Kicking off the season with a 3-2 record, the varsity football team is preparing for their biggest game yet: homecoming.
The Longhorns have held winning record (including homecoming games) since 2016. This year, the team faces the 4-1 Clayton High School Greyhounds.
“Every year, West vs. Clayton is a good game to watch, I think we can come out with a win as long as we work together as a unit,” junior linebacker Luke Ward said. “We aren’t a very big team by size or numbers, so we have to make up for it with our effort and determination. Against Affton, their linemen were a lot bigger than ours, but our defensive line still outplayed and outhit them. That takes heart.”
West opened the season with three wins against Parkway South, Oakville and Affton, but then suffered consecutive losses against Rockwood Summit and district rival Parkway North.
“Obviously the loss [to Parkway North] was rough,” junior Walker Piles said. “But I think that we as a team and especially our defense are more cohesive as a unit than in years past. We have three freshmen on varsity and the seniors have done a good job accepting them as a part of our family. I think this week we are the more prepared than we have been all season.”
The team practices for more than 10 hours in a typical week. Additionally, players and coaches meet at 5:30 a.m. on Thursdays for morning practice, a six-year tradition unique to the Longhorns.
“During weeks where we have a big opponent like this one, our moods really shift during morning practice,” senior lineman Ryan Gansen said. “Sometimes we tend to goof off, but during the last couple [of] weeks we have really been focused and driven on achieving unity on defense.”
With the homecoming activities at their peak, the coaches are working with players to help with game situations on the field while also providing a trusted adult for athletes who have problems off the field.
“We usually approach each week the same way on the field,” head football coach Jeff Duncan said. “But off the field our coaches set a good example for the boys as people they can talk to if they have issues. Coach [Wally] Sparks suggested the idea of giving a speech to our boys about how to act on the night of the dance, and since then we have brought parents and community members in to give speeches about their views on the topic.”
![Holding the disc, senior Nathan Thompson waits for an opportunity to pass to senior Timmy Fry. Parkway United’s ultimate frisbee team is made up of students from each of the four Parkway schools. “The one thing I really like about ultimate [frisbee] is the community because it’s so different from any other sport I've been a part of. [My] national teammates are people who we play against in the regular season, so we see each other all the time. It's always fun hanging out with [them],” Thompson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/C96A6823-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Josie Grunzinger watches the football game intently from the sidelines on Oct. 18. Grunzinger stood out to the crowd as the only girl on the football team, encouraging other girls who want to play football to take a chance and go for a sport outside of their comfort zone. “If you think you could [play football] and you want to do it, just try it, because all it takes is to actually try it out,” Grunzinger said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Untitled-design-1200x675.png)
![With her arms held high, junior Jenna Rickelman throws the ball across the pool during a girls water polo practice. With hours of practice after school and over the summer, Rickelman saw many improvements in her water polo skills. “When I look at [my] stats, I'm so much better than I was last year,” Rickelman said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Untitled-design-2-.png)
![Putting on his helmet, catcher and senior Tommy Eschbach prepares to get in his primary stance. Despite losing 6-1 against Eureka on April 16, Eschbach didn’t let the tough loss affect his playing or mental health. “It's [so] easy to get caught up in the sport and what you're doing that [after] one bad game or a stretch of games it is hard to remind yourself that your worth as a person isn't directly related to your performance on the field,” Eschbach said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0415-1-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Sports organizations have changed lives on and off the field, improving athletes’ muscle strength, reducing their risk of diseases and building energetic work capacity worldwide. However, many student-athletes struggle to balance schoolwork and athletic commitments, hoping to seek more understanding and support from their teachers and coaches. “To lessen mental strain student-athletes [face] and create a healthier, more comfortable lifestyle, there shouldn’t be any homework. I'm already [at school] for eight hours and [homework] creates a bigger load for student-athletes in AP or honors classes,” track and field sprinter and sophomore Lucy Penton said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0095-1-e1713883278514-1200x847.jpg)
![At the Spring Pep Rally on March 8, boys varsity water poloist and junior Jack Brau stands with the boys water polo team. The group, hoping to include everyone — whether boy or girl, varsity or JV — cheered on the girls water polo team during the sports team runouts. “Even though we all play separate games and have different practices, we like to see ourselves as one big group who represent one water polo [team],” Brau said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_8810-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Looking for an open teammate, freshman Patrick May passes the ball across the court at the Nov. 28 game against Parkway Central. May started in the game against the Colts. ”Growing up, [my parents] always gave me a basketball, [and] we had a basketball hoop outside. I grew up playing [all the time], playing on the [driveway] and shooting hoops with my dad.” May said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image2-1-1200x801.jpg)
