McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger
McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger
McHenry High School's student-written and -edited newspaper

The McHenry Messenger
Mackenzie Sroka

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor In Chief

Mackenzie Sroka is a senior at McHenry High School’s Upper Campus. She enjoys spending time with friends, traveling, playing soccer and golf, and photography. This is Mackenzie’s fourth year on the Messenger’s staff.

Recognition:

“People are people” (Best of SNO)

“Creating a history” (Best of SNO)

NSPA Leadership Award in Student Journalism (2023, 2024)

“Balancing both” (IJEA)

“Championship or bust” (IJEA)

“Gallery: First football game of the season” (IJEA)

“Teen girls ‘engulfed in growing wave of sadness,’ new national data finds” (IJEA)

“Game time” from “Gallery: First football game of the season” (IWPA)

“Coming home” (IJEA)

“Gallery: Volleyball Veterans Night” (IJEA)

“Hybrid continues strong despite challenges” (IJEA)

“Basketball teams start season Wednesday” (IJEA)

“One year later” (Best of SNO)

“Becoming one” (Best of SNO)

All content by Mackenzie Sroka
Taylor Swift performs onstage at the Paris La Defense Arena as part of her Eras Tour, in Nanterre, France, on May 9, 2024.

Review | “The Tortured Poets Department” is a powerful album

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor in Chief
May 14, 2024
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On May 3, MCHS hosted senior decision day to celebrate seniors' plan for after high school

The next step

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor In Chief
May 9, 2024
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When the new FAFSA was released in October, it was supposed to make recieving federal student aid easier. Instead, this year’s FAFSA has made applying for and deciding on college even more stressful for seniors.

Waiting on the next step

Mackenzie Sroka and Lola Cassidy
May 7, 2024
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As graduation approaches, the Class of 2024 is preparing to celebrate all of their “lasts” — from their last early release to their last day of school. Several special senior events are planned post-prom, including Senior Picnic, Senior Sunrise, Senior Awards Night, and Decision Day.

[Photo] Class of 2024‭ ‬celebrated with a month of events

May 6, 2024
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Though seniors started their high school experiences learning remotely during the Covid pandemic, a difficult and uncertain period for many, some of the lessons they learned have helped made them better learners — and helped prepare them into better adults.

[Photo] Opinion | Senior ‘Zoomers’ survived uncertain years

May 6, 2024
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MCHS's drama students perform "Shrek: The Musical" in the Upper Campus auditorium on March 10.

This is how a dream comes true

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor In Chief
March 22, 2024
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On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to raise sales tax 25 cents per $100 in order to raise money for mental health services in McHenry County. This will remove a property tax levy scheduled to begin next year.

[Photo] Voting on mental health tax takes place in McHenry County

Maggie Demski, Copy Editor
March 18, 2024
Read Story
Though migrants crossing the Mexican border are being bussed from Texas to cities all around the U.S. without much choice or warning, the ones who end up in McHenry County have found more supports than they might expect.

People are people

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor In Chief
February 13, 2024
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Creating a history

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor-In-Chief
January 29, 2024
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The students in AP Psychology are entrusted to care for "sock babies" to symbolize looking after a newborn baby.

[Photo] Some socks required

January 30, 2024
Read Story
Snow from Tuesday's storm still covers the ground the evening the day before another storm is set to sweep through the area. MCHS cancelled in-person learning on Friday morning because of the early morning accumulation.

[Photo] MCHS cancels in-person learning Friday

January 12, 2024
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MCHS and feeder districts cancel school due to inclement weather on Tuesday, Jan.9.

MCHS closed due to inclement weather

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor-in-Chief
January 9, 2024
Read Story
On December 12, the Warriors' Varsity girl basketball team versed the Dundee Crown Chargers at home.

Gallery: Girls basketball against Dundee-Crown

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor In Chief
December 19, 2023
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This year, MCHS's Winter Spirit Week has each graduating class competing for the ancient MCHS relic, the Spirit Barrel, all finally culminating in a school pep rally.

Read Story
McHenry Riverwalk District is decorated and prepared to host many events for the holiday season.

[Photo] Seasonal shoppes

December 18, 2023
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The McHenry community gets in the spirit of Christmas, decorating spots like Veteran Acres Park with holiday lights and festive colors.

[Photo] Walk in a winter wonderland this week

December 18, 2023
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The movie "Elf" has celebrated the twentieth anniversary of being a bright, cheerful holiday movie.

“Elf” is a gift to all movie fans 

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor in Chief
December 11, 2023
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Holiday cookies are a staple in celebrating, and the Messenger has ranked the top 5 Christmas cookies for this Holiday season.

[Photo] Review | The top five Christmas cookies

December 11, 2023
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Holiday cookies are a staple in celebrating, and the Messenger has ranked the top 5 Christmas cookies for this Holiday season.

[Photo] Review | The top five Christmas cookies

Lola Cassidy, Online Managing Editor
December 11, 2023
Read Story
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.

Saying goodbye

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor In Chief
November 6, 2023
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The crowd cheers during the first varsity football game of the season–the first ever at the revamped McCracken Field–on August 26, 2022.

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The MTI Career Expo, which will take place at the Upper Campus on Wednesday between 6-8 p.m., will give students a glimpse at careers in manufacturing and the trades from employers throughout the county.

[Photo] MCHS to host MTI Career Expo

October 4, 2023
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The volleyball team marches down Green Street in last year’s Homecoming parade on Oct. 2. Fall athletic teams participate in Homecoming in a variety of ways, including scheduling special games, helping “paint the town” and walking in the parade.

Good sports

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor-in-Chief
September 26, 2023
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The FVC transtioned to online tickets for certain sports. The fans of the teams are supposed to purchase the ticket when their team has an away game rather than paying in cash.

[Photo] MCHS goes online with new FVC ticketing system

September 15, 2023
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Players celebrate a point during the varsity volleyball match against Burlington Central on Sept. 5.

Gallery: Volleyball against Burlington Central

Mackenzie Sroka, Editor-In-Chief
September 7, 2023
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The football team meets in a hundle to end the game during the varsity football game against Huntley on Sept. 1 at McCracken Field.

[Photo] Back to McCracken

Hunter Blake, Sports Editor
September 6, 2023
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All musicians create demos, but most of those demos aren't meant for fans to enjoy. Streaming, though, has made it easier for for fans to find demos — and sites like Soundcloud have made it easier for leakers to share demos widely.

[Photo] Demos, leaks and lost tracks

May 22, 2023
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Emerson Gasmann participates in MCHS's signing event to celebrate her commitment to playing a sport at a collegian level on May 9.

Catalog of the committed

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
May 18, 2023
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Not all seniors can go on to play on Division I teams or earn scholarships to college. Some athletes who may have played sports their whole childhood have had to make decisions about what to focus on after graduation — and whether sports will still be a part of their lives.

It all comes to an end

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
May 11, 2023
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MCHS's boys and girls track teams swept the Rocket Relay at Richmond-Burton on April 27.

Gallery: Rocket Relays

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
May 2, 2023
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The school does not have a written rule stating that students cannot practice in sports bras — in fact, some athletes do. Still, many believe that doing so is inappropriate, which is an unfair double-standard.

Opinion: Female athletes should be allowed to practice in sports bras

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
April 25, 2023
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MCHS students will attend prom on Friday at the Renaissance in Schaumburg. This year's theme, "Tale as Old as Time," was inspired by the Disney franchise "Beauty and the Beast."

MCHS hosts ‘Tale as Old as Time’ prom on Friday

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
April 24, 2023
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Joel Beard, who was hired as MCHS's athletic director last year to replace outgoing Barry Burmeister, left the post earlier this month. Burmeister has stepped back into the role to finish out the school.

Regarding the resignation

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
April 12, 2023
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McCracken Field was upgraded during the summer and finished just in time for football season. But scheudling difficulties made many players and coaches worried that the football team would be the only one to enjoy the new facilities

The battle for McCracken

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
March 22, 2023
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Students will be able to learn more about job opportunities from McHenry area businesses at the MTI Match Day during lunches on March 22 at Upper Campus.

[Photo] MCHS offers students job opportunities at MTI Career Match

March 20, 2023
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Last month, the CDC released a Youth Risk Behavior study that shows female and lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning adolescents display a startling increase in mental health challenges compared to recent years.

[Photo] Teen girls ‘engulfed in growing wave of sadness,’ new national data finds

Vanessa Moreno, News Editor
March 14, 2023
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On Feb. 16-18, Chris Moore competed in the IHSA state wrestling tournament at the State Farm Center in Champaign.

Moore takes first at state wrestling tournament

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
February 24, 2023
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Students have many reasons for taking classes outisde of MCHS’s regular eight-hour class schedule. Whatever the reason, students benefit from having more options for credit before and after school.

Opinion: More zero hour classes are needed

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
February 23, 2023
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Sophomore Ryan Hanson wrestles during a meet at Libertyville High School on Nov. 23. Hanson is one of four wrestlers who are headed to the IHSA State Wrestling Tournament.

Down to the wire

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
February 16, 2023
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Power-lifter prepares to squat on February 1 at the flex valley power-lifting meet.

Gallery: Flex Valley power-lifting meet

Mackenzie Sroka, Sports Editor
February 7, 2023
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