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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

Super Predictions
Sam Whittaker and Jacob Larson February 11, 2025
Vote YES for MPS
February 11, 2025
New student teachers
February 3, 2025
“I’ve been playing baseball for 15 years,” senior Sam Kidd said. “Just going out there and competing while having fun is what made me fall in love with the game.” These athletes have pushed through injuries and losses to get where they are now which means it's time to let them go. Graduation is coming up for these seniors and this means unnecessary anxiety. However, signing day brings optimism to graduating seniors who are under the stress of college decisions. Whether these athletes choose to play out of state or in Nebraska it is certain what school helped them kick off their future.
Cats in college
Brooke Samson, Staff Reporter • February 13, 2025

 On Feb. 5, Millard West had its Winter signing day, an opportunity for high school seniors to sign the Letter of Intent to play their selected sport for a college.   Millard West hosts three different signing days: one in the...

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A group of Millard West staff jumped into the Zorinsky Lake for the Polar Plunge with the Special Olympics. Even if it is a few moments of torture all of it is for a good cause and getting so much money for our school. “By taking part in the polar plunge or by donating, you are supporting and standing up for individuals that can't always do that for themselves,” gym teacher Stephanie Jurgens said. “Everyone deserves opportunities to be an active member of their society in whatever capacity that looks like and the Polar Plunge is an event that supports that and raises funds so those opportunities can be provided.”
From shivers to smiles
Corgan Perry, Staff Reporter • February 13, 2025

On Feb. 8, 2025, the Special Olympics held its annual Polar Plunge at Lake Zorinsky. Hundreds of people from Omaha and its surrounding areas took a dip in the freezing lake to raise money with the organization. In the past, a group...

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Students will wear the lanyards around their neck when they leave the classroom. This will make it easy for security guards or administrators who are patrolling the hallways to get a clear look of where they’re going. “I think it will stop overcrowding,” junior Caden Reynolds said. “I’ve noticed that bathrooms can get way too many people during class, and it makes it impossible to make it back to class in a timely manner.” On the back of the passes, the room number is listed, which lets administrators take them back to the correct class, if the student is just wandering around.
A new system
Jacob Larson, Sports Director • February 3, 2025

For the second semester of this school year, administration has implemented a new hallway management system to keep students from wandering in the hallways during class. During the first semester, a big issue for the security guards...

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Influencers hurt Gen Z by posing a false reality the average person cannot live up to.
The false gods of Instagram
Natalie Fink, Managing Editor • February 13, 2025
Lebron James and teammates take a knee to make a statement for racial injustice
Shut up and shoot
February 3, 2025
The world’s children are being pushed to plan their future years in advance.
Childhood is over
January 29, 2025
English teacher Michael Davis watches the Elf Christmas movie party at the Alamo with his wife Darci Davis. As they put on fun hats and took their seats, the Davis’s got to experience this wonderful Christmas memory. “We haven't gone every year but when we did it was amazing,” Davis said. “It was a whole experience with a fun party and of course the movie. My wife and I couldn't have had more fun.”
Unwrapping the holidays
Peyten Pruitt, Photo Editor • December 18, 2024
During flex time on December 11, 2024, gifts from the school's angel trees were collected. Students and teachers began to pile gifts together by the band doc, in order to load up a truck that would take the gifts to their destination. “I like that I can pick out items I would have enjoyed as a child,” sophomore Grace Heftie said. “I try to imagine little kids’ reactions to the gifts given to them. I know there's people not as fortunate as me, so I really enjoy trying to help people that might not have much for Christmas.”
Ungrey the holiday
Kyla Riveland, Staff Reporter • December 13, 2024
Smiling for the camera, sophomore Taylor Barcel makes videos for her many followers on TikTok. She started her account in 2022 and has posted on it twice every day. “I hope that I can reach a huge platform, hopefully, millions of followers, but that’s most likely not going to happen because I think like 1/30 wanna-be influencers fail,” Barcel said. “Either way I hope to keep posting no matter how many followers I get because I’m so passionate about it.”
Viral visions
December 11, 2024
Ziplining through the Costa Rican trees, sophomore Aubrey Kirk enjoys many tourist attractions on her six-day vacation. Along with the humid air, Kirk was amused by the many astonishing opportunities the country had to offer. “We found that there were more opportunities to look at wildlife than other places,” Kirk said. “My favorite part was definitely when we fed the monkeys on the beach.”
Feasting in paradise
December 11, 2024
Holding up a microphone, senior Emma Morley sings with her band, "The Soggy Phillips.” After many rehearsals, she and her band performed at many different venues and got to sing and play together. “My favorite part is jamming out in rehearsal and being surrounded by so many fun people,” Morley said. “We genuinely just have so much fun in rehearsals and while there are sometimes hard conversations to be had, we still have so much fun performing and trying things with music that overpower any of the tough conversations we have.”
Melody in the making
November 26, 2024
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Dec. 13, 2024, Netflix released their Christmas action-packed thriller “Carry-On,” immediately rising to the top of Netflix’s charts and deemed by fans, “this season’s Die Hard.”
This holiday season’s “Die Hard”
Luka Pashia, Staff Reporter • February 3, 2025
“Mufasa: The Lion King” was released into theaters on Dec. 20, 2025 and it is a prequel movie to the original “Lion King” movie.
The future of Milele
January 29, 2025
Polls

What is your favorite extinct animal?

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Speeding up ice, senior defenseman Cole Grandgenett controls the puck. Defensively, Grandgenett led the way for the Wildcats collecting multiple takeaways en route to the loss. “I think the biggest takeaway is simple. The depth of the team needs to grow,” Grandgenett said. “We had a total of 20 shots but they mostly consisted of shots from really only five players at most. This has been a problem all season. We need players to gain their confidence and start producing plays according to their style.”
Race to the playoffs
Sam Whittaker, Editor-in-Chief • February 12, 2025
Dribbling past the defenders, senior Norah Gessert tries to find herself a lane to drive in the paint to work herself to the hoop and make a basket to help lead her team to a victory. During the game she scored 12 points and had three rebounds. “I try to find open lanes if possible and I know if I can’t then I will have a teammate by me that I can pass it to,” Gessert said. “We are always trying to score points no matter what way it happens.”
Queens of Q Street
February 6, 2025
Firing the puck on a breakaway, senior captain Reece Wilson looks to add to the lead. Wilson’s five-goal performance propelled the Cats past Gretna for the second time this season. “We noticed Gretna’s defense tends to play a little off, giving you more time and space,” Wilson said. “It was also just good positioning on our end that led to more opportunities and chances to score. After a unique game like that, I think it’s super important to feed off that energy and get the other guys fired up wanting to score and find opportunities.”
Cats freeze the fire
January 29, 2025
Loading up his shot, junior defenseman Gavin Spencer prepares to fire from the blue line. Spencer’s efforts led him to a multi-point game in the 3-1 win over Lincoln Capitals West. “We knew we’re the better team so we just wore them down all game,” Spencer said. “In the third when they were tired and upset, it allowed us to calm down the game. It also led to us being able to make good heads-up plays to one another.”
Cats climb over Caps
December 10, 2024
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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
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