morgan coil, rachel fabry, megan fabry millard west high ... · photo courtesy of kevin mccawley...

Morgan Coil, Rachel Fabry, Megan Fabry Millard West High School

2014PRO

WLER V

OLU

ME 19 DETAILS.

P R O W L E R 2 0 1 4MWHS.

OM

AHA

, NEBRA

SKA

1Page No.

InDesign CS5Macintosh

TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455

School Name: Millard West High School

DETAILS.

SUMM

ER

04

1ST S

EM.

1478 2N

D SE

M.

100 WIN

TER

SPOR

TS

128 3RD

SEM.

152 PEOP

LE

42 FALL

SPO

RTS

P R O W L E R 2 0 1 4

MILLARD WEST HIGH SCHOOL5710 S 176th AVE.

4 0 2 . 7 1 5 . 6 0 0 0htt p : / /m p s . mw h s . s c h o o l f u s i o n . u s

2401 students 250 staff

O M A H A , N E 6 8 1 3 5

v o l u m e 1 9

.001

04. photo courtesy of Kevin McCawley 14. photo by Morgan Coil 42. photo by Morgan Coil 78. photo by Taylor Ellis 100. photo by Katy Mar 128. photo by Mark Hilburn 152. photo by Rachel Fabry 280. photo courtesy of Erin Ridder 336. photo by First Last 358. photo by Rachel Fabry

Kevin McCawley ‘14

Madisen Shamburg ‘14

Samuel Harter ‘17

Damon Nelson ‘16

Andrew Spencer ‘14

Eric Kimberly ‘15, Emma Steele ‘15

280 SR. T

RIB.

Erin Ridder ‘14

4TH

SEM.

358

336 SPOR

TSSP

RING

3Page No. Page No.2

InDesign CS5 InDesign CS5Macintosh Macintosh

TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455

School Name: Millard West High School School Name: Millard West High School

Summer dwindles away right before our eyes as we wince at the thought of school, homework and our favorite summer

reading evaluations. Registration approaches and we begin to prepare ourselves for the dreaded and painfully awkward

back to school photos. Our parents quickly finish filling out the last minute health forms and continually write

check after check for the parking decals, activity cards, class sweatshirts and yearbooks, while we

all compare tans, vacations, and stories with our friends about break. Pictures of the new schedules

fill our twitter timelines and reveal that the final countdown to the first day is beginning. All too soon we realize that summer is almost over, and it hits, hard. As our 7 a.m. alarm sounds, we RUSH to grab our backpacks filled with last year’s assignments we never finished, only to replace them with the fresh school supplies our parents bought us. Before we know it, we’re already taking steps onto the grounds of millard west for the first day of the official 2013-2014 school year. While we shuffle into school the morning of August 12th, we start to think about the year, not realizing all of the milestones that will be reached and how fast it all will go. We look forward to the moments that will define our year, like the classes we will take, the events we will attend and the friendships we will make. The beloved Back To School, Homecoming and Prom dances allow us to break it down and bust a

move alongside our closest friends, making for nights we’ll never forget. And of course, we

can’t wait to get dressed up and deck ourselves out in the obnoxious themes and the ridiculous

(potentially toxic) amounts of tempura paint to cheer on our fellow wildcats in all of the award-

winning athletic programs. Eventually you’ve found your placewithin this

year. You know what bench to meet your friends at between classes and exactly where to find them at

lunch. You’re finally back into your individual groove of involvment in your favorite clubs and sports. By this

time in the year you’re eager to compete whether it’s academically, musically or athetically. You enjoy combining

your strengths and interests to represent our school the best way you can, each of us bringing our own special niche to what makes up

our unique and talented student body. All of these little details and contributions create not just any school year, but OUR school year.

DETAILS.by Morgan Coil

002. DETAILS .0031. photo by Najia Reza 2. photo by Shea LeVassuer 3. photo by Morgan Coil 4. photo by Kennedy Wall 5. photo by Morgan Coil 6. photo by Rachel Fabry 7. photo by Kamrin Baker 8. photo by Rachel Fabry 9. photo by Cassidy Benjamin 10. photo by Olivia Behle 11. photo by Morgan Coil 12. photo by Katherine Gilroy 13. photo by Rachel

1. 2.

3.

4.

5. 6.

7.

8.

9.

10. 11.

12.

13.

football game vs. Millard South Chanthu Sy ‘14 Joshua Bailor‘14

Madison Nuismer ‘15, Tyler Pederson ‘14 Joseph Koca ‘14

Caleb Kruse‘15, Gretchin Lusso ‘15, Sara Craft ‘15

Evelyn Koch ‘16

Kelsey Twight ‘14 Danielle Dyer ‘15, Alexy Woodward ‘16

Cody Harper ‘15, Robert Fuller ‘17

Cameron Burke ‘16, Brady Speer ‘16 Sarah Peterson ‘16

Carter Anderson ‘14

Fabry

5Page No. Page No.4


TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


When the final bell sounds, dismissing students for the two-month vacation that is more than necessary, staff and students race out of the parking lots, more careless than usual. From the first couple hours of summer until the final night, country music b l a r e s and parties are everlasting. The morning after for many is spent in bed making up for the past 10 months of sleepless nights. As for sports participants, however, the day after hits harder than a train. The early morning practices in anticipation for the next year’s seasons are killer. The competition of who can return to school with the best tan and worst tan lines begins the first night at the lake. The pressures of school, grades and classmate drama fall from you faster than your swimsuit in a rough tubing session. Although the student body is separated during these s h o r t - l i v e d months, certain trends are common: bonfires for campers, long-boards for hipsters and parties for seniors. Between mission trips and family vacations, summer sends our student body to many different parts of the globe. The dreaded first day of school, way in the back corner of our minds, CREEPS closer as we try to soak up the last swim, the last party, the final hoorah before we meet up with our peers once more, and work toward finishing our career as high school students.

SUMMER.

004. SUMMER .005

by Alexa Leroux

Aleesha Liu ‘14Marisa Lowe ‘15, Madison Severson ‘15, Katherine Suelter ‘14 and Mallory Woodring ‘14 Marijke Thompson ‘14

Chad Rewolinski ‘14

Harrison Dirks ‘15

Kristy Briggs‘14 Price Wilson‘14

Kevin Mccawley ‘14, Alena Pauley ‘14, Corrin Bemis ‘14, Zoe Hatfield ‘14

11Page No. Page No.10


PFS Date: 12/04/2013 Time: 11:58 PFS Date: 12/04/2013 Time: 11:58

LMCID: Black, None, Registration RMCID: Black, None, Registration

TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


ULTIMATE WISH COMES TRUE.survivor of cancer granted opportunity of a lifetime on exotic island of Ouahu, Hawaii

This summer, junior Megan Koluch went with her family to a state in each region. On her eventful journey, she was able to meet Mitt Romney in a bagel shop in Utah. “My favorite part was being able to spend time with my family before my sister went to college,” Koluch said. “It was also a bonus that I could meet someone famous.” Koluch also got the opportunity to visit many colleges, zip-line down a mountain, and even spend a few days in Disney World. The long trip was full of many exciting events, and there was never a dull moment.

As she fought her way through cancer, senior Aleesha Liu was granted a wish from the Make A Wish Foundation. Offered to meet a celebrity, buy a pet, or go on a trip, she picked to spend a memorable week with her family on the island of Ouahu, Hawaii. Liu was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2012. Spending weeks at a time in her hospital bed, Liu and her mother would watch the Travel Channel and dream about being alongside a beach with sand in their feet. Her dreams became a reality when she got to bring her family and longtime friend, senior Andrew Juliot, on an unforgettable summer vacation. “When I was granted a wish, I knew I wanted to go somewhere warm and sandy,” Liu said. “I asked my neighbors to come with my family and I because they were really involved throughout all my treatments. They are like a second family to me.” Liu, her family, and her neighbors enjoyed an eventful week in Hawaii. Parasailing, snorkeling, walking on the beach, going to the Polynesian culture

center, and a luau were all aspects of the trip Liu won’t ever forget. “My favorite part was snorkeling because it was just like an aquarium,” Liu said. “I was just hanging out with them in their natural habitat. I felt like an actual fish.” She loved the fact she was able to bring the people in her life that had helped her though everything she was going through. This experience changed the way Liu looked at every aspect of her life and the decisions she would make from then on. Not taking anything for granted was her new motto in life and to live every day as if it were the last.

“This summer I got the opportunity to visit my family in both New York and Arkansas. We just caught up and watched football games all day. It was just great to see them.”

“Taking a trip to Paris, Sweden, and London this summer was indescribable. I was able to visit family, go shopping, witness the Eiffel Tower, and see theaters in London, which were absolutely beautiful.” -Emma Powell, freshman

“Deep sea fishing was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Orlando, Florida was absolutely amazing. Plus, being able to see my family was just a cherry on top.”

Enjoying a day with her family, Nabulsi takes a risk and dives into the Red Sea to snorkel and explore beyond the shore. Nabusli was amazed by all of the creatures that lived under the waves. This once in a life time chance proved to be a learning experience for her. “I was super scared at first,” Nabulsi said. “But it was really fun and the water was really clear and nice. There were tons of cool fish down there.”

SUBMERGED IN THE SEASpending time together on top of the water, Nabulsi and her family bond with one another over the exotic experiences they all had. The wild vacation was a time for Nabulsi and her family to make extraodinary memories that they could share. “It was a vacation I will never forget,” Nabulsi said. “I was amazed at all the different things that I saw while we were there. It was overall a perfect trip.”

BONDING WITH BAIT

SCENERYCHANGE.swimming in the Red Sea near Egypt, junior Serene Nabulsi happily hung out with her family and ventured out on new and exciting adventures

Enjoying the excitement on the water, Sullivan prepares to set out on a jetski with her dad for an adventure of a lifetime.

Surfing the waters of the beautiful island of Kaui, Dirks learns how to surf for the first time.

WANDERING

KILLER KAUI.

Watching a beautiful sunset while fishing, senior Sydny Harris enjoys a nice vacation with her family at Middle Island Lake.“I always jump at the opportunity to go somewhere fun with my family,” Harris said. “I had a great time and can’t wait to go again next summer.”

Holding on for dear life, senior Meredith Bargman and sophomore Taylor Ellis ride on a tube being yanked left and right. ”The whole time we were on the tube we screamed stupid things at each other,“ Bargman said. “It was impossible to stay on.”

NO WORRIES With not a care in the world, senior Charles Wakeman lays at ease while he hangs out by his dog. “I hung out at my lake house with my budds this summer,“ Wakeman said. ” We shredded up some waves.”

SENIORS UNDER

during their last summer in high school, many seniors stayed close to home, making memories at their lakes with family and friends.

Jjunpun into the crahshing waves

Senior Lisa Fuller was selected by choir director, Katherine Simpson to sing all over Europe as a part of an international chorus. She was able to sing and have an unforgettable vacation traveling with her family. “I had the time of my life,” Fuller said. “I am so thankful for this life-changing trip.”VO

CALS

.FREE FALLING From skydiving to wild boats rides, junior Alexander Vraspir spent his summer experiencing dangerous, thrilling, and wild adventures in the heart of Cancun, Mexico. For seven days, Vraspir was able to try many new activities with his family right by his side. Loving every moment, he couldn’t wait to go back and do it all over again. “My vacation was thrilling and jam packed with fun,” Vraspir said. “Though electrifying, this journey was also one of self acceptance and also helped me discover who I am and what I love.”

by Serena Smith and Shea LeVasseur

photo courtesy of Alexander Vraspir

phot

o cou

rtesy

of H

arris

on Di

rksph

oto c

ourte

sy o

f Sar

ah Su

llivan

photos courtesy of Aleesha Liu

photos courtesy of Megan Koluch

photos courtesy of Lisa Fuller

THE SUN.

Where did you go during summer vacation?

SKILLSLAST CATCH

TIGHT GRIP

STATE BY STATE.photos courtsesy of Serene Nabulsi

010. Vacations SUMMER .011

photo courtesy of Meredith Bargman

phot

o cou

rtesy

of Sy

dny H

arris

photo courtesty of Charles Wakeman

photo courtesy of Price Wilson

Taking on the states one trip at a time

by Shea LeVasseur

THE WATERS.

Wakeboarding during his last high school summer, senior Price Wilson basks in the sun. “I love being outside and chilling,” Wilson said. “During the summer I am always active and trying new things to entertain myself.”

LCID: None, Black, SP Jade, Paper RCID: None, Black, SP Jade, Paper, Process Color Photo, CS Charcoal

Over the summer, senior Sarah Sullivan and her family traveled to the Bahamas for a new wild adventure. “The trip was such a cool experience,” Sullivan said. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.” Sullivan was able to see amazing views and experience new opportunities in a place far away from home. She looks forward to future vacations like this with her family. “On one of our stops we saw locals go dock jumping,” Sullivan said. “I tried it, but I ended up cutting my foot on the coral so it was sort of a fail.”

-Lavontae Richard, junior

-Joshua Greison, junior

While snorkeling in the waters of Kaui, Hawaii, junior Harrison Dirks and his family experienced an unforgettable terrifying experience. “A shark was coming towards us,” Dirks said. “But the captain noticed it before it was too close and scared it away.” The family continued to explore Kaui and experience less traumatic, exciting new things during their trip like surfing. “It was an awesome experience to learn to surf because we trained with Bethany Hamilton’s coach,” Dirks said. “We all went up our first time.”




LMCID: Black, None, Registration RMCID: Black, None, Registration

TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


“ “ “ “

“ “ “I went hitchhiking with my friends. We got lost and it was our only option to get home. We got home safely and made memories on the way.-Hannah Miller, senior “

DEVOTED TO EXCELLENCE.

student studies Chemistry at Harvard University

Best summer memory?The highlight of my summer was when I got my summer job at A.C. Nelson. I was very proud and excited to start working.-Benjamin Zadow, junior

My highlight was going to the Justin Bieber concert. I had great seats and an unforgettable time. I definitely have ‘Bieber Fever’.-Sabrena Nuwarah, freshman

The highlight of my summer was when my best friend Jessica Santiago moved in with me. She moved from New Jersey and now we both go to Millard West together.-Kara Ruocco, sophomore

Nobody wanted a change in their summer as badly as junior Rohan Kandel did. As a thriving student, he wanted to devote most of his summer to Chemistry. While researching Ivy League summer schools, he came across the Harvard University Secondary School Program. “When I saw that Harvard had a summer school program, I was fascinated,” Kandel said. “My only worry was that I was not going to be able to afford it.” Seeing that this exclusive program cost $15,000, he knew that he needed financial aid. He wrote a paper describing the benefits this could bring to him, considering his interest in becoming a biochemical engineer. “They offered me a full ride for the

complete seven weeks of the course,” Kandel said. “This included food, room and board, and tuition for the actual class. It almost didn’t seem real to me.” His General Chemistry class lasted 9 hours a day, Monday through Friday and he was taught by the world renowned Professor Greg Tucci. “I had three to four hours of homework every night,” Kandel said. “Completing and passing this course definitely took dedication.” Kandel received a total of eight college credits and now has a personal record at the college. “I don’t want this experience to be just a part of my past,” Kandel said. “I want to hold it true to myself every single day.”

CAMP RIVERCREST.

At the College World Series Championship game, senior Victoria Hill and her sisters stormed the field at the top of the eighth inning. “When we stormed the field, the whole crowd erupted into cheers,” Hill said. “If they wouldn’t have started cheering, I would have stopped when I saw the security guards.” Although their experience was exciting, it quickly came to an end as law enforcement took them into custody. The three girls were faced with a $1,500 fine and ten hours of community service, as well as a yearlong ban from all MECA owned establishments.

The Hill sisters took a quick picture of themselves before storming the field at the game. After their crazy run, they posted multiple Vine videos that later became popular on various social media websites, making them figures of the public eye. “I’m that glad my sister took the video because we will always have it to watch for memories,” Hill said.

“This summer I went to Butler Showchoir Camp. We learned our show in a week. It was awesome because I became close with the upperclassmen and the kids from Millard North.”-Noah Renken, sophomore

“I went to a hockey camp in Colorado this summer. I loved it because I got to play with new people from all around the country and I learned more than I expected.”-Mark Vlassakis, senior

“I did a bucket list this summer with my twin sister and best friend. The best task on our list was to throw a party. We had never done that before and I got to see all my friends from school.”-Kelsie Prall, freshman

“For Campus Life, we went on a trip to Worlds of Fun for a day. I was able to meet new people from different schools and I got to ride the Mamba for the very first time.”-Meredith Wagner, junior

“I got moved up to the manager position at Wal-Mart this summer. I love running the front end and helping customers with whatever they need.”-Creighton King, senior

“I auditioned for the Joffrey Ballet School Summer Intensive. Because my audition went well, I was offered a scholarhip for the summer program. I spent three weeks in California training and preparing for a red carpet event.-Serena Smith, senior

“My friend McKenzie Buchanan and I came up with the idea of making cute, inexpensive shorts. We sold each pair for 15 dollars. We were really good at it and it was a fun and creative way to pass time in the summer.”-Jenna Degner, junior

“This summer my family and I went to visit my sister in Colorado. While there, we attended a concert called Reggae on the Rocks. The atmosphere was really laid back and chill.”-Mackenzy Gordman, senior

NEW EXPERIENCES.

“I modeled for a short film advertising perfume this summer. I got to pose around the Sioux Falls waterfall in a tribal outfit. I’ve never modeled for a film before, so it was a new experience and I had so much fun.”-Ariel Barlow, sophomore

As a participant of the select lacrosse team, “Buddha Ballers”, senior Nicholas Fabry played tournaments all over the country including Boulder, Colorado. “It was a great experience to travel and play teams that are well known,” Fabry said. “It was such a great time for me.” Over the course of three days, the team played five games. They left with positive vibes and pride in their team.

photo by Rachel Fabry

photo by Megan Fabry

photos courtesy of Chloe Kinnison

photos courtesy of Rohan Kandel

by Megan Fabry

BUDDHA BALLERS.by Megan Fabry

by Rachel Fabry

by Rachel Fabry

phot

o cou

rtesy

of th

e Om

aha W

orld

Hera

ld

photo courtesy of Victoria Hill

Senior Chloe Kinnison couldn’t contain her excitement as she drove to bible camp in Fremont. Ever since she started going to the camp, each time was better than before. The camp consisted of a mud pit, pool, chapel, dirt bikes, and an archery field, but more important were the people attending the camp. “I had an amazing time because I got to be with my close friends,” Kinnison said. ”I was able to meet new people and grow in my faith.” While new friendships formed, old friendships were made anew. Kinnison and senior Taylor Sather, whose closeness began six years ago, decided to become bunkmates. “It was fun sharing a cabin with Chloe,” Sather said. “She’s a great friend that I look up to in a spirtual way.” As the five days quickly came to an end, saying goodbye was hard, but they had hopes of seeing each other again.

TEAM HILL TAKES THE FIELD.

012. Summer Activities SUMMER .013

Summer milestones

LCID: None, Process Color Photo, Black, SP Jade, B&W Photo, Paper RCID: None, Black, SP Jade

Seniors reunite

Summer lacrosse

phot

o cou

rtesy

of A

riel B

arlow

phot

o cou

rtesy

of S

erena

Smith

phot

o cou

rtesy

of M

acke

nzy G

ordm

anph

oto c

ourte

sy of

McK

enzie

Buch

anan



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


014. 1ST SEMESTER .015

Here’s to the start of a new year. As we walk in on the first day, we see double the amount of security guards, hundreds of new faces and we learn that our beloved pep rallies have turned into “pep parades.” We start to tackle another ten months of school by comparing class schedules on our Infinite Campus apps, buying new school supplies at the last minute and getting back into the sleep pattern of six hours a night. Now is the time to buckle down and get into the groove of an organized routine. We have the opportunity to make a change, get involved, branch out, and accomplish academic success. We do the best we can to r e u n i t e with old friends as we try to put ourselves out there and make new ones. As first semester progresses, we are often surprised by the amount of sleepless nights we spend trying to complete our assignments on time. Thriving as students, we balance clubs, demanding sports and extracurricular events with academics and part-time jobs. Attending the Back to School dance, football games against our biggest rivals and Homecoming help us forget about the stressful projects and tasks we have due Monday. With the pressure, enjoyment, challenge, and entertainment that come with first semester, we are EAGER to discover what the rest of the year has in store for us.

1ST SEMESTER.by Rachel Fabry

Christian Stumpf ‘14

Drew Kortus ‘16, Westin Longacre ‘15 Hannah Gehle ‘17, Erica Sather ‘17, Brady Klein ‘17 Daniel Hinz ‘16

Delaney Kyriss ‘16, Cole Stobbe ‘16Carly Olsen ‘14, Kaitlyn Hirst ‘14, Deanna Richard ‘14, Jaci Henderson ‘15

Abigail Durbin ‘17

Nicole Vawser ‘17

Kelsye Lieber ‘17, Dayna Berry ‘17Rayanna Shirley ‘16

1.

2.

3. 4. 5.

6. 7.

8.

9.1. photo by Alexis Mitilier 2. photo by Kelsey Schense 3. photo by Cassidy Benjamin 4. photo by Lauren O’Malley 5. photo by Kelcey Wetterberg 6. photo by Katherine Gilroy 7. photo by Katy Mar 8. photo by Matthew Presnall 9. photo by Lauren O’Malley 10. photo by Marisa Lowe

9.

10.




LMCID: Black, None, Registration, Paper RMCID: Black, None, Registration, Paper

TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


FIRST DAY OF FOUR YEARS.new school, new classes, new memories by Emily Truitt and Kelcey Wetterberg

said. “I was very excited to comeback to school and see all my friends I missed over the summer, and it turned out to be pretty easy to find my classes.” During the day, the students went to all their regular classes and had an assembly with their entire grade and staff members. “At the pep rally they had students go in front on the microphone say the school fight song. They had to take turns reading from the sheet,” freshman Samuel McCoy said. “Most of the people seemed really embarrassed, but some sang really loud. I was just happy it wasn’t me.” The next day came with a new challenge; the upperclassmen.The hallways were crowded with intimidating and unfamiliar faces. Ready or not, the freshman class is now initiated into the flow of high school.

FABRY TRADITION LASTS SEVEN YEARS.

Beginning in middle school, a close group of friends has gathered at the Fabry house for a first day of school breakfast. “We started the breakfast to make the first day of school a little more fun,” senior Rachel Fabry said. “It turned out well, so we kept it going.” The tradition has remained since it started, and many of the girls and boys have gone every year to the Fabry’s hosted breakfast. “The breakfast is a great chance to see people you don’t always see much during the summer,” senior Morgan Coil said. “It’s always really early, but we pull through and end up going because it’s a lot of fun and so worth it.”

Every year there has been a picture taken in the same spot. “The picture is to have something to keep as a memory, something to have in the scrapbook,” Fabry said. The picture not only represents the changes in their appearance over the years, but it will be something they can keep forever.

When freshman Taylor McMartin came into the school, he was very happy to have his older brother here with him. Taylor looked to his older brother, senior Connor McMartin, for any questions he had. “We like to mess with each other, but I don’t think I could ask for a better younger brother,” Connor McMartin said. “He is never that annoying.”

For these two sisters, going to school together was very exciting. Already having a close relationship made going to school together even more exciting. They both considered each other their best friend. “I love going to school with my sister,” freshman Kamryn Buchanan said. “I was so happy going into school this year knowing Kenzie would be here.”

BEST FRIENDS

SIBLINg PAIRS. freshmen look up to older siblings to ensure a smooth transition into high school

Transitioning into high school, freshman Jackson Ehlert is reassured by his older sister, junior Brooke Ehlert, being at his side. Brooke and Jackson didn’t mind going to school together. “The only thing I dislike is driving him to and from school,” Brooke Ehlert said. “I hate waiting for him and not being able to just leave when I want to.”

IMPATIENTLY WAITING

SMILE Preparing to take his first high school picture, freshman Erik Fahner smiles for the camera. Having a school picture taken was only one of the many stations at orientation. “I don’t really care what my picture looks like,” Fahner said. “If it’s bad, it doesn’t really matter to me. I’ve still got three more to take.”

POSE While posing for her junior year picture, junior Morgan Sims gets her hair fixed by a photographer. Students looked their best in order for their picture to turn out just how they wanted. “The only thing I worry about during orientation is what my picture will look like,” Sims said. “You honestly never know how the pictures will turn out. This is the last one I will ever get because we enter our own next year.”

PREPARE Ready for the new experiences of the upcoming year, sophomore Kristi O’Meara checks into registration and begins to shorten the stack of papers to hand in. Each student had different clubs and activities to sign up for along with many other required stations. “I wasn’t nervous for registration or coming to school again,” O’Meara said. “This is my second year on dance team, so I pretty much knew what I had to do.”

THE BEgINNINg OF A NEW CHAPTER.

In her final year of high school, senior Meredith Bargman came in with a set plan for her future in college. During her junior year, she took Fashion Marketing in hopes to expand her knowledge in the world of business and design. “I took fashion marketing because I had always loved designing and putting outfits together,” Bargman said. “I was hoping it would become more than a hobby.” In her first two years of college, she planned on attending the University of Nebraska Lincoln, and then she would later transition to the Fashion Institute of Design. “I applied earlier this year and was accepted into the program,” Bargman said. “I can’t wait to get there and start my future.”

SYDNEY & ERIK FAHNER

by Emily Truitt

photos by Morgan Coil

photo by Morgan Coil

photo courtesy of Rachel Fabry


by Emily Truitt

SUPPORT SYSTEM

photos by Mark Hilburn

photo courtesy of Meredith Bargman

photo by Paige Mueller

016. Back to School 1ST SEMESTER .017

Fashionable senior gives her career a kick start

Seniors meet for breakfast to continue firstday tradtion one last time

TURN IT IN During registration, the first step is turning in all of your necessary forms. This was the day many students bought their parking permits. They were required for all students that wished to park inside of the parking lots. A parking ticket was a consequence of not purchasing a parking permit. “I had to get my permit for the parking lot last year so it was nothing new,” junior Kelcey Wetterberg said. “I was one of the first sophomores to drive and that was nice, but now most of my class does. They give more stickers to students than there are spots, so I have to come early just to get a good spot.”

On the first Monday in August, 640 freshmen walked into high school for the first time. The transition from middle school gave them a fresh start, so they were eager to experience it and create new memories. “I wasn’t looking forward to the day because school was starting again,” freshman Brooklyn Housh said. “Once we got the school, I was really happy to see everyone and that made it better.” Freshman day gave them a chance to experience the school by themselves before having hundreds of unfamiliar students to dodge. In previous years, incoming freshman were only given a half day without the upperclassmen, but this year, it was extended to a full day. “I was less stressed for the first day of school because the upperclassmen weren’t going to be there,” freshman Morgan Edwards

CHOICES During the activity fair, freshmen had a chance to see clubs and activities. “I was just looking around, I hadn’t really decided on my plans yet,” freshman Danielle Driggers said. SING With hopes of being a part of the choir program, freshman Sophie Keplinger was eager to gather information. STAY INVOLVED Encouraging new students to join, a band member, senior Collin Fox, shows off his green and black uniform.

SIgNED, SEALED, DELIVERED.

LCID: None, Black, SP Jade, CS Charcoal, B&W Photo, CS Gray Dawn, Paper RCID: None, Black, SP Jade, B&W Photo, Paper, CS Gray Dawn, CS Charcoal

Erin Ridder ‘14, Madisen Shamburg ‘14, William Campbell ‘14

Danielle Driggers ‘17, Marissa Shaneyfelt ‘17

Sophie Keplinger ‘17, Allison Reddel ‘17

Collin Fox ‘14



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


The first Friday night of the school year was always one to be remembered by students. The clock struck eight, and students rushed in through the front doors. After passing breathalyzer tests and paying for their tickets, students stepped

out onto the dance floor with their friends and made memories. Senior, Jack McKenna was in for a surprise during the dance this year when friends and fellow students decided to lift him in the air to crowd surf.

“Out of nowhere, my friends grabbed me and held me up,” McKenna said. “I felt like I was on top of the world. Even though I was only up there for less than a minute, it was one of the best ways to end my last Back to School Dance.”

That night brought inalmost the entire student body from every grade level, all decked out in their most creative attire. All of the students made an effort to make the best of the night, dancing their way into the new school year.

WILDCAT RIDE.students find new ways to get crazy in the new school year

“The sequel of the movie, “Despicable Me”, inspired us senior girls to dress up as ‘minions’. We made our own goggles and bought overalls and black gloves.”

“My friends and I love the movie ‘Napoleon Dynamite’ and we thought it was a clever idea instead of the typical costumes that most people do.”

“We had to pick one costume that everyone agreed on, so we picked camo because it was a fun and cute idea that everyone liked.”

“It was pretty fun and I danced like a spaz which gave me a lot of attention. I’m for sure going to dress up and think of something crazy come next year.”

Annie Gaston ‘14, Lauren Raymond’14, Amanda Love ‘14

TAKING OVER As he dances across the gymnasium floor, junior Zachary Miller tries to pump up the crowd. Miller and a large group of students went to the dance dressed as construction workers, wearing hard hats, bright orange overalls, and vests. “This year’s dance was by far my favorite,” Miller said. “I can’t wait for my senior year’s dance so my class and I can take over the dance floor.” COUPLE CREATIVITY Seniors, Carly Zimmer and Mark Vlassakis dance the night away together. They decided to dress up as Ninja Turtles for this year’s dance. “I thought our costumes were cute and creative,” Zimmer said. “The night was really fun, but it was also sad because it was our last dance as seniors. Being surrounded by my friends and classmates made the night end in a great way.”

SUIT UP.

Getting ready was one of the most important parts before the dance. To top off the outfits to their full expressive potential, students used paint, glitter, makeup, accessories, and much more. Juniors Sydney Fahner, Laura Reher, and Paige Mueller patriotically dressed up as ‘Yankee Doodles’ for this dance. “We helped each other get ready,” Reher said. “We tried to incorporate as much red, white, and blue in our outfits as we could to make them turn out well.”

Tying the costumes in with their grade level, many seniors this year dressed up as “senioritis” by putting hospital gowns on and acting sick. “I thought it was a humorous idea to dress up as if we had a sickness,” senior Courtney James said. “My friends and I bought band-aids and went to a local hospital for gowns.By the end of the year, I feel that all seniors are going to suffer from senioritis, so this fits our class well.” Excited and ready, students headed out their doors and made their way to school for the dance.

-Haley Sona, senior -Kelsey Schense, junior

-Gwyneth Heisterkamp, sophomore

-Ethan Dougherty, freshman

photos by Jordan Housh

photo by Megan Theobald

photo by Carli Boham

photo by Carli Boham by Megan Theobald

020. Back to School Dance 1ST SEMESTER .021

Inspiration

Preparing for the dance



by Victoria Hill



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


GIRLS RUN THE WORLD. girls cross country team takes first place position in metro meet On a chilly September afternoon, cross country athletes from across the Omaha metro area gathered at Papillion La Vista South to fight to the finish line. The girls emerged victorious. For this meet, the students ran in order according to their grade, and boys and girls all ran together. “Even though we don’t normally run with boys in our meets, it wasn’t weird to me,” junior Shae Spady said. “I run with boys in practice all the time, so it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.” The students ran a 5K, which was the normal length for their course. Their annual metro meet took place in the middle of the season, so they had some previous runs to help them prepare, but not enough to keep them calm.

“I was a little nervous because we weren’t very far into the season, but I didn’t let my nerves get to me,” junior Brooke Villarreal said. “All of the girls on my team ran a great race and I’m proud to be a part of it.” The girls team alone won the meet by one point, earning them the first place title. Metros was these girls’ first triumph of the season, which gave them the confidence they needed to rock the rest of the season. “It was great to win since it was my final year with this team,” senior Kayla Earl said. “It’s always nice to contribute to a win, especially when it’s with these girls.” The girls continued to finish out the rest of their season with mad speed and crazy spirit.

MOCK JOB

While this task caused some students to panic, others found this requirement to be simple.

Speech students straighten their ties and button their blouses in preparation for what most students see as a ‘make it or break it’ event. Students spent many days filling out practice resumes and applications. All of this hard work was to give these soon-to-be-employees an insight to their future. Some students found the experience to be totally frightening. “I was nervous because it seemed like a pretty big deal,” sophomore Sarah Fitzpatrick said. “But it really helped me prepare for a real life interview.”

“It wasn’t a real interview,” freshman Patrick McCoy said. “I knew it didn’t determine whether or not I would get a job, so I didn’t let it get to me.” As these students cleared out of the library, their worries cleared out of their heads and they gained confidence to do even better the next time.

“My boyfriend, Spencer Lear texted my mom and asked if he could set it up. All of the lights were off when I came home and my mom told me to turn them on. Spencer was standing there with a giant sign and flowers. I was completely shocked he pulled it off so well. I had no idea.”McKenzie Anderson, sophomore

LATE NIGHT SURPRISE“I wanted to ask my boyfriend, Zachary Johnson to Homecoming this year. He specifically told me I should ask him while he was jumping out of a hot air balloon with a penguin into a field of flowers, so I went to Eileen’s and made a cookie cake of that instead. The lady taking my order gave me a very strange look.”Alexis Mitilier, junior

SWEET INVITATION

EVERY

GOES HERE

DETAIL.

“My mom asked me if I would grab a package that was sitting outside. I walked over to the door and to my surprise, I saw this cute little face looking up at me from inside of a giant box. It was my girlfriend, Lauren Harding. She popped out with a sign claiming she was the whole package. It was really clever.”William Campbell, senior

SPECIAL DELIVERY

WILD THING.True Life: I am a Wildcat Crazy

Tubas roar, drums roll, and clarinets sound at Buell Stadium as the band students wrap up the Wildcat Classic. They centeredtheir performance this year around promoting peace. “We focused our show on the idea of world peace and ending all violence,” freshman flute player Cassidy Bruns said. “We wanted to show that there needs to be an end to all school shootings.”

LAUGH As they take a break from a Law Studies field trip, seniors Madyson Pendergast and Bailey Brown relax with junior Thomas Hanusek outside the Douglas County Courthouse. “I thought it was going to be very intimidating,” Pendergast said. “It was actually really laid back.”

CELEBRATE With a cookie in hand, sophomore Grace Doan shares a smile with her friends in German club, celebrating Oktoberfest. “It’s a holiday when Germans come together to honor their heritage,” Doan said. “We brought food, played games, and made art, all coming from the German culture.” HARMONIZE In preparation for a choir concert, sophomore Jacob Fontana warms up his vocal chords. They were practicing “I Sing Out” for the fall concert. “‘I Sing Out’ is my favorite song we sing,” Fontana said. “It makes me feel good about myself.”

photo by Najia Reza

photos by Mark Hilburn

phot

o by K

enne

dy W

all

photos by Katy Mar photo by Cali Brown

by Kennedy Wall and Emily Cvitanov

by Kennedy Wall


photo by Zoe Zimmer

photo courtesy of McKenzie Anderson photo courtesy of Alexis Mitilier

photo by McKenzie McGlynnphoto by Megan Fabry

photo courtesy of Lauren Harding

by Kennedy Wall and Najia Reza


phot

o by V

ictor

ia Hi

ll

students make Homecoming invitations unforgettable.

SUGAR-COATED Senior Carly Olsen, Vice president of FCCLA, makes cookies for the bake sale to raise money for the No Child Hungry fund. “Our goal is to help the community while gaining leadership experience,” Olsen said. “We have all created a lot of memories.”

BATTLE OF THE BANDS.

FUN-DUCATIONAL.

Students get chance to practice real life interviews

INTERVIEWS.

The last year of high school proved to be pretty crazy for senior Carter Anderson, who never thought he would get the chance of cheering the school on to victory. “This has been an insane experience but also really fun,” Anderson said. “There’s been a few times when we may have gotten a bit too crazy, but it was all in good spirit.” He really enjoyed being able to lead the student section with his untamed spirit and getting the crowd pumped up. “Being a Crazy has brought a whole new perspective to me about Millard West,” Anderson said. “It’s been a great opportunity.” Many students applied for the position of “Wildcat Crazy”, but Anderson was one of the very few lucky ones to earn a spot on the squad.

CAPTURING

030. September 15-21 1ST SEMESTER .031

GREEN FOR A REASONHundred dollar bills fly through the air as senior Skyler Monaghan scores a 99 yard touchdown. The game was a bling out against Millard South. “When I looked towards the crowd and saw all of the money thrown around, it got me pumped up,” Monaghan said. “I can’t even explain how awesome it felt to see everyone getting so excited.”



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


042. FALL SPORTS .043

It’s a love-hate relationship. It’s the early morning and late nights practicing everything we do over and over again until it becomes as normal as brushing our teeth. Call us crazy, call us anything. But for us, it’s simple. It’s the grass in our hair, the dirt we find in places we didn’t know dirt could reach and bruises that won’t go away until we’re 50. It’s the second place trophy; the “constructive” criticism. It’s the days we want to break our clubs with our teeth and the practices we get w i n d e d just talking about. It’s the days where the net feels 20 feet tall, where our pads feel more like bricks, and the days where we think it’d feel better to saw off both legs than to walk another step. It’s hearing the coach say “I’m proud of you.” Our teammates pound our helmets, lifting us up off the ground screaming “We did it.” It’s the tears that cloud our eyes as we look back at the student section going crazy--all for us. It’s the last mile, the game point, the last out, the hail mary. THAT is what keeps us coming back for more. It’s what we live for. It’s who we are. And yeah, we’re pretty good.

FALL SPORTS.by Katy Mar

1. photo by Mackenzie McGlynn 2. photo by Rachel Fabry 3. photo by Matthew Presnall 4. photo by Erin Ridder 5. photo by Haley Dahlgard 6. photo by Morgan Coil 7. photo by Erin Ridder 8. photo by Rachel Fabry 9. photo by Morgan Coil 10. photo by Emily Truitt 11. photo by Morgan Coil

1.

2.

3.

4.

5. 6.

7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Laura Packwood ‘15, Carrie Olson ‘15 Skylar Monaghan ‘14 Madisson Magee‘17 Morgan Vidlak ‘15 Faith Cain ‘14 Joshua Klein ‘16

Jeremy Butsyak ‘17

William Meyer ‘14

Isabelle Wostoupal ‘16

John Beeson ‘15 Miranda Gruidel ‘15



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


” ”

Senior year was important for many students, especially athletes preparing themselves to play sports in college. Not only were the varsity football players showcasing their skill, but they also needed to set a firm example for the younger players.

Proving themselves, seniors Harrison Phillips and Ross Drwal took their dedication and determination to the next level. Drwal chose Yale University and Phillips decided on Standford University, demonstrating all of the hard work they both put into the season. “Going to Stanford is

everything I’ve ever wanted,” Phillips said. “I had many options to choose from, but none of them compared to Standford.” Coaches also expressed their opinion on these two players and how they contribute to the team. “They are really talented

players, and they are total patrons of losing,” Coach Kirk Peterson said. “They set high goals for themselves and they’ve achieved them.” Although the team didn’t make it to Lincoln, they had a tremendous season. They impacted the school and made everyone proud.

two seniors take dedication and determiantion to next level.

HANDS IN Huddling together before kick off, the team shares their motivation and support for each other. They each had different ways to get ready and prepare for the game. “Everyone handles pre-game a little differently,” junior Benjamin Stodola said. “Some players get excited and others stay mellow, but I stay pretty hyped and a little nervous before kickoff.” Although the games were very important, getting into the right mindset and mood was very crucial. The team’s attitude before a game influenced the outcome of their performance.

“My favorite moment was when we played Central and had a four possession lead by half-time.”-Charles Wakeman, senior

PUSH COMES TO SHOVE“I loved my senior year, it just sucksknowing we didnt reach our goal of going to Lincoln, so we came up short.”-Samuel Brunswick, senior

HEADS UP

RECAP OF THE

looking back on memories and recapping all good and bad times on and off the field

“It was an awesome season for us this year. The guys acted like family which made it that much better.”-Skyler Monaghan, senior

VICTORY

PLACES SET Ready to hike the ball, the offense lines up against Northwest. They were ready and set before they began the play. “Being able to play in a varsity game as a junior helps me prepare for next year,” junior Jacob Kistaitis said. “I’m ready to work even harder next year to get that starting spot and push myself.”

TOO SLICK Running past his biggest rivals, senior Victor Beanum speeds by a player trying to avoid a tackle coming his way. “It was a great atmosphere. It’s always a good game with our rivals, Millard South,” Beanum said. “It was great to beat them after they beat us in the playoffs the year before. I’m proud of our guys and the way the season ended.” Putting all his efforts in as one of the team captians, he played his heart out constantly at every game. With his quick speed and agility, Beanum definitely had the right to his title.

TAKE DOWN Bringing down the other team, senior Richard Pesek uses all of his strength to make sure no player gets past him. “It was a very close game. Millard North is a good team,” Pesek said. “We struggled a bit early on, but we pulled together and ultimately that helped us come out on top.”

PUSHING THROUGH As both arms clench the football tightly, senior Salvatore Guido charges through the opposing team with all of his power. “They were a good team but we were the better team and should have beat them,” Guido said. “We all wish the season wouldn’t have ended the way it did.”

“Being a leader of the team, we are always there to help out the rest of our teammates. We help motivate and set good examples so our team can be the best it can be.” -Ross Drawl, senior

“I take being captain very serious. I have learned a lot from being able to lead and I feel like we’ve earned it because we have all played a lot of varsity minutes for 3 years now.” -Skyler Monaghan, senior

“Being chosen to be a captian by all of the players on the team was a great feeling. It’s good to know my teammates respect me enough to hold me accountable as the leader of the defense. I am honored to be a captain of our football team.” -Harrison Phillips, senior

“Having the chance to be captain is the greatest feeling. As captain you have to keep the team under control and let them know that we are here for each player, and that we have to work together to get to where we want to be which is in Licoln for state.”-Victor Beanum, senior

LEADING THE TEAM.

Holding the ball for his role model, Wolfe watches precisely at what techniques Sandoz uses to prepare himself for the game. “Danny always tells me to work hard, especially in the off season so I can start next year,” Wolfe said. “He always helps me in practice and tells me what I’m doing wrong to make me a better player.”

For freshman Jacob Wolfe, senior Daniel Sandoz was the one to look up to on the team. As a future varsity kicker, Wolfe paid attention to the ways he got ready for games. “As a senior with experience, Jacob looks up to me,” Sandoz said. “I have to make sure I’m a good example by practicing hard everyday.” Ending the season as the best kicker in the state, Sandoz made Wolfe want to achieve the same accompishments.

044. Varsity Football FALL SPORTS .045

WE MADE IT.by Shea LeVasseur and Mackenzie McGlynn

SEASON

photo by Alexa Leroux

photo by Emily Richards

photo by Mackenzie McGlynn


photo by Tess Riecke photo by Emily Ricahrds


photo by Megan Theobald

Following footsteps

Photo by Morgan Coil Photo by Emily Richards


Photo by Morgan Coil

by Shea Levasseur


Harry is my best friend. From the sixth grade we have been pushing each other to succeed in any way we can. Through high school, we got even closer and every day we made each other better. On the field, we are looked upon by everyone to lead the team. -Ross Drwal senior

ROLE MODEL.

“I really enjoyed playing this game,” senior Nicholas Lawson said. “I love being able to play my favorite sport with the guys on my team who are basically my brothers.”



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


“ ”

For the varsity softball players, the outcome of the season turned out completely different than expected. While the team began their practices, expectations for the season were at an all time high. Coaches demanded more from the players, and players expected more from

themselves. “Practices are intense,” senior Faith Cain said. “But I don’t mind because they keep our skills efficient.” Although the practices kept them occupied, they couldn’t help but worry about the fact that they lost five of their best senior players when they graduated the previous year.

“We were ranked really high at the end of last season,” junior Emily Truitt said. “After the seniors left, everyone thought that the team was going downhill.” As the season went on, the team pushed themselves to the limit and qualified for the state softball tournament. “I was really excited at

state and I was determined to play to the best of my ability,” senior Marisa Huetter said. “The atmosphere was high energy and it was so unbelievable.” After losing their first game, they began winning through the loser’s bracket and redeemed themselves by ranking third best softball team in the state.

STATE OF MIND. team makes state after placing in bottom bracket

20 players on the team

9 players on the field

5 state games

“What I love about batting is when I get a good enough hit to score a runner.”

MADISON MARKOFF, JUNIOR

HEY, BATTERBATTER.varsity players describe feelings and thoughts about experiences during batting process

“While batting, I forget everything else and I think of it as a battle between me and the pitcher.”

MEGAN SHARP, SENIOR“I get nervous when I bat because the expectations to do well are really high on our team.”

HANNAH MOORE, SOPHOMORE“My favorite batting moment was when I tricked Papio’s pitcher and got a home run at state.”

FAITH CAIN, SENIOR

Jumping into action as the batter hits the ball into the outfield, Beal swiftly catches the ball and throws it to the third baseman.

UNBEALIEVEABLE.

At a very young age, senior Alyssa Beal knew that she had a passion for softball. After cheering her older brother on at each game, Beal decided she wanted to play as well. While looking at colleges over the summer, she was contacted by the College of Saint Mary head softball coach. He expressed his interest in her and asked to watch her play. “I wasn’t going to play in college,” Beal said. “But he came to watch one of my games and offered me a scholarship that would pay for half of my tuition.” Once she committed to CSM, Beal decided to graduate early to practice with her new team, where she filled the position of centerfield.

“I’ve been catching since I was seven years old. My dad got me involved in it and I was also interested in playing because my brother was a catcher and I looked up to him. As a catcher, I control the field because I have the best view of everything going on. When I’m catching, the best feeling ever is when people steal from first and second base and I get to tag them out.”

MARISA HUETTER senior catcher

“The pressure the coaches put on me is hard, but making it to State and getting an honorable mention is worth it in the end. As a shortstop, I’m the leader of the infield and best person on the team. I lead the team and everyone looks up to me. I have made a lot of friends through softball and going to tournaments with them is a blast.”

EMILY KLOSTERMAN sophomore shortstop

“I started t-ball when I was three and softball when I was seven. I grew up with it and it is a big part of my life. I love pitching because I am the one who controls the game and I also love the challenge. Bonding with the girls on my team has been a blast because everyone is so fun to be around. The thrill of being an athlete and making big plays is why I love it so much.”

LOGAN BLACK pitcher

“I have been playing softball for as long as I can remember. Hitting is my favorite part of the game because I like to step up in high pressure situations. The highlight of the season for me was when we played against Marian because my dad is their head coach. I love my team because the chemistry between all of the girls is great.”

KATELYN HEARD junior batter

Every Wednesday after practice, each player took a turn hosting a team dinner at their house. This gave them an opportunity to reflect on their practice. The dinner was a tradition since the softball team started, and every year they made a goal to carry on the memories they made with their team.

3 district games

photo by Katy Mar

photo by Eryn Larsen photo by Megan Fabry photo by Megan Fabry


photos by Megan Fabry

photo by Emily Truitt

photo by Abigail Durbinphoto by Emily Truitt

DILIGENCE After throwing a difficult pitch, junior Kristen Van Hoosen watches the ball as it flies toward second base. “Pitching is fun because it is a mental game,” Van Hoosen said. “I feel very connected to the team when I pitch and when I strike some-one out, it’s the best feeling.” Van Hoosen started every game as a pitcher for the season and pitched at the State playoffs.

PRACTICE Warming up before the game, junior Emily Truitt fields a ground ball. The girls were taught at the very beginning of the season that practicing before each game is as important as the game itself. “Warming up before games gets everyone pumped up,” Truitt said. “Everyone is ready to go out and play their hardest.”

ENCOURAGEMENT Sophomore Cailin Doiel smiles as head coach Don Brummer praises her for her fast running. Doiel was a swinger for the varsity team as well as an active member of the junior varsity team. “Coach Brummer was so supportive throughout the entire season,” Doiel said. “The team had some rough patches, but he never gave up on us.”

FOCUS Winding up for the pitch, senior Faith Cain gets ready for anything the batter hits in the game against Papillion. “I’ve been pitching since I was ten years old,” Cain said. “I love it because the pitcher is the one in control. The game is in my hands.”

050. Varsity Softball FALL SPORTS .051

by Megan Fabry

My team and I are so close that we can finish each other’s sentences. I love all of the girls and can rely on every single one of them. Whenever I see them, I can always count on them to make me smile because our team has unbelievable chemistry.-Marisa Huetter, senior

by Megan Fabry

PREPARE Playing catch with her teammates, freshman Madeline Loofe warms up for the tough ahead game of her. Loofe was one of the few freshmen to receive a coveted spot on the varsity team. “It was a great experience to get to play with all of the upperclassmen, especially the seniors,” Loofe said. “I made a ton of new friends and had so much fun during the games. State was my favorite part of the whole season because we shared hotel rooms and it was a really good bonding experience.” Loofe started at third base on the JV team and with much practice and dedication, she moved up to varsity to fill in as a swinger.

Fortunate player receives athletic scholarship

Kristen Van Hoosen ‘15, Marisa Huetter ‘14 Megan Sharp ‘14

Katelyn Heard ‘15

STEP UP TO THE PLATE

20 games this season

freshman

57Page No.Job No.: 003455


Page No.Job No.: 00345556


TCID:PP TCID:PP

The annual Titan Invitational at Eagle Hills started like any other tournament for senior athlete Katelyn Strudthoff. She was in the zone and ready for a nice, quiet game of golf, her favorite sport. The first few holes of the game were fairly average for her record until suddenly her game took a dramatic

shift. She hit two hole in two’s, (double eagle). “When I got my double eagle I was so happy,” Strudthoff said. “I jumped up and down.” The experience went by so fast, and felt unreal to Strudthoff. Thankfully, her coach Kent Speer caught the whole thing on his iPad. “I usually don’t film from

that distance but I knew she was pretty good so I thought she would hit close,” Speer said. “I figured maybe I could catch something good. Never thought I would get that.” A double eagle is one of the rarest accomplishments in golf. This was actually the first one shot at the high school level in the history of

girl’s golf for the Nebraska School Activities Association. This great achievement was proudly earned by the hard working and dedicated athlete. “She wants to be the best female golfer ever at Millard West,” Speer said. “She is one of our captains and does a great job helping the other girls get better as well.”

HISTORY HAPPENS HERE. female athlete achieves rare success in Nebraska girl’s golf

What is your favorite club and why?

“My seven iron because I use it on almost every hole except par three’s and I consistently hit well with it.”-Annika Brown, sophomore

“My sand wedge because chipping is such an important part of the game.”-Teryn Koch, sophomore

“My favorite club is my pitching wedge. It is easy to hit and can be used all around the course.”-Megan Phillips, freshman

“Probably my hybird because I hit the hardest and feel really good when I hit the ball far.”-Madison Ulness, senior

Seniors represent“The younger girls view us as leaders and come to us for advice and support in practices and tournaments. It feels good to help them out.”-Taylor Carnazzo, senior

“Being a senior leader, I try to make everyone feel at home so they feel like they’re a part of the team. It helps everyone get along too.”-Caitlin Wisecup, senior

“I really like being a part of the decision making because I’m a senior. It also makes me feel good knowing the girls look up to me.”-Kaylee Joueben, senior

Before each dual, the team warmed up on the driving range. Sophomore Carly O’Keefe kept her eye steady on the ball as she peaked into full swing. “We go to the range and hit the clubs we will be using and then we go putt and chip,” O’Keefe said. “After that, we go meet the people we‘re playing and exchange scorecards.”

DRIVE Driving the ball, junior Kelsey Alexander watches as it soars towards the green. “After having two surgeries in the past year, golf is something that puts less stress on my body,” Alexander said. “Plus, it’s really fun and peaceful for me.”

FOCUS In concentration mode, sophomore Isabelle Wostoupal prepares to hit with her seven iron. “Before I hit the ball, I try to focus on what will happen,” Wostoupal said. “Once I’m ready to hit, I center my attention on watching the ball and holding my follow through.”

CHIP Sophomore Nicole Carnazzo chips the ball at her final dual of the season. “I was so proud to move up and have the opportunity to play in varsity tournaments,” Carnazzo said. “This being my last dual, I left everything I worked for over the season on the course.”

PUTT Observing her hit, freshman Alexis Christiansen looks towards the hole to review the angle at which she putted the ball. “Putting can make or break your game,” Christiansen said. “It’s definitely something that can always be improved.”

IN THE ZONE.the girl’s golf team stayed focused as they competed in tournaments and duals around Nebraska area

It wouldn’t be a true girl’s golf season without the annual TPing of their head coach Kent Speer. Every year it was tradition to get the whole team together and buy several industrial sized packages of toilet paper and other creative destructive items to destroy their coach’s front yard. The odd ritual started years before the girls were freshmen. Now, it’s a staple in the team’s bonding activities. “It’s always fun to drive by the next morning and watch his family clean it up,” senior Kaylee Joueben said. “It’s just tradition now.”

TEAM T.P. TRADITION.




by Morgan Coil

Megan Phillips ‘17, Teryn Koch ‘16

Carigan Wiegan ‘16

Girl’s golf bonding activities

”

“I started golf four years ago. Each year I’ve been able to get better alongside my team. I’ve grown to know and love not only this sport but also my teammates. I am so proud of our progress and improvement over the years.-Katelyn Strudthoff, senior

056. Girls Golf FALL SPORTS .057



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


STRONG FINISH Freshman Andrew Dubas makes a good finish at the Metro Meet with a time of 17:56. “At first I was reluctant to join the team because it was all running, but I’m so glad I did because it was a blast meeting all of my teammates and getting the opportunity to go to state.”

“ ”

Making headlines, breaking records and blowing his opponents out of the water, there’s no question that freshman Seth Hirsch was set apart from every runner in the state, and even the nation. Hirsch held the record for State in the 3.1 mile boys cross country

race as a freshman. In order to keep his place as number one, he ran eight to ten miles every day before school. “I wake up around six every morning and usually finish running an hour later,” Hirsch said. “I plan to run in college and then hopefully the Olympics, so I work

on improving every day.” Hirsch’s older sister, division one runner, first got Hirsch interested in the sport. “Sidney always had great things to say about running, and so that was what really got me started,” Hirsch said. The two both broke state records and showed no

signs of easing up anytime soon. “What sets Seth apart from the rest is the lifestyle commitment he’s made to running,” coach Maxwell Kurz said. “He has such a huge heart and so much passion for what he does. He’s definitely following in the footsteps of Olympians.”

IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY. breaking records and taking names

I was actually surpised when I won my first race. I never had a lot of experience beforehand....I just ran.-Seth Hirsch, freshman

The boys attended weekly pasta feeds held by a different family each time.

EAT UP

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

no season is ever just about the running.

As the game gets started, senior Nicholas Barone makes the first catch of the game.

ULTIMATE FRISBEE Senior Austin Post and junior Joseph Figura arrive with drinks and food for dinner.

BRINGING THE GOODS BALLERS

Harter races towards the finish line as he rounds the corner at the end of the Metro meet.

HARTER Freshmen were known for their jitters, nervousness, and learning the ropes one small step at a time. For freshman Samuel Harter, those small steps came in one big stride. “Seth and I were the only freshmen to make the varsity team,” Harter said. “We had a lot to prove since we were the youngest.” Harter’s older brother, a division one runner in college, inspired Harter to start running. He began running in sixth grade and his success in middle school lead to his successful high school season. “My favorite part about running is the skill it takes to compete,” Harter said. “I qualified for State and got my best time all season. It was hard work, but everyone I worked with made it enjoyable.”

AUSTIN POST ‘14 “Being top senior was a great experience for me. Our season went very well this year and I plan on running in college so being a leader was a great aspect for me.”

JONAHNEWTON ‘14“It was fun leading the guys to the state meet. It was the first time I have ever qualified for state personally, so it was a great way to end my last season.”

team leaders

RUN

SOMETHING NEW Keeping his head up, sophomore Jacob Lichter keeps a consistent tempo. This season was his first year in cross country, but it definitely won’t be his last. “I started running to condition for wrestling but I never thought it would be as fun as this season was for me,” Lichter said. “I love how social of a sport cross country can be. It was great getting to know the guys on the team, whether it was running with them everyday or going to pasta feeds and just hanging out.” TRUTH BE TOLD Looking toward his competition,

junior Michael Davis makes an attempt to pass a group of runners. Running didn’t come easy; each athlete worked out not only during the season, but the off-seaon as well. “You have to really enjoy running to like cross country,” Davis said. “If you’re apart of it for the social aspect then that’s great too, but we all know you have to enjoy running enough to want to keep doing it.”

PERSEVERANCE Determined to beat his record, sophomore Victor Araya keeps his eyes on the prize. Arya had a passion for running ever since his first season in middle school, and that passion kept growing every season. “Cross country has made me a very competitive person,” Arya said. “Not only have I made many friends throughout the season, but the sport has also given me a lot more confidence. I’ve always been pretty good at running, but having people always telling me to think postively and rooting for me has made such a big difference. it’s an aspect of cross country I really enjoy .”

MENTAL TOUGHNESSDuring the Metro meet, sophomore Joshua Klein races towards the finish line. Klein fell in love with running when he was very young. “I think the hardest part of cross country is being mentally prepared,” Klein said. “Our coaches throughout the entire season kept saying that the races were 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical and they were right.”

PUSHING THROUGH With the last hill of the race coming to a close, sophomore Brady Mulnix pushes through the last strides of the course. In this meet, each class raced separately against one another. “I wasn’t racing any upperclassmen, so I knew I could place in this meet to prove I could run varsity. All I was thinking about while running was to not give up and keep pushing because I was almost finished.”

19 runners

11 total meets

9 freshmen

5 playoff meets

1 state title

058. Boys Cross Country FALL SPORTS .059

by Eryn Larsen and Katy Mar

by Katy Mar and Eryn Larsen

photos by Mackenzie McGlynn

phot

os by

Mor

gan C

oil

As the pasta feed winds down some of the boys rally together to get a game of basketball started.



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


This season was very memorable for the volleyball team. They won Districts and Metros, as well as State.They had a 32-2 record and held the number one spot for a majority of the season. “My motivation all season was to win Millard West’s first volleyball state title,” senior Erin Sosnowchik said.

“Winning Metros and Districts was a big step towards that goal.” For the first time in history, the girls varsity volleyball team won Metros. They beat their major competitor three sets to zero. “The best part was beating Marian,” senior Kamesha Young said. “It

was our best game.” The girls made it all the way to the final match at the state tournament. Unfortunately, the team did not win the match, but the girls were still proud that they were able to make it that far. The girls left everything on the court and received

second place overall in the tournament. Coach Eryn Byrd was proud of the team as well. “Our team worked hard to get into the championship,” Byrd said. “This season was the best finish Millard West has ever had.” Overall, the season was quite successful.

THE ROAD TO STATE. making history one game at a time

“I have been playing volleyball for eight years. I played on a Premier team and have been on the team for 3 years now. This season was really exciting. I’m glad to have been part of the team that won Metro for the first time. It gave us confidence to hopefully win state.”

EVE BAIRD junior defensive specialist

SYDNEY STOCKFLETH sophomore defensive specialist

“Volleyball has been a huge part of my life ever since third grade. My main motivation is when people come to watch us play. The bigger the crowd, the more excited the team is to play.”

CASSIDY LOBERG sophomore right side

“I have been a volleyball player since I was in second grade. This being my third year on the team, it was definitely a unique one. Making it all the way to state puts a lot of pressure on the team, but I motivated myself to keep on improving so that I could play hard.”

KIRA SHAPIRO junior right side

Peterson jumps up to spike the ball in a game against Papillion La-Vista High School. “The Papio game was so much fun and it was a great game,” Petersen said. “It was definitely my best game by far.”

With hard work and dedication, freshman Bridget Peterson earned a place on the varsity team. After playing for nine years, she took her spot as the only freshman. “It’s exciting knowing I’m part of the team that won Metro for the first time ever,” Petersen said. “This is what I love to do.” After earning a spot on varsity, Petersen struggled with learning a whole new team. Most of the team consisted of upperclassmen. “It’s different being the only freshman,” Petersen said. “It was hard leaving teammates that were my age, but I enjoyed getting to know some upperclassmen throughout the season.” Petersen played through many games, easy and tough, and finished her first season as a history-making year.

A FRESH START.

“I have been playing volleyball since third grade, but competitively since fourth.”

TIFFANY WENTWORTH, JUNIOR

THROUGH THEYEARS.players tell when they first began playing vollleyball “Volleyball has been a big part of

my life since I started in second grade.”

MORGAN RADEMACHER, SENIOR“My senior year was my 11th year playing. I began back when I was seven years old.”

KAMESHA YOUNG, SENIOR“I started playing in third grade, so my senior year was my eighth year playing volleyball.”

EMILY LEICHNER, SENIOR

FIGHTAttempting to bump the volleyball across the court, senior Morgan Rademacher gives it her all during her biggest match of the season. “Everything came together during Districts,” Rademacher said. “Our team played together the whole game and we finished hard. We know that the end result is well worth all the effort put in.”

BLOCK Driven to play her best, senior Alexis Anderson plays her hardest in one of the last games of the season. “Senior night was emotional,” Anderson said. “When five seniors leave, it makes a huge impact. The whole team was on a drive that night to win since it was our last time on the home court.”

SET

During senior night, junior Tiffany Wentworth puts all her effort into the game. “It was sad knowing it would be the last time we would play with the seniors on our home court, so we tried to play our best,” Wentworth said. “The seniors were key players for our team and I know that everyone will miss them very much.”

photos by Madison Edwards

phot

o by M

adiso

n Edw

ards

photos by Haley Dahlgaard

062. Varsity Volleyball FALL SPORTS .063

photo courtesy of Kamesha Young

by Rachel Overby


photo by Rachel Overby

” “The best part about winning each game is the fact that we did it as a team. We were really on every time that we played, and we were always motivated to make every game one to remember.-Cassidy Loberg, sophomore

“I started playing volleyball in second grade. I’ve been playing on the team for two years now, but this season was definitely exciting. It’s a great feeling beating Marian, but it’s also a great feeling knowing we won Metro for the first time in history.”

Junior Sydney Yong congratulates her team and celebrates after their win against Papillion La-Vista. “The Papillion game was a lot of fun, but it was challenging,” Yong said. “They are a huge competitor and it was a great win for us. I was proud that my team stayed determined and motivated the whole game. It feels good to be a Wildcat.”

VICTORY

Doing all she can, senior Emily Leichner makes a dig for the ball during a game against Papillion La-Vista. “The Papillion game was intense, but a good fight,” Leichner said. “We played hard and ended up winning the tournament. The team stuck together the whole way through with lots of energy.”

DIG

by Haley DahlgaardA freshman first





TCID:PP TCID:PP

“ ”

Being able to join the cheer team took only a few phone calls and conversations for senior Payton Flynn. For four straight years, being a part of the cheer squad changed one girl and a squad’s life. Flynn touched many hearts on the team with her bright smile and positive attitude. “I am beyond thankful

for the oppurtunity of Payton being able to be a part of this squad,” Flynn’s mom, Lori Flynn said. “I did everything I could to get Payton involved in high school. I wanted to get her social skills and allow her to meet new people instead of sit inside.” Flynn enjoyed hanging out with the girls and her

laugh made it easy for her to connect with each and every girl on the cheer squad. One of Flynn’s friends, senior Haley Sona, was the closest with Flynn on the team. She explained how she really impacted each of their lives. “Payton has inspired me in cheer throughout the past two years in many ways,”

Sona said. “I love seeing how excited she gets when the football players come out on the field. She always helped out the players by pumping them up and cheering loud for them.” Cheer made a huge impact on Flynn’s life. As a senior, it made her four years of high school worth while.

IMPACTING LIVES. a simple smile can make someone’s day

Payton brings a lot of good energy to our team because she is always so excited to be out on the field with us. She’s always laughing and tries her best to cheer on the team and pump up the crowd. We are all lucky to share this experience with her.-Lauren Harding, senior

20 cheerleaders

7 competitions

7 state championships

7 national titles

3 sophomores

RACHELLOWE ‘14“It’s a big difference just being a part of the team and actually being a leader of the team. As a captain you need to be a little bossy and always make sure that everyone is on task.”

LAURENHARDING ‘14“I try to be a good leader by being positive and helping out my teammates. I learned a lot from the older girls in the past. If all of us older girls are positive, then it carries throughout the team.”

TEAM CAPTAINS

“At this competiton we didn’t go against anyone but our goal was to beat our previous score,” senior Lauren Harding said. “We accomplished our goal, putting us one step closer to nationals in February.”

MAKING ITTO NATIONALS. The cheer team made the season last by scoring high at their first competiton and receiving a bid to Nationals in Orlando, Florida. As the season went on, the girls worked hard to beat their previous scores and improve. The cheer team had to practice long hours and put all of their time and effort into making their Nationals routine flawless. After their second and third competitions, the team took home two more first place trophies and a lot of feedback. With the big competition approaching, the team put in extra hours in hard work in hopes they would return home with white jackets and a first place Nationals trophy.

“I thought it was a really good experience because you get to teach the little girls to cheer for the very first football game.” -Kelsey Twight, senior

LITTLE GIRLS CLINIC“My favorite part about team dinners is the food. It’s always good and homemade.” -Jacy Webster, sophomore

TEAM DINNERS

TRADITION.sharing traditions with teammates and creating new ones

“It feels good to support the football team and I think that chalking their driveways really gets them motivated to work hard.” -Kassandra Strelko, senior

PRE-GAME

LONG LASTING TRADITIONEvery football season, the senior girls on the varsity cheer team paired teammates to hold the banner. It was a tradition for as long as anyone could remember. The football team stormed through the Wildcat banner to excite the stands. “I love holding the banner because it’s fun and exciting,” junior Monica Zurek said. “It’s a great tradition to carry on throughout the years.”



photo by Alexis Mitilier


photo by Erin Ridder

068. Varsity Cheer FALL SPORTS .069

photo by Jenna Degner




by Jenna Degner, Jensen Theisem, and Taylor Walenz

Competition boundby Jenna Degner

When she started cheering at seven years old, senior Kristy Briggs knew that she had found her calling. Briggs cheered all four years of high school and fell in love with it more everyday. “I started doing competition cheer when I was in second grade and I haven’t stopped since,” Briggs said. “Coming to Millard West gave me a great opportunity to cheer for the school and I enjoy representing the school everyday.” Briggs became close with all of her teammates and considered some of them her best friends. She found the people she was close with on the squad are people she would have never met without cheer.

SENIOR

DECISIONSEver since sophomore year, junior Taylor Knipp knew she was interested in cheer. Finding a balance between hobbies, she decided to quit dance and gymnastics. “Quitting gymnastics and dance was a big step for me but it was a decision that I don’t regret making,” Knipp said. “Joining the cheer team late was easy because all of the girls were welcoming and friendly.” Knipp made varsity for both regular and competition cheer.

Hearing the crowd cheer just by the movement of her pom poms, junior Taylor Daly loved the adrenaline rush she got as she cheered at the games. “My favorite part of cheer is the adrenaline rush and the excitement the crowd gets as we cheer,” Daly said. “I would love to continue cheer out of high school.” Daly wanted to start her own cheer team once she graduated.

PRIDE

STARTING OFF Never thinking as a sixth grader she would’ve been where she was as a high school cheerleader, junior Jacqueline Phillips started off freshman year on the varsity cheer squad. Phillip’s mom pushed her to be a part of the school so she figured there was no better way than to be a part of something she loved. “I decided to try high school cheer for one year and I ended up loving it,” Phillips said. “I love how close the team is and the bondings are my favorite part of the season.” She planned to continue cheer senior year as a captain.



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


The varsity marching band’s show centered around the idea of imagining a world full of peace. The students preformed a powerful portrayal of people being excluded and bullied at the beginning of their performance. “Our show is about stopping the violence

throughout the nation and bringing peace,” junior Jennifer Reyes said. “It’s Imagine If, so imagine a world without any hurt.” The show spoke volumes to its audience, but the musicians also took the message to heart. “It’s inspiring and emotional,” senior Ashley

Smoot said. “It’s a good message to portray to the audience with all of the school shootings going on.” The message’s interpretations differed with the audiences, but one aspect remained constant. Lennon’s lyrics led many people to change their attitudes and actions.

John Lennon’s lyrics, theories, and beliefs inspired the band to create a demonstration of a world without violence, hurt, abuse, or sadness. In the powerful, award-winning show, the musicians left a mark on the various communities they played for, as well as themselves.

IMAGINE IF. John Lennon inspires band’s peaceful performance

“

Kicking off competition season for the band, musicians participated in their annual Marchathon. The route started in the HyVee parking lot while members of the band and colorguard traveled through neighborhoods surrounding the school. The march, held to raise money, was six and a half miles long. People living nearby were given the opportunity to donate to the program as the band marched down the streets. Families walked outside to enjoy the spectacle as well as raise money for the organization. “The Marchathon is a way to reach out to the comunity and show them what we are about,” junior Christian Schuerman said. “It allows them to donate to our cause.” The march was a success and raised thousands of dollars.

“I wanted to be a drum major because I wanted to take the chance while I could and be a bigger part in the band.”

KELLIE SIMERLY, SENIOR“My responisbilities as a drum major are to arrive early to competitions, set up the field, and run everyone through basics.”

ALEXANDER KOLOMAYA, SENIOR

DRUMMAJORS.three students contributeto band in major way

“My favorite part of being a drum major is the ability to know that what I do directly affects the band.”

TORRI LEIGHTY, SENIOR

MARCH Warming up ito begin the six and half mile journey of the Marchathon, junior Zackery Hartzog plays a few bars. The students were responsible for playing continuously throughout the route. “Holding the horn up is the thing that takes the most integrity, especially for the heavier instruments,” Hartzog said. “Playing the trumpet, it’s a little easier because it weighs less.”

ROUND TWO Taking off after their lunch break at Willowdale Elementary, the marchers begin the last section on their route. The band traveled across 180th and Q streets on the second leg of their march in order to reach other neighborhoods. “The Marchathon is a great way to kick off the school year, “ sophomore Lauren Cary said. “It’s always so much fun.”

COLOR-GUARD Marching ahead of the rest of the band, sophomore Alexandrea Otto and the rest of the colorguard team dance with their flags. They did multiple warm ups and stretches to prepare themselves for the long march. The team participated in the whole march along with the band, sponsors, and parents. “It was really long and tiring,” Otto said. “But we always found ways to make it exciting.”

The band program made an impact during their season and went to finals at every competition. The students wanted to spread their last message of peace on Earth, and they delivered. The last performance was an emotional, rewarding experience for the students. “Band is great because you get to be with your friends,” sophomore Kelsey Keith said. “Everyone shares the same passion.”

“I got involved with band because I really like music. My favorite part about it is that we are all friends.” -Erik Brueing, senior

“My family has always been really musical. In fifth grade I found that the flute was my favorite instrument. I’ve always wanted to play the flute and I plan to play in college” -Rebekah Stelzle, junior

“My favorite part of being in band is the relationships. It’s a big family, we’re all friends, and we all hangout outside of school.” -Joshua Preston, senior

“My favorite part of being in the band is the feeling I get after we have performed really well.It’s exhilarating.”-Collin Fox, senior

SECTION LEADERS.

“I like having Grace in band because I like embarassing her,” Claire said. “Plus we get to spend a lot of time together which is really fun.”

SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING BAND. Ever since they were little, junior Grace Mueller and senior Claire Mueller always had a special bond. When they got into music however, that bond grew stronger. The two sisters participated in band for seven years together. They attended school competitions and constantly supported each other. “I love being in band with Claire,” Grace said. “It’s more fun to have her with me when we travel, and I love having her there to support me.” Although this was the last year the sisters competed together, they hoped to continue to share the special bond that music provided for them.

For a week over the summer, the band members spent more than eight hours a day devoted to learning their new show for

the first time .

phot

o by A

lexa L

eroux

photo by Rebecca Draper photo by Alexa Leroux

photo by Rebecca Draper



by Alexa Leroux

photo by Alexa Leroux photo by Alexa Lerouxphoto by Rebecca Draper

photo by Olivia Behle

photo courtesy of Grace Mueller

by Alexa Leroux and Rebecca Draper”The show talks about no violence and peace on earth. It makes me cry when I think of all the recent school shootings because it affects everyone in the crowd too.

photos by Alexa Leroux

STATE COMPETITION.

Ashley Smoot, ’15 Taylor Novotony, ‘14, Hailey Vernon, ‘14

Jennifer Reyes, ‘14

072. Marching Band FALL SPORTS .073

Music runs in family

MARCHATHON.band continues fundraising tradition

Band succeeds together by Alexa Leroux

-Jennifer Reyes, junior



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


It was a new year, and with that came a new season that sparked new oppurtunities for the Crazies. These wild students were determined to one-up last year’s crazies with even more adrenaline-pumping chants and themes. In order to achieve their goal, they believed they needed to stay comitted and

think outside the box. They not only wanted to honor the team, but the student section as well. “We brought twinkies and candy to the first game,” senior Chase Dodge said. “The students loved it, and it made them energized. Now we plan to do it every game, and maybe bring other food as well.”

Not only did they dish out treats to the crowd, but they went the extra mile to think of original themes to make games more exciting and give the students a chance to showcase their enthusiasm. “We have plans to have a ‘zoo-out’ theme, and a ‘Greek-toga’ theme,” senior Caleb Holt said. “We are also planning a ‘gold-out’ when

we play Millard South because they stereotype our school as a bunch of ‘preppy rich kids.’” These few seniors spent their final year leading their school to victory with wild spirit. They created many new traditions for years to come, and ended their high school career with a roaring finish.

A CRAZY NEW SPIN. 50 shades of cray new ideasthis year

“He was crazy enough to walk across the rafters at school,” freshman Michael Dickmeyer said. “Sam never thinks before he acts.“

SAMUEL McCOY, FRESHMAN

CRAZIESTCATS.students chose who they thought was the craziest person in their class

“Taylor is the most random person I know,” sophomore Rachel Vandermuss said. “She doesn’t really care what people think.”

TAYLOR ELLIS, SOPHOMORE“Serene is literally wild,” junior Grace Heckart said. “She’s always energized and screaming, you will never see her silent.”

SERENE NABULSI, JUNIOR“Robert is always really loud and energetic,” senior Laura Quigley said. “He always yells ‘yes!’ and will do anything anyone tells him to do.”

ROBERT HASTY, SENIOR

LOCKDOWN Standing in the crowd with the rest of the wildcat fans, seniors Chase Dodge and Carter Anderson pout as they watch the game from the stands. The crazies were banned from the sidelines for the duration of the game against Millard South, due to getting in a bit of trouble during the previous game. “I was very upset that we weren’t on the sidelines that much,” Dodge said. “I couldn’t be as crazy as I wanted to be, especially during such a highly anticipated game.” Decked out in gold, senior Joseph Gruber is ready for the “Bling-Out” themed game. “I called my outfit ‘King Tut goes back to school’,” Gruber said. “Obviously I have to have gold if I’m going to be an ancient Egyptian Pharaoh.” After being held in captivity behind the railings of the student section, senior William Meyer breaks loose from the bars.The Crazies weren’t allowed to be down by the field in their regular spot, but were able to run down the track when the team scored. “We got in trouble and weren’t allowed to be on the sidelines,” Meyer said. “We could go down to run the flags after we scored, but after we were done, we had to go back up into the stands.”

Willy the Wildcat starts the football season off cheering on the team to victory.

MASCOT MANIA. What does it take to be a mascot? A whole lot of crazy. Every year, up to 10 enthusiastic students get the chance to support their high school team, all while wearing a giant cat suit. In order to earn the spot, a student needs teacher recommendations. It requires major dedication, perserverence, and rockin’ leadership skills. Even when the game isn’t going as smoothly as planned, the mascots duty is to spread good vibes to the crowd and team. “Being a mascot is such an incredible opportunity for these few students,” mascot supervisor Cynthia Hamilton said. “They’re lucky enough to hold this honor all to themselves.”

“To be a Crazy means... to be crazy. You have to step out of your element and go wild for the crowd so that they’ll follow in your footsteps, like a domino effect. If we get excited, then the crowd will too, and the players will follow. We also have to be unexpected so no one ever knows what kind of crazy we have coming next for them. Every one of us have worked very hard on thinking of unique ideas and showing them off to the students was my favorite part.”

NICHOLAS FABRY senior silly

“To be a Crazy means to be the number one supporter of the school. You have to get the fans excited and ready to cheer before and during every game. I love that I get to run around with the other Crazies and be myself. Having all of them running around me and cheering gives me more confidence to be loud and show everyone the wild person I am. This has been my best high school experience, and there is no other way I would want to end my senior year.”

WILLIAM MEYER senior zany

“To be a Crazy means to get the crowd pumped up. It has become our job to rally the school together in order to become one big Crazy family and cheer for our Wildcats with everything we’ve got. Getting all of the fans motivated and loud is such an awesome feeling, and I get such a rush when I’m down on the track. There isn’t anything that could possibly compare to the insane rush I’ve gotten while shouting at the top of my lungs in front of my whole school.”

CALEB HOLT senior insane

“To be a Crazy means you have to be dedicated. You have to be a positive influence to others, but have fun at the same time. I love dressing up the day of the game and walking around school to try to get everyone to go to the games. It’s such a fun experience, and it’s a great feeling to know you brought the school together to show our spirit and pride. Even when football season is over I will continue to support the rest of the school and keep it crazy.”

MACKENZIE McGLYNN senior wacky

SIZZLE Laying on the track, seniors Mackenzie McGlynn, Joseph Gruber, and Nicholas Fabry start the season off with a new cheer. It quickly became a crowd favorite. “Frying Bacon is a new cheer we made up this year,” Dodge said. “They lay on the ground and sizzle while I act like I’m flipping them over, and then they jump over to their backs.”


photo by Rachel Fabry photo by Morgan Coil

photo by Emily Cvitanov

photos by Rachel Fabry

Photo by Kennedy Wall


by Emily Cvitanov, Kennedy Wall, and Zoe Zimmer

by Kennedy Wall

On an adrenaline kick, senior Nicholas Fabry flys through the air as the first touchdown is scored against Lincoln Southeast. The varsity football team demolished the knights, 38-6. “Stepping up in front of the crowd is crazy,” Fabry said. “I lose myself in the game.”

SOARING

photo courtesy of Samuel McCoy photo courtesy of Taylor Ellis photo courtesy of Grace Heckart


076. Crazies/Mascot FALL SPORTS .077

Photo by Najia Reza

GOLDEN

BREAKOUT

CHARGE Dressed head to toe in black and white, senior Tayler Sundermann runs down the track in a panda suit, proudly holding the flag along with his fellow Crazies. The Wildcats had just scored yet another touchdown in an exciting game played against the Bellevue East Chieftains. The theme was “Costume-Out” in honor of Halloween, which was soon approaching. “I wanted to stay as warm as possible for this game since it was the first freezing cold game we had yet this season,” Sundermann said. “The panda costume provided lots of warmth and I got to wear a hat with ears,too. Plus, pandas are the most awesome animal to ever exist.”

Tayler Sundermann ‘14, William Meyer ‘14, Nicholas Fabry ‘14, Caleb Holt ‘14, Carter Anderson ‘14, Chase Dodge ‘14 and Joseph Gruber ‘14

Mackenzie McGlynn ‘14

Carter Anderson ‘14

”

“ “It is an honor to be a part of a team that very few are selected to be on,” senior Joseph Gruber said. “I’m thankful that I was chosen to be involved with a group of people that work to bring the school together all year long“.

PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT.

8 seniors

7 guys

1 girl

9 chants

1 wild year

photo by Rachel Fabryphoto by Morgan Coil



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


ACAMAZING TALENT.students sing together in acapella group to show off skills

At the December 16th talent show, a group of juniors and seniors teamed up to create an instrumental ensemble using only their voices. The group “Resolving Dissonance” came together after senior Elizabeth Hamilton brought up the idea with friends during Quality Time (QT). “I like being in a group of people who are all my friends,” senior Royce Hansen said. “It’s nice that we are all open to change and give each other chances to show off our talents.” They chose the song “Somebody That I Used To Know” to perform at their first show because it was a perfect fit and featured everyone’s musical abilities.

Three to four practices per week ensured the group was ready for the talent show. They also sought out the guidance and support from music teachers, Kathy Simpson and Zach Bjornsen, to help them understand how their performance sounded as a whole. All of the hard work put in by “Resolving Dissonance” combined with their passion, dedication, and love for music came together beautifully for an exquisite showcase. “Our group was originally just for the talent show,” Hamilton said. “We worked so fast and so well together though, that we just decided to keep going and do other shows throughout the year.”

HUMBLE Reaching into a bin full of puzzles, sophomore Alyssa Burd helps with the 40 Assets Club to pack over 1,000 toys for the less fortunate families and children. “It was very humbling and makes a person realize how truly blessed we really are,” Burd said. “I hope to do it again in the future. It was a great experience.”

PREPARE In a team effort, seniors Madison Jordan and Jared Guinto work to prepare tortillas for “fajita night” at the Omaha Ronald McDonald House. “We wanted to do our DECA project with a charity that helps children,” Guinto said. “We decided Ronald McDonald House Charities would be a great cause to help. When we volunteered, we got a tour of the house. The best part of the experience was seeing all of the kids’ faces when we served them dinner.”

SEPERATE Sorting clothing at the Open Door Mission, senior Samuel Manthey dedicates his time to help the local charity with the abundance of donations this holiday season. “It was a good time helping out at the Open Door Mission,” Manthey said. “I’m glad I could spend time assisting those who need it, especially around this time of year.”

SINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR.Seasonal holiday concert with all choir levels

The halls were filled with holiday cheer as 250 talented students warmed up for their annual winter concert. Expectations for the performance were higher than ever before. The remarkable sound that the audience heard took much more preparation and discipline than they realized. Countless hours were spent memorizing complicated and intricate choir pieces, such as the Hallelujah Chorus. As parents and friends filed into the auditorim to find seats, the performers couldn’t help but feel nervous about the forthcoming concert. “I get pretty nervous right before we go onstage,” junior Corey Wickstrom said. “I don’t

mind the nerves, though, because then I get a bunch of adrenaline and I’m ready to perform.” The audience was enveloped in the sound of the three impressive choirs. When the final chord was struck, a sense of pride and joy was felt throughout the entire auditorium, as was the realization that they were not just an ordinary choir: they were extraordinary.

“The real reason I wanted to write candy grams is because my friends and I wanted to send them to all of our drama officers except for one, Alexander Minton, to be funny even though he’s one of our favorite officers.”-Nathan Nevarez, freshman

DRAMA CLUB DRAMARELEASE YOUR INNER CANDY

CANDY GRAMS.students shared kind and funny messages with friends and teachers during last week leading up to holiday break SENDING SOME LOVE

MANN’S BIG MOVE.

The “fastest” and supposedly most memorable year of senior Courtne Mann’s life was ending a little quicker than the rest of her fellow peers. At the end of her junior year, she was given the news that her step dad was offered a job in Bothell, Washington. After a long family discussion, it was decided that they would move the following year. They were scheduled to move in January of 2014, forcing Mann to make the tough decision of graduating early in December of 2013, leaving her friends and the life she’s always known behind. “Moving is a really big mix of emotions,” Mann said. “I’m excited because it’s going to be a great opportunity but I’m also really nervous because I’ve never lived anywhere but here.”

Senior year ends quicker than expected...

096. December 15-21 2ND SEMESTER .097

FINALS Reading through Shakespeare for his English 10 class, sophomore Justin Hoich prepares for his final. Students in Connie Martin’s class were instructed to read the William Shakespeare novel that was provided for them and write a speech for their final. “We had to memorize quotes from the reading and put them in our speech,” Hoich said. “I thought it was going to be harder than it was, but it was actually pretty easy for me.”

SPREADING HOLIDAY CHEER.

by Megan Fabry

“Candy grams are the funnest thing I have yet to experience in this lifetime. It provides a creative outlet for which I can release all of my pent up emotion.”-Alena Pauley, senior

“My girlfriend Elizabeth Hanke wasn’t having the best day and I wanted to try to do something to cheer her up. I knew a candy gram would do the trick.”-Benjamin Stodola, junior

PROJECTS As she prepares for her Chemistry final, sophomore Karley Schwartz looks through her notes. “To get ready for the test I studied vocabulary words that I didn’t know,” Schwartz said. “I write them down and try to write out the definitions, too.” Although finals get the best of some students, Schwartz kept a level head and passed her tests with flying colors.

CRUNCH TIME.

Alexis Patera ‘17, Celine Taylor ‘17 , Florica Frecks ‘17

Jordan Davis ‘16

Mackenzie Lambert ‘15

Jordan Murman ‘15

photos by Katy Mar

by Morgan Coil


photos by Hannah Circo

phot

os by

Mor

gan C

oil

by Morgan Coil

SERVE Sophomore Nicholas Marcuzzo helps to deliver the toys his quality time collected for Student Council’s annual Holiday Child project. “We all collected five dollars in our QT and we decided what toys we wanted to buy,” Marcuzzo said. “Our teacher then went out and bought them and a few of us took them to the loading dock.”






TCID:PP TCID:PP

100. WINTER SPORTS .101

Gearing up for the big game with our favorite pump-up songs blasting in our headphones, we wait patiently for the big game talk. From pre-game rituals, to jamming to Miley Cyrus, these are the details that define us as an athlete. Although the season is changing, below freezing weather hasn’t stopped you from waking up at 5 a.m. for swim practice. Running a million shuttles during hell week hasn’t pushed you to your limit to quit. We don’t do these things because we have to but because we want to be the best we can be. We look forward to practices every single day afterschool and games and meets every week not only to improve ourselves but to make memories with the teammates and coaches that love the sport just as much as we do. We push for that bus ride down to Lincoln for State Basketball. We push for that extra second off we need to qualify for metro swimming. Every step that we take is one inch closer to the goals you made with your team at the beginning of the season. We take pride in walking down the halls with our hair still soaking wet, reeking of chlorine every morning. We take pride in dressing up nice before every basketball game. We take pride in bleaching our hair before State. We take pride in ourselves and in our teammates because commitment, determination, and passion all make up who we are as player, swimmer, wrestler, and diver. After all, inside of every athlete is a winner. We aren’t defined by how we play the game but by who we are as a teammate and all of those smaller details inside of us that make us the ultimate champions.

WINTER SPORTS.Madison Severson 15’

Benjamin Kositzke 15’

Katelyn Strudthoff 14’

John McMahon 15’Kelsey Starr 14’ Joseph Koca 14’

1.

2.3.

5. 7.

8.6.

9.

4.

1. photo by Morgan Coil 2. photo by Katy Mar Coil 3. photo by Emily Truitt 4. photo by Emily Truitt 5. photo by Morgan Coil 6. photo by Morgan Coil 7. photo by Lauren Harding 8. photo by Cali Brown 9. photo by Rachel Fabry

Trevor Svoboda 16’

Sean McQuillan14’

Copper Netsch 15’ Shea Price 15’

by Mackenzie McGlynn





TCID:PP TCID:PP

“

“

We’re a great team when we’re together. We help cheer each other on to play our hardest. Also, the sophomores help out the freshman to improve.-Taylor McCormick, sophomore

112. Reserve/Freshmen Girls Basketball WINTER SPORTS .113

Even with a legendary season filled with triumph and victory, both the freshman and reserve girls basketball teams would also remember their time together as one filled with friendship and compassion. Despite battling injuries at the end of the season, the group teamed together to beat the clock and grow

closer. They spent their off-days going to team dinners and bonding activities. “The girls always do a great job of bonding and creating a camaraderie with one another,” freshman coach Bret Siepker said. “We all spend so much time together during the season, so it feels like we’re a real family.”

With a supportive family came an empathetic outlook on the season. When sophomore teammate Teryn Koch tore a few ligaments in her leg, the girls rallied together to share sensitivity. “They all asked me questions and offered to help when I was hurt,” Koch said. “It’s so cool to have people who always want to take care

of me.” Luckily, Koch’s injury only occurred a week prior to the end of the season, so she still had the opportunity to influence the teams. Freshman players looked up to the sophomores as excellent role models in their basketball careers and were able to form a bond stronger than their winning sreak.

BASKETBALL BONDS. both freshman & reserve teams join together to grow and win

“Tryouts are always so intense. They’re also very challenging, so you have to just try your best.”-Taylor Zylstra, sophomore

“Tryouts went great. We knew each other and got along really well and had good chemistry, which made the drills easier.”-Nicole Carnazzo, sophomore

STruT yOur STuff.tryouts bring a world of opportunity

“Tryouts are time to show your coaches how good you really are. I’m satisfied with my placement on the team.”-Isaballe Wostoupal, sophomore

With a stone-cold game face, freshman Payton Pfanstiel battled her Millard North opponent on her toes. The freshman stereotype of weakness tore away with Pfanstiel’s desire to succeed. Pfanstiel took her future athletic career to heart with a close-knit team, critically encouraging coaches, and of course, her will to emerge victoriously. “I’ve been playing basketball for five years now,” Pfanstiel said. “My teammates and the competition are definitely what keep me motivated. I want to win.”

34 games total for both

21 players on both teams

19 wins total for both

7 losses total for both

2 dedicated coaches

frIENDSHIP.A TruE

WHAT A STEAL With her back to the other team, freshman Sophia Carr steals control of the game. Carr and the rest of the freshman team put all their effort into winning another game this season. This particular match was against Benson High School. “The Benson game wasn’t too serious because we were very far in the lead,” Carr said. “We all still care about winning, though, because it feels good to make our coaches happy. The team is so close, so it feels really good when we win together.”

STRENGTH Focusing on her goal during the game, freshman Karlie Pieper keeps her attention on the ball. Maintaining a level head was one of her greatest strengths as she led the reserve team to victory. “Winning is definitely better than losing,” Pieper said. “It’s one of the best reasons I love playing basketball. Other than that, it’s also quite fun and exciting.”

TEAMWORK In a desperate attempt to get the ball, sophomore Reece Haselbalch-Davison dives on the floor, willing to do anything for the team. It was important to her to be there for her friends on the reserve team. “My team is like my family,” Haselbalch-Davison said. “My friends and teammates make my basketball career well worth it. They help motivate me as well.”

ASPIRE Blocking her opponent, freshman Jessa Bechtold strategizes a good move for her game plan. But, in order to be a great athelete, one needed some sort of motivator. “The upperclassman are really helpful when it comes to motivating,” Bechtold said. “Before every game and practice they give us a pep talk which really helps us in our performance. It really helps because I’m motivated to be like them someday.”

COMPETE During an intense game against Benson High School, freshman Hayden Hughes takes the ball down the court, hoping to make the basket. It was an exciting game that kept everyone on their toes and ready to score. “Benson was a great school to play,” Hughes said. “My favorite part about playing other schools is their competitiveness. Benson was a great competitor.”

“My motivation is to show my parents and show my coach that I am worth being on this team.” -Samantha Snith, freshman

“My motivation is to get better. I want to motivate myself to improve to the next level, such as Varsity.”-Anna Spencer, freshman

“My motivation is the knowledge that my coaches and my team are depending on me and support-ing me. When we win, it feels so good to think about how hard we worked.”-Nykkia Evans, freshman

“My motivation is my family. I’ve been playing basketball ever since I was little, and my dad really likes to watch. I also love being part of a team.” -Taylor White, freshman

What motivates you to play your best?

photos by Kamrin Baker

photo by Kamrin Baker

photo by Haley Dahlgaard



by Haley Dahlgaard

GOOD GAME.

PfAN-TASTIC.


While playing in a game against Westside, Kocovsky and Zylstra double-team on defense. “What helped me is knowing someone is looking after me,” Kocovsky said. “We’ve been friends for quite a while. I’d have to say finding out you’re on the same team as one of your closest friends is probably one of the best feelings in the world.”

long-time best friends play on

by Kamrin Baker and Haley Dahlgaard

“Best friends for life” was a very familiar term to teammates and best friends, sophomores Meghan Kocovsky and Taylor Zylstra. The two had been friends since kindergarten, but had been on the same team since second grade. “Having a friend on your team is a great advantage.” Zylstra said. “I am more efficient and confident in what I’m doing because of her. The support is what motivates me and keeps me involved.” Even after nine years of playing basketball together, the two continued to play throughout their high school career. They experienced their reserve basketball season as teammates and best friends who continued to motivate, inspire, and support each other.

“It’s called Hell Week, but it ended up being pretty easy this year. I met a lot of new people in conditioning and practice.”-Alyssa Burd, sophomore

freshman player prepares to scoreby Kamrin Baker

phot

o by K

amrin

Bake

r


teammates fight to do their best


Payton Phanstiel ‘17, Karlie Pieper ‘17Meghan Kocovsky ‘16, Taylor Zylstra ‘16

Nicole Carnazzo ‘16, Taylor McCormick ‘16

phot

o by K

amrin

Bake

r

Taylor White ‘17, Teryn Koch ‘16, Reece Haselbalch-Davison ‘16, Taylor McCormick ‘16, Anna Spencer ‘17, Jessa Bechtold ‘17





TCID:PP TCID:PP

192. Juniors PEOPLE .193

Junior year is the halfway point of high school. It’s the stage between the burdening freshman title and the coveted senior status. Being an upperclassman feels just as sweet as it looked; your head held a little higher, your stride a little stronger. You’re no longer a part of the boring class color schemes of grays and whites. You’ve moved up to the monumental green—the color that truly represents our school. Over-stepping your boundaries, however, will give you a front row seat to the inevitable junior versus senior tension. The speed dramatically changes as you try to keep up a balance of a social life, good grades, and relaxation. You face your very first ACT; the four-hour test giving you anxiety from the moment you sign up. You try to manage all the AP courses you can handle in anticipation for open campuses during your senior year. Worries about your Prom date haunt you the day after homecoming. The year flies by with little free time due to first jobs, harder classes, and new clubs that being a junior can grant you. You and your friends are now participating on the Varsity sports teams together, becoming a bigger part of the school. This is the year you begin to feel the excitement of your final days within the green and white halls of our school, but the worries of never returning haven’t come yet. This year is wild, fast and different. The change of pace can leave you with whiplash, so get ready class of 2015.

JUNIORS. by Alexa Leroux

Mackenzie Lambert ‘15 Michaela Reddel ‘15

Jadyn Bechtold ‘15 Serene Nabulsi ‘15

Benjamin Dilla ‘15, Cole Martin ‘15

Taylor Daly ‘15

Kristen Van Hoosen ‘15, Emily Truitt ‘15Chandler Petersen ‘15 Veronica Lynn ‘15 Cole Neville ‘15

Ethan Novacek ‘15, Tristin TeVelde ‘15, McKenna Naso ‘15

Kaley Hubbard ‘15, Jacqueline Phillips ‘15, Emily Cvitanov ‘15, Kelsey Schense ‘15, Meredith Wagner ‘15

Jennifer Reyes ‘15

1. photo by Haley Dahlgaard 2. photo by Rebecca Draper 3. photo by Emily Truitt 4. photo by McKenzie Buchanan 5. photo by Mackenzie McGlynn 6. photo by Alexis Mitlier 7. photo by Alyssa Thielen 8. photo by Katy Mar 9. photo by Emily Cvitanov 10. photo by Alexa Leroux 11. photo by Alexa Leroux 12. photo courtesy of Emily Cvitanov 13. photo by Taylor Carnazzo

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7.

9. 10.

11. 12. 13.8.



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


206. Juniors PEOPLE .207

Mackenzie Lambert Faith Lambrecht

Ashton Lange

Courtney Kusmierski Brock Kuta

Michelle Kuuseoks

Vanessa Kraus Zachary Kroupa

Caleb Kruse

Benjamin Kositzke Mackenzie Kottwitz

Victoria Kowal

Emily Koontz Corbin Koory

Mikaila Kopocho

Rebekah Lehl Candice LeibowTayler Lempke

Casey Largent Richard LaVonteEthan Lawrence

Kaitlyn Malesker Grant Mallett-BauerkemperMitchell Mallett-Hiatt

Andrea Lucas Gretchen LussoVeronica Lynn

Rachel Lott Marisa LoweAdam Lowrey

Katherine Lindgren Alexis LoganWestin Longacre

Tiffany LeNguyen Cody LeoAlexa Leroux

Tanner Marino Madison MarkoffCole Martin

Huntur Maneman Evan ManhartRose Manthey

CRAZY

Driving back from Horizon High School after the Health Science Academy was a daily routine for many students. However, in October, a detrimental encounter at the wheel had juniors Grace Heckart and Meredith Wagner in a life threatening situation. Near the cemetery on 185th and Q Street, about 20 to 30 cars were lined up on their way back to school. Suddenly, the leading car stopped abruptly, putting many students in danger. “Nobody was ready for it,” Wagner said. “A lot of cars in between were able to stop or swerve out of the way in time, but unfortunately, I couldn’t.” 8 cars crashed and 7 were totaled, including both Wagner’s and Heckart’s new vehicles. Heckart’s Toyota Avalon went straight through a fence into the cemetary and almost hit a tombstone. Her entire windshield was shattered and the car was completely destroyed.“

photos courtesy of Grace Heckart

by Mackenzie McGlynn

eight car pile-up shakes up two students

COLLISION.

“It was terrible not having a car because I couldn’t get anywhere,” Heckart said. “I loved riding around in my AVI and I’m sad it crashed but I’m glad I’m still alive.” Luckily, only one person was sent to the hospital out of everyone involved in the accident and no one was severely injured, but Heckart got very lucky before the accident. About 30 seconds before the accident, Heckart put on her seat belt, which ultimately could have saved her life. “I didn’t have it on when I left,” Heckart said. “Before I reached the top of the hill, I had a feeling that I needed to put it on so I did. I got very lucky.” Although the two were not injured,the crash would always be a moment they could never forget. “I’m surprised everyone was okay,” Wagner said. “It could have been a lot worse than it was.”

“The hardest class I’ve taken is AP Lang and AP US History combined. This is the first year where both classes are combined all year long, and it has been a lot of work.”-Erin Hillabrand, junior

“The hardest class I’ve taken so far is Spanish II. It’s never really been my strongest subject, and I’m not as interested in language as other classes.”-Joseph Sutter, junior

“Personal Finance was the hardest for me. Numbers and money aren’t really my strong suit.”-Madison Ford, junior

All about academicsstudents reflect on the challenging coursesthey have taken and which was the hardest

by Katy Mar

“Physics was really tough. Applying math and science together was completely new, and it was hard to adjust to that kind of thinking at first.”-Jacob Wicks, junior

“AP Lang made me think in a whole new way. It’s hard to look at everything with an open mind at first and push aside what I thought I knew. I walk out of class everyday completely mind-blown.”-Regan Sindelar, junior

“I’d say the theme song of my life is the Johnny Bravo theme song because he’s jacked and he likes the ladies. I think relate to him pretty well.”-Jared Hoyt, junior

by Ka

ty Ma

rtheme song of your life?

“Tik-Tok by Kesha is the theme song of my life. Not only is life a party, but it also goes by quickly. It seems like just yesterday I was walking into this school for the first time.”-Kelsey Wagner, junior

what is the



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


234. Sophomores

Natalie MatuellaAshley Maxon Amanda May

Hunter MasonMichaela Mason

Walker Matthews

Nicholas MarcuzzoNico Mariniello

Travis Marx

Sheridan MacySarah Madvig

Kaley Marcinski

Laura LovelyKassandra Ludlow Andrew Lundgren

Haley McGillenEvan McGinnis

Austin McMahon

Carli McCashTaylor McCormick

Garret McGahan

Justin MockMatthew Money Hannah Moore

Eric MillsBlaine Minden Lea Minniear

Jacob MerkleyNoah Meyer Joshua Miller

Emma MeierJared Merchant Megan Merkel

Justin McMonagleCaitlin Mead William Mead

Alyssa Mowery Sarah Mu Zachary Muehlich

Nathan MooreKarina Morales Jada Moseman

CONRAD SANDOZ ‘16Q:What is your dream car?My dream car would be a matte black Maserati. I think those cars are so cool because they are fast and they are very attractive. Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to South

America. I would snowboard all day because they have the best slopes. Q:If you be in any movie you want, what would it be?Being in the original Anchorman would be so cool. It’s a classic and so funny. I would want to be Brick because he is my favorite character.

Q: What is something you have always wanted to do?I have always wanted to go to a Chicago Bulls game. My favorite player is Derrick Rose. It would be awesome if I could meet him.

Q: Who do you look up too? I really look up to my old soccer coaches, Mike and James. They coached my brother and me for many years. They were the best.

Getting the deets...MARGARET MARY POLLAND ‘16Q:Who is your favorite celebrity and why?My favorite celebrity is Misha Collins. I just think he is pretty cool. He does a lot of charity-related things. Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?I don’t really know what I want to be yet. I am undecided.

Q: Whatis your most embarrasing moment?Well I do random things all day that are pretty embarrassing anyways, but one time in elementary school, I snuck a toy to school from my house and I ended up breaking it on the playground. That was embarrassing.

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the future or past?I would definitely go to the future. I think it would be awesome, and I could do whatever I want.

Q:What’s one thing on your bucket list?Scuba Diving is on my bucket list. I don’t really care where, I just think it would be really cool to swim in the ocean. I would love to swim with the sharks.

Getting the deets...

BLOG IT OUT.

A dream come true was worth a million words. That rang true for sophomore Kamrin Baker, as she was chosen to be a teen blogger for the world-renound Huffigton Post, located in New York. The Post was a known destination for news and blogs. Baker shared the blog with students just like her all over the world. An opportunity like this did not come easily. Baker found out about it on Twitter. She sent out an e-mail including some of her writing and got a message back with some great news. “One of my favorite things to do is write,” Baker said. “It is extremely rewarding, and I love sharing my thoughts with others.” The Huffington Post allowed the student bloggers to post whatever they want, whenever they want. Baker was planning on writing about teenage social issues to keep everyone interested.

A big part of being successful was the people she surrounded herself with. Baker’s best friend, sophomore Katherine Gilroy, was a huge encouragement in her life and the journey she was able to start. She proofread Baker’s articles to help her make sure they properly reflect the way Baker intended. “I am very proud of her,” Gilroy said. “She is such a passionate person and the blog helps her express herself.” Being passionate about what she loves was what Baker was best at. With friends there to support her on her blogging journey, she planned to work hard and live her dreams.

by Emily Richards

huffington posts newest teen blogger

“The most awkward encounter I have ever had with a teacher was at the movies when I was with a group of friends. We didn’t really hold any conversation, just kind of said hello and went our separate ways. The last thing I wanted to think about when I went to the movies was school.”

ANDREW BUTLER

“One time when I was at the grocery store, I ran into an old teacher of mine. It was weird because she was coming back from an ugly sweater contest and felt the need to explain that. That made it double awkward for me.”

JESSICA PITMAN

“I saw my teacher at Walmart one time. We stood right next to each other in line at the checkout counter, but we did not even acknowledge each other. It was so awkward, I was glad I wasn’t in their class anymore.”

LUKE SCHAEFER

“When I was younger, I went to a party at Chuck E. Cheese’s and ran into a teacher. I was excited to be at the party and play but all the teacher wanted to talk about was math. It was really weird, but after that I knew my math pretty well.”

MORGAN HURTT

AWKWARD TEACHER MEETS.students reflect on their odd encounters

by Em

ily Ri

char

ds

photo by Emily Richards

by Serena Smith

by Se

rena S

mith sophomore

sophomore

sophomore

sophomore

PEOPLE .235



TCID:PP TCID:PP

Job No.: 003455 Job No.: 003455


252. Freshmen PEOPLE .253

Nicholas Fisichella Kayli Flemington

Jacob Feuker Kacie Fischer

Turiko Ferguson Claire Ferry

Allison Feldman Andrew Feller

Anna Farley Justin Favre

Patrick Forsgren Caden Frank

Sierra Foley Mitchell Forman

Rob Fuller Nicholaus Galloway Claudia Garcia Carrie Geertgens Hannah Gehle Amber George

Florica Frecks Emma Frerichs Ethan Frerichs Mary Frerichs Tanner Fridrich Colin Fuller

Jayden Gilbert Matthew Gill Alexander Gilreath Alec Gilroy Gina Gitt Tanner Glaser

Caitlin Gerdes John Germer Thomas Gerot Christopher Gibson Antonia Giebler Madison Gigaroa

“I think out of all the reality shows I would probably be on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. I am dramatic and sassy, so I would fit right in with the Kardashian sisters. The worst part about being on t.v. would be the rumors that are easily spread on t.v, in magazines, and on social media. Though dealing with rumors would be though, I think the publicity would be cool.”

MACY MEYER freshman Kardashians by Re

becca

Drap

er

“I would be on the show Party Down South. I would fit right in to the show because I like the south, cute guys, and having a good time. I think the best part of being on a reality show would be getting to meet a bunch of new friends. The worst part would be having your life so public, if you do one thing wrong everyone knows about it.”

BRIELLE GUENETTE party down south

“Out of all the reality t.v shows I think I would be on Jersey Shore. I would fit in with the cast because I like to have a good time, but I also like to fight and be in people’s business. I think it would be really cool to be a celebrity, but I also think it would be hard to deal with all the rumors and negative press that come with fame.”

DANIELLE ERDKAMP jersey shore

“I would totally be on Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. The show is really funny. Honey Boo Boo reminds me of myself when I was younger and I can eat as many cheeseballs as her. While it looks like fun to be on t.v and you get paid to do pretty much nothing, most of the time the lines are scripted so it’s not actually your words even though it’s a reality t.v show. ”

THOMAS JEROT freshman honey boo boo

“I think I would be on The Bachelorette. I would want to be the bachelorette because who wouldn’t want to have a bunch of cute guys fawning over you, and you get to date all of them and pick one. I think the show looks crazy and fun and I would love to be on it. Being on t.v. is one of the things on my bucket list so being on The Bachelorette would be awesome because I could check off being on t.v. I think a downside to being on t.v. would be being able to trust people and know if they are acting like themselves or being fake because of the cameras.”

MANDY CLARK freshman the bachelorette

“If I was going to be on any reality show I would probably be on Jersey Shore. I think the cast looks like they are always having fun and are in a good mood. All of the Jersey Shore cast works at a shirt shack for the summer, and it looks like a lot of fun to work there with all their friends. I think an upside to being on a reality t.v show would the media attention, it would be cool to be a celebrity. With celebrity also comes rumors though, so that would be the hard part of being on t.v.”

BRIANNA ROGERS freshman jersey shore

“I would be on the new reality show Are You the One. I would be on the show because I think it would be awsome to find my perfect match and I think the show looks really fun. The worst part about being on t.v. would be the hate and mean comments you would get from the audience, and the best part would be not having to practice lines because it’s reality. I think it would be cool to be on a reality show because it would be awesome to be a celebrity.”

EMILY RICE freshman are you the one

IMAGINED REALITY.what reality tv show would you be on? BEST MOVIE OF THIS YEAR

by Victoria Hill

40 Students were interviewed and asked their opinion on which movie they liked best this year

CATCHING FIRE FROZEN ANCHORMAN 2

30VOTES

20VOTES

10 VOTES

“I thought that Frozen was a really cute movie and it’s a good one to watch with your family and friends. I liked all of the characters and you can actually take something from it. It taught me to follow my heart.”-Sophie Keplinger, freshman

“Anchorman 2 was a great movie in my opinion. It brought a lot of the similar scenes from the old movies back. It made me laugh a lot because it had a ton of jokes where you didn’t get at first but once you thought about it, it was really funny.” -Alex Wissing, freshman

“ liked the whole setting and storyline of Catching Fire better than the first Hunger Games movie. The arena of the 75th annual hunger games was improved also. Overall, the emtional effect of the movie was outstanding.”-Robert Tracy, freshman

FEEL

INGS

ON

TEST

ING

stud

ents

sha

re t

heir

vie

ws

on

test

ing

by V

ictor

ia Hi

ll40 VOTES

0

freshman

freshman





TCID:PP TCID:PP

280. SENIOR TRIBUTES .281

It’s hard to believe just thirteen short years ago we were taking our very first steps into kindergarten, clenching onto both mom and dad’s hands not wanting to face the long day that lay ahead. Not long after came elementary school which brought us the best of times; recess was always a favorite amongst everyone. Recess was a time you were unlocked from the dreaded classroom for just a brief moment to be free and run carelessly around with your best friends. We always made sure to stay away from the opposite sex fearing nothing less than being contaminated by their cooties. Yet, with what seemed like a snap of a finger came a period we were eager to begin. Middle school: a time that can easily be described as our awkward stage. It was a phase that we first wished so badly to be erased, but now cherish for the pure entertainment that allows endless hours of uncontrollable laughter. Three short years came and went. We left middle school being the “top dog” to instantly being the lowest man on the totem pole. We soon found out that high school turned into a time not only to find our closest friends, but a time to find ourselves. But, high school passed all too quickly. As we reflect on all of the experiences we have had that shaped us into the individuals we are today, we take the memories that remain dear to us as we embark on our next journey in life.

SENIOR TRIBUTES.Nathan Harding ‘14, Lauren Harding‘14 Katy Mar ‘14

Megan Fabry ‘14, Nicholas Fabry ‘14 and Rachel Fabry ‘14

Adam Levassuer ‘14, Shea Levassuer ‘14

Mark Hilburn

Kevin Sloter ‘14 Mackenzie McGlynn ‘14

Elise Adams ‘14, Arianna Adams ‘14, Quinn Adams ‘14

Morgan Coil ‘14 and Kaitlyn Mustard ‘14

by Erin Ridder





TCID:PP TCID:PP

312. SENIOR TRIBUTES .313

Kayla E a rlWe’re very proud of you and what you have accomplished.

Always follow your dreams and believe in yourself.

The sky is the l imi t- don’t ho ld ba c k .

Love always,Mom, Bob, Cody, Adam, and Kyle

Y ou are amazing, wonderful, funny, and kind! We’re so proud of you.

Keep “sparkling”!

Love, Tom, Mom, Leah, Cara, and Evan

Hope Young

Thanks for being you!“Shirley Temple” “Da Baby” “Sissy” “The Beast” “Smiley” “Porkchop”

Love, Dad, Mom, Preston, and Morgan

Jenny GriebelIt’s hard to believe that when we brought you from the hospital, you would grow up so fast.

We are proud of you- the beautifu l, strong, caring young woman you turned into.

You are prepared to make good decisions.

Corrin BemisWe are proud of you!

It has been wonderful watching you grow into the beautiful person you have become.

You have accomplished so much and will continue in

all your life’s adventures.We love you!

Mom, Dad, Clinton, and Corissa

Cameryn McClellan We love you and are very proud of you. God has truly blessed us with a kind, strong, and beautifu l daughter.

Thank you for filling our lives with so much love and happiness.

Mom, Dad, and Connor

Payton Flynn

Cong ratu latio ns, Payton !

We are so proud of you and the b e aut i fu l woman you have become.

Y our beautifu l smile brightens our day and has

brought only joy to us.

We love you Mom, Steve, Danny, and Nick

Audrey Davis

Eric SchillingYou have kept us smiling and laughing since you were born. Never settle for par in life, but keep swinging to achieve your dreams.All our love,Mom and Dad

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.” Thanks for all the fun memories and always f inding a way to make us laugh. Love you little bro, Matt and K risten

morgan coil, rachel fabry, megan fabry millard west high ... · photo courtesy of kevin mccawley...

Documents