Latest news with #HononegahHighSchool
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hononegah High School celebrates after 4 students score a perfect on their ACTs
ROCKTON, Ill. (WTVO) — Four Hononegah High School students earned a perfect score on their ACT this year. Andrew Chambers, Brooklyn Davis, Anushree Karunamurthy Premanand and Peter Nelson were the students who scored a 36 on the test. The juniors took the test in May. Hononegah celebrated them in person and on . Less than half of one percent of students nationwide get a perfect 36 on the ACT. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Illinois parents and transgender rights groups clash over Hononegah High School's locker room policy
ROCKTON, Ill. (WTVO) — Parents at Hononegah High School and transgender rights groups gathered at a school board meeting to make their voices heard after one student's mother said her daughter felt uncomfortable when two transgender students were changing in the girls' locker room. Nearly 100 advocates on both sides of the debate were at the meeting. Currently, the high school's policy allows students to change in the locker room that they identify with. Hononegah's Superintendent Michael Dugan said the alleged incident never happened when asked for a statement. 'No student is required to change for physical education class in front of others,' said Dugan. 'The school provides private changing areas inside and outside the locker rooms for any student requesting privacy.' One transgender student enrolled at Hononegah High School said he feels safe. 'When I am changing for gym class, I am given locker accommodations. I am only with other transgender students. It is me and other transgender students and nobody else,' said the student. Both parents and transgender rights groups explained why the issue is important to them. 'I'm here to support the school. They're kinda doing everything we would hope at this point for inclusivity and following on the Illinois Human Rights Act to promote inclusive policies,' said Stateline Indivisible's Tierra Polfliet. 'They have gender neutral spaces, they have enclosed private places to change, they've gotten rid of PE uniforms. So, we're here to support them.' 'We should protect our daughters. We should protect our sons. We should protect our children in general,' said Karli Weber. 'If someone's uncomfortable changing in a locker room, we should care about that.' State Representative John Cabello (R) also made an appearance to give his stance on the issue. 'We hear that there's a biological male using the female's locker rooms, and we want to make sure that that's not happening,' said Cabello. 'I don't think there's an issue with the child being trans. That's up to them, that's up to their parents,' said Cabello. 'There's apparently a changing room here that that individual could use. Why don't you just have that individual use that changing room, and stop putting our females in an uncomfortable spot?' Both Cabello and State Senator Andrew Chesney (R) released a joint statement: 'The safety, privacy and dignity of young women is non-negotiable. The school board must take decisive action, and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to ensure they do.' The Hononegah School Board President, David Kurlinkus, said what matters most is that all students feel safe at school. 'We're all part of the Hononegah nation, and we're all concerned about our children,' said Kurlinkus. 'That's why you're here. That's why we're here.' The school's policy was not up for debate on Wednesday, but over 30 people signed up and spoke during the public comment section of the meeting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hononegah ties school record, qualifies nine wrestlers for IHSA individuals state finals
ROCKTON, Il. (WTVO) — Hononegah High School wrestlers are gearing up for the IHSA State individual finals this weekend and multiple athletes will be competing. There are 14 weight classes, and the Indians qualified in nine of those. Performing at a high level is something Hononegah wrestling is known for. Head Coach Tyler DeMoss wrestled during his time as an Indian and for the past four years, he's been working to make this team better than his. 'I wrestled here from sixth grade all the way through senior year, so it's really cool to come back and give back to this program and these kids,' DeMoss said. Throughout the 2024-2025 season, the Indians have claimed the NIC-10 Conference title, a regional title, and had individuals win sectional titles. Here are the nine individual athletes that qualified for state: 106lbs. – Kristian DeClercq 120lbs. – Jackson Olson 132lbs. – Rocco Cassioppi (Sectional champ) 138lbs. – Thomas Silva (Sectional champ) 150lbs. – Bruno Cassioppi (Sectional champ) 157lbs. – Max Haskins 165lbs. – Brody Sendele (Sectional champ) 175lbs. – Connor Diemel 190lbs. – Kurt Smit (Sectional champ) DeMoss said he's hoping for a team qualification to IHSA State as well. 'It's hard to break records,' DeMoss said. 'I mean, we've had four or five teams that have gone to state and placed as a team, so trying to chase that and beat that, it's tough.' Sophomore Bruno Cassioppi has wrestling in his blood – literally. His brother Tony wrestled at Hononegah and went on to compete at the University of Iowa. Bruno and his twin, Rocco, both compete at a high level. Their sisters, Rose and Gina, are both state wrestling champions. Gina is going for a four-peat state championship this year. 'It's awesome,' Bruno said. 'It's always somebody to give you a little tip, a little lesson within the family. It's really nice. My brother [Tony] tried it out and it stuck with the family forever.' Senior Connor Diemel said this team is about heart and family, and he said he thinks they have a shot at winning it all. 'Obviously, there are some great teams that came through here [Hononegah], but our goal is to be the best, undoubtedly.,' Diemel said. 'Every day, we come in with that intention to not just be the best school in Hononegah history but be one of the best public schools in the state's history.' DeMoss credits the athletes for their hard work and dedication this season. 'It's a really special group,' DeMoss said. 'They put in a lot of work together over the last six years, so it's all coming together at the right time.' Individual state finals are Thursday, February 20-Saturday, February 22. Team state finals are Thursday, February 27-Saturday, March 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
