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The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
The Student News Site of Millard West High School

The Catalyst
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MWHS Wildcat News
MWHS Wildcat News 05.16.25
Landen Swift and Sam Whittaker • May 16, 2025
Tigers tamed in turnaround
May 15, 2025
Seniors say farewell
May 15, 2025
Staff talent show
May 9, 2025
News
Assassins record themselves eliminating their targets, hoping to collect the prize money for themselves. Seniors had to do their best to get a clear video alongside their elimination, making for some amazing clips. Seniors were given two weeks to eliminate their target, making for plenty of time to plan. Purge days were randomly announced, meaning that wearing swim goggles would not save you from elimination, Senior Breck Osborne being a victim of such. “She just snuck in, my friends kept telling me to run and I didn’t know what they were talking about,” Osborne said. “It sucks that I got out, I would’ve gone far.”
Shots fired, clothes soaked
Luka Pashia, Staff Reporter • May 16, 2025

Starting March 21, a handful of 99 seniors were joined into the annual Senior Assassin, where each student is given a target and two weeks to eliminate their target. Despite the game seeming like the wild west, there are a handful...

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Catching the snap cleanly, senior David James Schiemann searches for an open teammate to pass to. Schiemann played a handful of different sports in his Wildcat career and got the opportunity to thrive in many ways on the field, court, or lanes. “Throughout my high school career, I've played football all four years, basketball for three years, baseball for two years, track for a year, and bowling for my senior year,” Schiemann said. “My coaches and family helped push me through all the seasons and helped me become the athlete I am today.”
As hard as iron
Corgan Perry, Staff Reporter • May 12, 2025

At the end of every school year, Millard West gives the IRONCAT award to any senior who has competed in at least 11 NSAA sports seasons at any level throughout their high school career. In the class of 2025, six senior boys received...

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The updated 10-point grading scale adopted by the school district in 2025, where an A ranges from 90–100, B from 80–89, and so on, aiming to standardize grade interpretation and reduce student stress. “I think this new grading scale would be a welcome change,” English teacher Jack Spady said. "I think standardizing high school with college would make the transition between them easier."
Stepping up the scale
Caden Reynolds, Uproar Radio-Station Manager • May 8, 2025

In the upcoming 25-26 school year, the Millard school district will switch from a 7-point grading scale to a 10-point grading scale. A growing number of school districts across the country are adopting a 10-point grading scale, a growing...

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Opinion
ChatGPT’s convenience comes at a cost to the Earth and its inhabitants.
Digital genius, ecological disaster
Natalie Fink, Managing Editor • May 5, 2025
While some choose to attend Prom with a date, still others take the opportunity to make it a fun outing with their friends.
Meet me at midnight
April 30, 2025
Now more than ever, it is necessary that we are proactively staying informed in the world around us. This practice not only helps us out in our daily lives but also prepares us for our future and teaches us how to consume information.
We listen and we do judge
April 28, 2025
Procrastination has become a huge issue among high school students, and if its not taken care of now, it’ll have negative effects on them in the future.
More than just a delay
April 28, 2025
Coffee is an essential part of most people's morning.
The pros and cons of caffeinated drinks
March 31, 2025
Feature
Around six years ago, senior Marfa Kolesnikova-Cherenkova moved from her hometown to Millard. When she still lived in Ukraine, she would go to a specific park with her grandparents. “We had a lot of friends back in Ukraine,” Kolesnikova-Cherenkova said. “I attended school while I still lived there. I can even remember some of the teachers, it was fun, I loved my town, I wish I could go back.”
Perseverance pays off
Caden Reynolds, Uproar Radio-Station Manager • May 16, 2025
Houser is getting ready to play his song in front of a full house at the last choir concert of the year. He is excited to perform his song in front of many of his friends and family. “I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to perform something I had been working on for so long with people I love,” Houser said. “I can’t wait to continue composing and arranging.”
Rustling leaves and harmonies
Natalie Fink, Managing Editor • May 12, 2025
Junior Jaxon Easdale collects his cap and gown a year earlier than his peers. "I want to get a head start in the IT world," Easdale Said.
Early out
May 9, 2025
Senior Sam Whittaker is incredibly invested in the Millard West hockey, and has become close with the team. With his being close, he has developed somewhat of a bond with the crew. “Over time, a very deep connection came with covering that team and again that’s what made the final game so hard for me to keep it together emotionally on stream,” Whittaker said. “It means more than the world I got to experience and grow as a person with that team for that amount of time.”
Sam’s story
April 21, 2025
Hao is also heavily involved in Forensics. “I truly think Gary is one of the hardest working competitors I have ever met,” Forensics coach Rachel Vanegen said. “Since his freshman year, Gary has dedicated hours of his time each week to practicing his events, researching and filing sources, and hosting peer coaching sessions to help his teammates improve. His work ethic and dedication to Forensics have paid off in the success he has seen so far in his high school career.”
The junior that could
April 21, 2025
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Entertainment
'Little Nightmares III' is "expected to be a great hit," according to IMDb.
Third time’s the charm
Alex Elgert, Staff Reporter • May 14, 2025
“The Price of Admission” is Turnpike Troubadours newest album and was released to the world on April 11, 2025.
“The Price Admission”
May 14, 2025
An artistic representation of the album’s release, including Ken Carson to the left and the “More Chaos” album cover to the right.
More chaos
May 9, 2025
Netflix released “The Twister caught in the storm” on March 19th, 2025.
Caught in the storm
April 21, 2025
The Chicken Jockey makes a monstrous face before fighting Garrett Garrison. (Jason Momoa)
Chicken Jockey!
April 18, 2025
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Catching the snap cleanly, senior David James Schiemann searches for an open teammate to pass to. Schiemann played a handful of different sports in his Wildcat career and got the opportunity to thrive in many ways on the field, court, or lanes. “Throughout my high school career, I've played football all four years, basketball for three years, baseball for two years, track for a year, and bowling for my senior year,” Schiemann said. “My coaches and family helped push me through all the seasons and helped me become the athlete I am today.”

As hard as iron

2
Being asked to tip has come up more frequently in the past decade, now making consumers have to decide when the right time to tip is.

Gratitude to obligation

3
The Wildcats come into this year’s state tournament on an incredible six game winning streak. “Having won six of the last seven games we’ve played gives us so much momentum and motivation to keep working hard,” senior defender Kennedy Moore said. “We have proved so many people wrong in the last couple of games, so we are ready to make a statement in the state tournament.”

Start of the ride

4
Houser is getting ready to play his song in front of a full house at the last choir concert of the year. He is excited to perform his song in front of many of his friends and family. “I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to perform something I had been working on for so long with people I love,” Houser said. “I can’t wait to continue composing and arranging.”

Rustling leaves and harmonies

5
Junior Nathan Delaney likes to listen to music during work time. Studies suggest that listening to music can increase your focus while studying and increase productivity.

Music in class should pass

Polls

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  • Millard West High School
    56
    Bellevue East
    3
    Oct 3 / Football
  • Millard West High School
    60
    Bellevue East
    57
    Jan 17 / Boys Basketball
  • Millard West High School
    52
    Bellevue East
    62
    Jan 17 / Girls Basketball
  • Millard West High School
    1
    Westside
    2
    Jan 17 / Hockey
  • Millard West High School
    4
    Fremont
    1
    Jan 15 / Hockey
  • Millard West High School
    70
    Lincoln Southeast
    76
    Jan 14 / Boys Basketball
  • Millard West High School
    45
    Lincoln Southeast
    53
    Jan 14 / Girls Basketball
  • Millard West High School
    5
    Gretna
    0
    Jan 11 / Hockey
  • Millard West High School
    42
    Bellevue West
    70
    Jan 10 / Boys Basketball
  • Millard West High School
    37
    Bellevue West
    39
    Jan 10 / Girls Basketball
  • Millard West High School
    17
    Lincoln Southeast
    16
    Oct 7 / Football
  • Millard West High School
    2
    Grand Island
    1
    Oct 6 / Softball
  • Millard West High School
    5
    Papillion-LaVista
    13
    Oct 6 / Softball
  • Millard West High School
    10
    Omaha Westview
    0
    Oct 5 / Softball
  • Millard West High School
    6
    Papillion-LaVista
    11
    Oct 5 / Softball
Sports
Freshman Lilian Headley has dealt with other lacrosse teams and coaches; however, Millard West did not fail to stand out. Now her team is fighting for the State Champions. The Cats’ first game was against Omaha Central, which ended with a crushing victory. “I have in past experiences, but with this team we always believe in ourselves and work hard,” Headley said. “Our coaches lead our practices and always strive for us to be better as a team.”
Winning from the beginning
Brooke Samson, Staff Reporter • May 14, 2025
Jumping for joy, junior Leah Pugliese celebrates as the Wildcats defeat the Papillion-La Vista Monarchs in the A-7 district final. The Wildcat’s knew they needed to bring their A game to have success throughout the game. “We were so happy with the performance that we had for the game,” Pugleise said. “We just want to keep our season going so the seniors get more opportunities.”
Prevailing to state
May 12, 2025
The Wildcats come into this year’s state tournament on an incredible six game winning streak. “Having won six of the last seven games we’ve played gives us so much momentum and motivation to keep working hard,” senior defender Kennedy Moore said. “We have proved so many people wrong in the last couple of games, so we are ready to make a statement in the state tournament.”
Start of the ride
May 12, 2025
Checking out, senior guards Neleigh Gessert and Norah Gessert leaves a legacy on the basketball court not only for Wildcat basketball but for female athletes as she shows playing at the highest level is possible. “It definitely is difficult at times being a female athlete just for the fact that we don’t get as big crowds as men's sports do,” Neleigh Gessert said. “The level of respect that we get compared to men is different too because people look down on women's sports even though we put in as much hard work and effort as men do.”
Leveling the playing field
May 9, 2025
Junior Carter Chapp takes a shot on goal from beyond the box. The midfielder is a multiple sport athlete and plays midfield for the wildcats. “When I scored in the game, I was very excited and was happy to get on the scoreboard in the game,” Chapp said. “I like playing in the midfield because it gives me the opportunity to play on the defense and attack and also control the flow on the game with passes and through balls.”
Senior night success
May 9, 2025
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Podcasts
Logan's Sport Takes: Nebraska Episode
Logan’s Sport Takes: Nebraska Episode
Logan Moseley, MWHS Wildcat News Editor-in-Chief • December 1, 2022

Logan's Sport Takes: NFL
Logan’s Sport Takes: NFL
November 22, 2022
AC Podcast 2
AC Podcast 2
May 5, 2022
AC Podcast 1
AC Podcast 1
May 5, 2022
Logan's Sports Takes: Episode Four
Logan’s Sports Takes: Episode Four
March 31, 2022
Photography
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