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.”...
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...
The United States Open Tennis Tournament, commonly known as the U.S. Open, was transformational for women's equality nationwide. Competitor Coco Gauff won the women’s singles division and earned a $3...
With girls tennis season in full swing, freshman Mireya David stepped onto the court hitting hard and precise shots in the first week of tryouts. The 14-year-old took the court by storm, winning point...
Arms pumping, heart pounding and sweat dripping, senior Julia Liguore dribbles toward the goal. She spins around one, two, three players before shooting the ball, which swooshes up against the back of...
Senior Cece Watts was one of 18 students awarded the St. Louis Post Dispatch Scholar Athlete award this past Wednesday. In its 57th year, the program honors one student from every area school, the requirements...
Back sweaty, legs aching, the wind rushing through his hair, senior Donteaus Moore pushes through, clearing one hurdle after another with only one goal: going as fast as he can. Yet as he flies to the...
Rho Sigma Delta became national champions this past Saturday. Competing at the Stage Breakers step competition in Dallas, the high school team brought home a 3 ½ ft tall trophy to Parkway School District.
Together...
On Saturday, April 1, the Parkway South-West Winter Guard competed at the Mid Continent Color Guard Association (MCCGA) Championships against five other teams at Willard High School. The guard, made up...
Starting this March, a new spring sport is coming to Parkway: boys field hockey. Established by girls field hockey coach Dawn Callahan, the Boys Inaugural Field Hockey League is an opportunity for boys...
![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.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Foul-Play-Amateurism-or-a-collegiate-cartel-1-1200x900.png)
![Female tennis players thrive regardless of their limitations. While there are many issues within the sport — unequal pay, no maternal care for athlete-mothers, unequal opportunities for different races and more — many activists have been advocating for change within the industry. “I hope there are a lot more milestones set along the way and a lot more improvements in [tennis],” freshman and JV tennis player Sara Ashok said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2023-10-24-at-12.37.04-PM.png)
![Reaching new heights, Watts sprints the 300 meter hurdles at the 2023 Northwest Invitational track meet. With her best time at 48.27 seconds, Watts qualified for the 2022 MSHSAA Track and Field State Championships and placed 11th as a junior. “My greatest accomplishment is competing at [the state championships]. I remember breaking two personal records at Conference and medaling in all of my events and feeling on top of the world. I knew at that moment that I had a chance to go to state. My favorite track memory is running the 300 hurdles at sectionals and getting fourth, barely making it to state. I remember finishing the race and running toward my hurdles coach [Kat] Briggs and yelling ‘Did I make it? Did I make it?’ She gave me the biggest smile and hug and said I made it to state,” Watts said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cece-1.jpeg)
![Juniors Tristen Banks, Kimora Jones, Nylah Thompson and Chris Williams smile with the trophy after winning the national Stage Breakers competition on April 15. Five teams competed for the championship. “Things that we [had] were [competitiveness], eagerness and determination, because the other teams who were here did good. To be able to beat other step teams, you need to [be the best in] precision, rhythm, and know how to put first things first,” Banks said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/stepteamwinapril15dallas.jpeg)
![Knees bent, freshman James Callahan lifts the ball for a fast pass during the 2021 Young Men’s National Championship in Virginia Beach. Despite his high skill level, it is difficult for Callahan to find opportunities to play with other boys. “I can’t play in any tournaments in St. Louis. To get practice with other boys, I’d have to fly out to California or Pennsylvania. You have to spend $400 to pay for the practice, and you pay for a plane ticket. We don’t even know if they’re giving us rooms, [or if] we also have to get the hotel and transportation,” Callahan said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/unnamed-22.jpg)