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The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High

Pathfinder

Rising out of the water, girls swim and dive co-captain and senior Norah Rutkowski grasps a momentary breath of air as she swims the butterfly stroke. Last week, Rutkowski competed alongside seven of her teammates at the state swim meet, held at St. Peters RecPlex. “This year at state, I got [No. 1 in] the 100-yard [butterfly] and fourth [in] [the 200-yard [individual medley]. [Winning] was a relief because it was something I had been wanting to do again. Freshman year was weird because it was COVID-19, and my time was relatively slow for someone to win state in that event, so I wanted to prove I could do it again,” Rutkowski said.

Waves of wonder

Cindy Phung, Editor-in-Chief February 23, 2024

Over Feb. 15-16, girls swim and dive co-captain and senior Norah Rutkowski placed first in the state for the 100-yard butterfly — an admirable feat in and of itself. However, the accomplishment was not...

Freshman Chase Waddell wears jersey 15 on the hockey team. Waddell and his older brother, senior Quinn Waddell, both wore their jerseys to school on game day along with the rest of the team. “Everyone in my family plays hockey, and we can connect through hockey by watching it, going to Blues games and watching each other play,” Chase Waddell said.

Home of hockey

Alyssa Gessner, Staff Writer February 14, 2024

The Waddell household is the home of hockey. Two brothers, senior Quinn Waddell and freshman Chase Waddell, both take to the ice, inspired by their older brothers. They have been playing since they were...

A stadium full of Chiefs fans with the words "Run it back."

They ran it back

Will Gonsior, Opinions/A&E Editor February 13, 2024

A game for the ages America saw a thriller on Feb. 11 as the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in Super Bowl LVIII, a game that featured two Super Bowl-record field goals, as...

On Sun, Feb. 11, the 2023 Super Bowl champions — the Kansas City Chiefs — will take on the San Francisco 49ers for the 2024 Super Bowl. During the playoffs, there are seven teams from each conference who battle for the chance to make it to the Super Bowl at the end of the season. “A good team comes from bonding, unity and overall synergy. The better [the] team’s synergy, the better you're gonna be as a team,” junior Archie Arnold said.

Is the NFL rigged?

Samari Sanders, Staff Writer February 11, 2024

The NFL is a professional sports league that consists of 32 teams — divided equally between the American and National Football Conference — where 16 teams from each conference are split into East,...

Shouting from the front row, senior Mason Riley cheers on West football. Riley has been attending football games, among others, at West for four years. “My favorite thing about sports at West is when everyone comes together to be one family and team, and the community atmosphere that the school brings together,” Riley said.

Athletes to watch in the 2024-2025 season

Owen Ulmer and Matthew Thomas February 6, 2024

There is no doubt that there are many talented athletes here at West, but four unique students will certainly stand out in the 2024-25 school year. The everyday grind of practice, getting home later and...

Laughing, boys wrestling head coach Zeke Allison and assistant coach Jeff Scholte celebrate their athletes on senior night. The two have coached together since the 2015-16 season. “I couldn’t get to those 100 wins if it wasn’t for the people that I coached with. My dad coached with me for a while. Right now, I got [assistant coaches] Murry Reich and Jeff Scholte, who’ve been with me most of the way. I definitely couldn’t have done it without those guys being in my corner,” Allison said.

Milestones on the mat

Serena Liu, Editor-in-Chief February 5, 2024

A sharp whistle blows. From the mat in the center of the gym, a referee raises an exhausted wrestler’s hand, declaring them the match winner. The crowd erupts into cheers.  Meanwhile, on the sidelines,...

Pushing past a defender and shooting the puck into the goal, senior Kirill Manoni scores a point against St. Louis University High School. Manoni believes hockey players should wear more protection. “Being on the ice, I am now more aware of my surroundings after the Adam Johnson story,” Manoni said.

Skating towards change

Lia Emry, Staff Writer January 15, 2024

Gliding quickly on the ice, the boys hockey team slides into a new season. With hockey season coming in full swing, concerns regarding ice hockey player safety are inevitable. After a collision that left...

On Nov. 8, seniors Mason Beno, MJ Surtin, Maddi Lang and Rachel Livak signed their recruitment letters to the colleges of their choice. Every year, senior recruits bring along their team, coaches and family as they announce their commitment to colleges. “Recognition doesn’t solely define an athlete’s talent or ability. D2 and D3 athletes showcase tremendous skills and dedication in their respective sports, even if they might not receive as much attention as their D1 counterparts,” Surtin said.

The journey doesn’t stop

Samari Sanders, Staff Writer January 11, 2024

All around the world, senior recruits are finishing up their last high school season and committing to the college of their choice. While seeing offers being granted may seem exciting, the recruitment...

Junior Will Gonsior lies down on a pile of money, an opportunity gained by allowing the Pathfinder to use his name, image and likeness. Accusations of corruption and misconduct have revealed just how easily the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) lets money pile up where it doesn’t belong. “[The NCAA] is a business, so they're trying to win games. No matter the sport, they're trying to be the most successful that they can,” varsity football coach and physical education teacher Jeff Duncan said.

Foul play: Amateurism or a collegiate cartel?

Will Gonsior and Ruthvi Tadakamalla January 8, 2024

With over 1000 participating colleges and almost half a million young adults under its umbrella, the National Collegiate Athletics Association pledges to inspire and support its “student-athletes.”...

A jumbotron at Busch Stadium sends a thank-you to former St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright after his postgame concert on Sept. 29. Wainwright performed multiple original songs as a celebration of his 18-year career. “The postgame concert was crazy,” Wainwright said.

End of an era

Will Gonsior, Opinions/A&E Editor December 5, 2023

As much as we repeat the axiom that “all good things must come to an end,” we humans never quite believe it. Each time a reliable presence suddenly waves goodbye, we’re consistently shocked, as if...