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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
Warriors edge Wildcats
Aasif Sultani, Staff Reporter • April 15, 2025
Swinging towards success
April 15, 2025
Shifting the scale
April 4, 2025
HOSA Blood Drive
April 4, 2025
News
On April 25, 2024, the theater department brought to life “Little Women,” a beloved musical based on Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. The production told the heartwarming and timeless story of four sisters. “Theater is always about students working together and compiling it together from that initial rehearsal is really satisfying to see as a director,” Theater director Brooke Phillips said. “One of the most memorable moments from any thespian we’ve been to would have to be when the audience cheers for us once our show is over. It’s a really emotional moment for all of us.”
Wildcats go national
Caden Reynolds, Uproar Radio-Station Manager • April 4, 2025

As the 24-25 school year comes to a close, students from the theater department work tirelessly to recreate their showing of “Little Women” for the National Thespian Festival. The stakes are high, as this marks a significant opportunity...

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Math Club has reached out to many students from varying grade levels. This club will continue to flourish with its growing popularity, although math isn’t loved by all, the captains make their club inclusive to many different members. It has also helped grow the love for math with the students who join. “I joined because I got referred by friends,” sophomore Alex Sanders said. “I like to hang out and interact with friends. They create new tasks/games/ ideas every time we come to class every day.”
Easy as 1-2-3
Brooke Samson, Staff Reporter • March 31, 2025

Millard West is known for its many clubs and diverse school activities. However, freshman Rashmi Pokharel and sophomore Luke Murphy believed the school was lacking a certain club. On Jan. 28, 2025, they began their Math Club under...

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Freshman Olivia Goedecker, junior Addison Goedecker and parent Lori Goedecker smile at the camera after having drawn and donated blood. "It makes me happy to help others," said Addison. "I do it whenever I can."
A life or three
Alex Elgert, Staff Reporter • March 21, 2025

There is no better feeling than the one you get from helping others, and there is no shortage of opportunities to do just that. On Thursday, Feb. 13, HOSA hosted their second semester blood drive for anyone who wishes to donate; student,...

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Opinion
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
Brooke Samson, Staff Reporter • 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
Testing modernization will improve our schools and how students can prepare for the future.
Testing modernization
March 31, 2025
Millard West won back-to-back state championships, spearheaded by dynamic guards in Neleigh and Norah Gessert, along with junior Kylee Paben, seniors Jade Lewis and Anna Dunne, and sophomores Jaelynn Moody and Kylee Millard.
Becoming the bar
March 27, 2025
Feature
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
Jacob Larson, Sports Director • 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
Brooke Samson, Staff Reporter • April 21, 2025
Campaigning to fellow DECA members, junior Marwan Alkhaleel communicates why he should earn a spot on the leadership team. “I can’t wait to bring my ideas to the state level and hopefully make a difference,” Alkhaleel said. “I want nothing more than to make a lasting impact during the year I have with this team.”
From buttons to ballots
April 17, 2025
Sitting at his table Sullivan Kuper writes his story and is determined to finish all he needs to do with it. With finishing edits and revising there were some long nights he had to push through. “It's very long, but it's very exciting. Sophomore Sullivan Kuper said, “I actually find it relaxing because my world is crazy enough so it's fun to go into a world that I made."
Behind the scenes
March 7, 2025
Eying down the pins at the end of the lane, junior Anden Sutter, flings the ball out of his grip. Sutter placed first at the NSSA State Bowling Championship for the 2025 season. “It was a pretty crazy feeling to win the whole thing,” Sutter said. “Keeping my cool and staying relaxed even when playing challenging opponents really helped me succeed in the long run.”
Big time bowler
March 7, 2025
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Entertainment
Netflix released “The Twister caught in the storm” on March 19th, 2025.
Caught in the storm
Wyatt Carmichael, staff reporter • April 21, 2025
The Chicken Jockey makes a monstrous face before fighting Garrett Garrison. (Jason Momoa)
Chicken Jockey!
April 18, 2025
Waiting for you
Waiting for you
April 4, 2025
Feb. 27, 2025, Hulu released their documentary on Ruby Franke and how she let her YouTube channel and desire for more turn her into a terrible version of herself.
From fame to felony
March 31, 2025
An official promotional teaser for the film, “A Minecraft Movie."
A Minecraft Movie: comedy gold?
March 31, 2025
SNO Distinguished Sites Badges
Trending Stories
1
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

2
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

3
High-school athletes can be severely demoralized after going down by large margins

The mercy rule

4
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

5
Movies and TV shows often cast adults to portray high school students. This lack of accurate representation warps teenagers' self-image.

Teens deserve better on-screen representation

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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
Taking a shot behind his back, senior David Finnestad goes airborne to take the lead against Grand Cities. Finnestad’s four-goal, four-assist day propelled the Wildcats to a 14-5 win over the Predators. “It was important to take that lead into half,” Finnestad said. “It gave us the momentum going into the second half that we needed after being on break. Having that coming out of half allowed us to cruise to a win.”
Wildcats surge past Predators
Sam Whittaker, Editor-in-Chief • April 18, 2025
Pitching an outstanding game on the mound, senior Brady Ferguson stares then fires the ball down for a strikeout. The Cats traveled to Kansas to play two out of state teams at the beginning of the season. “Being a pitcher I have to help guide the team and if I’m not doing well then it will affect everyone,” Ferguson said. “All of us seniors try to stay positive and remain calm, hoping it wears off on the others.”
Champions play here
April 18, 2025
Despite improving to 5-5, coach Jacque Tevis-Butler does feel like the record represents the level of her team. This is because of the fact that the team has faced one of the toughest schedules in the state. “We don’t feel our record, nor many scores of our games, is indicative of the quality of our team,” Tevis said. “We’ve played an extraordinarily tough schedule in a short period of time with very few practices to address some of the weaknesses we’ve seen. Frankly, what we’ve experienced would have ‘ended’ the seasons for most teams, but we view it as our beginning.”
Clawing from behind
April 18, 2025
Talking to the players as the new head coach, David McEnaney set’s the vision and standards he is looking for. He has an all in mentality for the new job he is taking on. “Together we H.U.N.T is the big thing I am implementing which makes the players better not only on the field and sets standards for them but also in the classroom,” McEnaney said. “I really want to try to make these young men great people and along the way there may be challenges but that’s part of the process.”
Leading the charge
April 4, 2025
Pressure was the privilege
Pressure was the privilege
March 27, 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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