Seven Inkspot staff members qualified for the IHSA State Journalism Finals, set for April 25 at Heartland Community College. At the April 5 Sectional competition, Bryce Hickman, Carter Hull, Arwen Georges, Beatrix Alvarez and the team of Bella Green, Leon Castaneda and Audra Wolf earned top-three...

A 1% school facilities sales tax will take effect in McLean County on July 1, after voters approved the April 1 ballot measure 17,415 to 15,427—earning just over 53% support, according to election results. Voter turnout reached 28% across Bloomington and McLean County—an eight-point jump from typical...

Members of the Unit Five Education Association teachers union gathered in the fishbowl atrium on March 19 as part of a nationwide “Walk-In” demonstration to advocate for public education funding. Wearing red and carrying signs, UFEA members joined thousands of educators nationwide in the National...

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Wade Pyle recorded a pair of top-eight finishes at the IHSA Boys Swimming and Diving State Finals on Feb. 28, placing eighth in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races. The junior swam a 21.08 in the 50- free and a 46.18 in the 100-, advancing to Saturday’s finals after breaking two school records...

Community recognized student accomplishments across athletics, academics and the arts during the Spring Walk of Champions on Friday, March 14, a tradition that began during the 2023-24 school year.  

Community opened its season with a 5-0 victory over Metamora on March 18, with four different Ironmen finding the back of the net. Campbell Damery struck first, capitalizing on a pass from Sarah Thompson to put the Ironmen ahead early. The Iron controlled possession throughout the first half, pressuring...

Records are made to be broken. Achievements exist to be surpassed. And for three Ironmen seniors, this season has been all about leaving their mark in the history books. Kenna Malinowski, Kobe Walker and Connor Smith have etched their names into Community’s basketball legacy—shattering records,...

Three members of the boys swim team will compete at this weekend’s IHSA State Swimming and Diving meet at Westmont’s FMC Natatorium after earning four first-place finishes at the Normal Community Sectional on Feb. 22. The Ironmen placed third at their home Sectional, finishing behind champion Washington...

Community looks to extend its postseason run Tuesday night as the Ironmen (27-6) take on the Pekin Dragons (18-13) in the IHSA Class 4A Alton Sectional Semifinals at 7 p.m. at Normal West. The Ironmen enter the matchup fresh off their fourth consecutive regional title, a 64-30 rout over Rock Island....

The road to a fourth straight regional title and sectional championship appearance begins with top-seeded Normal Community facing No. 8 East Moline United Township in the opening round of the IHSA 4A Rock Island Regional. The Ironmen are heavy favorites in their Feb. 17 matchup, tipping off at 6 p.m....

President Donald Trump’s proposed elimination of the Department of Education—echoing Republican efforts that date back to when the department was established in 1979—raises questions about how federal funding would be redistributed, how student protections would be maintained and what responsibilities...

Lily Mavros’ love for music began with an impromptu fourth-grade performance, but her journey didn’t stop there. From local productions to starring roles, the Community senior has worked tirelessly to hone her craft. In this episode, we explore how she balances AP classes, voice lessons and performances—while...

At 6 a.m., before Community’s hallways fill with groggy students, Bode Thompson is already outside, scanning the tree line for movement. Fall migration is in full swing, and warblers—small, colorful birds that dart through the branches—are passing through. Thompson, a senior, spends his mornings...

For the first time in program history, the Ironmen are perfect. The wrestling team closed out the season with a spotless 20-0 dual meet record, securing its place as the most dominant squad the program has ever seen, the first undefeated season in program history. Senior Caden Correll has been...

Powered by a red-hot shooting performance from beyond the arc, the Ironmen overwhelmed the Lincoln-Way West Warriors 67-43 on Saturday afternoon in a game that was effectively over by halftime.  The Iron exploded out of the gate with a dominant 20-2 first-quarter run, fueled by a scorching start...

The Ironmen (18-6, 5-2) rebounded with a 53-42 road victory over the Champaign Central Maroons (7-11, 3-5) in a conference matchup on Jan. 24. The win provided a much-needed turnaround for Community, who entered the game having lost four of their previous five contests. While...

Community is without one of its two full-time nurses after Mrs. Tamara Ahrens transferred to Oakdale Elementary School on Monday, Jan. 13. Mrs. Jessica Murphy, Community’s other full-time nurse, will work with a Unit 5 float nurse or substitutes filling in until a replacement is found. The staffing...

The Ironmen celebrated Senior Night in style with a commanding 59-11 victory over the Champaign Centennial Chargers in Big 12 Conference play on Jan. 14.  The win snapped Community’s two-game skid and improved the Ironmen’s record to 17-4 overall and 4-1 in conference play. The Chargers dropped...

Mr. Jason Salrin was named Assistant Principal for the 2025-26 school year during the Jan. 15 Unit 5 School Board meeting. Salrin will replace Mr. Jeffrey Barnard, who announced his resignation in an email to staff on Nov. 7. Salrin, an 2017 Illinois State University graduate, is in his seventh year...

Joey Yaros closed out his Ironmen cross country career at the 2024 IHSA Class 3A State XC Championships at Peoria’s Detweiller Park on Nov. 9, posting his best performance of the season with a 14:59.40 finish, taking 64th in the 236 competitor field. This performance marked a season highlight for...

In celebration of the 50th IHSA Girls Volleyball State Series, the organization has recognized the state’s top 50 programs, naming one school each day as they countdown toward Nov. 16’s milestone state championship tournament. Community was named the state’s 20th-best program in late October,...

The Ironmen advanced to the 2024 IHSA 7A quarterfinals is a 52-49 shootout victory over the Prospect Knights of Mt. Prospect. Take a look at Community's offensive leaders from 11/8.

The annual Intercity basketball tournament is being reimagined for the 2024-25 basketball season thanks to title sponsor State Farm. November’s inaugural State Farm Bloomington-Normal Intercity Basketball Tournament will mark the first time that both boys and girls Intercity basketball teams will...

Community's Joey Yaros and A.J. Ince punched their tickets to the IHSA Class 3A State Cross Country Meet at Peoria's Detweiller Park after finishing 20th and 21st, at the Normal Sectional on Nov. 2. The senior-junior pair clocked times of 15:21.18 and 15:21.52, advancing to State as individuals. While...

The Ironmen secured their spot in the IHSA 3A Soccer Sectional Final for the first time since 2018, defeating the Moline Maroons in a penalty shootout on Oct. 29. Community heads to Alton Nov. 1 to take on the Edwardsville Tigers thanks to outsourcing the Maroons 5-4 in penalty kicks. For the second...

The Iron posted a powerful performance at the Big 12 Conference meet on Oct. 25, capturing first in eight of the 11 varsity events. Despite those podiums, Community finished second with 229 points, trailing Champaign Central, who claimed the team title with 270 points. Central boasted a 21-point advantage...

The Ironmen clinched their second consecutive 3A Regional Championship with a 1-0 victory over the East Moline United Township Panthers on Oct. 26. With under two minutes to play in the first half of Saturday's match, junior Joyce Lubika delivered a decisive assist to Believe Avida, who netted the...

Two of Community’s girls tennis doubles teams competed in the 2A IHSA State tennis tournament on Oct. 24 following the team's first-place sectionals finish. Community was crowned Moline Sectional champions, narrowly edging out the tournament's host 22-21, on Oct. 18, in the sectional meet, the...

When Mr. Joel Swanson steps into the broadcast booth, it’s as if he’s entering his own laboratory—a place where the unpredictable elements of live sports mix and react. Over the airwaves, the veteran science teacher’s voice becomes the nucleus around which the game orbits, holding together...

Community's inaugural "Compassion in Action" event, a week-long philanthropic competition between the four classes, began Oct. 20. The initiative, which combines school spirit with charitable giving and is spearheaded by Junior Class Board sponsor Mrs. Karrin Hawkins, runs Oct. 20-25, with each grade...

The Ironmen football team will aim to make history Friday night as they head to Champaign to take on the Centennial Chargers. A victory would mark the 700th win in program history, making Community only the 10th Illinois high school football team to reach such a milestone. For head coach Mr. Jason...

This year's fall production of “Peter and the Starcatcher” marks the first show under newly appointed director Ms. Cassie Adelman. Ahead of Friday's 7 p.m. final performance, Adelman reflected on the personal and professional journey that led her here. Adelman steps into the role previously...

The team's incentive board revolves around a theme each season. This year it's "Be Driven," laying out the season's opponents as a road map. With each victory, the team pulls the cooresponding car with the opportunity to win a reward.

Think you know what Coach Jason Drengwitz will say ahead of tonight's contest against the Danville Vikings in this week’s pregame interview? Give Ironmen Pregame Interview Bingo a go as you watch the Inkspot's exclusive video interview with Community's head coach.

Midway through the 2024 girls swim season, the team has shown consistent improvement as they head into Intercity, the Big 12 Conference meet and the post-season. Last year’s IHSA State qualifiers--Kenna Malinowski, Lyndsey Hackman and Piper Lowder--have picked up where they left off, posting standout...

After the first five meets of the 2024 boys cross country season, junior A.J. Ince and senior Joey Yaros are proving to be some of each other’s best competition. The pair have consistently paced Community, pushing the Ironmen to three first-place finishes to open the season and a second-place finish...

When the Ironmen bathed head football coach Mr. Jason Drengwitz in Gatorade after Sept. 14’s shutout victory over the Urbana Tigers, he had no idea why.  “I had no clue that it was my 50th win,” Drengwitz said after the game. “I don’t keep track of that.” But someone on Community’s...

Kyle Beaty dropped back to pass just five times against the Urbana Tigers Friday night at Dick Tharpe Field. The senior quarterback made those pass count, throwing for three touchdowns and 121 yards on four completions in Community’s dominant 56-0 Homecoming win. Calen Taylor took just one handoff...

Community finished second in the 2024 Intercity soccer tournament, falling to the U-High Pioneers for the second consecutive season. The Ironmen finished the tournament with a 3-1 record, losing to U-High 4-2. U-High went undefeated in the annual tournament, outscoring opponents 13-4. The Iron...

The Inkspot, Community's student news publication, has been recognized as one of 10 schools nationwide to receive the George H. Gallup Award from the Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society for High School Journalists. The award, part of the 2024 Quill and Scroll News Media Evaluations, was announced...

The Inkspot, Community’s journalism program, was awarded a $1,490 grant on Sept. 9 through the Illinois Press Foundation’s High School Journalism Grants Program. Sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau, the program awarded over $22,000 in total grants to 16 high schools across the state. The grant...

The Ironmen's balanced offensive attack and stout defensive play led to a 48-7 win over the West Wildcats in Friday night's home opener. With the win, Community improved 2-0 on the season and in Big 12 action, while West fell to 1-1. Iron quarterback Kyle Beaty's four-score performance was instrumental...

The Ironmen look to spoil U-High’s Intercity title chances when they host the Pioneers’ today at 4:30 p.m. U-High, the reigning Intercity champions, enter the match 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in tournament play. Community is 2-0-1 and undefeated in Intercity action. The Pioneers return 18 players...

The Ironmen’s explosive offensive effort secured a 55-12 road victory over Peoria’s Richwoods Knights in Aug. 30’s season opener. The victory, head coach Mr. Jason Drengwitz said, stemmed from a good week of practice. “I felt like our approach was really locked in, really focused,” Drengwitz...

Community’s 2024 Homecoming festivities will feature several notable changes to boost school spirit and student involvement. Those changes include adding a parade, reformatting the annual assembly and organizing new activities during Sept. 9’s week-long celebration. The modifications result...

Former Ironmen football standout Marcellus Johnson did not survive the NFL's 53-man roster cut deadline on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Despite being waived by the New York Giants as the team trimmed its active roster to 53 players, the 24-year-old's hopes of helping the  Giants return to a Super Bowl remain...

Seniors took photographs together, exchanged beaded bracelets and began decorating their senior tiles before the event concluded at 7:15 a.m.

The event was an opportunity for members of the senior class to socialize, with donuts and coffee provided. Mrs. Jennifer Kelly, Senior Class sponsor, estimated that 200 students attended.

Each year, seniors may decorate tiles to leave their mark on Community. A $2 fee covers the cost of supplies and helps fund other senior activies like the Senior Picnic and Celebration.

Five Inkspot staff members are headed to the IHSA State Journalism Finals on April 26 at Heartland Community College. Abby Ruebush, Bella Green, Ben Kerber, Charlie Faulkner and BJ Dumas posted top-three finishes at April 5's Sectional competition, qualifying for the State Final. At the competition,...

The undefeated Ironmen baseball team looks to extend their win streak to 15 games when they travel to Champaign Centennial for April 12’s Big 12 matchup. Centennial is 1-7-1 on the season and 0-2 in conference play after Wednesday’s matchup between the two teams. With Community’s 12-1 win...

The Iron look to replicate Tuesday's success when they face an undefeated Peoria Notre Dame team tonight in a contest with significant conference implications. Community improved to 7-1 on the season and 4-0 in Big 12 Conference play with a resounding 9-0 win over the Urbana Tigers on April 9. From...

The Normal Public Library will continue to provide services to the community during its upcoming closure for asbestos removal. Starting this spring, NPL will begin removing asbestos from the 1973 portion of the building, a process that may take nine months to a year to complete. The library’s...

Want a chance to win an NCHS logo blanket? Enter the Inkspot's March Madness pool by filling out a NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament bracket here. Fill out your bracket at CBSSports.com before the tournament starts so we can compete all of March Madness® for a chance to win. The current NCHS student...

Over 200 fans and family members celebrated the Ironmen basketball team's 2024 season on Sunday, March 10, recognizing the team's second-place finish in the 4A IHSA State basketball finals. Public address announcer Mr. Dana Starkey, Athletic Director Mr. Nic Kearfott and principal Dr. Adam Zbrozek...

The Ironmen, head coach Mr. Dave Witzig said, ran into the best team in the state in Homewood-Flossmoor in Saturday’s 2024 IHSA Class 4A State Championship contest at the State Farm Center. The Vikings earned the program’s first title with a 60-48 win, sending the Ironmen home with Community’s...

Community advances to the 4A IHSA State Finals for the second time in school history after defeating the Palatine Pirates 58-38 at the University of Illinois’ State Farm Center Friday afternoon. Two Ironmen finished the night with double-digit scoring performances. Jaheem Webber posted a double-double...

Heading into tonight’s 4A IHSA Super-Sectional matchup between the Normal Ironmen (30-5) and Downers Grove North Trojans (29-4) at Illinois State’s CEFCU Arena, it’d be easy to look at the team’s earlier encounter-a 40-35 Trojans win-and draw your conclusions.  But the box score from Jan....

The Ironmen boys basketball team take on 31-3 Quincy Blue Devils in tonight’s Pekin Sectional Championship game, hoping to prevent the storied program from adding to its list of accolades.  The Quincy program, which played its first game in 1907, has claimed Illinois high school records for state...

For the second straight season Caden Correll and Cooper Caraway returned from the 3A IHSA State Wrestling Tournament in Champaign bearing hardware and All-State honors.    Correll earned a fifth place finish for the second consecutive season at the State Farm Center on Feb. 17. Caraway joined...

Five members of the boys swim team will compete at this weekend’s IHSA State Swimming and Diving meet after earning seven first-place finishes at the Pekin Sectional on Feb. 17.  The Ironmen fell just short of a third consecutive Sectional title, trailing the Washington Panthers’ 261 to 246.5. Senior...

Ali Ince and Dexter Niekamp were named among the 26 members selected for the 2024 Illinois High School Association All-State Academic Team on Wednesday, Feb.  21. The honorees, nominated by their high schools, demonstrated a minimum 3.50 GPA while participating in at least two IHSA-sponsored activities...

The Ironmen girls basketball team face the East Moline United Township Panthers (26-5) in the Sectional Semifinals at Normal West at 6 p.m. Feb. 20.  Community knocked off the Panthers earlier this season with 75-49 victory on Dec. 21. In that contest, North Caroline State commit Lorena Awou led...

The Ironmen girls basketball team secured their third consecutive Regional title on Thursday with a resounding 57-30 victory over Pekin, slaying the Dragons on their home court.  While Giana Rawlings wasn’t in the lineup for Community’s Regional Semis win on Feb. 14, the school’s all-time three-point...

District maintenance staff began replacing the east gym’s lighting in late January, completing the process in early February. The fluorescent lights were replaced with LEDs, improving visibility and energy efficiency.  Discussions of a lighting upgrade, Community’s Athletic Director Mr. Nic Kearfott...

The Illinois High School Association announced the introduction of a Girls Flag Football State Series, with the inaugural postseason set to kick off in the fall of 2024. In a press release, President of the IHSA Board of Directors Dan Tully expressed excitement about the addition of Girls Flag Football...

Three members of the boys wrestling team return to the IHSA 3A State Wrestling competition in Champaign on Feb. 15, looking to build on last season's results, after earning top-three finishes in last weekend’s Quincy Sectional. Cooper Caraway will make his third consecutive appearance at the State...

It was Valentine’s Day 2021 when Katy Perry fell in love with Benson Boone during the 18-year-old’s audition for the nineteenth season of “American Idol.” Boone would punch his ticket to Hollywood, with judge Perry predicting to the up-coming singer, “I see you winning American Idol if...

The Ironmen have their sights set on a third consecutive Regional title after knocking off Normal West 49-26 on Feb. 12, improving to 29-3 on the season. While Community and West traded leads for the first five minutes of play, the Iron began to pull away after Olivia Corson banked a layup of the backboard...

The Ironmen came away with a 31-29 win over defending 4A State Champions, the Moline Maroons, battling back from a nine-point first-half deficit. Community (25-5) and Moline (23-6) posted season-low scores in what was, at times, a slow to no-tempo game. The Ironmen trailed 8-5 at the end of the...

The dance team's annual Guy/Girl Dance performance took place during halftime of the boys basketball game against Danville on Feb. 2. The tradition, where senior members of the dance team teach choreography to a male partner and perform at the first home boys basketball game of February, dates back...

Six wrestlers advanced from Feb. 2’s Joliet Central Regional, moving on to compete in Friday’s Quincy Sectional, where they will vie for a shot at the IHSA 3A State Wrestling Tournament. Senior Cooper Caraway is looking for a third consecutive trip to the State meet after taking first in the regional’s...

The Ironmen boys basketball team secured the Big 12 Conference championship with a 73-48 win over the Danville Vikings on Feb. 2. With the victory, Community improved to 9-0 in conference play, placing the Big 12 title beyond the reach of the 8-1 Richwoods Knights. Despite one conference contest remaining,...

The boys swim team, after clinching a fourth-straight Intercity title and a third Big 12 championship in as many years, looks poised to compete for a historic third-consecutive Sectional title when Community heads to the Pekin Swimming and Diving Sectional on Feb. 17.  Fueling the team’s late-season...

Everyone has their New Year traditions–and the Inkspot staff is no different. Every year, as first semester wraps, we like to dive into our analytics, looking back at all we accomplished at the end of each year and share some of our most notable achievements. With that, we present to you the Inkspot's...

The 2023 State Farm Holiday Classic proved historic for Community's basketball programs, as the Ironmen boys and girls secured championships in their respective brackets. The double championships mark a first in Community's Holiday Classic history, an achievement the school fell just shy of in 2017....

Each year, Spotify takes us on a trip down musical memory lane with a look back at the songs, the albums and the artists we had on repeat.  When Spotify Wrapped hit the app on Wednesday, Nov. 29, recapping our most-played music, the Inkspot couldn't help but wonder if Wrapped really encapsulated...

A small fire in the boys locker room was reported during 4th hour on Wednesday, Dec. 6. The incident, still under investigation, was allegedly caused by a student igniting a paper towel dispenser in the Athletic hallway locker room, according to several sources. The fire was quickly extinguished...

The Normal Community Ironmen (12-0) secured a spot in the IHSA Class 7A Semifinals with a 45-28 second-half comeback victory over the Glenbard East Rams (10-2). Despite leading Glenbard East 14-0 just over four minutes into the contest, Community would head into halftime trailing the Rams 28-14. The...

The Ironmen head to the IHSA 7A Football Quarterfinals for the first time since 2015 with a 31-30 overtime victory over the Bradley-Bourbonnais Boilermakers Saturday at Dick Tharpe Field. Watch the highlights and the video recap of the second round playoff win.