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
Irene Yannakakis

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER

Grade:  10

Years on Staff:  2

If you were a fictional character, who would you be?  Winnie the Pooh

Does the toilet paper go over or under on the roll?  Over.

How many alarms do you set in the morning to get up on time?  Six.

Favorite Quote:  “You can’t live a full life on an empty stomach.”

All content by Irene Yannakakis
Sophomore Victor Ganev and senior Grant Young stand in a serve-receive position during a game against St. Louis University High School April 2. West lost 2-0, losing by only two points in the second set. “My favorite part about playing volleyball is serving or hitting because they are the only things that I can control. I can mentally prepare myself for my serve and focus on my hit so it goes where I want it to,” Ganev said.

Spring sports photo gallery

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
May 20, 2019
Freshman Ella Roesch lays in a hospital bed in the emergency room during the varsity game against Nerinx Hall, April 12. Roesch was hit during the game, and was rushed to the hospital. “I was scared that I was going to be seriously hurt. But when the CT scan came back negative, I was extremely relieved,” Roesch said.

Freshman Ella Roesch gets sent to the hospital during varsity soccer game

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
April 15, 2019
The girls soccer program will compete against the boys baseball program in the first annual battle of the bones.

Teams battle over bones for bragging rights

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
April 12, 2019
The Parkway Step Team performs during the homecoming pep rally Sept. 28. The team plans to travel to Virginia Beach, VA to perform this weekend for a national competition. “Performing in front of the school is way different than a real competition because there are not as many people watching you at school and its less pressure because it's not a competition, it's just a chance to have fun. But at a real competition, there is a lot more pressure to win, and there are more than 2,000 people watching you, usually,” sophomore RoNeeka Boyd said.

The Parkway Step Team plans to attend a national competition in Virginia

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
March 15, 2019
Best- selling author Nic Stone discusses the focus and messages of her novel “Dear Martin” with the members of SSJLAC. Her book was published Oct. 17, 2017. “I was actually studying Psychology and planning to go into neuropsych, but I'd started a novel the year before and managed to finish it and secure an agent before graduation. That novel didn't go anywhere, but the switchover changed the trajectory of my entire life,” Stone said.

SSJLAC attends book discussion with best selling author Nic Stone

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
March 5, 2019
Decked out in Longhorn Cheer gear with pom-poms in hand, senior Jackson Barnhart perfects a toe touch. Barnhart was chosen as one of the judges' top five competitors. "[I was] very surprised because I wasn't trying to win. I was doing [Mr. Longhorn] to just have a good time with my bros and embarrass myself for charity," Barnhart said.

Senior boys compete in 2019 Mr. Longhorn

Nayeon Ryu and Irene Yannakakis
March 1, 2019
While working on an assignment in AP Human Geography, freshman Mason Paul discusses his answers. Paul is enrolled in two AP/Honors classes. “Taking AP/Honors classes are hard because you have a lot of homework, but you get to brag to your friends about taking them,” Paul said.

The pros and cons of taking an AP or Honors class

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
January 31, 2019
Sophomores Irene Yannakakis and Anna Pavlisin lay in the hallway deciding what Pop Tart flavor to try next.

Pop Tart Taste Test

Irene Yannakakis and Anna Pavlisin
December 14, 2018

Riverdale Review

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
December 11, 2018
While being presented an award for coaching 11 years on senior night, varsity head coach Michael Skordos and senior Harry Skordos cry for their last home game. M. Skordos has coached his son, H. Skordos, since he was young. “It's really rewarding that my dad has been able to coach me for so long. The fact that he waited until I graduated to retire means a lot, especially that we could spend our last home game together,” H. Skordos said.

Varsity boys soccer coach Mike Skordos plans to step down next season from coaching

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
November 1, 2018
At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, senior Lauren Chapman visits the eighth floor garden after a treatment. Chapman enjoyed looking out at the views of Forest Park. “At that point I don't think I had been outside in at least two weeks, it was really cool just to leave that room and feel the breeze and see the trees,” Chapman said.

Senior Lauren Chapman undergoes a bone marrow transplant for severe Aplastic Anemia

Irene Yannakakis and Katelyn Tyree
October 24, 2018
Junior Tony Morse rests his male Dumbo Rex Rat, Dexter, on his shoulder for comfort during Zoology. Morse bought Dexter from Petland before the school year started as a personal pet. “Since he is my pet and I don’t have him for the only sole purpose of Zoology, I don’t feel comfortable leaving him here overnight,” Morse said. “He gets lonely and misses me, and so do I. I also just love spending time with him, he is such an amazing pet. He always cuddles with me and is so content with me.”

Meet the pets in Zoology

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
October 9, 2018
Standing with a family friend, mother Xiao Gray, brother Christopher Gray, freshman Victoria Gray and sophomore Andrew Gray visit the terracotta warriors in Xi’an China. The Gray family visited the museum after the children finished camp. “By the end [the museum] got jam packed with people, tourists, students and guides, but luckily we got there early. It was really interesting to see all the statues in real life,” Victoria said.

Andrew Gray and Victoria Gray attend camp in Shanghai, China

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
September 13, 2018
Senior Jack Swiney slides into home plate in a league game against Lafayette. Parkway West won with a final score 18-8 on May 9. “Senior Trevor Abney got a base hit up the middle. The center fielder on the other team threw it home as I was sliding into home plate, so there was a play there,” Swiney said.

Boys varsity baseball team wins conference for the first time in 15 years

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
May 4, 2018

Quiz: Which High School Musical character are you?

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
April 30, 2018
Freshman Leah Selm settles the ball against Nerinx Hall April 13. Nerinx defeated West 0-2. “It was a good game. I thought our team played really well and put up a good fight,” Selm said.

Freshman Leah Selm scores a position on the varsity soccer team

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
April 24, 2018
Junior Kaleigh Kastberg swings into a free kick, turf flying into the air. The varsity girls competed against Nerinx Hall on April 13. "We ended up losing 2-0. We were trying to get a goal back in the last ten minutes, so we gave up a second goal," Kasper said. "It went well though; I play defense, and so we were trying to shut down as many forwards as possible."

[Photo] Spring sports preview

Zaven Nalbandian, STAFF WRITER
April 18, 2018
English teacher Taylor Rose teaches her students during her fourth hour English IV class.

English Teacher Taylor Rose receives a nomination for the 2018 Albert Award

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
March 11, 2018
Alumnus Leul Mesfin smiles at the camera after playing a game in the Bottagisio Sport Center in Verona, Italy.

Alumnus Leul Mesfin scores big for Italian soccer team

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
March 20, 2018
Freshmen Surya Jaladi and Caleb Levy brainstorm ways to increase their membership. "Not only did I have fun while I competed, but it also helped me learn more about the technology that we use everyday–like our laptops–so it helps me in the real-world too" Dean Petev.

[Photo] Cyber Security Club competes in the National Youth Cyber Education program

Anna Pavlisin, STAFF WRITER
March 1, 2018
Students practicing evading an armed intruder by building a barricade in their classroom.

Faculty responds to spike in mass shootings across United States

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
February 15, 2018
Freshmen basketball coach Peg Schane provides feedback to her players during halftime against St. Dominic, Jan. 10. The freshmen basketball team has a record of 10-0-0. “I feel like coach Schane has helped us a lot to be undefeated at this point in the season,” freshmen girls basketball team captain Leah Selm said.

Freshman girls basketball coach Peg Schane leads players in an undefeated season

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
January 24, 2018
Senior Sophie Vietor performs a butterfly stroke during practice on Nov. 27. “[Doing a variety of strokes] helps give me a chance to improve all of my strokes and makes the sets more interesting instead of doing freestyle or one stroke the whole practice,” Vietor said.

Girls swim and dive kicks off season

Irene Yannakakis, STAFF WRITER
December 6, 2017