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McHenry County News DISPLAY ADVERTISING & CLASSIFIEDS: 815-654-4850 • CIRCULATION: 815-654-4854 • E-MAIL: McHenryNews@RVPublishing.com VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 17
11512 N. 2nd ST. • MACHESNEY PARK, IL 61115
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2018
Algonquin, Normal soldiers claim Best Warrior titles
Nine Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from across the state converged on Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Illinois, from April 5-8 to compete for the title of the Illinois Army National Guard’s Best Warrior. Spc. William Ailey of Normal, Ill., a Soldier with Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in Pontiac, Ill., took top honors as the Soldier of the Year. Sgt. Tycjan Sieradzki of Algonquin, Ill., a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in Chicago, took top honors as the Illinois Army National Guard’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. Ailey said he worked hard with the members of his unit to get to the competition and wanted to make them proud. “It feels incredible to be the Soldier of the Year,” said Ailey. “Winning lets me honor the hard work that my guys and I put in to getting here. It lets me show them that the hard work they put in to making me better has paid off.” Sieradzki, who competed and won Soldier of the Year in 2016, said he wanted to come back and win as a noncommissioned officer as well. “I wanted to prove I could do it again,” said Sieradzki. “I’m proud to bring this back to the unit. There’s
a lot of Soldiers that look up to the NCOs and it’s great to show them what we can do.” For the second year in a row, two female Soldiers competed in the Best Warrior Competiton. Spc. Paige Buechele, of Lebanon, Ill., a member of the 445th Chemical Company based in Shiloh, Illinois, and Spc. Melissa Griffiths of Moline, Ill., a Soldier with the 1644th Transportation Company based in Rock Falls, Ill., both tested their mettle against the best Soldiers the state has to offer. “The competition has been very challenging,” said Griffiths. “I’ve learned a lot being here, both from the other Soldiers and NCOs competing and from the senior leadership here speaking to us.” Both females said they were competitive by nature and wanted to prove they had what it takes to compete. “I like being the best that I can be,” said Buechele. “Being one of two females here drives me a little harder to represent my unit and its Soldiers properly.” Buechele said while the competition is physically and mentally demanding, more females should come out and show their ability to compete at the same level as their male counterparts. “It’s demanding, but it’s good for camaraderie,” said Buechele.”I would love to see more females out here showing that we’re just as awe-
Sgt. Tycjan Sieradzki of Algonquin, Ill., a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment based in Chicago, jogs at the beginning of a 10-mile road march at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill., April 8 during the state best warrior competition. Sieradzki returned after winning Soldier of the Year in 2016 and took top honors as the Illinois Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and will move to the regional competition in May at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.
U.S. ARMY PHOTOS BY SGT. 1ST CLASS BRYAN SPREITZER, ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD PUBLIC AFFAIRS McHenry County News
some and competitive.” The competition began April 5 with the Army physical fitness test, a three-event test consisting of two minutes of pushups followed by two minutes of sit-ups, and finished with a timed two-mile run. Over the next three days, the Soldiers competed at weapons qualification, warrior skill
SUBMITTED PHOTO McHenry County News
McHenry HS East names Prom Court
McHenry High School’s East Campus Prom Court 2018 was announced Tuesday. Front row, from left - Trey Florkiewicz, Jack Hephner, and Mikey McManus, middle row - Kinga Zieba, Delaney Wellington, Luke Begrowicz, and Chloe Hallin, top row - Brian Keyes, Mae Mohr, and Bridget Bantner.
tasks, land navigation, a confidence course obstacle race, and a question and answer board. The competition capped off with a timed, 10-mile road march with a 40-pound rucksack. The nine competitors were selected from a pool of nearly 10,000 Soldiers in the Illinois Army National Guard through platoon, company, and battalion-level boards to com-
pete as Illinois’ Best Warriors. Command Sgt. Major Sean P. Carney of Oak Park, Ill., the State Command Sergeant Major, Illinois Army National Guard, said competition is encouraged among the brigades and the Best Warrior Competition fuels a drive to be the best. “The state competition helps us
See SOLDIERS, Page 3
Sgt. Tycjan Sieradzki of Algonquin, Ill., a Soldier with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment based in Chicago, stands with his awards at Marseilles Training Center in Marseilles, Ill., April 8 following the Illinois Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition. Sieradzki returned after winning Soldier of the Year in 2016 and took top honors as the Illinois Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and will move to the regional competition in May at Fort McCoy, Wis.