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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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Prevailing to state

Wildcat’s clinch bid to state tournament
Landen Swift, Staff reporter
May 12, 2025
Landen Swift
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.”

On Thursday May 8, the Millard West girls soccer team took on the Papillion-LaVista Monarchs at Monarch field with a trip to Morrison stadium on the line.

The Wildcats came into the game as the number two seed in the A-7 district with Papillion-La Vista right above them at number one. The Wildcats’ path to get to the state tournament was win and you’re in or loose and possibly get the wildcard if no upsets were to occur. 

It was a back and forth first half for both teams. The Wildcats possession time on their side of the goal was much longer than the Monarchs. 

“We wanted to make sure we kept the lead throughout the whole game and stood our ground,” Carley Mohatt said. “We were able to work the ball down the field well enough to find some open spaces to get it closer to our target.”

It was tied up at half with both teams playing aggressive defense and keeping the ball away from their goal. Both goalies had significant stops that were needed to not let the ball go in.

Head coach Jacque Tevis-Butler talks about the team’s performance in the first half. 

“Honestly I thought we played better in the first half of the game,” rather than the second half,” Tevis-Butler said. “All the attacks we had were everything we had practiced throughout the whole season.” 

The Wildcats turned the jets on in the second half and again kept getting the ball on their side. Junior Leah Pugliese got open early in the second half to put the Wildcats’ on the board first. They didn’t stop the momentum from there. 

“Going into the second half it was challenging with a 0-0 score, ” Pugliese said. “As soon as the second half started we really showed them what we came there for.”

The Wildcats would then score two more goals to put the cat’s up 3-0. The two goals were scored by sophomore Jaelynn Moody and junior Harper Knutsen. They scored all three early in the second half that gave them the cushion to continue their quest to make it to Morrison. 

Millard West would go on to stun Papillion-LaVista and put their hopes of playing in the state tournament on the line. The Wildcats will enter the state tournament as the number seven seed after defeating the Monarchs. They will play the number two seed Marian Crusaders in the first round of the state tournament which they have already gone up against twice this year.

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Zooming towards home, Junior Jake Daniel sprints home to score the teams first run of the game. “It felt great to finally get on the board after we were struggling to get runs in when bases were loaded,” Daniel Said. “We needed a spark to get the team going even though it was late in the game.”
Survive and advance
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
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
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
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
Taking a swing, senior infielder Landon Horst puts a charge into a ball against Elkhorn South. The senior credits a large part of his hot hitting and production to playing summer baseball in Atlanta while also keeping a clear head in the box. “When I go up to hit, I try not to think at all,” Horst said. “I feel I am more successful when I have a clear head rather than trying to do something and having that take focus away from the actual pitch coming at me. I’m looking for pitches that I can handle, especially early in counts like anything belt high and middle in."
Crowned in Papillion
About the Contributor
Landen Swift
Landen Swift, Staff Reporter
Landen is a senior and is involved with being a Wildcat Crazy here at Millard West. He is also involved in the Millard West Yearbook. He enjoys watching and taking pictures of sports events for Millard West. He hopes to improve his film taking and interviewing skills through the year.