![Seniors Abigail Wheeler and Grace Fotheringham hand candy to a princess at the varsity cheer trunk. Fotheringham helped decorate with streamers and loved interacting with kids and seeing their costumes. "I love kids, and it [was] a great way [for them] to get involved at West. It was such a cute idea," Fotheringham said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC_0260-900x600.jpg)
![Sticking her tongue out playfully, 3-year-old Clara DAquino Lazarini tightly holds her sister. In Brazil, when the two shared a bedroom, many fun memories were made — however, there were the occasional light-hearted disputes. “I would always try to sneak into her bed at night because she had [the] top bunk, and I was so upset that I didn’t have it,” Clara said. “I used to talk while I was sleeping, and every morning she would tell me the things I said or did, and she would always pretend to be mad at me, but in the end, she'd laugh about it with me.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IMG_6818-900x637.jpg)
![Celebrating her journey, freshman Alexis Briner beams brightly with her family. Briner appreciates her parents greatly for their support during her journey with anorexia. “I was still in the depths of [the eating disorder] around the holidays. So there were a lot of meals and I remember I kind of panicked at a few of those. And so I would have to take time out and sometimes we'd have to leave the parties early. And then my parents would be upset because it was very time consuming, [but] they were troopers,” Briner said.](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/briner-feat-900x705.jpg)
![The greatest struggle in my life would probably have to be losing my grandpa. I lost my grandpa this past July and there was a two-week span where, after my grandpa passed, a lot of other stuff happened too. I kind of bunkered down in my shell for a little bit there. I didn’t go out or see any of my friends much over those two weeks. When I did, all I thought about was the loss of my grandpa. Losing someone is hard. He was one of my biggest inspirations. My grandparents lived in Florida. Any chance they got to travel to Missouri, they would. I will always cherish those moments even more than I did in the moment. My grandpa loved to watch me and my sister play sports, especially [when I played] soccer. Whenever I would talk to him on the phone, he always told me to get out of my head because that was something I did a lot. [He] told me that I would be fine and to keep my head up. I looked up to him throughout my life. I never saw my grandpa without a smile on his face. [He was] always so funny and always loved to crack jokes. Knowing he won’t be there for my big milestones, like [when I] graduate high school, is something really difficult to deal with. He was one of the hardest workers. He served in the Vietnam war [and] then went back to Gloucester, Ohio where he worked in the coal mines for 15 years. Rain, shine, happy, upset, angry—he worked through it all to support my dad and aunt. My papa loved his family so much and showed it by goofing around all the time. I remember one time when I was seven and my papa and I were watching Nascar and my favorite driver had always been Kyle Bush. Papa said something like, ‘I hope Kyle spins out.’ Papa knew how angry I would get but always made it up with a hug. I aspire to be like him every day. My grandpa made himself who he was and always stayed true to himself. So I would say that [losing him] was really a struggle.” - Derrien Gatchel, 11](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/kgatchel-1-900x675.jpeg)
“What is real will prosper. If you don't believe in yourself, what you strive for won’t come true. [I’ve been playing football] for three...
“[This] season has been amazing so far. Most of the team has been playing together for over four years, so our chemistry is great, [and] I...
![After a thrilling point, senior Katie Byergo and junior Elle Lanferseick high-five each other on Oct. 8. With teamwork and camaraderie, Byergo worked together in the game against Lafayette High School. “[Byergo’s] is really positive with a good spirit,” Lanferseick said. “I set her [the ball] and she hits it [or] gets the kill.”](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DSC_9349-1-e1761159125735-1200x791.jpg)
Shoes squeaking and eyes scanning the court, senior Katie Byergo smashes the volleyball into the court. Byergo earned her 1,000th kill of her...