like we are laughing at a trend, try to nit-pick flaws into them; but all anyone is really doing is laughing at girls, and getting away with it. It’s time to reconsider if their struggle with expression is really a noble fight.

Opinions

4

Does Homecoming live up to its hype?

Students are led to believe that school dances are magical and life-changing, but the fantasy rarely lives up to the reality

By Michelene Havard @michelene_rose Staff Writer

I had unrealistic expectations for the Homecoming dance.

As a child, my illusion for Homecoming developed from watching multiple high school films. “High School Musical” made me believe that I could do anything. I enjoyed watching the football games and school dances on television.

When it came time for real events in my life, I had no time after school because

Teenager Marty McFly’s school dance was life-changing. But can real life live up to the magic on display in films like “Back to the Future” or “High School Musical”?

Photo Courtesy of: Amberlin Entertainment

of the abundance of homework. Even if I completed all my homework, I still felt like an outcast in social groups.

“Can I have this dance?”—it’s a scene I’ll never forget. It showed me what fairytale dreams are made of. I wished I could dance effortlessly, or sing without a care in the world, like Troy and Gabriella did in on their school’s rooftop.

When I went to Homecoming my freshman year, students cramped together alternating their hips to the beat of the blaring song. “Back to the Future” led me to believe that school dances are entertaining. The classic film is about a high school student that was mistakenly sent back to the past. The scene where Marty McFly sings “Johnny Be Goode” at the Enchantment Under the Sea Dance is thrilling because Marty changed history.

In real life, though, Homecoming, is mildly amusing at best, and somewhat boring.

Marty played rock ‘n’ roll, a music style that had never been heard before. I assumed Homecoming would be as “life-changing” as his but, at the end of the day, it wouldn’t of made a difference in my life if I stayed home.

I didn’t mind the music at Homecoming; I knew they would play music I had never heard before. In the film “Back to the Future,” everybody dances with enthusiasm, until the end when they are dumbfounded by the guitar solo. Our society is familiar with generations of mu-

sic, so it isn’t a surprise to hear pop, rap, country, R&B, or even rock music. MCHS would need to break the social norms of American pop culture to get a similar reaction that’s in the movie “Back to the Future”.

Regardless if a student desires to go to Homecoming or not, this weeklong event of festivities is unavoidable.

Students who have no means to go to the dance most likely have close friends persisting them to go. Pressuring an individual to go to the dance is overrated.

Too many of my friends try to pump me up, although the dance hasn’t piqued my interest since freshman year.

Social media is a large platform that people use to share their Homecoming photos, proposals, and attire. For many students, there is an intense pressure to ask somebody to the dance. All in all, I think MCHS does an excellent job organizing and preparing the Homecoming events. I enjoy that the student body votes for Homecoming king and queen, spirit week, and food trucks, but I believe the tradition is glorified. People do not need to show off posters and puns, as well as, pressure friends into going to Homecoming.

Despite everything, I think everyone should go to Homecoming at least once. Students who choose to make the most of their Homecoming will have memories to last a lifetime, even if they aren’t as memorable as Troy’s or Marty’s.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

News

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

5

Breaking new ground

Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Carl Vallianatos addresses stakeholders during a groundbreaking ceremony on September 19 outside of West Campus.

Photo By: Amy Maciaszek

Following last fall’s referendum, MCHS has already improved both campuses and has begun construction on West’s new wing The new addition will feature more than just a few classrooms. According to the District 156 website, the wing will be three stories tall, on the northside of the

A construction crew officially building. It will consist of several kinds of broke ground for the new science and classrooms, including as construction labs, technology wing at West Campus on Sepmanufacturing labs, advanced graphics tember 19. In attendance was the District labs, a broadcasting studio, and three difSuperintendent Ryan McTague, Board of ferent science departments followed by an Education members, teachers, students, engineering program. and construction workers.

The the new wing and repairs to

Every day over the summer, both high school campuses will benefit the McTague said during his address, he McHenry community as well, McTague looked out his window and watch as the 26 year old “temporary” mobiles were torn said, and will provide the students with extra resources such as the building, tennis down in preparation for the new wing.

“Those mobiles to me represented courts, and equipment they need, McHenry can become a bigger more successful the fact that we needed to change,” said McTague. “When I saw the debris cleared school. “Fixing these buildings and moving on, looking into the future shows that we and just plain dirt, I realized this symbolizes us not accepting the status quo in this are warriors and we are rising, and we are not going to stop,” McTague said. “I firmly district ever again, and we are moving on believe that we are going to become one of to a better and brighter future.”

By Kyla Henige @henigekyla News Editor

the most competitive, and comprehensive districts in the area and the state, hands down.”

As the ceremony went on, McTague talked about the steps we as a whole community are going to take to improve the schools, and the steps the construction crews will take to make this addition fast and successful.

“We can’t stop here, we must continue to modernize our curriculum, increase equity and access to all students.

This wing is just the beginning. The beginning to a new, and amazing future . . . And at the end of the day, we are one school. One community. One family. We are McHenry.”

And with those last few words, McTague and his team officially broke ground for the new wing at McHenry High school.

6

National Honor Society inducts new members 72 student inductees walk across the stage during a special candle-lit ceremony

By Oliver Simpson @oliver_james82 Staff Writer

72 students were inducted into the National Honor Society during a ceremony on September 25 in the West auditorium.

National Honors Society is an organization for high school students across the country who have to meet a specific set of criteria. In order to be inducted into the NHS, a student must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), and a 1750 on the SAT or a 26 on the ACT at least. They also need to be able to showcase their leadership abilities, volunteering skills, and ability to stay out of trouble.

The induction process itself is relatively easy compared to what it takes

to get in. The ceremony opens with a welcome from Principal Marsha Potthoff, and then it’s explained to the parents and guardians who the board members are, and how they are all selected. After that, they move into a speech from Margret Carhart, and talk about the four pillars: character, community service, scholarship, and leadership.

The speakers go over the importance of NHS’s impact on the community, and then the new members of NHS are inducted with a ceremony. The organization looks for students who follow the pillars because it has been said those are the basis of a meaningful and purpose driven life.

NHS president Kaili Wegner explains, “With an organization like NHS,

it’s important to be unified. So it’s basically like: everyone holds a candle, a poem is read, and when you blow out the candle, you are now truly inducted into NHS.”

The ceremony isn’t the same for everyone though, second year member Grace Fornwall explains, “Since I’m a second year member, we just watched everyone else get inducted.”

While many students aspire to live up to NHS’s high academic and moral standards, Wegner and her friend Khori Smith say it is not an end-all-be-all, and that it should not be the only consideration for impressing a college. Though is not an easy honor to earn, they encourage future inductees not to stress about the process, but simply continue to aim high and strive to be their best.

Ask Elle

Feeling like a fifth-wheeel Elle gives advice to a reader left behind by a friend group

By Elle Smith @ Advice Columnist

Dear Elle: My friends have all been hanging out without me for quite some time now without telling me. Every time I bring it up to them, they get mad at me and say I’m overreacting and that I shouldn’t be mad at them. I

don’t know how to react because I don’t want them to keep telling me I’m in the wrong, and I’m starting to feel really left out.

Confused and Alone Dear Confused: I’m sorry to hear about all of this. It is always hard when you feel you are being excluded by people you trust and enjoy being around. It is very important here that you keep one thing in mind: What is it that makes these people valuable to you?

You have to remember your own worth. You are wonderful and deserve friends who see your value and how im-

portant you truly are. If these friends are not doing that, they may not actually be good friends.

You may want to consider putting things on a trial basis, and giving them a set time to show you that they really care.

If they do not show up, I would think about branching out and meeting some new people, because there are so many people who would be lucky to be your friend.

Need advice? Email Elle at mchs.ask.elle@gmail. com, and she may respond to your letter in the online or print edition of The McHenry Messenger.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Features

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

7

Star power West Campus senior’s homemade Homecoming dress launches her into social media’s stratosphere

By Stacy Correra @stacycorrera Staff Writer

It was late at night and Bailey Musnicki was sitting in her room, bored out of her mind. She took out her phone, opened up the TikTok app, and mindlessly scrolled through some videos. Suddenly, an idea popped in her head! She headed off to the fabric store and returned with the necessary materials. She cut the fabric she bought and started to create her own senior Homecoming dress.

“I am a very spontaneous person, and I’m also an easily bored person. I was

by JoAnn Fabrics and I thought ‘It’d be cool if I started a new project,’ but I had no idea what to make,” Musnicki explained.

“Then I realized, Homecoming’s coming up! And right there, in front of that JoAnn Fabrics, decided to make my senior homecoming dress from scratch.”

She posted her progress on the dress with the app, TikTok. The first video blew up and has currently reached 1.9 million likes. Musnicki has reached 465.7K followers on the app, and she has made 11 dress-related videos so far, each as popular as the last. Although, not every comment on the videos is positive, the response is still overwhelming.

“I deal with the negative comments by just not taking them too closely to heart, and focusing on the more positive ones; A lot of people are there defending me, which is amazing. I try to stay out of it,” Musnicki states. “People have the right to comment what they want, you know.

I have no right to limit what people say about my dress, and I love that people are defending me, but I personally am fine with just ignoring them as long as I personally love my dress, and I do.”

Not only has she made her

dress from scratch, but Musnicki has also been nominated for Homecoming court.

Without her fame on TikTok, she doesn’t think she would’ve been nominated. Even though she has a lot of friends who voted for her regardless, she says that the fame is what pushed her over the ledge.

“The nomination makes me feel so flattered,” she says. “I know a lot of people have been following the dress and I’ve befriended so many people in the past four years here, but it’s really cool to know that so many people voted for me, and I am absolutely honored. I mean, getting all that recognition on TikTok itself was pretty rewarding, because it was just really cool to see people reaching out and think that my dress was cool. And that was enough for me. Getting on Homecoming court, that’s just the icing on the cake.”

Musnicki’s wishes for this year’s dance is to have fun­—and make sure her dress doesn’t fall apart. “For senior year, I hope to just get more connected in the school because I don’t want to be that person that graduates and looks around and only knows three people sitting by me.

I want to be able to reach out and make those connections. And it’s going to hurt when I have to say goodbye to this school, but I’m okay with it because I really put myself out there and put myself into the school.”

Doing something you love will always result in something to be proud of because, at one point or another, someone went out of their comfort zone to try new things. For Bailey, sitting in her room sewing all night is a dream. When it comes to something as important as senior Homecoming, everything has to be perfect -- the hair, the shoes, and for most girls, the dress. There’s no better way to express yourself and make sure your dress is just right than to simply do it yourself.

Illustration By: Belle Alexander

8

Powder puff rivalry ramps up as Homecoming approaches

East and West juniors and seniors practice for annual flag-footbal tradition

By Hayley DuHamel Staff Writer

East and West Campus will face off for the annual powder puff football game on October 9. The girls-only game has been a Homecoming tradition since 2013. The players compete for bragging rights against their friends as well as a trophy on the Wednesday before Homecoming.

West Campus’s senior powder puff team practices on October 1 on the West Campus soccer fields. The team faces off against East’s senior team during Homecoming week.

Photo By: Cora Schadd

There is plenty of enthusiasm every year surrounding the game from students and the players. Shaina Tolan, senior at West Campus is going into her second year of powder puff, and she is just enjoying the bonds she forms with her teammates and having fun with the sport itself.

The girls’ excitement for the upcoming game allows them to have fun during their practices as well. “I am super

excited,” Tolan said. “I love everyone on the team, I get to basically be with my best friends everyday, and it’s the people I get along with. It’s just a really great group of girls that just basically get to be together and just have fun.”

The teams are coached by male football players who are students at their respective campuses. “It’s two a week it’s on Monday and Wednesday and the practices actually went very well,’’ Tolan said. “Our student coaches are Anthony Angeles, Matt Ezop, Dawson Fallaw, Chris Parish, John Lawrence, and Jacob Lesus.

They have a practice plan for us and usually we are on offense or defense and everyone will be put into their spots and they usually rotate everyone very well.”

Powder puff is meant to be a safer version of football where the girls don’t need to wear pads or a helmet and can just play for fun. The players all wear flags around their body, and when a flag is pulled, it is the equivalent of a tackle in regular football. “It’s like tackling but in a safer way, so that we don’t get hurt but it’s actually really fun because we can try to push someone back as far as possible,” said Tolan.

The sixth annual powder puff football game will take place at McCracken Field at 6 pm a few days before Friday’s Homecoming varsity football game and Saturday’s dance.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Features

9

Gracie Gasmann has spent all three of her years at MCHS kicking for the Warriors.

This year, as a junior, she earned her spot on the varsity team.

Photo By: Karina Lucarz

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

10

At the top of her game

As place-kicker on the varsity team, West Campus junior Gracie Gasmann redefines Warrior football forever sports, just one of the three sports teams she’s on; the other two being soccer and basketball. “Being on a football team is one of the greatest experiences I’ve had,” she

Gracie Gasmann begins her trek to said. “The guys are all so amazing and protective of me. They respect me, and I enjoy the ball. As the place-kicker for the varsity football team, it’s Gasmann’s job to start the being a part of this big family. The coaches game with a kickoff. She steps onto the field, are all so encouraging, and I couldn’t thank the coaches or my teammates enough for prepared to make the kick. All eyes are on her, but she doesn’t care. She knows she has everything”.

Of course, with Gasmann being one job to focus on, so with a deep breath the only girl on the varsity football team, and a firm kick, the football soars. The game this does bring its fair share of challenghas officially begun. es.

Many sports, like football, are heavily

Gasmann’s impact on the varsity centered around men, with women being football team is clear, ranking as one of the left out, or even being delegated to separate “top local high school specialty players,” groupings.

But Gasmann has found comfort according to the Northwest Herald; but the and inspiration within the team,and the sport wasn’t always a passion of hers. In fact, school as well.

“I believe there are doubts it only just recently came to be. “I decided and struggles for girls trying to play a ‘masthe summer going into my freshman year culine’ sport,” she said.

“But I think it only to try and kick for the high school team,” takes one person to change the perspective. she said. “My brother [Alec] was the varsity You just gotta stick to what you believe in kicker, and he encouraged me to try it.” and prove them all wrong”.

Even though she started football Head coach Jon Niemic is very just a few years ago as a freshman, the game proud to have her as an addition to the has quickly become a big part of her life in

By Jared Bysiek @bysiekjared Features Editor

team, stating, “It’s an absolute pleasure having Gracie as a part of our program. Gracie commits herself to her craft, and shows dedication with her daily actions … Having Gracie a part of the team has been nothing but positive.”

Her teammates share the same sentiment about her involvement as well. Jacob Lesus states, “She brings a lot of positive energy. Just having her out there, I mean, she’s so good,” he said. “She’s perfect for the season, and just brings positive energy to the team that I don’t think all of us guys can bring. I mean, she essentially won us the Jacobs game with those two field goals. So I’m always confident to have her as our kicker.”

Gasmann proves to be a determined student who is passionate about her involvement within both school and extracurricular activities. She not only be inspires those thinking of trying out for sports, but also with those struggling to find the confidence or motivation to take a risk; showing that by sticking to what one believes in and putting in the work, anyone can prove wrong even the most doubtful.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

Sports

11

Leonidas leads the Warriors onto the football field during the 2018 Homecoming game against Cary-Grove on September 28. The 2019 team went into Homecoming with a record of 3-2.

Photo By: VIP

Varsity football kicks off season strong After five games, the Warriors are tied at second place in the Fox Valley Conference with only four weeks to qualify for playoffs

By Zach Brown @ZachB29_17 Sports Editor

The varsity football team have their sights set on the postseason after a promising first half of the 2019 season.

Five weeks into the season, the Warriors hold a record of 3-2 and find themselves tied for No. 2 in the Fox Valley Conference. With four weeks remaining, the Warriors will need to win two to three more games to qualify for the IHSA playoff tournament.

“Our work has put us in a position to have continued success, but we are not satisfied. We have developed a 1-0 mindset.

We’re going to find out a lot about this team in the next few weeks,” said head football

coach Jon Niemic.

The varsity football team has found success with a team mostly comprised of sophomores and juniors. Though the starting varsity team is made up of seven seniors and 15 sophomores and juniors, it has led to more success than previous seasons. “Winning as an underdog is not an easy thing to do,” Niemic said. “When we beat Jacobs in week 4, the guys believed in themselves and got the job done.”

The program has implemented the phrase “be uncommon,” which holds a significant importance to both the players and the coaching staff. “Every team in the Fox Valley Conference lifts weights, practices, watches film, and goes through summer camp,” Niemic said. “Those are all common

things. If we want to take that next step, we need to do the unseen things, the uncommon things.”

East Campus Kevin Sandoval has stood out this season with his speed as well as his ability to get in the quarterback’s face and disrupt plays. “This year we are really close to being playoff bound,” the senior said, “and it would mean the world to both me and the team if we did make it to playoffs.”

The Warriors have four weeks remaining to find their identity as a football team in order to have the opportunity to make a deep run into the IHSA playoffs.

McHenry has upcoming games against Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, Crystal Lake Central, and Hampshire.

Arts and Entertainment

12

Mario Kart mania The new mobile version of the classic game is great because of its legacy

appealed to all generations with Nintendo’s franchises. Some of the most memorable from Nintendo is “Super Mario Bros.,” “Pokemon,” the Wii series (such as

Mario runs, flies, jumps, and “Wii Sports, etc.),” “Kirby,” “The Legend plays sports, but one of his best adapof Zelda,” and many more. tation characteristics is irrefutably him

“Mario Kart Tour” is just a comracing against his beloved friends or ene- bination of all the elements that made the mies, while collecting his power up items series great and amusing while impleto help him race to the finish line. He has menting that all into one game that you gone through many different iterations can play on your phone. That’s why I love from him being pixelated on the Super this game, since it incorporates all the Nintendo Entertainment System to being game’s best characteristics while having played on a mobile phone that is now the ability to play it on a phone. supported by all phone services. But, the The first released game from the new “Mario Kart Tour” is addicting, nosMario Kart series was “Super Mario Kart” talgic and overall a well-balanced game in 1992 and made a colossal impact on the that has implemented the aspects that 80’s and 90’s kids that played the game. It make a mobile game phenomenal. is a one to two player game that featured

“Mario Kart Tour” was released the first battle mode which allowed you on September 25, and people can’t stop to race against a friend. There were more raving about the game. This game showed recurrences of games in the Mario Kart how Nintendo is a dominant force about series that were noteworthy such as “Mahow all the people in different parts of the rio Kart 64”, which allowed you to play world make this cosmopolitan group of with four people at a time and “Mario people that support this company that has Kart 7” because it implemented the 3DS.

By Chase Creech @creech_chase Staff Writer

“Mario Kart Tour” was released to Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store on September 25. The game has been a big hit with students at East and West.

Photo Courtesy of: Nintendo

But, the most notable game of the whole series was “Mario Kart” for the Wii. These games had reciprocated with millennials, and left a prominent unforgettable experience.

The reason for “Mario Kart” on Wii being so renowned is that it had components that were appealing to casual and competitive gamers. With the release of the Wii, you interacted more with the controller or Wii Wheel during a game to steer. Because of this, it gave a more joyful interactive experience for the casual gamers. Another positive aspect was that they added new maps, modes, and gameplay to restore elements that we loved in the past Mario Kart games. What was appealing to competitive gamers is that they had a Mario Kart channel, which you can access by hooking up to the Nintendo Wi-Fi connection. With this, you could be allowed to play and compete against other gamers from around the world.

This would ultimately be terminated in 2014 when they got rid of Nintendo WiFi connection. Nevertheless, this game would become the second best selling game behind “Wii Sports” with 36 million copies sold.

As for “Mario Kart Tour,” Sensor Tower reports that the game achieved 20 million downloads within the first 24 hours of the game being released and has already approximately reached 1 million in revenue (this excludes the $5 dollar gold pass because there is a two week free trial that subscribers can use). Meanwhile, they are making strives to update the game for the best interest of the users of the game.

So, if you are looking for a game to play at the moment on your free time, then this is the game to install, especially when they come out with the new update that allows you to play with your friends.

While doing this, keep in mind the history of the game and the cohort of generations of different people that still play the game today.

Read more at TheMcHenryMessenger.com

The Final Four

Volume One | Issue One | October 2019

13

The Final Four

In each issue, we shine the spotlight on a deserving member of our MCHS community by asking them four questions. Get to know Madison Wise, a senior soccer player from West Campus...

By Stacy Correra @stacycorrera Staff Writer

How long have you been playing soccer, and how did you get into it?

I’ve been playing soccer since I was 10. I got into it because neighborhood boys would play it and I would join them.

How does being on varsity all four years make you feel?

I’m proud of it. I have an amazing team and amazing teammates. I enjoy it.

What are your wishes for the rest of senior year?

That it gets less stressful than it currently is. People say it’s a slack-off year, but it’s really not.

Why is Homecoming special?

Homecoming is special because it grows school culture.

I know we do a lot of things such as paint the town, spirit week, and is just a good time for everyone to come together.

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Last Look

We work really hard to bond and get to know each other. Some of us knew each other already, but our relationships as a team is important.

- Abbie Honkala on what makes this year’s varsity volleyball team special

Photo By: VIP

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