Follow the Speech and Debate team’s journey to Rock Bridge High School in Columbia, Missouri. They compete at their first overnight tournament following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Debate diaries: A vlog journey
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![Standing in front of the camera and next to Fox 2 News' Ty Hawkins, senior and varsity football player JaMont Brooks represents the varsity football team. As captain and outside linebacker, Brooks was one of four students selected to be interviewed live for the broadcast. “Overall, it was just a crazy experience being on the news. Even when I get older, I’ll tell my kids or grandkids I was on the news. My mom sent me a picture of me on the news [saying] ‘Oh my gosh, that’s my son.’ The Parkway West community felt amazing this morning. Everybody showed up at 6 [a.m.] and [will] show up 6 [p.m.] tonight too. Any time I go into a game, I go up there with the mentality that we’re going to try our best, and even the times we struggle, [I’ll] keep my head up,” Brooks said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC8122-Enhanced-NR-1200x799.jpg)
MultimediaWaking up to spirit -
MultimediaPhoning in -
![Blue lights shining brightly, senior Riley Creely beatboxes into the microphone. Creely and the group began the performance in front of the blue lights, sparking interest from the audience. “The pep rally performance was fun. I got to beatbox for the first half of the song, which was hype. I liked to look into the student section [while I performed],” Creely said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_5085-Enhanced-NR-1200x799.jpg)
MultimediaA day of spirit and energy -
MultimediaAthletes of West: Junior Ethan Bain -
![Leaping through the air, senior Tyler Watts celebrates his first goal of the season, which put the Longhorns up 1-0 against the Lafayette Lancers. Watts decided to play soccer for West for his last year of high school and secured a spot on the varsity roster. “[Playing soccer for West] is something I had always dreamed of, but hadn’t really had a good opportunity to do until now. It’s [really] fun being out [on the field], and I’m glad I decided to join the team. It’s just all about having fun with the boys and enjoying what time we have left together,” Watts said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC_1951-1200x855.jpg)
MultimediaBoys soccer season starts strong -
![Sophomore Natalie House pitches the ball during an intrasquad scrimmage for Red and Blue Night on Aug. 22. House played catcher for the varsity softball team. “I started [playing] softball when I was five. My brother played baseball, and I wanted to start sports like him. Scrimmaging against our own team is always kind of difficult because we all know each other's [weaknesses],” House said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DSC7191-1-1-1200x844.jpg)
MultimediaRed and Blue Night: An everlasting tradition -
MultimediaAthletes of West: Junior Kate Hardy -
![Blending harmonies with dynamic control, senior Spencer Rahm takes the stage as part of the jazz choir's spring performance. Jazz Coffee House took place on April 22, marking the culmination of months of preparation by West High’s musicians. “To me, [choir] is an opportunity every day to get to sing with my friends and work on our songs that we have concerts for. [Seeing] the results after working together with people is really rewarding. Jazz Coffee House concert was a reflection and a result of all the hard work we've put in the last three months,” Rahm said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/DSC_0214-3-1200x800.jpg)
MultimediaBrews and grooves -
MultimediaWhat success looks like
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![During a game of cornhole, junior Aliza Schroeder celebrates with her buddy after making her bean bag through the board. Cornhole was one of many games offered in Victory Village. “We liked the activities in the Victory Village. We had a lot of fun playing the games, and she was really excited when she did well. We had fun celebrating. It’s important to be inclusive, involved [and] be excited to celebrate,” Schroeder said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/DSC_9749-1200x800.jpg)
MultimediaHeart of the games
About the Contributors
Sravya Reddy Guda, Staff Writer
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 10
Years on staff: 2
What is your favorite piece of literature? Any Dystopian series!
Who is your hero? My mom.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Biriyani, an Indian Food :)
Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief
Pronouns: she/her
Grade: 12
Years on staff: 4
Who is your favorite musician? Taylor Swift.
What gets you up in the morning? Knowing that something I do today has the potential to not only shape my future, but also make an impact on the world around us.
What’s an unpopular opinion that you have? Stanleys aren’t all that.
Will Gonsior • Mar 25, 2024 at 9:58 pm
YOU LIKE THAT??????
we like that