The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon
The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon
The Student News Site of Mount Vernon High School

The Mustang Moon

Lydia Marshall, Staff

All content by Lydia Marshall
Senior Nathan Conrad leans with the rest of the band as they perform their show "Reminisce" on Oct. 3.

Reminiscing on Homecoming

Lydia Marshall, Staff
October 8, 2025
Freshman Josie Hocker plays with the Marching Mustangs during their homecoming halftime show.

Hall of Fame inductee Col. Derek Oakley '92 is recognizderd during the homecoming halftime. Oakley was inducted for the Achievement award.

Alumnus Dennis Jordan '87 waves as he is recognized during the homecoming halftime. Jordan was inducted for the Service award.

Alumna Nikki Nelson Pauli '98 waves during the Alumni recognition at the homecoming football halftime. Nelson Pauli was inducted for the Athletic award.

Alumnus Dave Ryan '85 acknowledges the crowd during the Alumni recognition at the halftime homecoming. Ryan was inducted for the Community Impact award.

Hall of Fame inductee Renee Meyer Vande Wegge '96 is recognized during the homecoming halftime. Meyer Vande Wegge was inducted for the Fine Arts award.

Senior Mya Stoner plays with the marching band during their halftime performance on Oct. 3.

Senior Elena Gehrke marches with the band during the homecoming halftime on Oct. 3.

Senior Malena Koehn performs her dance solo during the marching band halftime show.

Seniors Mae Krapfl and Ingrid Morf perform their color guard duet together during the homecoming football halftime.

Freshman Mason Bany plays with the saxophone during the Marching Mustangs' performance on Oct. 3.

Senior color guard captain Ingrid Morf poses with the rest of the guard as they begin the homecoming halftime show.

Mount Vernon marching band competes on Sept., 27 at Linn-Mar High School

[Photo] Mount Vernon Marching Band Places 3rd at Prairie High School

John Smejkal, journalist
October 8, 2025
The color guard pose together as they await the start of the show. The competition took place at Linn-Mar Stadium on Sept. 27, where Mount Vernon placed second with a score of 82.9, as well as winning best color guard and best percussion.

Framing Our Future

Lydia Marshall, Staff
October 1, 2025
Sophomore Elliott McNulty marches with the band on the Linn-Mar field.

Sophomores Adrienne Ruhland, Marlena Rodenberg, and senior Malena Koehn dance together during the Marching Mustangs show on Sept. 27.

Seniors Samuel Neira, Eva Bishop, and Mya Stoner perform a trumpet solo together during the Linn-Mar marching band competition.

Senior Emily Giel finishes her color guard solo during the Marching Mustangs' performance on Sept. 27.

Marching Mustangs' flutes play together during the Linn-Mar band competition.

Senior Carrington Bybee plays with the pit during the Marching Mustangs' show at the Linn-Mar marching band competition.

Eighth grader Cam Oesterle performs with the marching band during their competition on Sept. 27.

The Marching Mustangs enter the field for their performance at Linn-Mar on Sept. 27.

Senior Jae Williams marches with the band during their show at Linn-Mar on Sept. 27.

Sophomore Andrew Weber conducts the Marching Mustangs during their performance on Sept. 19.

Snapshot of Our Lives

Lydia Marshall, Staff
September 24, 2025
Sophomore Adrienne Ruhland waves her flags during the marching band halftime performance.

Junior Lyn Bauer marches during the Marching Mustangs' halftime show.

Freshman Jo Barns performs with the marching band during their halftime show on Sept. 19.

Senior Lewis Krob leads the drumline during their football halftime show.

Senior Norah Weber plays with the band on Sept. 19.

Senior Edith Dawson plays with the pit during the marching band show on Sept. 19.

Sophomore Marlena Rodenberg strikes a pose during the Marching Mustangs' show.

Junior Drum Major Anna Stephens conducts the band on Sept. 19.

Sophomore Lexi Liu performs with the color guard during their show "Reminisce" on Sept. 5.

Moments to Relive

Lydia Marshall, Staff
September 11, 2025
Senior Michael Covington plays with the Marching Mustangs during their halftime performance.

Senior Drum Major Korah Jo Robinson conducts the marching band during their halftime show on Sept. 5.

The Marching Mustangs freeze time as they wait to begin their show "Reminisce" on Sept. 5.

Senior Claire Thuerauf performs a duet during the marching band halftime show.

Junior Jonathan Winkler performs his solo during 'You Will Be Found'.

Junior Nora Dye poses during the Marching Mustangs' show on Sept. 5.

Junior Chris Jones marches with the Marching Mustangs on Sept. 5.

Juniors Natalee Glaister and Remington Klima march with the band during their performance on Sept. 5.

Senior Penelope Vig performs her After Dinner speech "One Direction's Sixth Member" at the All-State showcase. The showcase took place on Mar. 30 at the Lisbon Heritage Hall, where 6 of the 7 Individual Speech All-State nominees presented their events.

MVHS Individual Speech Sends Eight Events to All-State

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
April 3, 2025
Individual Speech All-Stater and junior Claire Thuerauf recites her self-written poetry piece titled "Who She Was" on Mar. 30.

Junior Edith Dawson answers the Spontaneous Speaking question "Is MVHS properly preparing students for life in college and beyond?" at the Individual Speech All-State showcase on Mar. 30.

Solon senior Summer Bowie-Smith presents her Prose piece "Unpopular Gals". It is Bowie-Smith's third year on the MVHS Speech team, and she is a dual Individual All-State nominee for the 2025 season, with her Prose and Review.

Senior Skye Rodman performs her All-State nominated Solo Musical Theatre piece "Suppertime".

Junior Norah Weber performs her self written poem titled "A Dreamer is What She Was" at the Individual Speech All-State showcase.

The Marching Mustangs enter the field for their first football halftime performance of this year's show 'Among the Stars'.

Shining Bright On The Field

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
September 10, 2024
Alima Cisse

Exchange Student Alima

Lydia Marshall, Eva Bishop, and Audrey Vaughn
December 21, 2024
Will Turner performing a solo for the Marching Mustangs.

[Photo] Making Music a Lifestyle

Audrey Vaughn, Staff
December 6, 2024
Starting High School: Freshmen and Their Experience

Starting High School: Freshmen and Their Experience

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
December 1, 2024
'26 Pebbles' Cast and Crew Put on a Stunning Production

’26 Pebbles’ Cast and Crew Put on a Stunning Production

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
November 8, 2024
The cast of 26 Pebbles listen intently as Cyrus Johnson (Rabbi) talks to them.

Senior Cyrus Johnson, acting as Joe, speaks during a funeral.

Sophomore Chester Rood as Darren and senior Bella Hasley as Georgia discuss Sandy Hook during the dress rehearsal on Nov. 7.

Juniors Allie Teague (Carrie) and Mae Krapfl (Julie) and sophomore Charlotte Woosley (Jenn) talk about the heroics of their children's teacher.

Sophomore Natalee Glaister (Starr) and Junior Claire Thuerauf (Jerriann) discuss their faith and healing during the dress rehearsal on Nov. 7.

Seniors Selah Loyd (Yolie) and Penelope Vig (Kat) hold each other in despair.

Junior Norah Weber (Carole) voices the town's desire for privacy.

Senior Natalie Thuerauf speaks as Carla about the hate after the Sandy Hook shooting.

The cast of 26 Pebbles sorts mail from around the world. Performances will be on Saturday the 9th at 7pm and Sunday the 10th at 2pm. Tickets are "choose your own price" and all money will go to the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation.

Senior Selah Loyd, acting as Yolie, smiles as she opens mail.

Senior Drum Major Clare Nydegger conducts the Marching Mustangs for a final time during their performance on Oct. 28.

Reaching for the Stars One Last Time

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
October 31, 2024
Freshman John Puetz plays with the Marching Mustangs during their final performance.

Junior Mae Krapfl flies her colors during the marching band's last show on Oct. 28.

Junior Elena Gehrke marches along with the band during their last show of the year.

Junior Allie Teague plays along with the marching band during their performance on Oct. 28.

Senior Natalie Thuerauf performs with the color guard during the band's final show on Oct. 28.

Senior Adam Zehms performs during the marching band's last performance.

The drumline plays with the Marching Mustangs during their show on Oct. 28. They were undefeated at competitions throughout the entire 2024 season.

Senior Brandy Hills and Freshman Adrienne Ruhland wave their flags with the color guard during the band's final show.

Senior Renee Vig and Junior Mae Krapfl complete their color guard duet as the brass ensemble plays on Oct. 11.

Marching Mustangs Radiate With Two Excellent Performances

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
October 17, 2024
Freshmen Chris Schneider and Beck Oesterle skip around the field together at the start of the marching band performance on Oct. 11.

Sophomore Lyn Bauer performs with the Marching Mustangs on Oct. 11.

Senior Emma Houghtaling reaches for the stars at the end of the marching band halftime performance on Oct. 11.

Senior Violet Olinger flies her colors during her solo on Oct. 11.

Senior Megan Teague plays her trombone with the band during their football halftime show.

Junior Claire Thuerauf marches with the band during their performance on Oct. 11.

[Photo] Leading with Passion: How One Band Director is Changing Lives Through Music

Riah Koster, Staff
December 5, 2024
Senior Meg Dye waves her flag during the marching band halftime show.

Senior Renee Vig gracefully performs with the color guard during the marching band halftime show on Oct. 11.

Sophomore Eleanor Dye poses at the beginning of the Marching Mustangs' halftime performance on Oct. 11.

Junior Ingrid Morf runs through the color guard during the band's performance on Sept. 28.

A Dazzling Victory

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
October 1, 2024
Senior Violet Olinger lands a pose during her color guard solo at the Linn Mar marching band competition.

The Marching Mustangs exit the Field after a stunning performance at the Linn Mar competition on Sept. 28. The band won second place, along with Best Drumline and Best Color Guard.

Senior Lauren Hepker expertly performs with the rest of the band during their performance.

Sophomore Lyn Bauer, freshman Luiza Blacharski, and juniors Willa Turner and Nathan Conrad play together at the marching band competition at Linn Mar.

Junior Michael Covington skillfully performs during the Marching Mustang's show at the Sept. 28 competition.

Sophomore Anna Stephens attentively conducts the marching band during their performance on Sept. 28.

Senior Natalie Thuerauf leaps in the air as the Marching Mustangs begin their show at the Linn Mar competition on Sept. 28.

Dressed for Rhyme Without a Reason day are juniors Mae Krapfl and Katie Whitehead posing with their muse athletic director Matt Thede. Krapfl is dressed as Matt Thede while Whitehead is dressed as Slim Shady.

[Photo] Exciting Change to Homecoming Dress-Up Days

September 30, 2024
Wyatt Smith's Path To Master Every Note

Wyatt Smith’s Path To Master Every Note

Lydia Marshall, Editor-In-Chief
September 12, 2024
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