Huntley HS Voice Nov 18, 2022 Issue

the oice vV

huntley high school student news• nov. 18 • volume 26 issue 4

In

Meet The Staff

Editor in Chief

Arianna Joob

Managing Editor

Maggie Armstrong

Floating Editors

Luma Acevedo, Amanda Le, Jacey Sola, Gretchen Sweeney, Savanna Reynolds

Photo Editor Diana Arellano

Marketing Editor Zoe Hurmi

Business Manager Karolina Perkowski

Social Media Manager

Ally Panzloff

Staff Writers

Bailee Borchart, Brendan Busky, Anthony Ciuleba, Jeanie Flodin, Anna Karpinski, Peyton Leahy, Emmalyn McCoy, Jasmine Sandhu, Peyton Taylor, Samantha Webb

Photographers

Leyla Arroyo, Donovan Doyle, Gray Edelstein

Adviser Dennis Brown

Recent resignation of school board- member

moved to be closer to my place of employment,” Melendy said.

By Arianna Joob

Since the beginning of District 158’s existence, Lesli Melendy has been an essential member of the board of education, allowing things to run smoothly through her involvement over the years. Due to her previous experience as chief of staff for multiple Illinois senators, she provided a wealth of connections for the board, and she will be greatly missed.

Melendy recently resigned from her position as a member of the board of education and also from her Chair of the Community Outreach Committee.

“It was a difficult decision, but we

After 23 years of living in Huntley, her moving due to her job is what caused her to resign from her position as a board member. In spite of her leaving, she is very grateful for the impact that she was able to make on the District 158 schools.

“Lesli was very focused on the student experience. Student bullying issues [and] student safety issues were always [on] top of mind for her,” Scott Rowe, superintendent of District 158, said.

She strived to create an environment where students felt safe and always considered what would benefit future students and staff.

“Adding more social emotional programs and education was personally

very important to me,” Melendy said.

She also added to her legacy by contributing to the addition of the Fine Arts Academy at the high school, establishing orchestras at the elementary schools and organizing student resource officers at each campus. She also greatly contributed to the district through her concern about the environment.

“During my time on the board I would have to say the solar project was the most substantial [contribution] as that will benefit the district for years to come,” Melendy said. “Being more conscious of the environment with our decision making [by] adding electric buses and smart energy in the buildings will help [environmental] sustainability.”

Melendy’s legacy will live on because of her dedication to the district through sustainability efforts and improvement of the student experience.

As for her seat, the board hopes to appoint someone to fill her position until the spring 2023 elections. Applications for the position closed on Nov. 2 and the interviewing process will be done by Nov. 15. The following morning, all the videos of the interviews will be posted along with the board of education’s decision, according to Rowe.

The candidate will then be seated in December to fill in the open position. The newly assigned board member will have the opportunity to run for the position again in the Spring 2023 elections.

This means there will now be four open seats available in the Spring 2023 elections, so there is a lot of room for potential changes to the board.

All in all, Lesli Melendy has had a long, impactful run as a board member. Her involvement and commitment to the Huntley community will not go unnoticed; she will definitely be missed.

“She always composed herself professionally, which I really appreciated,” Paul Troy, secretary of the District 158 Board of Education, said. “I always found her engaging and very, very personable.”

Lesli Melendy resigns after many years being a part of the board of education

Board member Lesli Melendy resigned to move closer to her place of work

Courtesy of Lesli Melendy

Preparing for this year’s Pep

Pep band prepares to play some tunes at varsity basketball games

By Anna Karpinski

The song “California Gurls” by Katy Perry comes to an end and loud cheers are the only noise heard in the gym. The energy is shooting through the room as the basketball team shoots another hoop and scores yet another point for Huntley.

The band members standing off to the side of the stands get ready to play another song for the students and families. They take in a deep breath and start playing as the anticipation from the game continues.

Whether the team scores or misses, the band will be there to celebrate or cheer up everyone in the building.

“Basically, it’s run by how we entertain the audience. If they need something to hype them up, we’re going to play a happier song. It’s more to pass time,” junior Emma Overmyer said. “I know that the basketball players. like to hear us play too just because it’s a little more interesting and a way to encourage them throughout the games.”

The Pep band at Huntley High School is coming up just around the corner. Sign-ups have already started, and their first meeting is in December.

“Pep band starts in December, but we have been signing up this month. We’re looking for a lot more brass players too,

and we have super cool jackets,” senior Veronika Krajewski said.

Pep band focuses heavily on making the crowds at both boys and girls varsity basketball games as lively as possible.

“So far, we only play during home basketball games, but I’m not sure about this year,” Overmyer said.

They play peppy and up-beat songs that leave the listeners feeling happy and leave the players feeling hyped and ready to play their absolute best.

“I know ‘California Gurls’ was popular. I know we played ‘All Star’ a lot. There was also a few Fall Out Boys songs, basically just pop songs that everyone can sing and dance to at the games,” Overmyer said.

ing instruments.

“I’m in jazz band, jazz combo, wind ensemble, pep band and marching band,” said Overmyer. “I play oboe, saxophone, guitar and flute.”

According to Overmyer, some band members also play multiple different instruments. The band director at Huntley is Kevin Krivosik, and he works hard with the band to leave the listeners amazed.

“He can be strict at times, but it’s good because we all come together and we can all make great pieces at the end of the day,” Overmyer said.

The songs that are played during the games are a little easier for the members to play so they do not meet as much as, they would for marching band. It is much calmer for them after their recent end to marching band.

All of the members have a different reason to join the band.

“My favorite thing about the band is the diversity, music, and people,” freshman Ashton Friggieri said.

Many members are not just part of one band like Pep band they are part of so much Pore and play different amaz-

Heading over to support the basketball players and hearing the band play is coming up very soon.

“Just come and support the band,” Krajewski said.

Pep band memebers take pride in rallying the crowd at games

He can be strict at times, but it’s good because we all come together, and we can all make great pieces at the end of the day Emma Overmyer

Just come and support the band Veronika Krajewski

G. Edelstein`

Welcome to HHS

Welcome Party helps new students adjust

By Amanda Le

You are surrounded by the unfamiliar chatter, the unfamiliar stares you would walk past, and the unknown halls. A new school, a new start, a new chapter in your life. As a new student, you look at your schedule, trying to find your classes. Once in a while, someone would point in the direction of your class, but otherwise, you are left alone to wander about.

During the second semester of 2022, the HHS Welcome Party was made to help new transfer students become accustomed to the school, whether they are from neighboring schools or from foreign countries.

These small acts can go a long way as a student begins a new school year. HHS Welcome Party sponsor Gerald Marchand was inspired by Volodymyr Ivanyshyn and other transfer students to create the HHS Welcome Party. There are transfer students that do not speak English or need help with getting familiar with the school.

“They were just given a tour, a map,

and a Chromebook, and like you’re good to go,” Marchand said. “I was like, this isn’t really working for some of these kids, a lot of them.”

Last school year, Marchand told his students about the problem with new students being thrown into an unknown environment, and they wanted to help.

“So that’s kind of how we got started, just kids that are interested in helping kids,” Marchand said.

What Marchand does is that he connects the transfer students to students from HHS that are willing to give a tour of the school or take the transfer students to their class and help them become accustomed to the school. The Welcome Party is not a club, rather more of students helping students. Marchand calls the students helpers, as they help the transfer students. The helpers can help students navigate the cafeteria and walk them to classes. They try to help in any way they can.

“If I needed the help, I’d get it,” sophomore Elle Assumpcao said.

Marchand hopes that this would become a standard for the incoming transfer students. Currently, the HHS Welcome Party is not funded by the

district, so they make money by selling the $2 wristbands during lunch hours.

“It’d be nice if we could get funded from a fundraiser or the district just so that we can provide as much support and social events for that small group of kids as possible,” Marchand said.

As of now, counselors would inform new transfer students about the HHS Welcome Party, but because the program is still new, there are still new students who do not know about the Welcome Party. Those whose first language is not English or do not know the language would have a higher chance of being informed about the Welcome Party.

“I think the program is a great way to help people adjust from whatever school they came from, especially because hallways are like super big and you don’t really necessarily know what you’re doing and most of the time just to have a support system is good,” freshman Giuli Farraj said.

This school year of 2022, there has been an ice cream party and a breakfast party to help bond the transfer students to our school. Marchand would like to have more social events such as a lunch party for fourth, fifth and sixth hour lunch parties.

“Having a school program like this could really help the new transfer students. People should help the program by buying the bracelets they sell at lunch,” sophomore Gauthum Ramesh Sivakumar Jayanthi said.

There are still many students who do not know about the HHS Welcome Party. Many students have said that the name itself sounds like a dance and is the reason why they do not buy the bracelets at lunch. They believe that they are donating to a dance such as Homecoming, instead of the program’s purpose of helping new students.

For those who want to join the HHS Welcome Party and help incoming transfer students, contact gmarchand@ district158.org.

“I think it’s always gonna be a student to student thing, and it’ll just connect the students,” Marchand said.

L. Arroyo

Members of the Welcome Party plan their socials and activities with new students

Castans joins Huntley High School’s physical education department

By Jeanie Flodin

As students walk through the halls, making their way to the gyms, they notice the physical education office, which now belongs to the newest member of the physical education department. When the position opened up for the head of the physical education department, someone had to stand up and take that position. Rita Castans did just that.

When the 2022 school year came around, they had to find a new leader, and Castans had athletic experience in the past at Marlowe Middle School.

Castans has athletic experience because she worked as the athletic director at Marlowe Middle School.

From Marlowe to HHS, a fresh start

being able to have these relationships and check-ins and support you guys,” Castans said.

Her experience is different here at Huntley High School.

“There’s a lot more people here at the high school, a lot more staff to get to know,” Castans said. “It’s just different because it’s not set up by a team basis. I get to focus more on curriculum.”

“We have really awesome physical education, health and driver’s ed staff,” Castans said.

She was quickly welcomed into the department, and it did not take long for her to get to know all of her new colleagues.

“I really enjoy getting to know everyone on a deeper level, getting to know everyone in general. I didn’t know any of them prior to coming here, and seeing how everyone works well together, how everyone has each other’s back at the end of the day, it has been something very special,” Castans said.

Her role here is completely different

from what she did at Marlowe. She used to give consequences, but now, she is setting up readings and focusing on one of her biggest goals: the RULER assignments. These assignments could possibly help with social and emotional skills here at the high school.

She also has a lot of meetings during late start. She has administration meetings as well because she is a part of the administration here at Huntley High School. It is a different role for her because she has to make sure that the curriculum is going well and make sure that everything is working out, especially for the students.

Nothing has really changed for the classes in general here at the high school.

“She’s picked up where Ms. Heuck left off,” Naymola said.

This year, a new legacy was born, someone that is willing, strong, compassionate, kind and ready to take on the role as the new physical education department chair: Rita Castans.

Castans is welcomed by the physical education staff as she takes over the department.

“She has been a very welcome addition to our department,” Michael Naymola said.

Naymola teaches Advanced Strength and Conditioning at Huntley High School.

“She’s very fortunate to have been given the position,” Naymola said.

“It’s a really nice switch for me,” Castans said. “Coming from being assistant principal at Marlowe where I had all the discipline, and it was nice because I felt like I could build relationships with kids, but there’s always this negative connotation when you have to give consequences,” Castans said.

“Being up here, it’s really nice because I’ve gotten to know you guys and see you grow from middle school and

She has been a very welcome addition to our department Michael Naymola

G. Edelstein

Junior Andreas Demakis spends his free time engaging in the world of the piano

By Jacey Sola

Standing behind the stage, Demakis was filled with both stress and excitement. After putting countless hours into practicing, he felt somewhat ready. After a few minutes, it was finally his turn, his opportunity to show his talent. Walking across the stage, he only focused on one thing, the beautiful, black Steinway Grand Piano that was at the center of everything.

Sitting down on the piano stool, his mind went completely blank. Adren -

aline filled his body. He took a deep breath, gracefully lifted his hands to meet the keys, and started playing a beautiful melody. His muscle memory took control as his hands danced up and down the keys. As he struck the last note, the crowd erupted in applause. His hard work had paid off as he played his piece gracefully and flawlessly.

Playing the piano has been a huge part of junior Andreas Demakis’ life. He started playing when he was 7 at Martinez Music Studio. His mother was his inspiration to play because she also played when she was a child. She was the one who encouraged him to enroll in piano lessons.

“I put Andreas in piano lessons

because I used to play piano, and I wanted him to have the same opportunity. Also, it has a lot of benefits for cognitive and brain development,” Andreas’ mother, Lee Ann Demakis said.

Starting off, he was not naturally gifted in playing. His fingers felt unnatural on the piano and he played without thought or creativity. He was also nervous when he played in front of large groups of audiences.

“In my early years, I wasn’t really

that good. I watched a video of when I was first playing when I was 7 years old, [and] I was so bad. My fingers stuck up when I was pressing the keys, and my technique wasn’t good. But you know, it’s important to start somewhere,” Demakis said.

Today, Demakis has grown tremendously as a musician and has developed his talent. Playing in recitals does not make him as nervous anymore. Instead, he feels relaxed and comfortable with playing in front of others.

He can play difficult pieces, such as “Presto Agitato” by Beethoven, and “Revolutionary Etude” by Chopin. He also likes to create his own melodies, such as jazz improvisations for various songs like “Somewhere over the Rain -

Andreas Demakis stands with his sister after a piano performace

Courtesy of Andreas Demakis

I’m very proud of how he grew musically. I’m hoping that what he learned from our studio will somehow help him in the future. Not just musically, but as a person in general Euri Martinez

The dynamic duo

Courtesy of Karen Naymola

The Naymolas crazy life during the fall

By Luma Acevedo

Life is busy at the Naymola house. Karen and Micheal Naymola are both head coaches of successful teams here at HHS: Karen being the head coach of the girls varsity volleyball team, and Michael being the head coach of the varsity football team.

“We’re kind of used to the craziness of the fall and [we have a lot] of help in the fall,” Karen said.

Tuesday’s and Thursday’s are usually game days for the HHS volleyball team. On those days, Michael is able to go home and relieve either his mom or Karen’s parents from taking care of the kids.

“There’s no way we would be able to do what we do if we didn’t have the help that we have, at home especially,” Michael said.

Even though this time of year is busy for the Naymolas, and sometimes they have to spend time away from their family, they would not trade it for the world.

each other at sporting events. Michael is able to make it to almost every one of Karen’s home games, as well as a big portion of away games. It is rare that Karen will miss one of Michael’s Friday night football games.

Karen led her team to be 18-0 in games and 36-0 in sets this past season of the Fox Valley Conference.

“Our goal early on was to go undefeated in conference, so I thought the girls did a great job of setting realistic goals and working hard the whole season to achieve them,” Karen said.

The 2022 girls volleyball team made a mark on the program that will be remembered for years to come. Coach Naymola could not be more proud of everything the girls have accomplished this season.

“It’s nice because we have so many options, offensively, defensively. We’re a strong team. Even changing line ups, the girls were able to adjust and play for each other,” Karen said.

The varsity volleyball team will be saying goodbye to nine seniors this year. Coach Karen Naymola is sure that this has been the motivator all season: Do it for the seniors.

Michael has the outsider’s perspective on Karen and her team. He has his own opinions as to what he thinks were the motivators for the HHS volleyball team.

Coach Michael Naymola went into this season ready to work. He wanted to make sure that his players knew that as well. The team changed their off-season training routine. Unlike the previous years, the HHS football team did their training at 6 a.m. before school started. This was to set the expectation and to show the team that they were going to dedicate themselves to it.

After the 2021 football season may not have gone the way the Raider’s had hoped, the boys were determined to not let that happen again.

“We had a very unique group of leaders this year who refused to let what happened to them their junior year, happen to them their senior year. They were willing to do anything they needed to do,” Michael said.

Michael Naymola

“There’s so much stuff going on during the week. But it is rewarding at times,” Michael said.

Working together has made these difficult schedules so much easier for the coaches. Few are able to say they work in such close proximity to their spouses.

“It’s nice that we actually work together. That is probably when we get to see each other the most,” Karen said.

Despite the busy weeks endured by these two, they are always supporting

“One of the motivators I thought [they may have used] without knowing was there was a target put on their back because of all the talent they had,” Michael said.

Karen has led her team to several regional and sectional championships in her time as head coach at HHS. She feels that this success is always due to the fact that the team is always close. The team is always family.

Micheal just completed his first season as head coach. Many will attest to how Coach Naymola has contributed to the team’s remarkable turnaround.

“It would be egocentric to say that I did it. I have a very good supporting staff. I have three coaches who have been head coaches before,” Michael said.

For a team who rosters 74 players, the team is very tight-knit. The team bought into the coaches and the drills. This brought them together in ways that Michael was proud to see.

“They do Thursday dinners. We do team bonding stuff. By training in the morning you kind of create a sense of brotherhood by knowing that you can trust those guys because you have gone through so much with them,” Michael said.

The Naymolas spend more time with their teams than they do their own family during the fall. But, that is just a testament to how much they truly love their players. This dynamic duo is unstoppable.

There’s so much stuff going on during the week. But it is rewarding at times.

The Naymolas take on a new school year together (Courtesy of Naymola)

bow” from the “Wizard of Oz.”

“As his piano teacher, I’m very proud of how he grew musically. I’m hoping that what he learned from our studio will somehow help him in the future. Not just musically, but as a person in general,” said Euri Martinez, owner of Martinez Music Studio.

Demakis has also participated in multiple competitions, including the Illinois Music Association music com -

petition and D300 piano festival. In each, he had to compete against other students around his level in front of a judge. Additionally, he played in American Grands at Elgin Community College, which was a concert that involved 12 grand pianos playing at once.

Playing the piano often causes Demakis to feel a variety of emotions.

“When I play the piano, I mostly feel happy and calm and maybe also

sad or mad, or any type of emotion. The piano has been a way for me to cope, or let out any emotion that I’m feeling,” Demakis said.

Demakis has been able to balance his school and piano life, but it has been a challenge for him. However, playing the piano has helped to reduce his stress.

“It seems difficult at times because I can be very busy with things like schoolwork and homework and tests. And sometimes I have no time to practice. But then when I am stressed out from school or I need a break because my brain is constantly busy, I go to the piano for a break,” Demakis said.

Apart from piano, Demakis is involved in many other extracurricular activities, including volleyball and swimming.

By playing the instrument, he has been able to learn so many valuable lessons.

“The first lesson I’d say is patience. In life, we tend to rush into things and expect a result right away, but playing the piano has taught me that progress is gradual. I also learned perseverance. Even if you made 100 mistakes in a row, just keep on going. If you’re determined to accomplish a goal, look forward and pursue it,” Demakis said.

Demakis’ love and passion for the piano will remain strong in his heart for the rest of his life.

Dressed for success, showing her best

Bajgrowicz poses in one her favorite outfits.

L. Arroyo

Senior Lyndsey Bajgrowicz

finds passion in fashion and thrifting

By Ally Panzloff

On a typical Sunday night, most high school students will be finishing up homework, or watching Netflix. But senior Lyndsey Bajgrowicz is planning. Once a week, she goes through her closet, selecting new pieces, or maybe old items that she is feeling inspired by, and curates her outfits for the week. From bedazzled butterfly jeans, to an off-the-shoulder Black Eyed Peas top, Bajgrowicz has spent her time in high school developing a unique personal style that stands out in the halls of Huntley.

If she had to describe her style in one word, Bajgrowicz would say alternative. Although, she feels she does not fit one rigid color scheme or aesthetic, she says her biggest style inspiration is Harry Styles.

“I’d say I dress like a Harry Styles fan because, as a group, we all dress pretty similar,” Bajgrowicz said.

British-American pop artist Harry Styles has become a fashion icon in the past five years. He is known for his eccentric style and his defiance of gender norms, most notably when he was featured on the December 2019 Vogue cover in a dress.

Bureau, Goodwill Inc. made $5.9 billion in profit in 2019. While Bajgrowicz may only go thrift shopping once or twice a month, she says she can spend upwards of two hours at any thrift store.

“When I go, I look through every hanger and rack I can. And then, I’ll end up with a cart full of clothes, and I’m super indecisive trying to pick out what I want, so it definitely takes a long time,” Bajgrowicz said.

Bajgrowicz grew up watching thrift haul YouTube videos online and has always liked the idea but did not start going until post COVID-19 restrictions. One of the main reasons she enjoys thrift shopping is the chance to find unique statement pieces.

“One of my favorite things I’ve thrifted is this dress by the brand Bebe. It’s black with polka dots, and it’s got an asymmetrical high-low hem with ruffles. I thrifted it right before my junior year, and I wore it to a Harry Styles concert,” Bajgrowicz said.

Bajgrowicz’s distinct style has definitely been noticed by many HHS students, one such student being fellow senior Hannah Price.

“I feel like we are pretty similar, clothing-wise. We both wear what we want and don’t care what other people think. I love the way she matches her hair and makeup with her outfit, I find her whole style very chic,” Price said.

While fashion has become an important part of Bajgrowicz’s daily life, she says that was not always the case. Before her sophomore year, when students were not in school for over eight months, she lacked personal style.

“I have an older sister, so I would just borrow her clothes. So my style was just whatever her style was,” Bajgrowicz said.

Over time, Bajgrowicz was able to find confidence to explore new styles and trends other students may not have.

changed since then, but hers is really a step above,” long-time friend Caitlyn LeTran said.

Bajgrowicz is very passionate about creating her personal style as a way to relieve stress and express herself. Her ability to explore new fashion ideas has helped her branch out and become a more adventurous person.

“I feel I was just a very general per-

Aside from typical stores like Zara and Urban Outfitters, Bajgrowicz mainly gets her clothes through thrift shopping. Buying secondhand clothing has become increasingly popular in the last decade. According to the U.S. Census

“She’s definitely a trendsetter. I feel like Doc Marten boots have become really popular, and she was the first person I remember wearing them. I’ve known her since elementary school, and I feel like everyone’s style has

son, like there was nothing that set me apart. But during the pandemic, I would think like ‘this is fine, but it’d be nice to be my own person.’ And I feel like fashion is my main way of expressing that now,” Bajgrowicz said.

I feel like everyone’s style has changed since then, but hers is really a step above Caitlyn LeTran

We both wear what want and don’t care what other people think Hannah Price

L. Arroyo

Bajgrowicz dresses for sucess in her fasionable attire

By Jasmine Sandhu

Many students show up to school, slouching with their backpacks on their shoulders, complaining about how tired they are. Most of the time, they use it as a conversation starter among peers, but how many of them are actually exhausted?

Sometimes, students would rather stay home and take time for themselves in order to be in better conditions for the next day. Good mental health is an important step for ensuring quality education. If you cannot take care of your mental health, things such as satisfactory grades or staying concentrated can become harder to accomplish.

After all, the amount of school work assigned can be heavy and mentally tolling at times. Burnout is something the majority of students experience. Except, what if someone told you that you cannor take time for yourself anymore?

With the school’s new handbook rule of only getting five mental health days a year, the limit is pushing students to come to school even when they are mentally drained. “From personal

Mental health should

I use a mental health day, I feel better and can get back on track, but five days a semester would be understandable, but for an entire year, it isn’t the best.”

Beltran is not the only one with concerns. Sometimes people may use their excused parent absences in place of a mental health day since they don’t get enough days in the first place. If a student needs a

S.Webb

break, they struggle to try to find a way to make it work with the restrictions.

“I know that it has affected other students because they get overwhelmed with anxiety and stress, but they can’t take the day off to relax and collect their thoughts because they are only given five days per year,” senior Minna Elmeligi said. “More than five days may seem like a lot, but I feel like having a little bit more mental health days can be beneficial for people struggling with mental health.”

Regardless of how students may feel, the limit may not be changed.

Jasmine Sandhu is a staff writer for The Voice, it is her first year on staff. In her free time, Jasmine loves reading books and finding new ways to organize her space. She likes just about anything associated with reading and baking. Check out her blog “The Book Space” on huntleyvoice.com!

The new rule of only five mental health days taxes students

One Word to Describe Jasmine: hard-working Jasmine Sandhu

More than five days may seem like a lot, but I feel like having a little bit more mental health days can be beneficial for people struggling with mental health Minna Elmeligi

According to principal Marcus Belin, the decision for the amount of mental health days was not up to the admin istration, but decided by the state.

“We have so many days that we have to be in school, so we can’t dictate it for more,” Belin said. “I’ll advocate for as many as we need, but it was a state legislation that was

Five days a semester would be understandable, but for an entire year, it isn’t the best

Lavina Beltran

passed for the mental health days.”

As much as individuals want the number of days for mental health to increase, understanding that other districts do not do this for their students makes us stand out. Even though the number of days might not go up, students can still take time for themselves over weekends and take breaks from studying often. Though it is hard work, caring for mental health is caring for your overall well-being.

Daily specials - 10% off for students when they present their HHS ID

Sunday 7am-2pm Monday 8am-2pm Tuesday-Saturday 7am-8pm

DeBolt’s guide to enjoying fitness

If you learn two things from this class and me, it’ll be…

1. How to do a proper squat

The students begrudgingly make their way into the fitness room on the first day of school, for Group Fitness Blended. It smells of rubber, freshly cleaned equipment and yet another year of a pointless class.

At least that is how it seems.

The sixth-period bell rings, hardly startling the students who are already tired of hearing lectures and reading repetitive syllabus forms. They dread the imminent boredom of a lecture about physical education, and why they need to dress for participation points every day. Surrounded by daunting workout equipment and machines, they all individually calculate how much work this class will be.

Only 15 to 20 students take up a small section of the fitness room, yet most of the students do not know each other as more than another unrecognizable face in the halls.

The door swings open, and physical education teacher Kristine DeBolt walks in. She smiles at the students and sits on her desk, wasting no time to start

She starts by running through the list

Group Fitness Blended has taught students about wellness beyond working out or eating right

By Maggie Armstrong

of names and noting the pronunciation or preferred name of each student. Then, she turns to the weary high schoolers in front of her and asks them a series of random get-to-know-you questions. Soon, the class is debating what the best dessert is and what their favorite restaurants are.

The students gradually relax, gaining hope that maybe this class will be different from all of the other physical education classes they have taken over the years.

“She seemed genuine and seemed like she cared about her job,” senior Karen Reyes Villanueva said.

Despite Group Fitness Blended being an all-seniors class, there are a couple of juniors in the class this year due to scheduling conflicts, and DeBolt welcomed them without hesitation.

“Honestly, she’s one of the most relaxed and flexible teachers. She’s very accommodating,” junior Keira Darnall said.

DeBolt’s energetic and motivational personality has allowed the class to grow over the years, but the concept of the class itself is almost just as noteworthy.

“I wanted an environment where [students] would be more comfortable stepping into one of those group fitness settings at a health club,” DeBolt said. “Where they got a taste of this kind of equipment, so they knew how to use that equipment, and they wouldn’t be

One Word to Describe Maggie: dedicated

Maggie Armstrong is a Managing Editor of The Voice, and it’s her second year on staff. Maggie is Vice President of Buddies Club and a member of Student Council, NHS, and Spanish Honors Society. In her free time, Maggie enjoys hanging out with friends, reading, and dancing.

afraid to go try a class.”

Group Fitness Blended provides education on a variety of popular workout machines such as the Smith Machine, ellipticals, and treadmills, and it teaches the basics of different types of workouts. Students are able to use different equipment to do basic suspension training and weights as well.

“This class is anything new, popular or trending in a variety of equipment,” DeBolt said.

By teaching students the basics of multiple different exercises and ways of using equipment, this class gives students more confidence and allows them to explore different exercising options.

“I wanted to meet the needs of those other students that still wanted to be healthy and exercise but not play a sport,” DeBolt said. “I love coming up with new things. I love trying new activities.”

Already, students in DeBolt’s class have learned the importance of being physically literate, and because of the evolved physical education curriculum, they have also been introduced to health-related topics beyond exercising: the eight dimensions of wellness.

“I definitely learned how to use some machines correctly,” Reyes Villanueva said. “But also, right now, we’re learning about the eight dimensions of health and life, and I think it’s really interesting to see a more official perspective of that.”

While some students may consider assignments about the different dimensions of wellness or social-emotional health to be pointless, they actually demonstrate a considerable improve-

I love coming up with new things. I love trying new activities Kristine DeBolt

DeBolt takes this newer curriculum to heart, when she goes beyond just making the students complete the lessons. In Group Fitness Blended, the students discuss the lessons or incorporate them into their class activities which have helped them connect more and feel more comfortable.

“I just want to create that culture where people are happy and comfortable, just finding a way to connect with students to create that kind of relationship,” DeBolt said.

By creating a safe environment, DeBolt makes the class even more enjoyable.

“[Physical education] has always been my least favorite class basically throughout my whole life, but she makes it fun, and I’m not dreading it every day,” Darnall said.

“She’s honestly made me like [phys-

being in her class,” Reyes Villanueva said.

DeBolt makes personal connections with all of her students, and through the class, they learn to connect all areas of their lives and wellness.

Because of the pandemic, many students do not understand or know much about their options for physical education classes when deciding their schedules. There are so many unique classes such as Group Fitness that can fit the needs of a wide range of students. Students should genuinely look at their options and consider taking Group Fitness Blended as a senior because its lessons go far beyond exercise.

“We’ve created these classes because of student feedback, so we want [students] to be happy with what [they’re] doing. We want them to enjoy [physical education],” DeBolt said.

ter one, the students in Group Fitness Blended are used to the structure of the class. Normally drowsy and tired of sitting in classrooms all day, the students walk into the fitness room and catch up with DeBolt. She asks about students’ weekend plans or school days before diving into the activity of the day. Depending on the energy or mood of the class, DeBolt will modify the activities.

The students in Group Fitness Blended know what is expected of them; they know what they are encouraged to learn and try, and, for once, many of them are motivated to do so.

“I want them to be smiling when they exercise. I don’t want them to hate it; I don’t want them to dread it,” DeBolt said. “I want them that be laughing and smiling and having fun.”

Alyssa Roos

Grade Senior Activities

Softball, Leo’s Club, and Medical Adademy Favorite TV Show Impractical Jokers Star Sign Cancer

they would say...

I am a child care worker at the elementary schools. I currently play for the high school varsity softball team. Some of my favorite things are working out, shopping, and having fun with my family including my little brother. My friends would consider me athletic, kind, and someone who cares about other people. I enjoy going to school, my favorite class is Intermediate Algebra. My favorite extracurricular is Leo’s club after school. I go out shopping during the weekends, my favorite things to get are usually clothes or athletic wear for softball. Next year I’m going to Clarke University and I’m committed to play softball there. I would like to go into the medical field, as I am in the Medical Academy.

If these halls

could talk

Ehren Bautista

Grade

Activities

they would say...

I am typically quiet, hardworking, and humble. Sometimes I read when I’m bored, and I love video games. I also write when I’m bored. When I wake up, I’m very excited for the school day to start. My favorite class is Geometry in Construction. After I end my day going home with my big brother. I like to play basketball after school and get done with my homework.

During the summer one of my favorite games is playing golf and I love playing it with my family. One of my favorite apps are Snapchat, I love chatting with my friends. Right now, I am enjoying my life and I like hanging out with my friends for the majority of the day.

Sophomore

Graphic Design Favorite TV Show Cowboy Bebop Star Sign Leo

interviewed by Peyton Taylor & photos by D. Arellano

Two sides of a political coin, dividing the community

The Illinois midterms approach and controversy surrounds the campaign for governor

By Sam Webb

As you drive by, patches of grass line the edges of the road. Metal prongs are stuck into the soft dirt underneath; red and blue signs are attached. They blur as you pass. The bold, white lettering with names like “Tammy Duckworth” and “JB Pritzker” turn cloudy at 40 mph. Ads are talked about on the radio, faintly playing throughout the car. Commercials berating the opposite candidate talk

candidates is one of the reasons why we are as politically divided as we are now instead of trying to bring us together on common ground.” Current Issues teacher, Bradley Aney said.

Since the overturning of Roe V. Wade, candidates across the state are campaigning around either banning or legalizing abortion. The Democratic candidate and current Governor of Illinois, JB Pritzker, has run his whole race around protecting that right. However, many Americans worry that it will become another stepping stool into office and will not be lawfully implemented.

On the other side, Darren Bailey has run his Republican campaign around banning abortion. Even in cases of rape and incest. He has also had controversy surrounding his responses to the gun violence that recently ensued in Highland Park.

middle-class-friendly economy.

Studies show that people have been leaving the state to seek a better living cost and tax cost.

This could mean peril for Pritzker. People may resort to voting over party lines in an attempt to fix or escape high tax rates. However, Pritzker has shown outstanding results in socio-political issues including the pandemic. This resonates with people standing at the polls and bubbling in their votes.

People prefer those who can handle themselves in office and implement the right policies, and when we look at debates for Governor, Bailey has not had an up-to-par performance.

Many say that his commercials continue to affect the climate negatively and have been incredibly chastising toward Pritzker.

“During his debate with Governor

through the tiny speaker at the bottom of your phone.

The midterm elections are coming up, voting for Senators, the House of Representatives, Mayors, Governors, and more. Nov. 8 is an important day for people around the country. Voting has become the forefront of the fight for the rights of citizens and we have never been more divided.

“I think that the knocking of other

Bailey is running an uphill battle. Since 1992, Illinois has been Democratic for both the Primary and General elections. His plans to restore the state include pro-gun laws and abortion bans. Gun control and abortion protection have consistently been prevalent in Illinois’ overall reputation and declined the chances of Bailey’s winning over Illinois. Regardless, Bailey has never been a man of great character.

JB Pritzker has already won people over, being a continuous candidate and winner in the governor race. However, Illinois has become a state without a

One Word to Describe Sam: Fun Samantha Webb

Samantha is a junior and this is her second year on staff. She is a dancer. She also enjoys reading, painting, and camping. Samantha has a twin brother who she hangs out with all the time. She hopes to pursue a career in politics as she gets older.

Check out her series “Inside Insanity” on huntleyvoice.com!

Pritzker, Darren Bailey never truly answered the question. I want to see plans A, B, and C to fix it.” former Illinois election judge, Mary Conroy said.

Since such extreme ideologies are so prominent in the U.S. we are rather invited to join them, than criticize their lack of empathy. In commercials,

I think that the knocking of other candidates is one of the reasons why we are as politically divided

Bradley Aney

During his debate with Governor Pritzker, Darren Bailey never truly answered the question. I want to see plans A, B, and C to fix it Mary Conroy

Lost in Translation

Isupport Raider Nation.

I support a roaring student section during a game that can bring our athletes to thrilling victories.

I support the energy that surges through the crowd with loud chants and the student body overdressed in the theme.

But what happens when this is the reality for only one sport out of the 10 we have in the fall season?

What happens is a lack of representation.

The Raider Nation Leaders are 12 seniors whose job is to support the whole student body in their sports.

“We all work together to ensure the Huntley school, community and athletes have every possible opportunity to be supported and promoted in their athletics,” Raider Nation leader Michael Dabe said.

According to adviser Brad Aney, each of the leaders is assigned to be a contact for a fall sport. They are in charge of asking the coach for 3-4 games that they want a crowd at.

“We give courtesy to the coaches and athletes to decide when and where they want the crowd,” Raider Nation Leader Matt O’Connell said.

They then make a plan.

“Raider Nation Leaders and I sit down at the beginning of the semester and get the dates that every coach wants and schedule everyone to attend one to two games per week, not including football,” Aney said.

Even so, Raider Nation attended a

The needed recreation of Raider Nation

By Gretchen Sweeney

very small portion of the 173 nonfootball sporting events held this fall.

After 13 weeks of school, the leaders should have attended anywhere from 13 to 26 non-football games or matches.

Instead, they’ve attended 11.

This number comes from the Raider Nation Twitter page, where, according to Dabe, all of the group’s appearances are documented.

This has created resentment in some student athletes.

“Raider Nation has often said they were going to show up and they didn’t,” senior volleyball player Ciera Fletcher said.

“We had a home meet and Raider Nation said they would show up and they never did,” senior cross country runner Danny Fitte said.

These choices by the Raider Nation Leaders leave many athletes feeling unsupported.

So why don’t they show up to many non-football events?

According to the leaders, if the three to four games suggested by a coach cannot fit the leaders’ schedules, they do not attend.

“We have lives outside of Raider Nation, so we have to work around those,” Olivia Schramm, one of the leaders said.

“We just posted the schedule on the [white] board and we all took a picture of it, but sometimes those pictures get lost in translation,” Aney said.

As a result, there was no attendance from the Raider Nation leaders for girls golf, boys swimming,

Word to Describe Gretchen: Passionate Gretchen Sweeney

Gretchen Sweeney is a third year staffer and a Floating Editor on The Voice. She plays lacrosse and wrestles for Huntley. In her free time, she thrifts, works at Culvers, and listens to music.

and both girls and boys cross country. This lack of structure and accountability leaves many games forgotten or unattended.

“It would be nice to have other people besides just your parents cheering you on,” senior swimmer Ashley Garrard said.

I understand the leaders are involved; most of them are in a sport, job, or other clubs. Their busy schedules can make it difficult to attend events.

But the lack of attendance leaves many athletes feeling unappreciated.

This needs to change.

Look at the example set by principal Marcus Belin-he attends many sporting events despite having the workload of a high school principal, father, and being a prominent figure of the community.

“I attend a lot of events, so I will schedule my time to take my calls on the road and answer my emails on the golf cart waiting for the next players,” Belin said. “We all have the time-we just have to figure out how we manage that time to be the most impactful.”

And that’s what needs to happen with Raider Nation: they too need to figure out how to manage their schedules and time and increase their efficiency so no sport is left out.

To be fair, sometimes, the leaders don’t hear back from a coach at all.

“For girls golf, we were never notified of dates to attend, we tried to work out a date but it never got through to finishing one,” Dabe said.

But really this is no excuse. HHS keeps their community updated on all the sporting events dates and location on 8to18. This information is accessible to everyone, even if they are not in the district.

When a student holds a leadership position, it is crucial to take initiative, especially when they are models of school spirit.

Dabe also said that the leaders try to schedule events to maximize attendance.

“We tried to sponsor events that we thought could draw a crowd, and that other students outside of ourselves could go to,” Dabe said.

One

Even so, events go unrecognized and lack a student presence because the student body follows Raider Nation.

As leaders, if they show up to events and promote them on social media, people will follow.

“If we get 30 students out for an event cheering, that’s 30 more that wouldn’t have gone before,” Aney said. “Then next year we can build up to 50. We have to make a culture of bringing a friend so that can happen.”

Raider Nation leaders are a highly involved part of the community who have many people they could bring to these sporting events.

“These students have the voice and the leadership in the most unstructured environments-they can completely change the course of what culture is for us,” Belin said.

When these leaders put the effort in, they have the power to influence the student body and the attendance at certain sports. This can be seen in the increased attendance of volleyball games over the past few years.

Belin is even open to providing resources to help Raider Nation with those numbers.

“I would be willing to explore

outside the box and get the activity bus to bring Raider Nation leaders plus a group of students to events. We can find ways around the hurdles that we have,” Belin said. “We just have to be willing to want to do it.”

According to Aney, there is a new plan coming down the pipeline: Raider Nation leaders for each grade level.

There would be around seven leaders per grade that would be mentored by the senior leaders. Through this process they can gain experience in leading a crowd and gain experience in the position.

This gives a larger chance for the whole student body to be more represented. JV and freshmen/ sophomore games do not see Raider Nation leaders, but these younger leaders can attend these games.

When you have freshmen cheering on the freshmen teams versus the varsity teams, that typically consist of upperclassmen, they will feel more connected to the team.

This new structure will call for kids with confidence, responsibility, and commitment that are willing to take their representation of their school to the next level.

For the meantime, we have to fix the current culture of Raider Nation. Some suggestions:

• Continue to appoint leaders to individual sports to be the contacts and reach out to the coaches to get their input as far as which events to attend;

• If leaders don’t hear from coaches, take the initiative and suggest events yourselves. Just look at 8to18 to see when games are being held. Help the coaches help you to schedule events.

• If the coach still doesn’t get back to you (and sometimes they won’t), reach out to a captain, seniors on the team or anyone involved with the sport to find out when to come and schedule a visit anyway;

• Be sure to show up for every sport during a given season, no exceptions. Being busy is no excuse; your presence makes a difference, so be there for all of Huntley’s student athletes (not just football);

• Publicize your visits so that students follow you to events. If you get the word out, people will come.

Although these leaders are here to promote these games, it is also up to the student body to show up.

“We view this as a job to represent the student body in a positive light and that if we can’t be at every sporting event, we are still there in spirit,” Schramm said.

Supporting the Raider Nation Leaders by showing up to events with them will show them that they make an influence and that we care.

Team culture is very significant, so get your team together and attend other sporting events. Together you can cheer loud and they will return the favor.

So I challenge all of Raider Nation, leaders and attendees, to think: what kind of school spirit legacy do you want to leave?

from MIDTERMS page 25

candidates are invited to talk themselves up or criticize their opponents. Recent years have shown an influx in demonizing the other person’s values and character.

Bringing to light someone’s character could have saved us from the horror show that was our 45th president. “And so I pretty much try to tune

it out, because, at some point, it just becomes obnoxious.” social studies teacher, Alex Berman said.

For the past 50-60 years of elections, campaigning has been what it is today. However, social media has only worsened the rage and targeted blows at one another. Regardless of First Amendment rights, dehumanization of anyone becomes polarization and then becomes indoctrination.

People should be able to make their campaign and state their abilities, not someone else’s. Without unity, our country will constantly decline and with this upcoming presidential election, people will never be able to help themselves.

Like a moth to a flame, hateful words will prevail and most likely continue until people develop common decency for one another.

BAILEY: Cobiblair, CC BY-SA 4.0. PRITZKER: Charles Edward Miller/CC BY-SA 2.0

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Erin O’Brien, MD

Jason Tjaden, MD

Amy Budnick, FNP-BC Heather Dawson, FNP-BC

Comprehensive. Compassionate. Care. childrensmedicalhome.com

“Scorn” leaves players dissatisfied

Ebb Software’s newest title gives gamers mixed feelings about its mechanics, art style

By Anthony Ciuleba

Based on the downright terrifying art of H.R Giger and Zdzisław Beksiński, Ebb Software’s “Scorn” is a survival horror game that uses in-depth puzzles and combat to further its story, and explore the dystopian setting of the game.

The video game in question was released on Oct. 14 and takes place in an alien world, with the intention being the feeling of being thrown into the world. Filled to the brim with eldritch horrors, techno monsters, and surrealist topography, the overall look and feel of “Scorn” send shivers down even the most stoic of players’ spines.

In the beginning of the story, the player is forced to equip a gauntlet that leaves the protagonist bleeding and able to open various gates through the means of sticking both arms within a grotesque, fleshy control board which reacts to movements of the operator. Such gadgets and interactable con-

dimension the player is thrust into.

Further in the story, the player arms themselves with various weapons resembling fire arms which fit in perfectly with the biopunk themes of “Scorn,” with one of the weapons being some sort of jack hammer-like tool with components primarily constructed with body parts and viscera.

Other reviewers also praise the excellent atmosphere “Scorn” has to offer, such as PC Gamer’s Tec Litchfield claiming that “Scorn” is “a truly alien world, one that by turns surprised, sickened, and genuinely moved me.”

However, many feel as if “Scorn’s” combat is extremely limited, and though “many in this genre encourage players to circumvent enemies rather than engage them… “Scorn” expects this, but its combat encounters leave little room to do so,” as Gamespot’s Alessandro Barbosa puts it.

Some audiences disagree with the negative portrayal of combat within “Scorn.” They argue that the janky

ammo they may have and forcing many to go back should they have missed a weapon that is required for a section in the future. While it may not be attractive to everyone, such features enhance the short experience and make it’s tension sky rocket, making a player doubt whether or not they have missed something, and if they should go back and check.

The puzzles themselves are fine. There are not any real problems with said puzzles, though there could have been more of them. A critically acclaimed game, which also deals heavily with portals, is the Portal series by Valve Softworks, which features predominantly puzzles with heavy story elements, much like “Scorn.”

Within the Portal series, combat was directly linked with the puzzles throughout the games, so seeing a different take on combat in “Scorn” left a bad taste in many players’ mouths, regardless if the player base anticipated puzzles at all.

You are being watched

Netflix's "The Watcher" is worth a watch

By Brendan Busky

Everyone enjoys having a certain level of privacy. It’s fun to show your life to others to a certain extent. Now imagine that someone, and you do not know who it is, starts watching you. Watches your every move and knows everything about you and your family while you are inside your house. You figure it out when you start getting letters from a person called the Watcher.

The letter starts off with “Dearest new neighbor at 657 Boulevard, allow me to welcome you to the neighborhood,” which is similar to how the rest of the letters begin. The letters are eerie and make the new homeowners very worried.

At first, it was that the family was scared about their safety and did not want anyone to hurt them, but then the family started tearing each other apart.

Nora, the mom, is friends with this woman named Karen who sold them the house they are living in. She seems very high class and pretentious, but they live in a very high-class neighborhood, so she does not seem like anything crazy. When she talks to Nora, it is like she is implanting bad ideas into Nora’s head and makes her start doing these bad ideas.

For example, Karen told her to move out of the house and ended up causing marriage problems. At first it seems logical why Karen wants her to leave, but later, we find out Karen wanted her to move out, so she could live in the house.

he is having with Nora.

These problems that the family faces along with other people in the show are great at grabbing attention. They help the person watching really feel hooked and want to see the next episode to see what is going to happen next.

To try and figure out who the Watcher is, the family hires a private investigator named Theodora. She uncovers a lot of information that the family would not have found without the help of her. In the last episode, she is about to pass away from liver cancer she reveals she is the Watcher.

She explains the whole story about how she used to live in the house then had to sell it and wanted it back. It once again grabs attention and makes the person watching want to be more invested into the show.

What is even crazier though is that Dean talks to one of his neighbors, and she tells Dean that Theodora has never lived at the house. It was hard to see how a second season could happen until this moment happens.

"The Watcher" is a pretty good show overall. It gives different views of characters and lets you put the pieces together to try and figure out who the watcher might be. There are many different scenarios in the show that hook in the person watching.

It all begins when the Brannock family moves out of the city and into their dream house. It’s bigger, nicer, has a pool, and is in the suburbs which is safer than the city and the main reason they decided to move. The house was listed for very cheap, but the Brannock’s could not figure out why.

Once they moved in to the house it starts to make sense on why the house was listed for such a low price. All of the neighbors are not very normal. From people sneaking into their house, to randomly showing up in their yard, to screaming at them. After they experienced some of the weird actions from the neighbors, they get their first letter.

Dean, the dad, seemed high-class and pretentious like Karen but also loved his family and wanted to take care of them. He starts to obsess over the idea of who the Watcher could be and what his highschool daughter is doing. These two things further cause the difficulties

While this show can be a lot to handle with all the different things that are going on it really hooks the person watching and makes you want to find out what is going to happen next. There’s a lot of suspense, drama and mystery, and it is a great show to watch.

Netflix

Netflix

Sniffing out a new mob in 2023

This is where the Sniffer comes into play; you must bring the egg up to the surface and look after it until it hatches.

By Pitch Reynolds

Every year, the Minecraft Live event happens when hundreds of Minecraft players can vote out of three mobs to see which one will appear in the game. This year, on Oct. 14, more than 3.5 million Minecraft players logged on to vote for either the Sniffer, the Rascal, or the Tuff Golem in a span of 24 hours.

It was a race of three mobs wanting to get to the finish line and get a spot in the roster amongst the other mobs in Minecraft. Then, 24 hours later on Oct. 15, Mojang Studios had Minecraft Live debut to reveal which mob won its way into the game. The Sniffer won by a landslide with 55.1% of the players voting for this resurrected mob.

In the 1.20 update, which will not come out until 2023, it will have players explore ruins hidden beyond the depths of the sea. They may come across a chest, expecting to find the normal loot like cooked fish or prismarine crystals; but instead, players will find an egg.

Watch it grow up like a proud parent, and when it is grown, it will help you find ancient seeds to give you some decorative plants for your cozy home thanks to their skill in horticulture. And since the Sniffer was brought back from the past, it being once extinct, you help them grow their numbers by hatching them and breeding them. And soon, with your help, our Sniffer pals will be thriving in big numbers like other mobs.

Mojang Studios, the host of Minecraft Live, is a Swedish video game company based in Stockholm that is most famous for creating the sandbox game Minecraft, possibly one of the best-selling games of all time. Mojang was founded by independent video game designer Markus Persson in 2009 as Mojang Specifications during Minecraft’s creation.

When Minecraft was finally released, Markus had the studio renamed to Mojang AB with the help of Jakob Porsér; they hired Carl Manneh as the company’s CEO. With a desire to move on from the hit game, Minecraft, Persson offered to sell his share in Mojang, and

the company was bought by Microsoft in November of 2014.

Persson, along with Porsér and Manneh, left Mojang; and left Mojang with Jonas Mårtensson, replacing Manneh as the company’s CEO. And in May of 2020, the company was again rebranded as Mojang Studios. As of 2021, there are about 600 employees working at Mojang Studios, including the Studio Head Helen Chiang.

Thanks to Mojang Studios, we now have this wonderful gentle giant to befriend, and according to the vote, a lot of people cannot wait to befriend this creature either. Just like a lot of people, I also have begun to love this ancient giant; you cannot deny it is somewhat of an interesting creature. It retrieves seeds for you to essentially help you grow a garden, but it is found underwater. I wonder how this creature will fit into the story of Minecraft what this holds for the player.

The Sniffer may be a key to understanding what the world was like in ancient times, and we along the way could learn how this creature went extinct and why. Maybe if we figure this out, we might come to understand the world of Minecraft a bit more.

This year’s Minecraft Live has brought a mob that was once extinct into Minecraft

Minecraft

Striving to be the best

Tumbler Jake Webbs works to improve their skills and make a positive impact

By Bailee Borchart

Nerves rush through the body, a long runway of mats line up to a double-mini trampoline, as they fly up into the air, jump, flip, twist. Jake Webb sticks the landing and the nerves suddenly go away.

Webb feels number one, on top of the world when competing against oth er gymnasts. The strive to be the best motivates them to the next level.

“I guess no one in particular inspires me, but I compete against a lot of tough competitors, so I guess I strive to be on their level,” Webb said.

The passion started as joke and some thing fun to do after quitting lacrosse. Since then Webb has fell in love with the competitiveness and the feeling of winning.

As they went to more practices and learn the certain techniques for certain tricks, Webb soon developed into a well-loved athlete. After a while of moving up levels they finally got the opportunity to try out for their elite tumbling team.

Coach Ashleigh Duran

Over the years, as Webb competes more and more, the nerves still never go away. Nerves turn into adrenaline when they are about to preform.

“Over the years, he’s put in a lot of effort. So everytime he gets into the gym he knows that he has to work hard, and he puts in the effort, he’s just grown in skills and abilities,” Webb’s coach said. “Just knowing and understanding how to work hard, so putting in the effort is

the main key and his heart is there so he wants it all the time.”

All of Jake Webb’s hard work lead them to be nominated as the Athlete of the Year and football, and that there are kids that love to do other sports, and they thrive at those,” Ron Webb said.

Webb has prove how much talent they have and keeps working hard to be the best. Webb was then starting to get recognized, being nominated athlete of the year, third on trampoline open elite and second in age elite.

They even started coaching at Flight Club for two different teams, tumble two-multiples and sometimes back tuck advanced. Webb teaches the kids the same way he was taught and uses the same principles and techniques.

Webb says they would continue to keep coaching in the future if they ever stopped tumbling.

“He knows how to motivate the kids and works well with all the kids but it’s a sport that he enjoys so much, so I see him doing a lot of coaching in the future,” Webb’s coach said.

While tumbling has made a huge impact on others around him, not just with how they treat everyone with kindness, but with their own tumbling abilities. Webb makes the biggest difference with their tumbling students, family, and friends.

“It has changed me to realize that there are sports other than baseball

Webb’s athletic ability not only makes them a great athlete but also a great person individually. They have learned great sportsmanship, discipline, and confidence.

His heart is there so he wants it all the time.

photos courtesy of Jake Webb

sports on web huntleyvoice.com

Our staff works together to create an engaging and informational website for and about our community. The website includes daily uploads of galleries, videos, articles, and more. Staffers write articles about current events in Huntley. In addition, each staffer is given the opportunity to express themsleves through a fun, personal assignment. We hope to keep growing our community engagement. Be sure to check out huntleyvoice.com for a sneak peek of our content featured below.

Photo Gallery

photo taken by J. Capito

Each month, our photographers take a series of photos that capture a specific event around Huntley High School. After, they post them on web for your enjoyment. This month, photographer Jayden Capito took photos at the football playoffs on Oct. 28. Capito’s gallery and an article by Zoe Emerson showcase the nail-biting game. See photos like this and many more on the website.

Personality Video

vlog filmed by A. Berardi

Living Life on a Runner’s High: Episode 2

Every cycle, staff writer Ava Berardi takes viewers through a full day as a varsity cross country runner. In this episode, she and her team prepare for sectionals during the fall season. See more videos and columns like this one the website’s multimedia page.

Sports Article

article written by Jadyn

Ride to success

Sola

For this cycle, Jadyn Sola wrote an article about sophomore Abbie Williams and her horse competing all over the state. A short feature, this article allows readers to peak into the demanding lifestyle of horseback riding. See more articles and broadcasts on the website.

Spinning to grand champions

Color guard captains, Molly Balmes and Norah Garrity’s story of color guard throughout the years

By Zoe Hurmi

While the majority of Huntley was just making their morning cup of coffee, color guard captains Molly Balmes and Norah Garrity were re-taping their flags and gathering their silks for their last-ever high school competition. The two seniors arrived at the school around seven in the morning and got ready for their 7:30 a.m. rehearsal time. They walked out onto the football field with the morning dew still covering their shoes. The sun was rising with them as they put their flags on the sidelines so they could go

stretch.

Saturday, Oct. 22 was warmer than the past seven days leading up to it. On this specific Saturday morning, the stadium lights were being replaced causing the band to change how they would normally rehearse. They had changed to facing the east stands. The sun was illuminating their eyes as it rose. Attempting to project up to the imaginary Hancock Stadium press box without blinding themselves would be their struggle at their last rehearsal. With the sun giving the field a golden glow, Balmes and Garrity continue to lead their team to prepare for their morning rehearsal before the two-and-a-half-hour bus ride ahead of them.

The journey of the two color guard captains started with just two best friends finding informational post-

ers around the halls of their middle school music hallway.

“My sister did marching band, she played the trumpet. I’m not musically gifted at all, so another aspect is the color guard and it was really mesmerizing to watch them and do all the tosses,” Norah Garrity said.

Walking into their first color guard clinics, ready to learn the basics, was intimidating for them. Balmes felt like a fish out of water. Looking around at her future teammates that were able to do plenty of mesmerizing tosses and tricks where the two were barely able to do a drop spin.

“I mean there is a learning curve for sure, but I eventually figured out how to do it, obviously,” Balmes said.

In April 2020, everyone had hoped

Balmes and Garrity holding their color guard rifles

D. Doyle

By Emma McCoy

Three cheers

Sophomore Connor Gerst brings positivity

Sophomore Connor Gerst walks into Huntley High School’s field house for cheer. A warm breeze from the cross country team brushes through the air as he gets ready for the 2022-2023 cheer competition tryouts.

As the winter season rolls in, the Huntley cheer team has a decision to make about their division with two male cheerleaders working towards varsity. The team this year has a decision to make whether or not they go large all girl or coed.

Going into tryouts with confidence, Connor was able to perform and execute all of the skills he needed. As tryouts were wrapping up, the two varsity coaches, Head Coach Payton Cariato and Assistant Coach Abby Bilinski called up each cheerleader at a time to reveal what team they made.

Nearing the last few cheerleaders, Connor walked up and received the news about making the varsity coed team for the 2022-2023 competition season.

“I love having a male sophomore on varsity, especially being in the coed division at a school without a huge boy turnout. It’s hard to do, especially as a sophomore you’re pretty much just learning your way around the school. The fact that he has enough confidence to do so and to cheer is amazing to me,” Cariato said.

Starting cheer in seventh grade, but participating in sports before then, Connor started as a gymnast. It all began in third grade when he joined gymnastics classes and then competed in fourth and fifth grade. What really kicked off his interest in tumbling was joining Flight Club, a tumbling

team, and competing in sixth grade which led Connor into winning both state and nationals.

Having a background with tumbling from gymnastics and competitive tumbling, it allowed for him to stand out when joining cheer with having tumbling skills.

“Connor is one of the best tumblers on our team along with Matt so he obviously brings his tumbling to the team,” varsity cheerleader Adrianna Crespo said.

Since joining in seventh grade, not everything is about tumbling so Connor had to learn a lot of new things as well.

“A big challenge when switching from gymnastics to cheer was learning difficult stunts, having no experience basing and having to learn everything that all the other cheer-

for the guys

and confidence to Huntley’s cheer team

leaders could do,” Gerst said.

A huge way Connor learned and experienced more with cheer was being on the US National Youth Coed Team and winning Worlds. Not an easy thing to be a part of, Connor went through tryouts and traveling throughout the season for early, long, and difficult practices. Every weekend from February until they competed in April, practices were held early in the morning all over the Chicagoland area.

“I think Connor improved a lot after cheering on Team USA and he got a lot more confident in himself and with what he does,” varsity cheerleader Meghan Giese said.

Team USA helped Connor grow as a cheerleader with confidence and with his skill level.

“Team USA was an amazing oppor-

tunity to meet people from around the world and competing on a global scale was just really cool,” Gerst said. “And especially since it was the first Youth National Coed Team they ever had.”

Between freshman and sophomore year for Connor, he was able to gain more experience which set him apart from being on jv last year and being able to compete varsity coed this year. Continuing practice at the beginning of the school year with Team USA, apart from his experience and a Worlds win months before, he was able to prepare for varsity even more.

“As a cheerleader he will not dance, he will not make facials but if you tell him to throw 75 tumblings passes he will do that and that is appreciated as a coach,” Cariato said. “His skill level is amazing overall but he just has

this will to work. There is never a day where he comes in and is not doing his job where I have to tell him to do so. He just comes in and is ready to work at any time.”

Gerst has been very successful with his athletic career so far as just a sophomore. A bright future ahead and places to continue to grow in every day.

“Connor is a really good teammate, he is very kind and he has a very good and positive attitude about everything,” Crespo said.

Many years to come for this young athlete and a rising and exciting future to come.

“I am looking forward to competing and I think we will do really well. I think we have a bright season ahead of us,” Gerst said.

photo Baczewski

that the pandemic would blow over and that they would have a normal marching season. They had started to plan around the restrictions by meeting over Zoom and submitting videos, but that didn’t last long. The marching season was canceled and people were left at home with flags, instruments, and no motivation. The two would think I should practice a little to make sure my skills are staying strong, but just like everyone else, they couldn’t find the motivation.

“I had the flags in the corner of my room, and they sat there probably the entire time,” Garrity said.

At the start of their junior year season, the Marching Red Raiders were back with new staff, a new show designer, and a lot of new members who did not know much. For color guard, their season starts in February with their clinics and lasts up to late October.

“I was really excited, but I was also overwhelmed because a whole year of not doing a lot of guard, and then you come back knowing that I am now a veteran member of the color guard and I’m gonna be expected to teach things to other people,” Balmes said.

In their junior year, they really did find that leadership that was given to

them by seniority. The former color guard captains from the 2021 marching season, Katie Walz and Allison Apmann, saw them grow from scared freshmen to juniors who plan to be captains.

“I was working with them and I saw amazing improvement. They were showing leadership and if Katie and I were working with other girls they would always be there to step up,” former captain Allison Apmann said.

Ending their junior year season with amazing progress , they were ready to keep that ball rolling for their senior year.

“They’ve done a really good job and just even just the amount of growth that not just from last year but this year alone with them being captains has been great to see them come out of their shells and like take that leadership position and just thrive with it,” color guard Coach Amanda Hacker said.

At the start of their last season, they were nervous of what leadership role they would have to fulfill. At their first color guard clinics, they had plenty of new members to show the ropes to. Their struggle was wanting the team to not be intimidated by them. They wanted their team to treat each other as friends that they

can come up and talk to.

“If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think we would have had as good as the season as we did,” freshman Kaelyn Keegan said. “Like I said, if it wasn’t,

Kaelyn Keegan

we wouldn’t have gotten like anything done.”

Throughout the season Balmes and Garrity had truly grown into their roles. They had confidence in what they were doing and if they didn’t they faked it till they made it, which they did. The 2022 marching season the band was awarded best auxiliary, best color guard, which is a major accomplishment since Huntley had not been awarded that since 2013 with their show “Stained Glass.”

“We both just looked at each other and we’re like, oh my gosh, we made it like we did it. It was just so amazing, and we couldn’t have done it without every single person on guard because it really is a team effort and like everyone put in so much work,” Balmes said.

Yet during the last leg of their season Coach Hacker had to take a step back and Molly and Norah took a step forward.

“It’s been a relief in my eyes, just because it’s been really hard to be able to take that step back and something that I absolutely love,” Hacker said.

As the team grew closer and closer together their season grew closer to an end. The two best friends had gone through the entry of high school together, attending the color guard clinics, and to bowing at senior night. They were in it together.

If it wasn’t for them, I don’t think we would have had as good as the season as we did

Balmes and Garrity are color guard captains

D. Doyle

For the past few years, Huntley High School has set apart a specific schedule for schoolwide lessons: Raider Way Lessons. These lessons take place during 30 minutes of the extended time during everyone’s third period.

During this time, teachers are expected to follow specific lesson plans and students are obligated to remain in the building. Off-campus privileges are temporarily halted and self-guided study hall students report to the cafeteria to be given the lesson.

Normal school activities are stopped while everyone receives the Raider Way Lesson for that day. Whether it’s about mental health, upcoming state testing or preparing for life after high school, Raider Way Lessons have always seemed to be a staple at HHS.

EDITORIAL

can’t, because we have 619 seats. Our smallest class is close to 700 [students,]” Belin said.

The classes are simply too large to do any kind of lesson inside the PAC itself, making the gyms a more viable choice.

But in order to do these lessons in the central gym, which is easier to access and allows all students to get to their classes, they must do one grade level at a time. This can be hard to manage when planning the changes for third hour teachers.

“I’m trying to think in the most logical way that meets the needs of almost 200 teachers,” Belin said.

would allow for a different learning setting and a way for more faculty to be involved in students’ lives.

According to associate principal Danyce Letkewicz, the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports team meets with the administration to talk about topics they would like addressed in Raider Way Lessons.

Recently, some topics discussed include mental health, which are no longer frequently touched upon in physical education classes.

Restructuring Raider Way

On Raider Way Lesson this semester had the school talking about mental health awareness, a step in the right direction, but often students need more of a push to be part of a focused conversation.

However, should the lessons continue in the way they are currently structured?

The majority of lessons are held in a small classroom setting with some form of presentation going up on the local projector which can lead to students to be less focused.

With many lessons being taught in a video format, students are easily distracted. Some lessons do, however, invite a more interactive platform, such as the recent SchoolLinks lesson that encouraged students to fill out personality tests and career quizzes.

According to principal Marcus Belin, the high school is trying to put out a minimum of one to two lessons a month. This includes the state-mandated lessons, which are videos about Erin’s Law for sexual abuse awareness and Ann Marie’s Law for suicide awareness.

Some question whether all lessons have to be targeted toward the whole school such as ones about the SAT, when seniors have already taken it.

Because of the student tendency to get distracted during the smallclass presentations, the idea of doing an assembly is an attractive option. At the beginning of the year, each class received an assembly in the central gym, where students could better pay attention to the topic at hand.

“[As for assemblies in the Performing Arts Center,] right now we

Even so, the assembly setting is not for everyone. Special education teachers are given the same Raider Way Lesson plan as everyone else and must curate the lesson to best fit their students’ needs.

“Speaking from experience of being in more of a contained class setting, sometimes the content is a little too deep or maybe challenging for them to relate to,” special education teacher Shannon Vanek said. “It’s not always as relevant for them.”

Finding a way to adapt hard topics to every student’s needs is extremely difficult given that our school is made up of around 3,000 students.

What is the solution?

Belin made an interesting proposal about having an advisory setting where students would meet in smaller groups with a faculty member.

Belin discovered the idea at Maine Township High School of District 207. It

“It’s connecting them with the right resources based on what it is that they’re experiencing,” Letkewicz said. “Once they can sit down and connect with somebody in the building, then we can really tailor and customize what our recommendations are, point them in direction, [and] connect them to other outside resources.”

The advisory structure could be the format that allows students to meet in smaller groups and be able to take in the information in a more efficient way. Advisories could be held during the normal Raider Way Lesson times and could follow a similar lesson plan.

In order to move forward and enhance the idea of Raider Way, a new structure is needed. With its stricter format and opportunities for one-on-one discussion, an advisory is the best option for schoolwide lessons.

New approach to Raider Way Lessons would increase understanding

Humans of Huntley

Everyone is worthy of a feature story-what is it that makes you “feature

My passion for doing what’s right my to desire to help the people in the town of

Growing up, what were some of your fondest

Definitely my beagle, the dog that I had growing up and playing sports in high

Where were you born? Where have you lived throughout your life?

I was born in Aurora, and lived there the majority of my life. I spent time in

Village Manager -Dave Johnson