The Student News Site of Munster High School

Crier
At a glance: Club Callouts
DRAMA QUEEN In the spotlight, freshman Owen Kirk exits the stage with pizzazz. The Munster Theatre Company prepares for the very first production that they will be hosting for the 2025-2026 school year. “The new and improved auditorium is really great and provides a new and improved working space for the performing arts at MHS,” Kirk said. “I’m excited for the amazing performances that will be held here.”
Stepping back on stage: Munster Theater Company prepares for their fall production “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” opening on Sept. 25
CUTTING CORNERS Due to SB0001, funding for Indiana schools has been minimized by 15% according to k12drive. “My job as a principal and as a building leader is to try to make sure that you guys don’t feel that effect. But, the reality is that there’s always a consequence to decisions, right?” Nolan said.
Looking ahead: Budget cuts on a state level lead to a change of plans for the future of MHS
SHAPIN’ IT Preparing to make a new plate, senior Olivia Olivares begins to center her clay. Centering is a process that helps with the pieces’ overall quality. “Centering determines structure, like whether the walls of your pot are even and the sides are the same,” Olivares said.
At a Glance: Issue 8
THEY SEE ME ROLLIN’ Arm in the air, freshman Autumn Strode looks down the lane as her ball rolls toward the pins. Not only did Strode practice with the Munster Bowling Club, she also practiced on her own at Stardust Bowl in Dyer. “During the season, the team practices two days a week, Sunday’s and Wednesday’s this past season,” Strode said. “I practice personally about four times a week, sometimes more, depending on how much homework and studying I have during the week.”
The final pin: Munster bowling concludes their season
SPARKS FLY Trimming bolts, sophomore Carter Young uses an angle grinder on the frame of the team’s newly redesigned robot. The bolts had to be trimmed down due to being too long, a factor that would be a potential hazard. “The bolts were sticking out of the frame,” Young said. “So we had to grind them down to size to mitigate potential wire-snagging or injury.”
Changing gears: Robotics begins their competition season
What's on your Playlist?
What’s on your Playlist?
Annie's Last Address
Annie’s Last Address
Letter from the editor
Setting boundaries
Setting boundaries
Illustration by Damien Salahieh
Staff Opinion: Why Crier created this special issue
What does FREEDOM OF SPEECH mean to you?
What does FREEDOM OF SPEECH mean to you?
Triple the love:Review of TV shows and movies with love triangles
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
Photo illustrations by Lexi Villalobos Original photos attributed to Ralph_PH & Justin Higuchi via Wikimedia Commons
Who deserves the spotlight?: With the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Crier staffer reviews predictions
Four flavors, one year: Reviewing TikTok’s top food trends
Four flavors, one year: Reviewing TikTok’s top food trends
Say it and scroll: How social media shapes our real life identity and communication
MIC DROP Hyping up the crowd, senior student body president Annie Fuller presents at the student government charity volleyball game. “If I had to choose one legacy to leave for future leaders, I would hope they take this years positivity and excitement with them,” she said. (Photo by Josephine Zangrilli) AGAINST THE GRAIN Working the hand saw, junior Amelia Rzeznikowski trains her woodworking skill at a robotics workshop. “At the end of the day, its just building a robot with your friends,” she said. (Photo by Karla Aguilar) CUT A RUG Pointing to the crowd, senior Sam Bleza performs for dance at the basketball half-time show. (Photo by Josephine Zangrilli) SIT TIGHT Sat cross-legged, senior Anastasia Savic presents their next project to the Head Committee of robotics. (Photo by Karla Aguilar) TAKE HOME THE CROWN Holding her trophy, dance coach Elyse Skalka poses for a photo. (Photo by Ben Schirz)
Who run the world? Girls
Taking the graveyard shift
Taking the graveyard shift
Flipping to side B
Flipping to side B
A blooming passion
A blooming passion
Spring cleaning: Construction updates for the spring projects
Spring cleaning: Construction updates for the spring projects
One goal: Girls’ soccer eyes NCC title early in the season
Kicking competition: Boys' soccer prepares for a busy season
Kicking competition: Boys’ soccer prepares for a busy season
Making history: Munster's first ever official flag football team makes season debut
Making history: Munster’s first ever official flag football team makes season debut
RUN IT DOWN Holding the ball, senior Evan Dennis runs up the field to obtain more yards. Dennis was able to gain thirty-seven yards in the first half of the game. The Mustangs faced Lake Central on Aug. 22.
Friday night lights: Football kicks off their season Aug. 22
LOCKED IN Staring down the batter, senior Tyler Fuller pitched against Highland. The team won 17-6 on April 14. “I was dialed in and trying to throw as many strikes as I can,” Fuller said. “I was really just thinking about my approach to getting each batter out.”
Pitch perfect start: Baseball season underway as team takes the field again today
Victory to a tee: Boys’ varsity golf starts season with a win
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
Prom perfect
HENNA SPEAKS At the India fest in August, senior Suvali Giridaran does henna at a booth with a customer. The money was raised for the Carmeite home in India. “My most recent clients were at a baby shower, so I did henna there and I earned money and donated that. (Photos provided by Suvali Giridaran)
Walking the halls, leaving their mark: Seniors impact inside or outside the school
SIGHTING THE HILAL Smiling, sisters senior Junainah Ali and junior Munazzah Ali pose for a photo. Featured in the background is a string of crescent-moon lights, a widely recognized symbol of Islam. “I personally like the sense of community and unification of Ramadan. Ramadan’s about building up to the slow steps of Islam and incorporating the rules of it,” Munazzah Ali said.
From dusk to dawn
Market madness: Inside the student interest of the stock market
An emotional mirage
An emotional mirage
Backtalk: What are the best words of encouragement you have given or received?
Prom Court backtalk
Senior backtalk: what’s an important lesson you’ve learned throughout high school?
Backtalk: March 20 is International Day of Happiness, who or what makes you the happiest?
February 27th is National Retro day, what is something you would bring back and why?
If you could add an elective to the school, what would it be and why?
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
The Student News Site of Munster High School

Crier
The Student News Site of Munster High School

Crier
Sophia Rodriguez

Sophia Rodriguez, Head Photographer

Hi my name is Sophia and I am a senior this year. I have been on Crier for two years now and I’m the head photographer this year as well. I love playing tennis, reading books, and riding my bike.

All content by Sophia Rodriguez
huntedited

[Photo] Kicking competition: Boys’ soccer prepares for a busy season

August 30, 2025
RUN IT DOWN Holding the ball, senior Evan Dennis runs up the field to obtain more yards. Dennis was able to gain thirty-seven yards in the first half of the game. The Mustangs faced Lake Central on Aug. 22.

[Photo] Friday night lights: Football kicks off their season Aug. 22

Keira Allegrezza, Writer
August 28, 2025
ON THE SPOT Delivering her speech with passion, senior Jordan Fefferman imitates Cyndi Lauper in her adaptation of “Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir.” She performed her speech mid-season. “It starts looking for a book or play to adapt that has a fitting storyline and character, then a lot of showing it to coaches and teammates to get feedback,” Fefferman said.

[Photo] Not one voice, but many: How students use their freedom of speech in their own ways

Josephine Zangrilli, Lexi Villalobos, and Gabriella Van Horne
April 22, 2025
SO FRESH, SO CLEAN Presenting to Kristin LaFlech, junior Dhara Patel pitches her DECA project on a potential deodorant product. Her group members plan to have a booth selling their product, Shield, in a few weeks to have students test the product. “People should buy this product because everyone deals with sweat stains at least once and there’s no product out there that really eliminates that problem completely,” Patel said. “So our idea is to create a three step ‘skincare’ routine by taking a consultation, so the ingredients are personalized to your needs."

[Photo] Prepping roles: After success at Regionals, DECA prepares for State

Emma Starkey, Web Chief
March 6, 2025
JUST LIKE OLD TIMES Looking over at his peers, senior Lorenzo Piña holds his box with decorations consisting of construction paper and stickers. Members of Best Buddies made boxes to put their Valentine’s in on their Valentine’s Day party on Feb 9. “Best Buddies is very important club because it’s fun for the special needs kids and other kids,” Piña said.

[Photo] Scoring smiles: Best buddies sponsors annual best Buddy Bowl on March 6

Emily Dywan, Editor-in-Chief
March 6, 2025
GAME FACE Looking at his opponent, senior #55 Logan Efantis gets ready to tackle his opponent. The Mustangs faced the Kankakee Valley Cougars on Oct. 18.

[Photo] Senior Spotlight: Spotlighting All-star team football qualifier Logan Efantis

Emma Starkey, Web Chief
February 25, 2025
BREATHE IN, BREATHE OUT In her lane performing backstroke, freshman Emilia Buschmann competes against Penn High School for the duel meet. The Munster seahorses went against the Penn’s Kinsgmen on Jan. 11. “I’m mostly just focused on winning, but also underwater because they are the foundation of backstroke overall,” Buschmann said.

[Photo] Making a splash: Swim prepares for Sectionals

Gabriella Van Horne, Beat Manager
February 7, 2025
ALL BARK NO BITE Pictured above, the art club showcases their dog house. Their dog house’s theme is K-9. The Munster Police Department will have this doghouse at their events to promote awareness to the canine program.

[Photo] Issue 6: at a glance

February 7, 2025
A STRIKING SERVE In the air, senior Liliana Rivera serves the ball performing a jump serve. The girls volleyball team had their cancer awareness game on Oct. 2nd against Portage. The Mustangs won 3-0. “I try to keep myself as loose and calm as possible on the court, because I usually get in my head,” Rivera said.

[Photo] Setting up for success

Gabriella Van Horne, Beat Manager
October 17, 2024
PRESENTATION MODE Advocating their platform, seniors Jude Jimenez and Asha Patel present their program, “Sprout” to Leigh Ann Westland’s tutorial class. “It was a great opportunity to expand our initiative and gain outreach,” Jimenez said.

[Photo] Turning ideas into impact: student created website offering tips, tools & assistance financially and economically

Lexi Villalobos, Deadline Manager
September 26, 2024
HYPED UP Having a pre-game celebration junior Jake Foerster, and senior Anthony Cowins get excited for the first home game of the season. “I get hyped up with the team before games by listening to music in the locker room and then having a talk with everyone before we walk out,” Foerster said.

[Photo] Blitzing and blocking: Football prepares for Homecoming game against East Chicago Central

Gabriella Van Horne, Beat Manager
September 19, 2024
WRITINGS ON THE WALL Writing essay criteria for his classes, Mr. Ryan Sosnowski, online teacher for english and physical education, poses for a photo.

[Photo] Welcome aboard: MHS introduces 12 new staff members

August 26, 2024
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