Matt Mecher was a student at McHenry Community High School when he started doing shows as a BMX rider. Last week, things came full circle when the 2020 graduate returned to McHenry to show other students how far he’s come.
Mecher had a starring role in the first all-school assembly of the year that featured the No Hate Tour, a BMX show with an anti-bullying message.
Out of all the shows he’s performed in – including halftime shows at Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears football games – Mecher said he was most nervous about performing at his alma mater.
“It was a lot of fun,” he said.
Mecher even got to perform a jump over McHenry High School principals Greg Eiserman and Sean Sterner, to the delight of students and staff.
The BMX riders demonstrated a variety of stunts while sharing a message of kindness and inclusion, especially online. The No Hate Tour website includes resources about how to deal with bullying and how to be an ally, among other things.
Eiserman, who was an assistant principal when Mecher went to McHenry, said he knew Mecher would end up in bicycle motocross one day because it was always his plan.
"He told me that from freshman year on," Eiserman said.
Mecher said he worked in an auto body shop after high school while also performing and competing. He eventually connected with the No Hate Tour through his work with Division BMX.
Now he’s solely doing BMX for a living and loves it. He said he likes that the No Hate Tour messages are delivered in an exciting way.
“The kids really can connect with it,” Mecher said. “It’s just easier to be nice.”