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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
All content by Photo by Tenley Wright
Senior Sam Novotny battles against Gretna in the Metro tournament last season. This off season Novotny worked on blocking out the noise and focusing while on the mound. “One of my biggest focuses this off season has been blocking out everything on the mound and really being able to zone in and focus for the whole time I’m on the mound.”

[Photo] A fresh start

Joseph Ebmeier, Staff Reporter
March 9, 2022
Senior Cade Owens fired up after their second round matchup against Millard South. They won this game 4-3 off of an RBI single by junior Drew Borner in the top of the seventh.

[Photo] Wildcats fall one game short

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
May 21, 2021
Junior Drew Borner celebrates in a game against Gretna in the Metro Tournament. Millard West would win this game 6-1 to advance to play Millard South in the second round. “Most of us hadn’t really played varsity baseball so we had no idea what to expect,” Borner said. “I think we handled it very well. We went through lots of ups and downs, but played our best ball in the games that mattered the most.”

[Photo] Looking ahead to the postseason

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
May 6, 2021
Alumni Laura Ferguson Foral receives her plaque for being induced into The Hall of Fame.

[Photo] Honoring the past

Jasmine Hermosillo-Padilla, Editor-in-Chief Catalyst Online
May 5, 2021
Senior Tyler Merkel swinging big at a pitch in the home opener. He finished the day with a total of six RBIs and three doubles. “Our momentum from winning the first game carried over into the second one and I think that just overwhelmed the Northeast guys,” Merkel said. “We have a lot of trust in each one of our teammates to get the job done.”

[Photo] Dominating day on the diamond

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
March 24, 2021
Senior Corbin Hawkins pitching in a doubleheader against Grand Island on March 28, 2019. Millard West won both games by a combined 11-3 score. “The team morale is higher than ever,” Hawkins said. “We have some young guys and obviously some transfers who are eager to make an impact early. Most of these guys have not played in a spring game in over a year, so naturally everyone is antsy to get this season rolling.”

[Photo] Defend the title

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
March 5, 2021
Early in the game, the Spartans took the lead and gave the Wildcats a complication. This made Millard West adjust their gameplay to stop Lincoln East’s shots. “Their best player started out scoring the first seven points,” coach William Morrison said. “Most games start off close in the first quarter, so we weren’t worried. We made an adjustment to how we guarded him, and it seemed to work.”

[Photo] The streak continues

Garrett Wilcoxen, Staff Reporter
February 5, 2021
Senior Dominic Humm leads the team to a 10 point victory against Millard South. Humm had 13 points including one three-pointer. "Overall, it was a fun game," Humm said. "It’s always a good feeling to go out and beat your rival team, especially twice in one year. The game started off a little rocky, but we took control of it in the second half and came out on top."

[Photo] Double domination

Miguel Paredes Reyes, Sports Director
February 5, 2021
Senior Aiden Schollmeyer sizing up senior Shay Bailey from Blair. Schollmeyer won the match with a quick pin in the first period. “I think we've had a good season but we could have worked harder and pushed each other more in order to secure our spots at state,” Schollmeyer said. “I've just been practicing harder and teaching the younger guys new moves and pushing them as much as I can so my legacy at west will be with the next generation.”

[Photo] Bears outduel the Wildcats

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
February 5, 2021
Nosal (left) is pictured wrestling his round two opponent Blake Baker (right). “Overall the team did alright,” Nosal said. “We had some issues, one of our studs missed weight, and some of the younger kids gave up pins they can’t. Other than that, we did pretty well.”

[Photo] Wildcats wrestle in home invitational

Joseph Ebmeier, Staff Reporter
January 15, 2021
Senior Laney Schipper fighting for the ball in a game against Omaha Bryan. This is Schipper's third year on varsity and she is the most experienced player on the team.“Laney knows what it takes to compete at this level,” head coach Marc Kruger said. “We are looking for her to be a consistent scorer and defender.”

[Photo] New faces

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
December 1, 2020
Sophomore quarterback Brady Brau evades defenders on a run. Friday night was his first start on varsity, and he threw for 25 yards while rushing for 63 yards. “I loved watching Brady Brau step up at the quarterback position,” senior linebacker Will Ekborg said. “He kept his cool the entire game and really looked like he knew what he was doing out there.”

[Photo] Spartans devastate the Wildcats

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
October 6, 2020
Millard West Administrators thank teachers for all their hard work with a surprise Cupcake Cart.

[Photo] Teacher Appreciation Cupcake Cart

Tenley Wright, Chief Photographer
September 18, 2020
The defense played lights out during the game, with five turnovers on the night.

[Photo] Bouncing back strong

Miguel Paredes Reyes, Sports Director
September 15, 2020
During the pandemic, students are being restricted from attending different sports events. The administration is allowing limited people into some of the games, and other sports will have no attendees.

[Photo] Sports distancing

Garrett Wilcoxen, Staff Reporter
September 4, 2020
Junior Nathan Pederson avoids defenders to get his second rushing touchdown of the night. He would end up having 136 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. “I’m excited to see what our team can do,” sophomore tight end Brandt Pickrell said. “I know Thursday wasn’t the outcome we wanted, but we have a very talented team and I’m excited to see what we will do the rest of the season.”

[Photo] Football season kicks off with a bang

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
September 2, 2020
Millard West takes on Elkhorn South at Buell Stadium in week 1 of High School Football. Senior wide receiver Dustin Hatch catches the ball at the 45 yard line for a 12 yard gain.

[Photo] Wildcat football over this summer

Noah Walls, Staff Reporter
August 31, 2020
Former Millard West baseball player and current Nebraska freshman Max Anderson and senior Corbin Hawkins celebrate a home run hit by Anderson in a 6-3 win against Westside in the second round of the metro tournament. Millard West won this game, but ended up losing round 2 of the Metro tournament. “My favorite game was when we beat Westside at the end of the year,” head baseball coach Steve Frey said. “They were the most talented team we played this past summer and it was well pitched by Jaxson Cahoy and we played our most complete game of the summer.”

[Photo] A different summer

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
August 27, 2020
The Millard West defense waits anxiously for the snap against Elkhorn South in last year’s second round matchup against the Storm. The Wildcats beat the Storm in this game 35-21. “I was really proud of how far we got as a team last year,” senior running back Zach Coleman said. “I wouldn’t trade last season for anything else.”

[Photo] Wildcats look to weather the Storm

Jonathan Willis, Striv Executive Producer
August 27, 2020
In January, Millard Public Schools board members voted unanimously to include a $125 million bond issue on the May 12th primary ballot. The bond money would be used to renovate and update the district's 38 buildings, with emphasis on four of its oldest schools. The proposed issue is estimated to bring a one-cent increase on the property tax levy, which means on a $200,000 house, it would equal $20 a year.

[Photo] Millard will put a bond issue on this month’s ballot

Tenley Wright, Chief Photographer
May 9, 2020
Mississippi State’s Elijah MacNamee crouches on the field after a tough loss to Louisville in the 2019 College World Series. For the first time in 70 years, Omaha won’t be hosting the eight-team tradition, which is an extreme blow to the city. The city has long prided itself on hosting the tournament and in 2009 spent $100 million to build TD Ameritrade Park in exchange for an NCAA promise to keep the CWS through at least 2035. Canceling the CWS alone will cost the local economy $70 million, and is a huge loss for the businesses and vendors that surround TD Ameritrade Park.

[Photo] Omaha suffers devastating blow

Tenley Wright, Chief Photographer
April 14, 2020
Senior Ethan Valencia plays his viola during orchestra class. Valencia hopes to attend college on a music scholarship. “What I learned from doing all these activities is that hard work and dedication defeats all.”

[Photo] Finding Strength in the Strings

Tenley Wright, Chief Photographer
March 5, 2020
Pictured above are Millard West teachers Tim Royers and Brooke Phillips.

[Photo] I Heart Public Schools

Tenley Wright, Chief Photographer
January 30, 2020
The Wildcats took down the Panthers 57-36. Darner took this three to increase the lead significantly against Norfolk.

[Photo] Wildcats take down the Panthers

Garrett Wilcoxen, Staff Reporter
December 19, 2019
The Wildcats hype up their teammates before they take the court. Conway (42) ran through his teammates tunnel onto the court before the game. The Wildcats have great team chemistry and work well as a group and that leads to a successful turnout on the court.

[Photo] Wildcats pounce on Panthers

Joseph Ebmeier, Staff Reporter
December 19, 2019
Millard West players beats the Junior Jays in the regular Hockey season.

[Photo] Millard West takes down the Junior Jays

Hayden Cole, Staff Reporter
December 18, 2019
Sophomore running back Chase Hultman ran the ball for a 16 yard tuchdown. The Wildcats had been working all season to get to this point, the playoffs.

[Photo] The Wildcats take over the Navigators

Garrett Wilcoxen, Staff Reporter
October 31, 2019
Odermann celebrates a touchdown play with his teammates. He has been a key member of the Wildcat offense this season. "I've loved my time as a Wildcat," Odermann said.

[Photo] A dream come true

Carson Fox, Staff Reporter
October 15, 2019
Patty Johnston accepts the Hall of Fame plaque for her husband Jim Johnston who passed away in 2014. She was a part of the special ceremony held at half time of this year’s football game. “This means a lot,” Johnston said. “He is still remembered and people are thankful for what he did for the community and for Millard West.”

[Photo] Millard West Hall Of Fame

Dana Summers, Anna Blumenthal, and Jenna Reynolds
October 14, 2019
Millard West’s first football coach Dan McLaughlin shakes the hands of many as he receives his Hall of Fame plaque. He was a part of a special ceremony held at halftime of this year’s first football game. “I don’t know if people really understand how special this place is,” McLaughlin said. “When we first played here in 1995, we went 0-9, didn’t win a single game, and none of them were even close. Look where it is now. The crowd, the atmosphere, the new scoreboard and field; it’s a great place.”

[Photo] Not your average coach

Dana Summers, Staff Reporter
October 14, 2019
Senior Brock Wyman and his teammates celebrate a defensive stop. After going down 13-0, the Wildcat defense allowed just 50 yards.

[Photo] Wildcats beat the Bearcats

Carson Fox, Staff Reporter
October 10, 2019
Zach Coleman runs the ball during Thursday's game against Bryan. The Wildcats outscored Bryan 74-6

[Photo] Wildcats dominate on Homecoming night

Jonathan Willis, Striv Commentator
October 1, 2019
Junior Jenna Bohaty scores a wide open layup as Burke's small forward Aanaya Harris looks on.

[Photo] Wildcats pull away from the Bulldogs

Jacob Janousek, Sports Director
February 27, 2019
Sydney Hall finishing her backstroke during the annual Metro Swimming Conference

[Photo] High-water Stakes for the Wildcat Swim Team

Brianna Tretter, Staff Writer
February 13, 2019
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