![Blending together a concoction for a science experiment, science teacher Joel Anderson scares his students by bringing excitement and thrill into his classroom for his annual Halloween show. It took about six weeks for Anderson to set up his classroom for the show. “It’s pure terror. I came up with this idea a couple decades ago to do something fun for Halloween. So I pretend to be this mad scientist [that creates] a Frankenstein-like creature [with the class], learning a little bit of science along the way and [then ending] with a laser show. It’s just for fun; entertainment value,” Anderson said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0021.JPG_-1200x800.jpg)
![Standing with girls cross country team mascot Pump the pumpkin, senior Sydney Etchason laughs with her teammates. Before the team’s senior night, Etchason undertook an odyssey to recover the pumpkin, which had been stolen by boys cross country. “We went through practice, and then a little birdie told me that it was in [senior] Emmett [Vernon's] car. I [offered Vernon] $50 to give us our pumpkin back, and we got Pump back,” Etchason said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0002-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Voter registration is open for November’s presidential election through Oct. 9. On Oct. 2, students at West High were able to receive assistance with online registration in the library. “When I went into the library to [register to] vote, [librarian] Lauren Reusch made completing my registration very easy and clear. It’s important to learn about voting and it’s important that schools help with voter registration, because it can be confusing for first-time voters,” senior Gianna Lionelli said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-03-at-1.53.06 PM-1200x795.png)
![Latin students pose for a group photo in front of historical ruins in Italy. From March 13 to March 23, the Latin department traversed cities in Italy to immerse students in an educational experience of a lifetime. “I enjoyed being able to learn about the different cultures. [The trip] encouraged me to see other people's lifestyle and learn more about different histories,” senior Suraiya Saroar said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PXL_20240318_092633493.jpg)
![From Jan. 22 through Feb. 1, Parkway West High is displaying a wide array of art pieces made by students ranging from elementary to high school. All classes were represented on the displays in both the art wing and the main foyer of the school. “[Art] benefits me because in the middle of a busy day. I can just relax and have some fun doing art and it makes me happy. I think it's important that you show art in the art show so that people can get inspired by it and be inspired to create their own pieces; it’s really impactful,” sophomore Dhiya Prasanna said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image1-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior TJ Polack plays his saxophone solo at halftime for the 2024 marching band show, ‘Coloring Book.’ This year, Polack was one of two soloists in the marching band. “[Polack] is very hard on himself. [His saxophone solo] sounds amazing [and] everyone [cheers] for him; [still], somehow, he thinks it’s a bad performance and he's down. What he does is not easy. It takes a lot of confidence as a person [and] a lot of musical skill to be expressive, and he's doing an amazing job,” drum major and senior Dominic Perez said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/462488499_2973926416100522_5057718068659607183_n-1200x925.jpg)
![Sophomore Isaiah Meese smiles after his Eagle Scout Ceremony. Meese has participated in the scouting program since first grade, learning new aspects of life and growing a community of a second family. “I almost didn’t do [boy scouting], but I'm glad I eventually did start doing it. I regret that I wasn't [working towards Eagle Scout during COVID]. It might not always seem like the most rewarding thing, but if you put your time into it, there's a good chance you'll get quite a lot out of it: friends, new activities and hobbies, or just more experience,” Meese said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_1004-1200x800.jpg)
![Junior Justin Lutz arranges his collection of basketball sports cards. Lutz started his first hand at entrepreneurship with an online store on eBay, dealing and trading in the sports card market. “I was already collecting sports cards [before], so I knew a lot of these players and I understood the market. I ventured into other sports, but I really stayed with the ones that I knew the most, [like] basketball. It’s really important to focus on what you know because it's so much easier than starting completely from scratch in a market that you don't understand. Find something that you're interested in," Lutz said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Untitled-design-2.png)
![Standing in front of the American Sign Language program’s mural, junior Brooke Hoenecke signs with freshman Darren Young. Hoenecke began cadet teaching for ASL this year alongside working towards earning her seal of biliteracy. “I was in ASL class when I received the email [that I qualified for the seal]. I was jumping up and down with my teacher and the rest of the class. One of the reasons why I took cadet teaching this year was so that I could prepare for the Seal of Biliteracy and be immersed in ASL,” Hoenecke said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/hoenecke.jpeg)
![Business and personal finance teacher Evan Stern stands in front of his classroom. After facing hardships growing up, Stern learned how to deal with them with the help of role models like his dad. “We dealt with some trauma when I was in middle school, and my dad had to be responsible for all three of us while he was working full-time. I know he had to sacrifice a lot. I'm sure it was really hard for him, but looking back on it, he did a really good job . I didn't appreciate everything that he did at the time because I was so young. Now, I'm engaged and probably going to have kids of my own in the next couple of years so I [am starting] to look at things differently,” Stern said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Untitled-7-1200x900.jpg)
![Holding his two smiling daughters in his arms, Principal John McCabe celebrates earning his doctorate degree. He attended Maryville University for two years and reached his goal of achieving a Doctor of Education: Educational Leadership degree after months upon months of hard work and long nights. “I'm not going to lie, I'm glad I have another night of my life back when I'm not at school till very late,” McCabe said. “I can spend more time with my family and with my friends [who] are here at [West]. I'm really happy about that.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mccabefeature.png)
![Art teacher Katy Mangrich sits in her classroom, smiling for a picture. During her time in high school, Mangrich learned several lessons that she now passes on to her son. “The biggest life lesson that I learned is honesty. I wouldn't say I was the best teenager, but I learned very quickly in high school to always be forthcoming and honest with my parents because it always ended up serving me better in the long run. [My parents] might have been upset with me [and the mistake I made], but I wasn't going down the rabbit hole of a lie because that was just going to get me into more trouble,” Mangrich said. “I passed [that lesson] along to my nephew. Honesty is always your best approach; just don’t lie. I say that to my son all the time. There's no advantage to lying, [and] that's a huge takeaway [from] how my parents raised me.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Screenshot-2024-01-26-10.10.12-AM.png)
![Social studies teacher Aaron Bashirian smiles in front of his classroom. Bashirian didn’t know he wanted to be a teacher from early on, but he found the choice to be a good one. “I started [teaching] because there was an opportunity for me to experiment with it. Fortunately, [teaching] was a good choice. In 2012, I became a teacher at Parkway at the Alternative Discipline Center, which is where they send suspended kids to keep being educated if they choose. I spent six years there and then I got drafted to West, [where] I've been for about six years,” Bashirian said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Untitled-35-1200x800.jpg)
![English teacher Angela Frye stands behind her desk in her classroom. Frye went through a lot of personal struggles to get to where she is today, and with each step in her life, she carries her gratitude for those obstacles. “Everything happens for a reason. I believe in [the concept of] good energy, good karma, [from] being a good person. Those are things I don't take lightly. [Struggles] build character. You really appreciate everything you have when you have to work for everything you have,” Frye said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Untitled-8-1200x800.jpg)
![Despite the numerous health and ethical concerns of energy drinks, popular influencers still flood their social media platforms with numerous posts, and drinks sell out as energy drink companies continue dropping new flavors. The energy drink industry, worth an estimated $99 billion, has maintained a large growth rate, yet is no stranger to controversy. “[The] curiosity of teens needs to be considered. Showing them other alternatives that are safer — like a small cup of coffee — or having them research and discover on their own [would be safer,]" health teacher Jessica Wheeler said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/DSC0038-2-1200x800.jpg)
![Senior Sally Peters stands in the history hallway, contemplating her choices in the 2024 United States and Missouri elections on Nov. 5. As a member of Diplomacy Club, Peters has discussed key candidates and issues in contemporary American politics. “[As students], we're starting to become adults. We're realizing how much the policies that are enforced and the laws that make it through the House and Senate are starting to affect us. [Opportunities such as] AP [U.S.Government] and Diplomacy Club [make elections feel] a lot more real,” Diplomacy Club vice president and senior Nidhisha Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Flag-1-1.png)
![Eyes tracing his book, freshman Auggie Prsha works to translate a passage in Latin teacher Tom Herpel's classroom. Prsha decided to take Latin after hearing about the fun classroom activities, but he quickly began to see the effects of learning a foreign language in the world around him too. “Sometimes in English class, I can [recognize] some Latin words, and I notice Latin in other places [as well]. I enjoy the people [and] learning from Herpel,” Prsha said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/prsha.jpg)
![Mounting school pressure can leave many students overworked and overstressed. Schools must give students the necessary resources to help assuage student mental health issues and prevent the development of serious crises. “The biggest thing [schools] can do [to protect student mental health] is offer more time [to do work], like a study hall, or offer more support from teachers so that students don't feel stressed out and can get help in areas that they need,” senior Bhavya Gupta said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/unnamed-4.jpg)
![Like many students, sophomore Medina Nanic experiences pressure to do well in school. Through continuous success and achievements, West has developed a high academic standard for students. “Because we’re seen as one [of] the better schools, we have higher standards than the [schools] who aren’t ranked as high. There’s a lot of pressure on students to do [well] and live up to those standards,” Nanic said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_0029-2-1200x800.jpg)
![In the 1950s, the first recorded spikes in global temperatures were recorded, and ever since, Earth has been in the midst of a disastrous climate crisis, as rising temperatures wreak havoc on susceptible regions and destroy animal habitats worldwide. Junior Nidhi Pejathaya helped found West’s Sustainability Council to create a space where students can educate themselves about climate change and do their part to preserve the environment. “When you're going out of your way to recycle [or] reuse your clothes to save water, you're saving people. You're saving adults, you're saving families, you're saving children. You're saving a whole generation. Just because we don't see it doesn't mean it's not happening,” Pejathaya said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-editorial-feature-1200x800.jpg)
![In perfect shooting form and with eyes on the rim, junior Tyler Kuehl is about to shoot his next basket in the last game of the season against Marquette High School. Kuehl has been playing basketball since he was 5. “Even though I played basketball all my life, the game-winning shots can be pressure, it's confidence. If you're going into that shot and not thinking that you're gonna make it, it's obviously not going in. And if you believe, [it will]. That's the only way you can succeed,” Kuehl said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/unnamed-32-1-1200x1200.png)
![“Winning [the Scholastic Gold Key Regional Award for Writing] feels incredibly rewarding. I dedicated a lot of time to putting my feelings into my work, especially ‘Melanin’, which was about my experience with racism and feeling like an outcast because of my skin color [and] primarily due to living in a white/homogenous area. My memoir reflects upon a time in which I lived in a small town that had close to zero people who looked like me and how that affected my mental health, especially how I felt about how I looked. But then I moved to a larger, more diverse city where there were more people similar to me and I had this moment where I realized that my features are unique and beautiful. I feel like a lot of people of color can relate to the feeling of overcoming internalized racism. It's truly validating to see my efforts recognized by the Scholastic Writing Contest especially because it gives me a platform to share my voice. ” - Farrin Rahman, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KadamO_RahmanF3-Opal-Kadam-1-1200x800.jpg)
![“Hitting that ball hard is just pure satisfaction. I’m on the varsity tennis team, and it’s funny because I actually got pressured into joining, but we actually [had] a really good season. I’ve been playing for three years now. My favorite part is definitely going to other schools and meeting other girls. Tennis is really fun and it's a good stress reliever, but something that [stresses me out] is definitely tests [at school]. When things [start to] stress me out, I just tell myself that [I] can get there because everyone will move on and [will] get there [too].” Alisha Yin, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/alishayin-copy-1200x800.jpg)
!["Becoming a teacher evolved over time. I wanted to be a writer or in theater, [so] I got degrees in English and theater and wrote plays. Every important job involved working with kids. After college, I [worked on] shows with kids, and [everything] I loved came together. That's when I thought [becoming a teacher]. I went back to school [for] a master’s in education. [Being] 5-foot-2, I was a little scared to teach high school, thinking students [might] think I was younger than them, [so] I got a job at the middle [school] and loved [it]. I always wanted to teach high school, and [now I’ve finally done it]. I see [my students’] great writing, and it inspires me. I've written so much myself but haven't sent much out [yet]. I think I'll [focus on that] after I retire. This is my second year at Parkway West and my first [time] teaching high school, and it’s something I've always wanted to do. I love being [here].” – Marcy Rademeyer, English](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/KhanY_RademeyerM3-Yusra-Khan.png)
![“I’m the vice president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA), the co-president of the Women in Healthcare club, and [am also in] of ABC club, NHS first aid, the diplomacy club, and other volunteering activities [in my community.] My main goal in these clubs is to be actively engaged in the school and give back to the community. [Through these opportunities,] I’ve learned to be a better organizer and planner, especially with my roles in MSA and Women in Healthcare. I think these skills will be valuable towards the career path I choose. I’m particularly interested in the medical field, which is why I co-founded Women in Healthcare. As a freshman, I was the chief financial officer of the Muslim Student Association. This year, I’m the vice president. We’ve worked hard to improve the organization and make the club more fun and interactive for everyone. It’s been great to see the club grow, with a lot of new freshmen joining. Balancing all of these activities with my schoolwork can be challenging at times, but the whole team helps with the workload. A misconception others have about the MSA is that [there is minimum involvement.] One time I went to stamp the MSA flyers to get approved down at the office, and the woman was hesitant about it. She asked how many people actually come to our meetings, so I explained that we usually have 35 to 40 people. Parkway West includes lots of diversity and it [helps strengthen] our community.” – Yusra Khan, 10](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/1f5dbf90-8b69-452a-a610-22726c8a6ed9-1200x800.jpg)
![“Sports [can] teach you a lot of things, and playing on the team can teach you leadership. When you're working with a bunch of guys, you’ve got to know what's best for the team, and you've got to do whatever is best for the team. Commitment is a big part of sports. Some days, you don't want to show up to practice, [but] you have to do it because it's what's best for the team. You just [have] to be committed. You [gain] better relationships and you make a lot of friends when you play sports. You're spending at least two hours a day with those people, so you build really strong relationships with your teammates. If you put in the work, you're bound to get better.” - Henry Wild, 12](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/4edc5735-3dad-4150-ac6f-3ee8ba65d2b5-1200x803.jpg)
In this episode, meet freshman Cameron Spangler and Hugo Ortbals who are playing on the varsity soccer team as freshmen. Listen on to learn about the secret behind their success.
Raj Jaladi: I am Raj Jaladi, and you’re listening to Athletes of West, a podcast brought to you by the Pathfinder. Today we are joined by varsity soccer players [freshmen] Cameron Spangler and Hugo Ortbals. When did you start playing soccer and describe the journey?
Cameron Spangler: So I started playing soccer when I was around, I want to say 4. And it wasn’t competitive soccer, but I just started kicking the ball around. And then I’d say when I was around 6 or 7, I joined a church soccer team, and I played that for a couple years. And then when I was 9, I joined an actual club soccer team. And that’s when I really started to excel in soccer, so I’ve been on the club soccer team journey until high school.
Jaladi: And what about you Hugo?
Hugo Ortbals: My soccer journey started when I was about 3. I played Veta for indoor and, it all started from there. I played on my best friend’s team and worked my way up until I was 6 and joined my first club team. And now I’m on a roll through high school.
Jaladi: So you just mentioned that transition from not playing competitive to playing competitive, what inspired you, or who inspired you, to play competitively in the first place?
Spangler: I think my older brother [alumni] Alex Spangler really inspired me to start the soccer journey because he always pushed me when I was younger, and he’s the one who really got me into soccer.
Ortbals: For me, it was probably my parents who pushed me the most. They saw that I was doing really good in soccer and decided to get me into club and see how I’d do there.
Jaladi: So I was actually talking to coach Herpel, and he was telling me that during all the time he’s coached, there’s never actually been two freshmen on the varsity soccer team, so that’s a pretty big deal. So what was it like when you found out that you made the varsity team?
Spangler: When I found out that I made varsity, I was really excited. I think I was pretty surprised. Towards the end of the tryout, I was practicing with people who were going to be playing varsity. But I was still really surprised that I made it.
Ortbals: Whenever I made varsity, I was really surprised, like Cameron said, I was practicing with lower groups. So I didn’t think that I had a chance like Cameron did. But when he picked me, I honestly don’t even remember how I was feeling. Everything was just a blur at that time.
Jaladi: What was your greatest obstacle you faced playing varsity soccer?
Spangler: My biggest obstacle was probably just a size difference between me and the seniors I was playing against because they were pretty much grown men compared to me, and they’re just so much bigger than me and stronger than me. And so it was really hard to go against, but I found ways to get around that.
Ortbals: For me, the biggest obstacle is size and speed and also being injured for the first few weeks. Getting pushed off the ball was all the time; if I had the ball, they were always on you or they were just all over you, so it was hard to keep the ball.
Jaladi: Did the turf cause any problems while playing, or was that an issue?
Spangler: No. A couple of turf burns after those bigger kids would put me into the ground, but not really.
Jaladi: Okay. And what was the adjustment like from middle to high school, not just like soccer wise, but also like adjusting to just school in general?
Spangler: For me, it was probably work ethic from going into high school from eighth grade. It was like me just goofing around, but now I have to put in work and stay on top of my work.
Jaladi: And how did you manage that adjustment while playing on the varsity team?
Spangler: Actually, my teammates actually helped me a lot with that change. They made it really easier, just with that big change because they just helped me through it a lot.
Jaladi: So you made the adjustments, you made it through the season. Now let’s talk about your season. What were some of your proudest moments during your season?
Spangler: So my proudest moments were probably making kids fall whenever I was dribbling or winning more games than we won last year and scoring a lot more goals than we did last year.
Ortbals: For me, it was probably getting four goals and five or six assists in the season. And the playing time I got.
Jaladi: That’s wonderful. So we all face situations when we feel pressure or when the team relies on you to make a big play. How do you feel during those moments, and what do you do to ease the nerves? Especially since when you were playing, during this season at least, you’d barely spent a few months at high school.
Spangler: For me, I just don’t think, I don’t think about it. I just play on the pitch, and I don’t really think about anything except going to go score a goal.
Jaladi: Yeah, I think that’s a great strategy. So now for my next question, I want to ask, So what were some of your most memorable moments of being part of the West team?
Spangler: Mine is probably everyone starting the Ortballs, and like talking about it all around the school.
Ortbals: For me, it was probably our game against Rittner when [senior] Carson John Mills scored a free kick in overtime to win and we all celebrated in the corner.
Jaladi: What does it mean to you to represent West varsity soccer team?
Spangler: It means a lot to me because for club, I really felt like I didn’t have a lot to play for when I was playing club. But when I played for West, I actually had something to play for because it was like I’d be playing for my school and that I’m representing out there.
Ortbals: Yeah, same for me. It meant so much to me being able to play for my friends and all of them. And I just felt super cool that they could come out and watch us play as a team.
Jaladi: I wish I could relate to the watching part, but I play tennis and nobody really watches tennis, so I can’t relate to that. But what were some of your toughest parts of practice or matches or game?
Spangler: For practice, it was definitely all the running we had to do. And then games, all the running we had to do.
Jaladi: It doesn’t really sound like you like running. There’s not much time left after soccer in school, but what else do you do outside of soccer in school?
Spangler: Outside of school, I like to hang out with my friends and usually play other sports, sometimes I play football or basketball.
Ortbals: For me, I play indoor soccer with the juniors, and then I might play some volleyball if I don’t get cut, and I hang out with my friends after school.
Jaladi: That’s very nice. What do you do to relax because you probably had stressful soccer?
Spangler: Outside of school, I like to play video games like FIFA or Madden. That’s how I relax. Yeah, Madden.
Jaladi: Yea we have to run that up sometime. Who is your role model?
Spangler: My role model is probably my brother because just me wanting to be better than him pushes me.
Jaladi: Okay, and who’s your role model?
Ortbals: My role model is probably [senior] Carson John Mills or [senior] Adam Lancia because I hope to become them whenever I am their age.
Jaladi: And what’s your goal in terms of sports or career?
Ortbals: Maybe join the military or start a car business or a car shop. Jaladi: You into cars?
Ortbals: Yes
Jaladi: That’s sick.
Spangler: What type of cars are you into?
Ortbals: Probably the one that Raj Jaladi drives?
Jaladi: Why do you want to join the military?
Ortbals: because it pays for my college.
Spangler: And so my goal is to probably get some money off playing maybe soccer in college or at a school, they’ll pay for my education. And if you’re good enough, they’ll pay you, but I’m not that good. I know my limits.
Jaladi: Last question. What is your advice for freshmen athletes? Big question now. Okay. You’re talking for all the freshmen.
Spangler: My advice for freshmen athletes is to not give up, keep up the grind and put in 110% effort.
Jaladi: Wow, that was inspirational to me, and I’m not even a freshman. Thank you both
for joining me today on this episode of Athletes of West. Thank you for all those listening out there, we’ll see you another time.
