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
“I joined the Poms team because I like performing. I [have done] gymnastics since I was a little kid but I really wanted to do dance because I wanted to try performing in front of the school and my friends. Gymnastics is also really hard on your body, it takes up a lot of your time. I had practice every day for five hours and that was very exhausting. I wanted to try something new. Dance and gymnastics are similar, you're still performing but dance is more performing to a lot of people and interacting with the crowd, whereas gymnastics is you're doing it by yourself. A lot of my friends were dancing and I had watched them for so many years. I wanted to do that and then when I made the team, I was so happy to get the opportunity. We really bring each other up on the team. The difference between gymnastics and dance is with gymnastics you have to do it for yourself, but in dance you're doing it for other people. I think that really motivates everyone to do their best. I was definitely very nervous when I first started to be seen by everyone and show everyone what I could do. I realized though we practice so much and we know what we're doing, so to just have fun.” -Abby Cauley, 11

Abby Cauley

Amelia Bothmann, CJ1 Writer • May 17, 2023

Cameron Chandler

Cameron Chandler

Sophie McCarthy, Staff Writer • November 23, 2022

“My favorite thing about [the dance team] is the community that we build every year and how much we grow together as individuals. It just makes me really happy. Being able to lead the team in the direction...

Cheering on their fellow poms teammates, sophomores Allie Byergo and Cameron Chandler attend a varsity boys basketball game Jan. 8. Because of their injuries, Byergo and Chandler were not able to participate in any dancing. “It's actually pretty fun to get to go to the games since not a lot of people can right now because of COVID-19,” Byergo said. “Ever since I've been injured, even though I haven't been able to dance, it's been really good to still be a part of the team and still be able to wear poms clothes and go and represent at games.”

Stuck on the sidelines: sophomores Allie Byergo and Cameron Chandler battle injuries

Elise Frost, Staff Writer • February 24, 2021

While practicing a dance on the football field, sophomore Cameron Chandler went to do a cartwheel into a split, when she heard a loud pop. Not wanting to believe something serious had occurred, she continued...

Dressed in costumes inspired by “The Greatest Showman,” junior Emma Roth, freshman Audrey Griswold and senior Kalina Kellogg kick to the song, “The Greatest Show.” Poms placed fourth in Division Four Kick at the Missouri Dance Team Association state competition Feb. 29. “We all dug deep and gave our all because we wanted to make the seniors’ last dance memorable. I think that we performed better than we ever have,” Roth said. “I’m sad that the season is over, but I’m glad that I could make lasting memories with the team for the last time.”

Poms travels for the first time to Kansas City for state competition

Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor • March 2, 2020

The varsity Longhorn Line Dance team (Poms) traveled to Kansas City for the Missouri Dance Team Association’s state competition Feb. 29. The team arrived the day before and stayed overnight at a hotel...

Starting the senior men’s cheer dance with the haka, a tribal dance performed in Polynesian ceremonies, senior Brayden Eddy leads the group. Eddy and fellow senior Nolan Barbre taught the group the haka in order to get them excited about the pep rally. “I went to a football camp in Utah where I learned it, and it was cool to lead it because Nolan and I have always wanted to do it in front of people,” Eddy said.

Pulling out all the stops for the fall Pep Rally

PAWESEHI Staff, Lydia Roseman, and Fatema Rehmani • September 16, 2019

Fresh off their first performance at Red and Blue Night, freshman Kelsea Wilson hugs her sister, senior Kristin Wilson, excited that they completed their first routine together. Both tried out for poms and were excited to make varsity, it being the only year they will both be on the team. “My favorite part is the games, getting ready with her beforehand and having our parents get to watch us both perform,” Kristin said.

Senior Kristin Wilson and freshman Kelsea Wilson take advantage of the chance to dance as teammates

Susie Seidel, Convergence Media Editor • September 11, 2019

Sisters share lots of things, whether it be clothes, shoes, a car or even a room. This year, senior Kristin Wilson and freshman Kelsea Wilson are sharing a one time experience of dancing on the varsity...

Red & Blue Night spirit

Nayeon Ryu, Video Editor • August 30, 2019

Walking across the Main Gym on Wednesday, senior Sophia Ferretti is accompanied by her parents, Pete and Tonya Ferretti during the senior Poms ceremony. As the dancers walked, history teacher Zaven Nalbandian announced the dancers achievements throughout their high school career. “It was a very bittersweet night,” Ferretti said. “I was really happy to have made it this far and I am proud of everything that I have accomplished. I definitely had to fight back my tears when the reality of not being on the team anymore started sinking in.”

Photo of the week – Feb. 18

Caroline Judd, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER • February 22, 2019

Standing alone, junior Aaliyah Weston completes a dance routine while her poms teammates drop to the floor. The team performed with the entire school watching at the Homecoming pep assembly Sept. 28. “Once I got all that applause it was like, ‘Oh, I do matter and I’m a black girl making a change at Parkway West,’” Weston said.

Behind the glitz and glamor: junior Aaliyah Weston’s fight against black stereotypes

Tyler Kinzy, Managing Editor-in-Chief • December 7, 2018

“Being a token black kid, not being allowed to be angry ever because people just know me as–” Junior Aaliyah Weston pauses, searching for the right words before redirecting her line of thought. “You...

As part of the opening act, the front and back lines of contestants switch rows.

Twenty three seniors take the stage at Mr. Longhorn March 1

Ellie Widowski, Staff Writer • February 28, 2017

Senior guys. Dancing. Dressing up in ridiculous outfits. It’s no wonder the male beauty pageant also known as Mr. Longhorn has sold out every year for the four years it has taken place. There will...

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2