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The student news site of West Chicago Community High School

Wildcat Chronicle

The student news site of West Chicago Community High School

Wildcat Chronicle

The student news site of West Chicago Community High School

Wildcat Chronicle

2025-2026 Staff

Gabriella Castro
Co-Editor-in-Chief

Gabriella Castro

Gabriella Castro (well known as Gaby), follows up her Senior year with the Wildcat Chronicle as she chases deadlines like no tomorrow. A Best of SNO winner and part of the 2024 Pacemaker team, she loves writing, reading, and colo...

Ja'Nyah Villa
Co-Editor-in-Chief

Ja’Nyah Villa

Ja'Nyah Villa is a senior in her fourth year of writing for the Chronicle! She started her journalism career during her freshman year, and her experience built up her credentials. She is one of five co-hosts for the Chronicle's video ne...

Aly Dusing
Managing Editor

Aly Dusing

Alyson (Aly) Dusing is an outgoing and engaging senior who enjoys making new connections and spending time with people she values. She strives to earn inspiring opportunities and continue to grow in academic, social, artistic,...

Miley Pegg
Managing Editor

Miley Pegg

Miley Pegg is onto her final year on the Chronicle. The last four years she has grown as a writer, expanding from Taylor Swift reviews to sports writing. Her time as a Wildcat has been nothing but wild; serving as many differen...

Ruby Guerrero
News Editor

Ruby Guerrero

Ruby Guerrero Lopez is a junior at West Chicago Community High School and no stranger to journalism. Over her high school years, she's had absolutely no idea what she wants to do after school. Right now, it's to be a family attorney,...

Ana Hurtado
Sports Editor

Ana Hurtado

Junior Ana Hurtado is very involved within school. During her free time, Ana enjoys playing soccer for school and club, and hopes to play college in the future. As a lover of English, she reads in her spare time, but Ana's tr...

Juliet Payton
Sports Writer

Juliet Payton

Juliet Payton is a senior in her second semester of writing for the Chronicle and has since found a true passion for sports journalism. She hopes to study sports media in college and continue to combine her love for sports and w...

Alexa Cruz
Senior Reporter

Alexa Cruz

With a new environment, changes are bound to occur, and now, Alexa Cruz springs toward her passion for writing and journaling. As a freshman in high school, she made the life-changing decision to join the Wildcat Chronicle...

Aaron Hernandez Granados
Senior Reporter

Aaron Hernandez Granados

Aaron Hernandez Granados is entering his senior year at West Chicago Community High School and his first year on the Wildcat Chronicle. He enjoys pursuing his goals and embracing the journey, no matter how fun or difficult it may b...

Leo Mendez
Senior Reporter

Leo Mendez

Leo is a senior at West Chicago Community High School who joined journalism during his sophomore year and is actively completing his third semester as a journalist. Leo has solidified himself as a reporter after gaining signific...

Alondra Mendoza
Senior Reporter

Alondra Mendoza

Senior Alondra Mendoza is no stranger to the newsroom: she got her start at the Kaneland Krier and has now worked her way to the Chronicle. This senior enjoys soccer and baking.

Audrey Rostowsky
Senior Reporter

Audrey Rostowsky

Starting her high school career, freshman Audrey Rostowsky is stoked to be writing for the Wildcat Chronicle. On weekends, she can be found watching war documentaries, shopping for new books to add to her lengthy “to be read�...

Magdalena Schave
Senior Reporter

Magdalena Schave

A recent addition to the Chronicle, Magdalena Schave is passionate about art history, the environment, and all things crafty: painting, jewelry-making, sewing, and more. In class, you will often find her scrolling through Pintere...

Jason Thunberg
Senior Reporter

Jason Thunberg

Entering his first year of duty, Jason Thunberg is checking into the Chronicle. Jason has played baseball for WEGO since his freshman year and also plays outside of school, with plans to continue. A lifelong Cubs fan, he espec...

Milly Mora-Zarco
Editorial Cartoonist

Milly Mora-Zarco

Milly Mora-Zarco is finishing up his high school experience and has decided to challenge himself with two English classes this year. In his free time, he can be found listening to music or practicing the never-ending array of...

Joselyn Duran Corona
Lead Photographer

Joselyn Duran Corona

Joselyn Duran Corona is entering her final year at WEGO and has decided to spend it on the Wildcat Chronicle. In her spare time, she can usually be found walking or running with her dog, Elsa, or relaxing on the couch binge-watching...

Caleb Salzman
Staff Photographer

Caleb Salzman

Caleb is a first-year Chronicle reporter, but he has been a photographer since his sophomore year and has been really excited to join the school newspaper. He loves sports and plays soccer in his free time. He is also a drumme...

Sami Moesch
Columnist

Sami Moesch

Sami is a senior in her fifth semester of Journalism and is a columnist for the Wildcat Chronicle. She first joined to try something new and has since developed a passion for storytelling. Her work has been nationally recogniz...

Ronyiah Newcombe
Social Media Manager

Ronyiah Newcombe

Ronyiah Newcombe is a sophomore at WEGO and a two-year member of the Wildcat Chronicle. She is excited to improve her writing skills and learn new ways to tell stories, but in fairness, Ronyiah is already an award-winning journali...

Briseyda Acuna-Benitez
Reporter

Briseyda Acuna-Benitez

As a senior, Briseyda Acuna-Benitez will be a West Chicago Community High School graduate soon. She enjoys playing the guitar and continues learning how to play different chords. She has a younger sister who also attends this schoo...

Adrian Alanis
Reporter

Adrian Alanis

Adrian Alanis is currently a senior in high school, aiming to complete his education and later pursue a college degree. In his free time, he hangs out with friends and goes to different places, whether that means going out to ea...

Victor Alcantar
Reporter

Victor Alcantar

Victor Alcantar is a senior at West Chicago Community High School. He works at AutoZone but dreams of becoming a YouTuber. He has a wide variety of music taste, with favorite artists including Che, Prettyfun, and Playboi Carti....

Alan Anicua
Reporter

Alan Anicua

Alan Anicua is a senior at WCCHS and is excited to be part of the Wildcat Chronicle. In his free time, he dedicates himself to making fun memories with his friends. When he is not with them, he spends his time working his butt ...

Kevin Armas
Reporter

Kevin Armas

Kevin Armas is a senior in high school who is excited about graduating—not because he is eager to start college, but because he finds high school both boring and stressful. His favorite activities include going to the gym with frie...

Corvin Brown
Reporter

Corvin Brown

Corvin Brown was born and raised in West Chicago, IL Birthed on June 4th, 2009, his parents had a rough start at the beginning, but got on track around 2015. Corvin has always shown signs of being into the arts, whether that be ...

Alondra Cardiel
Reporter

Alondra Cardiel

Finishing her final semester of senior year, Alondra Cardiel aspires to become a cosmetologist as she continues earning hours toward her license. In her spare time, she photographs for the school yearbook or works on building her ...

Kayla Carrasco-Rios
Reporter

Kayla Carrasco-Rios

Sophomore Kayla Carrasco Rios enters a new chapter in her life by trying to be less introverted and deciding to give journalism a shot. Most of the time, she can be found listening to a wide variety of music (she is basically...

Gael Castro
Reporter

Gael Castro

Junior Gael Castro is excited to begin his first year on staff. He can be found in his free time stressing over stockpiles of AP and Honors homework. Gael spends his weekends blasting Tyler, the Creator, Radiohead, Frank Ocean,...

Brian Cielo
Reporter

Brian Cielo

Senior Brian Cielo is starting his first and final year on the Wildcat Chronicle and his second year at WEGO. He is ready to report and keep the community up to date in the mornings, and in the afternoons he can be found at Lionz...

Malaz Elamin
Reporter

Malaz Elamin

Sophomore Malaz Elamin is excited and ready to be in journalism. Being fun and sociable are her strong suits. As extraverted as she is, staying at home and watching comfort movies is one of her favorite things to do. Besides be...

Alan Garcia
Reporter

Alan Garcia

Alan Garcia, a senior, is entering his final year at WEGO and his first year on the Wildcat Chronicle. He plays baseball year-round and is always looking to improve on and off the field. Outside of school, he can usually be found...

Dennise Garcia
Reporter

Dennise Garcia

Dennise Garcia is entering her last year of high school and is excited to finish strong. As a side hustle, Dennise runs her own floral business, creating bouquets from natural roses and ribbon. If she is not making bouquets, you...

Janet Gonzalez
Reporter

Janet Gonzalez

Janet Gonzalez is wrapping up her fourth and final year at WEGO and is ecstatic to be on the Wildcat Chronicle for the first time. She currently attends TCD for cosmetology and especially enjoys cutting and styling hair. Janet has ...

Jacob Hayward
Reporter

Jacob Hayward

Jacob Hayward is a senior who ended up taking journalism by accident. He loves listening to music, driving, and playing any sport you want to challenge him in. His pieces reflect his love of music and sports, as well as movie...

Jiovanni Hernandez
Reporter

Jiovanni Hernandez

Jiovanni Hernandez is preparing for his last semester as a senior in high school. When he is not in school, he can be found hanging out with friends, going to the gym, or spending time in social places. Jiovanni is really into m...

Connor Holloway
Reporter

Connor Holloway

Connor Holloway attends West Chicago Community High School: he is 18 years old and looking forward to graduating this spring. He enjoys playing golf, watching football, playing baseball, and occasionally playing basketball. In the futu...

Ritwik Jalota
Reporter

Ritwik Jalota

Finishing up his last year, Ritwik Jalota - mostly known as Ricky - is planning to attend DePaul University in the fall of 2026. In his free time, he likes to hang out with friends, whether that means playing volleyball (his favorite sport), watching ...

Micaela Jaramillo
Reporter

Micaela Jaramillo

In her first year of high school, Micaela does quite a lot. She will always be listening to something whether it be Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Nirvana, Sade, Oasis, or Blur she always has her headphones in. If she is not listening to ...

Joaquin Juarez
Reporter

Joaquin Juarez

Joaquin Juarez, also known as JJ (Class of 2026), is often found playing the electric guitar or going to the gym during his free time, both of which he is very passionate about. Even though he started playing the guitar four mo...

Rachel Knaack
Reporter

Rachel Knaack

Rachel Knaack is entering her final year at WEGO and is eager to join the Wildcat Chronicle. She has served as the Student Council’s public relations representative for the past three years, is a ROAR mentor, and also participa...

Ryan Knutson
Reporter

Ryan Knutson

Ryan’s first year at West Chicago has been very interesting and fun, with all of the cool classes. After school, Ryan either plays guitar or video games with his friends. He is curious about all things related to journalism...

Allison Komaniecki
Reporter

Allison Komaniecki

Allison Komaniecki, a senior, is excited to begin her first year of journalism. She enjoys participating in activities such as flag football, acting in plays, and taking part in school clubs. In her free time, Allison can often...

Flor Leal
Reporter

Flor Leal

Flor Leal is excited — and a little nervous — about her first year in journalism. Joining the Wildcat Chronicle is something new for her and a step outside her comfort zone. Since it is her last year of high school, she want...

Abran Lopez
Reporter

Abran Lopez

Abran Lopez is a senior at West Chicago Community High School (Class of 2026) and is very excited about joining the class. During the weekdays, Abran goes to school and enjoys going out with family and friends. When he is not...

Jeffrey Mendoza-Romero
Reporter

Jeffrey Mendoza-Romero

Entering his fourth and final year of high school, Jeffrey Mendoza-Romero is a senior and a ROAR Mentor to many. A boxing enthusiast, Jeffrey is also ready to learn plenty of new things. Outside of school, mainly on the weekends,...

Osbaldo Mercado
Reporter

Osbaldo Mercado

Osbaldo (OJ) Mercado is finishing his final year at WEGO and his first year on the Wildcat Chronicle. He is excited to do podcasts and make videos to interact with different people. You can find him playing baseball or spending...

Jason Merino
Reporter

Jason Merino

It is Jason Merino’s senior year - his last year of high school. He is excited for his final year and really is looking forward to it. A hobby he loves is playing the guitar and bass, and he has also been working on his vocals...

Evelyn Mondragon
Reporter

Evelyn Mondragon

Sophomore Evelyn Mondragon is a student at West Chicago Community High School. She joined journalism during the 2025–26 school year because she wanted to try something new. Evelyn wants to improve her social skills and lear...

Carlos Morales
Reporter

Carlos Morales

This year marks senior Carlos Morales’ first year in journalism and his final semester of high school (he just wants to get out of here). He enjoys playing soccer, a sport he has played since elementary school. In addition to ...

Gael Munguia
Reporter

Gael Munguia

Gael Munguia is a senior at West Chicago Community High School and plans on getting his real estate license as soon as he can. He enjoys discovering new places and hopes on exploring the world. Another thing he has started enjoying...

Arianna Munoz Soto
Reporter

Arianna Munoz Soto

Arianna is a senior at WEGO, and this is her first semester in Journalism. Outside of journalism, she enjoys painting and playing soccer. She likes to dance and loves coffee. Her favorite singer is Rauw Alejandro, her favorite...

Cesar Munoz
Reporter

Cesar Munoz

Junior Cesar Munoz is a captain on the wrestling team and is very interested in sports. He likes writing about sports, enjoys reading sports stories, and is especially interested in getting started with photography. Cesar loves...

Katie Munoz
Reporter

Katie Munoz

As Katie Munoz enters her last semester at West Chicago Community High School, her main goals are to enjoy school and graduate (yay!). You can typically find Katie at work (finally) or at a bookstore, spending the money she just...

Aleksander Ochoa
Reporter

Aleksander Ochoa

Starting his first and last semester in journalism, senior Aleksander Ochoa is excited to explore the journalism program and the WeGo Chronicle. Outside of school, Aleksander enjoys working out with friends, visiting different c...

Carter Naranjo
Reporter

Carter Naranjo

Carter Naranjo is a senior at West Chicago Community High School and serves as captain of the football team, as well as an All-State football player. He enjoys working out and occasionally hanging out with friends on the weekends. ...

Carter Pensinger
Reporter

Carter Pensinger

Carter Pensinger is finally joining the Wildcat Chronicle for the last semester of his high school career. He aspires to be a documentarian who creates politically driven documentaries. Born and raised in Winfield, Illinois, Ca...

Isaias Perez
Reporter

Isaias Perez

Isaias Perez is a senior at West Chicago Community High School. He is into sports, especially wrestling and soccer, but mostly wrestling. Isaias wrestles for the school’s wrestling team and loves to goof around with his wres...

Kimberly Rangel
Reporter

Kimberly Rangel

Senior and coffee connoisseur Kimberly Rangel is looking forward to creating lasting memories, meeting new people, and stepping out of her comfort zone during her final year. On weekends, she enjoys spending time with family and...

Julianna Reid
Reporter

Julianna Reid

Starting her first year with the Chronicle, senior Julianna Reid is excited to begin writing. If she is not working on her next opinion piece or speaking on a podcast, she is doodling on her schoolwork or putting together her next...

Giselle Reyes
Reporter

Giselle Reyes

Jumping into her first semester of journalism and her first year of high school, Giselle Reyes is looking forward to improving her writing skills as well as being able to write for the Wildcat Chronicle. Her hobbies include draw...

Aidan Ryan
Reporter

Aidan Ryan

Aidan Ryan (Class of 2026) is excited to see what happens during his time as a reporter for the Wildcat Chronicle. He is also a four-year member of the West Chicago Business Professionals of America chapter, where he has served...

Roxanna Santiago
Reporter

Roxanna Santiago

For her final year of high school, Roxanna Santiago has joined the Wildcat Chronicle for her first year of journalism. She loves trying new things, which has made her a very competitive person and led her to join both the girl...

Yurem Siu
Reporter

Yurem Siu

Yurem Siu is currently a senior who enjoys going on nature walks, working out, discovering new movies, and listening to music. Soccer is his biggest passion outside of school, and he is always open to trying new things. A fun fac...

Miguel Soto
Reporter

Miguel Soto

Senior Miguel Soto is excited to be in journalism this semester. As it is his first semester in the class, he is looking forward to a positive experience. On the weekends, Miguel enjoys hanging out with his girlfriend and going...

Ny'Ara Tate
Reporter

Ny’Ara Tate

Having dedicated four years of her high school experience to the West Chicago cheerleading team, Nyara Tate — known to most as Ny — is deeply involved in cheerleading beyond the sidelines. In addition to cheering for footba...

Matt Tomas
Reporter

Matt Tomas

Coming into his senior year, Matt Tomas is an MMA fighter who trains with the goal of becoming a professional one day. He is also planning to become an HVAC technician after high school, pursuing another one of his dreams. If...

Leonel Villegas
Reporter

Leonel Villegas

Leonel Villegas is in his senior year of high school and is excited for his first year of journalism after discovering he could write for the Wildcat Chronicle. His hobbies include working and spending time with his girlfriend and frie...

Andrea Vazquez
Reporter

Andrea Vazquez

Starting her final year of high school, Andrea Vazquez decided to try something out of her comfort zone — journalism — especially since she enjoys writing in her not-so-called “diary” every day. If you see her in the hallway,...

Jadenise Velazquez
Reporter

Jadenise Velazquez

Sophomore Jadenise Velazquez, typically known as Jade with the bright blue hair (possibly will be changing), joins the staff on the Wildcat Chronicle with a joyful outlook and brand new ideas. She first gained interest in jour...

Arthur Waldow
Reporter

Arthur Waldow

Senior Arthur Waldow is excited to finish his last semester strong as he completes his final semester with his peers at West Chicago Community High School. He entered journalism with an interest in photography and producing artic...

David Weber
Reporter

David Weber

This is David’s first semester taking journalism, and he is in the Class of 2026. David decided to take journalism because his older brother was very involved in the class previously, which made him think it might be interesting....

Tommy Weber
Reporter

Tommy Weber

Tommy Weber is entering his first (and last) year on the Chronicle as a senior. He is currently a co-host of the sports interview series titled "Cold Takes." He enjoys multimedia pieces and getting to know people in interviews...

Roman Zolota
Reporter

Roman Zolota

Roman Zolota, a senior, is in his first year as a reporter for the Wildcat Chronicle. He plays for the school football team and also enjoys playing soccer. If he is not on the field, you can usually find him at the gym. Athletic...

Khloee Zomparelli
Reporter

Khloee Zomparelli

Khloee Zomparelli is heading into her last year of high school and wants to make the most of it. She always says, “Life is too short, you only live once."  She adores capturing special moments with her camera. Her hobbies include...

Caiden McDougall
wtw WEGO? Host

Caiden McDougall

Caiden is one of the spirited hosts of wtw WEGO?, where he brings his sharp wit and playful energy to the mic. Known for his love of lump candy and his unapologetic pajama style, Caiden is never afraid to spark a laugh or star...

Isaiah Sylvester
wtw WEGO? Host

Isaiah Sylvester

Isaiah is a member of the wtw WEGO? team and a standout football player for the Wildcats. While he likes to joke that Mrs. Fireman begged him to join the show, the truth is he sought it out himself - bringing his larger-than-l...

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