Munster High School's official, student-run newspaper.

Crier
The heart of the center
EVIL ORB Practicing the scene with the Witch’s spying orb, senior Logan Hayes and junior Emma Potchen run through the scene.
Off to the see The Wizard
TROPHY WINNERS Posing for a photo with their trophy, the blue ocean group gathers around their teacher
Making a splash
WINTER WONDERLAND As a part of the town-wide decorating contest, junior Brennan Rommelfanger competes against the Forsyth family. “The Forsyths and my family are both baseball families,” Rommelfanger said. “We used to be throwing partners, so we have a good time trying to win.”
Looking toward the lights: Munster Education Foundation holds Holiday Lights Experience
ALL VOICES MATTER Around the table, junior Audra Cabiness, senior Grace Wang, science teacher Michael Bakker, sophomore Nina Hestjean, senior Claire Piriczky and senior Eileen Eriks discuss with state representative Mike Andrade. Members discussed data centers being built in northwest Indiana and their effects on the environment.
A whole new environment: Enviromental Club travels to Indianapolis in honor of Renewable Energy Day
GATHERED TOGETHER Behind yard signs spelling out “Happy Birthday,” freshman Maria Villavicencio Rodriguez stands in the middle of her family who traveled from Venezuela in November to celebrate her quinceanera. “I was born in Venezuela,” Villavicencio Rodriguez said. “That’s where my family lives too, but my mom has a lot of family in the neighborhood. She grew up in La Guaira, which is where a couple of bombs were.”
Isolationism or involvement: The US invades Venezuela, leaving mixed opinions about putting America first
Where my hug at?
Where my hug at?
Backseat driver
Backseat driver
Finding the lost spirit
Slipping through the cracks
Slipping through the cracks
Take a look, it’s in a book
Finding your rhythm
Finding your rhythm
Where my hug at?
Where my hug at?
Backseat driver
Backseat driver
Finding the lost spirit
Take a look, it’s in a book
Finding your rhythm
Finding your rhythm
Turkey or travesty?
Slipping through the cracks
Slipping through the cracks
The illusion of power: Why the ICE protest went wrong
The gift of deception
The gift of deception
Letter from the editor
Something greener than cash
Something greener than cash
A buzz and a crash
A buzz and a crash
Photoillustration by Hiba Aftab and Josephine Zangrilli
If you give Crier a cookie…: Crier staffers review and compare Crave and Crumbl cookies
GHASTLY GAMING “Silent Hill F”, “Little Nightmares 3” and “No, I’m Not Human” are all the freshest horror titles to release just in time for Halloween — play at your own risk. (Illustration by A. Kirk
Fright or flight: Crier staffers review newly-released horror games for Halloween
Triple the love:Review of TV shows and movies with love triangles
Mint Madness: What’s the best minty ice cream available around St. Patty’s Day?
Block-must or block-bust?: Review of live-action vs. animated movies in honor of Snow White live-action coming out tomorrow
Block-must or block-bust?: Review of live-action vs. animated movies in honor of Snow White live-action coming out tomorrow
Who Let the Dogs Out?: Reviewing MHS winter athletes' previous Arnie's Dog of the Week's
Who Let the Dogs Out?: Reviewing MHS winter athletes’ previous Arnie’s Dog of the Week’s
The last lecture
PARTNER IN CRIME Holding her viola, senior Olivia Doolin smiles for the camera. Doolin is a part of many national orchestras that compete around the country. “My chamber is called Phoenix, and we are competitive, we’re doing a bunch of competitions right now,” Doolin said.
MHS girls make their mark: Senior Olivia Doolin travels the world to share her talent
R.A.I. Writing on the whiteboard, junior Raanya Rai works on writing her slogan for her presidential campiagn for Indiana State DECA. Rai has been campaining since the end of February.
MHS girls make their mark: Junior Raanya Rai runs for Indiana DECA State Presidency
RAIN OR SHINE Washing a clients car, senior and founder of Kathari Detailing Aris Karountzos built the company from the ground up with a passion for automorive care and premier customer service. "I always enjoyed the process of cleaning cars." Karountzos said. "So I thought, why not make a businesss out of it."
From the ground up: Highlighting student entrepreneurs of MHS and the process of managing a business
ELEGANT AND CLASSY With long gowns, sleek heels and sparkles, a typical dress from the early 2000s exuded classiness. “A lot of glittery, longer dresses we didn’t really do short dresses,” chemistry teacher Kyleen Nolan said. FUN AND FLARE In 2025, patterned, flare-out dresses are the focus for girls looking for their perfect dress. Their simplistic hair and accesories give an effortless look. “I’m going to wear kitten heels or a wedge, which is easier to dance in. And I’m probably going to have my hair curled and down,” sophomore Olive Hill said.
Fashion flashback: Homecoming fashion changes through generations
Breaking the Silence: Students spread awareness on domestic abuse at lunch
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP Running on the track, senior Shavar Billups practices sprints. The track team practices everyday after school preparing for their indoor season.
One foot in front: Track prepares their indoor season
PEDAL TO THE METAL Working the defense, junior Jacob Crowe attempts to drive the ball to the basket. Boys’ basketball will take on the Whiting Oilers Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.
Ballin’ Out: Boys’ basketball prepares for sectionals on March 3
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Performing at halftime, freshman Alexis Cronin and Arianna Vrehas carry out their routine. The dance team recently competed in the NDA Nationals Championship in Orlando, Florida Feb. 14-16.
On pointe: MVD prepares for IHSDTA state tomorrow
Setting the bar high: Munster Flag Football makes it to state in their first season
Finding home: Color Guard and Marching band prepare to compete with their piece “Finding Home”
Post-season success: Girls Cross Country heads to state for the first time in 17 years
A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT Announcing for the Powderpuff game, senior Jovi Savaglio speaks out to the crowd that attended the event. Savaglio has been working behind the scenes as the president of the student government, ensuring that everything is running smoothly. “Being in student government is amazing because you get the ability to benefit the school and make it change,” Savaglio said “I have to admit I have learned a lot. It’s definitely a great learning experience to be in regardless.”
Behind the scenes: Student government plans Homecoming on Oct. 4
Weathered down: Addressing seasonal depression among MHS students and staff
Weathered down: Addressing seasonal depression among MHS students and staff
Going the extra mile: Students commit to long-term class sequences in the world language and arts departments
World of winter: Exploring students’ holiday traditions
Taking center stage: The Munster Theater Company prepares for their annual contest show next week from Nov. 6-8
AYE, AYE, CAPTAIN Poms together, junior Fayette Renwald leads a spirited chant towards the stands. As a captain, Renwald leads the team. WAHOO Hyping up the student section, sophomore Gianna Gonzalez yells out to the crowd. The cheer team attends every home football game to perform chants and routines. ON POINT Looking out on the football field, freshman Gianna Strug plays a key role on the team. Although a freshman, Strug made the varsity team. STAND STRONG Standing in front of the Pop Warner girls, junior Paige Polewski demonstrates one of the Pop Warner cheers. The varsity cheer team practiced with the girls on Sept. 9 at the middle school. (Photo by Sophia Rodriguez)
Cheer me up: Cheer team perseveres through the start of the season
Backtalk: If you were Kevin in “Home Alone,” what would you have done differently?
Queen Backtalk: Interviewing the 2025 Homecoming court
King Court Backtalk: Interviewing the 2026 Turnabout court and king, Anthony Ward
Backtalk: What are the best words of encouragement you have given or received?
Backtalk: Prom Court
Senior backtalk: what’s an important lesson you’ve learned throughout high school?
Issue 8 Corrections
Issue 6 Corrections
Issue 5 Corrections
Issue 3 Corrections
Issue 2 Corrections
Issue 1 Corrections
What does FREEDOM OF SPEECH mean to you?
What does FREEDOM OF SPEECH mean to you?
Love your country enough to set it right
Love your country enough to set it right
Burning Up: Munster students share their “hot takes”
Burning Up: Munster students share their “hot takes”
SNAP HAPPY Recording on a GoPro for social media, senior Sam Mellon has recently started a weekly sports podcast. “[Senior] Brendan Feeney and I have been talking about doing a sports podcast forever. We love talking about sports and we just grabbed [senior] Will Hanas and went along with it,” Mellon said.
Not one voice, but many: How students use their freedom of speech in their own ways
Redacted: Where do we go from here?
Redacted: Where do we go from here?
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE In front of Munster High School, Aubrie Gerstenberg watches her older sister, Emilie Gerstenberg, senior, enter the school that she will attend in ten years. The sisters are twelve years apart from each other.
In 10 years: What will life look like?
Column: Before it's too late
Column: Before it’s too late
Column: When I'm older
Column: When I’m older
In the greenhouse during botany class, Anagha Narayan, junior, tends to her plant. “We’re always learning about ourselves, but we don’t have as great of an understanding about plants, so I like plants for that reason,” Anagha said.
A changing climate: Students and staff share their concerns for the next 10 years of the environment
FINAL BOW Within the next two years, the entire auditorium and lobby will be reconstructed and designed. Backstage, changes will also be made to some of the equipment that MTC uses for their productions to make them safer, such as the fly space stairs. This is currently planned to be done summer of 2025.
Building up the future: A look into upcoming construction projects, administration looks forward to next ten years of STM
Backtalk: In 10 years…
Coming of change: 233,290 minutes remaining
Coming of change: 233,290 minutes remaining
Going to school is dangerous now: 159,490 minutes remaining
Going to school is dangerous now: 159,490 minutes remaining
Operant conditioning: 11,890 minutes remaining
Operant conditioning: 11,890 minutes remaining
Working together is a success: 233,290 minutes remaining
Working together is a success: 233,290 minutes remaining
The pressure of perfectionism: 233,290 minutes remaining
The pressure of perfectionism: 233,290 minutes remaining
A lot of time to manage: 233,290 minutes remaining
A lot of time to manage: 233,290 minutes remaining
A story to tell: Personal narratives and profiles of MHS students
Finding their place: Robyn Dejoan and Alyx Salamanca Columns
Finding their place: Robyn Dejoan and Alyx Salamanca Columns
Crier staff shares their experiences as MHS students
Crier staff shares their experiences as MHS students
OPINION: "I didn't understand it was a privilege to have these things."
OPINION: “I didn’t understand it was a privilege to have these things.”
Student becomes teacher: MHS alumni-turned-teachers talk about experiences
Student becomes teacher: MHS alumni-turned-teachers talk about experiences
A sense of belonging: a feature of Charlie Mason, Kyle Farnell, and Charlie Illijevski
A sense of belonging: a feature of Charlie Mason, Kyle Farnell, and Charlie Illijevski
Munster High School's official, student-run newspaper.

Crier
Munster High School's official, student-run newspaper.

Crier
Gage Hoekstra

Gage Hoekstra, PR Manager

Hi, I’m Gage! I’m a senior and Crier’s source manager. I’m a leader in philosophy club and a member of the debate team. I like walking my dogs and I’m allergic to grass.

All content by Gage Hoekstra
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