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
Throwing candy out to the crowd around them, the varsity boys soccer team enters Brook Hill Subdivision gates Sept. 24, 2021. Due to excessive litter and waste in previous years, the school placed a rule that limits candy usage in the parade this year. “We had to drive a golf cart around the neighborhood and pick up candy and trash late at night. It was just another freshman and me, and I didn't feel safe," sophomore class president Triya Gudipati said. "We missed most of the homecoming game, which was upsetting because it was my first year in high school. It was my first homecoming game, and I was right behind the field so that I could hear all of the game, but I didn't get to go. I feel like that experience was taken away from me."

To candy or not to candy: ‘No Littering Rule’ changes Homecoming parade expectations

Elle Rotter, Deputy Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • September 22, 2022

UPDATE: AS OF SEPT. 22, 2022 THE ADMINISTRATION TEAM HAS DECIDED THAT THE HOMECOMING PARADE WILL ALLOW CANDY ON THE WEST HIGH CAMPUS THIS YEAR. Homecoming traditions where students toss candy, beads and...

The Save Women's Sports Act is a bill proposed to ban transgender women from competing in sports from middle school to college. Ten states have already enacted similar policies, Missouri becoming the 11th on August 28.

Save Women’s Sports Act changes the game for Missouri’s trans athletes

Triya Gudipati, Editor-in-Chief • June 2, 2022

Save Women’s Sports, a term coined by those who oppose transgender women competing in women’s sports is becoming law. On March 2, State Senator Mike Moon of the 29th Senatorial District proposed the...

Posing with their prom dates, senior Luke Lung and his friends celebrate planning their own prom. The group dined, danced and sung during the night. “My favorite moment of the night probably had to have been when we did karaoke. Everyone in the group has amazing voices and we had a blast singing and just enjoying the night,” Lung said.

In a year without Prom, seniors plan their own

Madi Michajliczenko, Conceptual Editor-in-Chief • April 27, 2021

Glamorous floor-length dresses, laundered tuxedos and limousines have all come to be staples for a high school rite of passage: Prom. Prom dates back to the 1900s, becoming more extravagant in the 50s...

Working on her ball control, sophomore Lexie Lutz practices with her field hockey team while maintaining distance. With COVID-19 regulations impacting every fall sport, field hockey is considered a moderate frequency sport so they must gradually progress into full contact with one another. “I am disappointed because playing field hockey is something I look forward to all year, so it's a big letdown to have COVID put restrictions on me and my team because it makes it harder to enjoy,” Lutz said.

No cut competition: Every fall athlete will make a team amidst coronavirus regulations

Drew Boone, Staff Writer • September 14, 2020

With the pandemic having canceled the remainder of the past spring sports season along with taking away summer camps from every athlete, the uncertainty that games will be played this fall led the Parkway...

Planning for a safe return to sports and activities, Athletic Director Brian Kessler sends out new information to parents and students. As back to school approaches, Kessler worked with MSHSAA and other districts to decide the best way to continue with sports and activities. “The workload has been immense, the changes to the schedule have been a lot and then there’s a lot of fatigue,” Kessler said. “It’s hard to think what’s right for your community at this time because things can change quickly.”

Safety first: Athletics Director Brian Kessler plans return to sports

Tre Bell, Staff Writer • August 22, 2020

As professional sports teams around the country struggle to create safe seasons, Athletic Director Brian Kessler works with the Missouri Sports High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) and other groups...

Schools remain closed as students and parents wait for information on the upcoming school year.

Parkway leaders share a glimpse of plans for the 20-21 school year

Bri Davis, Staff Writer • July 16, 2020

Keith Marty, Superintendent of Parkway Schools Q: What are the special protocols for students, staff, families, and guardians who are at higher risk from COVID-19? Plans for Parkway will be released...

Matt Berning worked as the athletic trainer for more than four years, but is now leaving high-school specific work behind. Berning has taken a position at the Mercy Sports Clinic with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Julienne Lippe. "The best thing is working with athletes young athletes and helping them overcome their injuries and times that are hard for them because they're in pain or their hurt and they can't play the sport they love," Berning said.

Farewell to ‘Trainer Matt’

Cooper Walkoff, Convergence Journalism Writer • December 19, 2019

After teaching classes, supporting athletes and training college students to be athletic trainers, Trainer Matt Berning is leaving to work at the Mercy Sports Clinic with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Julienne...

Youth baseball coach and alumni Sherron Rives tells his players the long season is not over yet after winning first place in a spring tournament. Rives led his 14 and under team to three tournament wins in 2018. “It was really different to play for him,” sophomore Nathan Basler said. “He had a different passion for the game, and you could see it in his eyes when he was coaching. He loves baseball more than anyone I’ve seen before.”

From high school baseball to playing professional, alumni Sherron Rives uses passion for baseball to coach youth teams

Michael Lolley, Staff Writer • December 3, 2019

Graduating in 1989 and continuing his baseball career into professional game, alumni Sherron Rives is now giving back to his community by teaching the game to youth players in the St. Louis area. “I...

The scoreboard was built after Parkway set up a deal to pay for it through advertising. This occured when Parkway was under the Kelly Sports Properties contract. “The district has posted a sports media position and we’re in the process of interviewing and hiring someone so that person will [be able to] take over some of the duties that Kelly has been performing,” Athletic Director Brian Kessler said.

Parkway moves on from Kelly Sports Properties

Ridwan Oyebamiji, Features Section Editor • November 4, 2019

Student-athlete welfare. Fundraising. Game sponsorship. Kelly Sports Properties is currently responsible for all these aspects of sports marketing for Parkway’s Athletic Department, but starting next...