WG ECHO February 2023 Issue

Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:

Lydia Urice

PRINT EDITOR:

Izzy Poole

JUNIOR EDITOR:

Hadley Hoskins

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER/ GRAPHICS EDITOR:

Maren DeMargel

VIDEO EDITOR:

Luca Giordano

NEWS/OPINION EDITOR:

Ali Schulz

SPORTS EDITOR:

Owen Crews

PODCAST EDITOR:

Sam Klein

FEATURE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR:

Joe Harned

BUSINESS MANAGERS:

Soledad Lee

Dakota Motley

TIKTOK/ PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER:

Eleanor Kanerva

ADVISOR:

Donald Johnson

SOME MATERIAL FROM TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO.

To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer

Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The Echo has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged.

The Echo is a member of Quill and Scroll, JEA, MIJA, NSPA and CSPA.

Cover cutline: Senior Jalen Purvey looks to pass the ball to a teammate during men’s basketball game on Douglass Night, Feb. 10, in Robert’s Gym.

How

Senior

Students,

Students

Top

Photo by Luca Giordano

reflects on time in

Eleanor Kanerva Public Relations and Tiktok Manager

Coming all the way from Germany, senior exchange student Matthias Rycerz has adjusted to American culture.

Originally from Poland, Rycerz moved to a small town just South of Stuttgart, Germany, when he was around two months old.

Staying in Missouri wasn’t quite his choice. Rycerz said, “My exchange program just kind of like put me somewhere in Missouri. ‘They said, ‘Okay, you’re going somewhere in Missouri.’ I didn’t know exactly where. I was hoping for St. Louis because it’s one of the bigger cities here in Missouri.”

Rycerz described his host family, saying, “My current host family is very nice. They have two children. They go to Avery (Elementary). They’re nice, they spend time with me.”

Rycerz’s exchange program has it where they change host families throughout the year. Usually the exchange students would have three separate host families, but Rycerz said he arrived late, so he’ll only have to do one switch between two families. He will

change host families soon.

Rycerz said, “The first three days were kind of hard. I didn’t know anybody; I didn’t know school; I didn’t know the area. It was just hard to get along. Everything was new, so it was kind of scary sometimes, but I think I did pretty well.”

However, Rycerz said he adapted fairly easily due to his good English skills.

Rycerz said, “It wasn’t so hard because I had some better English skills compared to other exchange students. I could like talk to everybody.”

About why he could understand and speak English so well, Rycerz responded, “Because English is just a universal language, it is mandatory to learn English, and I traveled a lot as a kid, so I had to speak English with all the kids.”

Rycerz added he became friends quickly with senior Dani Llompart, who is an exchange student from Spain. This friendship helped with his adjustment, and Rycerz said they are now in the same friend group.

One aspect of America that Rycerz dislikes is the guns. He said, “Shooter warnings and drills like lockout, lock down, it’s kinda annoying. Scared that someone could actually come into school with a gun and shoot you in the head or something and you like die.”

Despite the guns, Rycerz said compared to his hometown, he found it’s more fun here, and the teenage life is better. He said, “I think there’s more stuff to do in America as a teenager. Also, with teenagers like being able to drive at 16. We don’t have that in Germany. It’s more fun I’d say.”

Along with teenage life, Rycerz also enjoys the American traditions that he’s been able to experience such as Halloween and Christmas which are both bigger events here than they are in Germany, Rycerz said.

He said, “Halloween is much like bigger here than in Europe. Like all the decorations and stuff. Also Christmas, like you have so many Christmas decorations.”

Lastly, Rycerz said the things he enjoys most are the people, the sports games and Chic-fil-A.

Rycerz poses for picture with seniors Isaiah Kuehler, Dani Llompart and Dominic Lee. Photo provided by Matthias Rycerz

Rycerz takes picture with his host family.

Photo provided by Matthias Rycerz

Military service teaches discipline

Luca Giordano Video Editor

Senior Elliot Duckett has been enlisted in the National Guard since March 2022. After a year of service, Duckett is a private second class and attends drill for a week every month.

Duckett attends drill at Jefferson Barracks, where he arrives on Saturday mornings and stays until Sunday afternoons. During this time, Duckett does push-ups, cleaning and running. Duckett believes that his service is part of his identity.

“Obviously, I just show up once a month at this point, but without it I would probably be a very different person, so it is like a part of me,” Duckett said.

Although Duckett originally entered the National Guard for college funding, Duckett plans to move to Utah and pursue a tattoo apprenticeship following graduation. Duckett plans to continue his service in Utah.

“Originally I did it for college money because they will pay most of your tuition if it’s a state school, and now at this point that I’m not going to college, it’s just like, ‘Well, I already signed, so now I am here,’” Duckett said.

Cousin and good friend of Duckett, Patrick Erekson, has known Duckett since before he entered the National Guard. Erekson did not find it surprising that Duckett wanted to enter the military.

“He’s a pretty ambitious guy. I think he saw that it could be good, and that it could lead him to a lot of opportunities in the future, so when I heard that he was going to do it, I was like ‘That makes sense. It could be good for him.’ He just seemed pretty interested in it beforehand,” Erekson said.

Duckett’s mother, Sarah Pinkston, was worried when she first found out that Duckett was entering the National Guard.

“I think as a mother, your first reaction is just worry, like, ‘Could something bad happen? Could he get hurt?’ Those are the kinds of things that went through my mind,” Pinkston said.

Over time, and especially after Duckett completed his basic training, Pinkston grew more comfortable with Duckett’s decision.

“Watching him complete his training and knowing how hard it was, honestly, I was really proud of him. It was really impressive to see him set his mind to something and then actually just get it done, so it did change how I felt about it, but I think there’s always just a little worry until it’s over.”

Duckett underwent his basic training last summer at Fort Leonard Wood. During this time, Duckett was around peers and made friends through the experience. Duckett now connects to the people

he met during basic training through group chats and social media.

“It’s hard to stay connected with people. Everyone who was in my platoon at basic, they are from everywhere in the United States, so we pretty much never see each other, but we just try to keep in contact through group chats,” Duckett said.

Through basic training, Duckett learned more about being disciplined and hard working.

“I learned a lot about myself and how to be more disciplined over basic training. I think that’s a very important part of who I am. I like being disciplined. I like waking up early and just getting work done, and that has helped me to make it a part of my life,” Duckett said.

Erekson and Pinkston also find that Duckett has learned more about discipline through his training.

“His personality hasn’t changed a lot, but his drive and the thing that makes him run has changed a lot. He’s more disciplined. He’s more focused on bettering himself. He’s just trying to make himself a lot better,” Erekson said.

“He’s noticeably more disciplined. He’s on the wrestling team, and he was working out all the time and watching what he eats and just like it was cool to see how when he gets determined about something, he actually goes through with it and does it,” Pinkston said.

Senior Elliot Duckett smiles with family and service members at Fort Leonard Wood for his basic training graduation on Aug. 19, 2022.

Photos provided by Elliot Duckett; collage by Luca Giordano

Seniors step up through coaching transition

Owen Crews Sports Editor

New tennis coach Justin Arnold officially took over the program on Feb. 27, when spring sports began.

“I’ve been around the game of tennis a long time and have been fortunate to help out with several teams, but I’m at a point now that I can devote more time to coaching tennis, and I’m really grateful I get to start here at Webster,” Coach Arnold said via email.

This transition means some changes are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean that it will change how the seniors view their final year.

“I am very sad to see (Coach Terry) Verstraete go as I had built a strong relationship with him over the previous three years. However, I am very excited about this era of WG tennis. Our new coach has many amazing qualifications and will hopefully lead us through a very successful year. He has come into the season with lots of determination and energy which will hopefully rub off on everyone on the team,” senior Silas Garrett said via email. Change often puts pressure on the oldest members of the team, but according to senior Henry Testroete they are willing

to help out.

“Us as seniors have to inspire the younger guys to give their best effort by giving our best effort. We really just have to lead by example, and that is consistent no matter the coach. We also have to step up and help out our coach since being a first year coach is never easy,” Testroete said via email.

However, the team will still be as strong as ever, according to Garret.

“We have a very strong team this year with lots of strong upperclassmen, so hopefully, we can have a strong record,” Garrett said via email.

Senior Dimion Butcher agreed.

“I’m looking forward to our matches this season. I know that we are much bet ter than last year already. I think this will be the best season that we’ve had these past few years,” Butcher said via email.

“As a senior, my main focus is to be a role model for all the younger players and make sure everyone is an important part of the team. Although tennis is a largely individual sport, there is also a very big team aspect. It is very helpful when you have a supportive community cheering you on and hoping for your success,” Garrett added via email.

Arnold had one last thought via email,

“I’m just excited to watch these guys compete. They’ve been working incredibly hard in preseason workouts, and in some pretty tough conditions, and so I’m really looking forward to watching that -

Seniors Sebastian Macaire and Silas Garrett meet for a handshake after an off-season singles game in Memorial Park in July 2022.

Photo by Joe Harned

Vape monitors installed in bathrooms

Hadley Hoskins Junior Editor

Soledad Lee Business Manager

Vape detectors have begun to be installed in bathrooms throughout the school.

The devices, which are sometimes referred to as “vape detectors,” are used to detect more than just vapor-- despite the name In actuality, they detect everything from loud noises, to THC, to specific words, according to the website for the sensors, halodetect.com

Dr. Matt Irvin, principal, said the sensors were installed in bathrooms throughout the school to prevent bullying and drug use in students.

“These spaces can be used for opportunists to do things or engage in things that are having a negative impact on their health or others’ health, whether that be urgent like a fight or less urgent like vaping,” Irvin said.

The monitors are a part of the larger plan from administration to prevent student drug use. The plan also included administrative talks with students last winter, Irvin said.

¨We went into all classrooms and talked about some general concerns and part of that was looking at vape stuff and the misconceptions between students, what they believe to be the negative effects of vaping versus what they actually are. So we tried to address it initially through education,¨ Irvin said.

Installation of the sensors began around a year ago. Irvin added not every bathroom has sensors. He also said to his knowledge, no locker rooms or other spaces had monitors.

“We’ve had to move some for a variety of reasons and we’ve just had some put in,” Irvin said.

Irvin explained when the sensors detect any vapor, THC or bullying, certain staff members are alerted through a notification. This includes assistant principals as

well as permanent substitute teachers.

The website says the sensors are designed to detect five keyword phrases, although Irvin said this was not the case for the sensors installed at the high school. He said the sensors only detect loud noises and emphasized that they do not record audio or video.

“There’s nothing identifying about them other than it goes off and an individual might be in the space at the time,” Irvin said.

The administration makes sure to handle the search for vapes or drugs on students in a strategic way specific to the situation.

“The scope of the search is restrained for the suspicion. For example, if I thought someone stole a car, I wouldn’t look in their bag. So vape devices are pretty small, so where are places where that could be? So, that’s kind of how that’s structured,¨ Irvin explained.

Irvin added several students had been found to be vaping or using drugs as a result of the sensors.

How accurate is Punxsutawney Phil?

Dakota Motley Business Manager

Groundhog Day has been around since 1887, while the current groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has allegedly been doing his predictions since the beginning. However it’s not likely to be the same groundhog since that’s 15 times longer than a groundhog’s lifespan.

Phil has between a 35% and 41% accu-

racy rate. He has predicted a longer winter 107 times while only having 37.45 of them being correct. The Pennsylvania residents believe Phil is correct all the time, the “Inner Circle” saying he has a 100% accuracy rate, even with all the evidence against it.

This groundhog isn’t the only animal that claims to predict the future weather. There are other groundhogs around the country like, Buckeye Chuck in Marion, OH; Staten Island Chuck in Staten Island,

NYC; Stormy Marmot in Aurora, CO; and General Beauregard Lee in Jackson, GA.

Each one claims to be correct about whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter. All but Buckeye Chuck has made correct predictions more times than Phil has, ranging from 60% to 82% success rates. Chuck was only correct twice.

The question is should we continue to trust Phil with our Spring predictions or change up the ways.

Are romcoms cute or misogynistic?

Eleanor Kanerva Public Relations and TikTok Manager

Romcoms or romantic comedies are enjoyable movies to watch because of their light hearted and humorous aspects centered around romanticity, but some say these classic movies promote creepy behavior and misogynistic ideas.

Despite romantic comedies often being marketed towards women, some of them have hints of underlying misogyny from the way the male characters interact with women to the odd behavior they disguise as being romantic.

Women characters in movies are continually trivialized and made to only exist in relation to a man. So often, in fact, that a test was created to see how often two women have, or don’t have, a conversation with one another that’s centered around a man. This is called the Bechdel test.

The Bechdel test has three rules, according to Merriam-Webster.

The first rule is that two or more women must be featured. The second is that the women must talk to each other, and the third is that they must discuss something

other than a man.

The Bechdel test was discussed in the Feminist Coalition Club.

Junior Solane Carfield said, “In a FemCo meeting, we learned about the Bechdel

close up videos of her.

Junior Julia Fowler said, “I think that it was supposed to be a romantic gesture but would never happen in real life, and I don’t think that would ever convince someone to leave their husband, and that’s not what women are looking for.”

Fowler added, “I think that sometimes the roles can be pretty stereotypical and... Over-exaggerating interests and characteristics in men that might not be accurate.”

test. I think a lot of romcoms wouldn’t pass that test, and women would be fully focused on men all the time, and I don’t think that’s a good representation of what women actually talk about.”

Romcoms often promote unhealthy relationships, behaviors and stereotypes and there are countless examples.

In “Love Actually,” the character, Mark (Andrew Lincoln), showed up outside the house of his best friend’s wife (Kiera Knightley) with note cards expressing his love to her, but also, at her wedding in which she was marrying his best friend, he took a video which mostly consisted of

This is displayed in the romcom, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” Firstly, the main character played by Kate Hudson writes an article about everything that women do wrong in relationships, but it also reinforces stereotypes about what men want and don’t want in a woman.

Fowler said, “That one kind of shows that as soon as a woman gets any attention from men, they fall in love instantly.”

Carfield did say that one romcom that she considers less problematic is the movie “10 Things I Hate About You.”

Carfield said, “I think that one portrays women in a good light because he’s the one obsessed with her instead of her chasing him the whole time because I feel like a lot of times, it’s just the girl trying to get him to like her versus that one where it’s more of a balance.”

Public domain graphic from Wikimedia Commons

“I enjoy them, but I can recognize some stereotypes that are in there.”

Junior Sloane Carfield

Douglass history continues

Early 1890 | Douglass moved three times

Classes took place in First Baptist Church.

Fun Fact

The men’s basketball team has never lost a game when wearing the Douglass jerseys!

Lydia Urice Editor-in-Chief

Art by Lily Musgraves

The one room school burned down so the school moved back to First Baptist and then an old store on Gore Avenue and Moody Avenue.

The school was named or of Frederick Douglass. school had been unnamed.

two-room frame school was built on Holland Avenue between Fox Place and Ravine Avenue.

Before Douglass High there was Sumner

Prior to the construction of Douglass High travel to Sumner High School in St. Louis 1875 as the oldest African American high River. The tuition for Sumner was $100. Parents price. In 1915, the parents went to the school the district agreed to pay $75 of the required the district agreed to open a high school department

1866 | Douglass Founded

1872 | Douglass moved to one room building

1892 | Douglass school building built

A

1895 | Douglass

Brown ed

to impact Webster Groves

Douglass named

named Douglass in honDouglass. Previously, the unnamed.

1928 | High school

A full high school program was instated after phasing in students for the previous four years. Summer school was also started this year. The first high school graduates graduated in the following spring (1929).

1898 | First Eighth

High School, High School

High School, black students had to City. Sumner was established in school west of the Mississippi Parents had trouble paying that school board to ask for help. In 1918 required $100 for tuition, and in 1925, department at Douglass.

2007 | Douglass Night Begins

As a tribute to Douglass High School, Webster basketball teams wear Douglas Jerseys on Douglass Night.

1956 | Douglass Integrated with Webster

As a result of Brown vs. Board of Education in 1954, Douglass integrated with Webster Groves High School

1929 First Douglass High School graduation

In May

1929, nine students became the first graduating class of Douglass High School. These graduates were Hildered Campbell, Mayette Gill, Louis Harden, David Hawkins, Mayda Morgan, Helen Morton, Imelda Thomas, Robert Thomas and Thelma Weeks. The principal, Herbert S. Davis, left the high school with this class after accepting a job as a social studies teacher at another school.

Senior women’s soccer players kickoff preseason

Sam Klein Podcast Editor

Preseason for the 2023 spring sports has begun, one of those sports being women’s soccer.

Last year during the 2022 season the women’s soccer team made it all the way to District finals and came out as District champions in a stalemate match that in the end resulted in a score of 1-0.

Last year’s success left the women’s team’s seniors with excitement for their senior season.

The seniors leading the team are Bailey Allen, Vivian Burke, Gretchen Daves, Tori Gray and Emma Storck.

Allen reflects on the start of her senior season. “I’m really excited. I’ve been waiting on this moment for a really long time as I’ve grown up on a soccer field with my dad, who is a past coach of the soccer team, so I’m super excited to go into it with some of my best friends, and preseason’s been going super well, so I’m really excited for hopefully a lot of wins this season.”

Storck is also optimistic for the season. “I’m super super excited. I’m hoping to stay healthy this season and hopefully then we’ll make it past districts and through State Quarter Finals.”

Gray expressed some mixed feelings going into her senior season. “I am excited, but I’m also kind of sad because I know that it’s going to go by really fast.”

Preseason has already begun for the women’s soccer team. The team, mostly the seniors, has been hosting training sessions to begin preparing starting in January, being in the gym twice a week with coaches as well as working on foot skills, according to Storck.

The preseason is a good look into what the team will look like and how they will play together. Daves explained how the team and preseason are looking so far. “Good. I’d say that there’s a lot of good underclassmen coming in, um, including the freshman and sophomores, and yeah I think like there will be good chemistry because of how close the grade levels are with each other.”

Gray talked more about what the preseason looks like. “I’m really excited. We’ve been having open gyms, and the potential for the team is really good, so I’m really excited to see what we can do, and I see a lot of potential in the younger players.”

Allen said with the numbers of people showing up, the season is looking really promising so far.

Of the five seniors, three of them plan to play college soccer. Allen will play at Truman State University this fall, Burke will play at Austin Peay State University, and Storck will play at Wilmington College.

Daves plans to continue playing soccer at some level, and Gray hopes to play select through college.

The women’s first game will take place on Selma Field on March 28, against Eureka.

Women’s soccer teammates stand alongside Tori Gray as she holds of District Finals trophy after a win in double overtime on May 19, 2022.

Photo provided by Tori Gray

Students, staff debate Super Bowl results

Sam Klein Podcast Editor

Super Bowl Sunday is one of America’s big gest sporting events. Last year it raked in $485 million. This year it had the third largest viewing in history according to Variety.

Like every year this year’s show had excitement surrounding it especially in the Midwest with the Kansas City Chiefs facing off against the Philadelphia Ea gles. Since the Rams left St. Louis many St. Louis fans have begun rooting for the next closest team: The Kansas City Chiefs.

The 2023 Super Bowl took place in Arizona at the University of Phoenix Stadium when the Chiefs, led by their quarterback and MVP, Patrick Mahomes, played against the Eagles, led by their quarterback Jalen Hurts.

By the end of the season both teams had a record of 14-3.

The Super Bowl ended in a score of 38-35 with the Chiefs coming out on top after their kicker Harrison Butker made a field goal in the last 11 seconds in the game, making it hard for the

penalty which granted the Chiefs’ ability to get a field goal and take the game.

This call was heavily debated immediately following Smith shared his thoughts. “It wasn’t really that much of a call. It was, the guy even admitted it. Should they have called it? I don’t know, but Pat Mahomes still could’ve done it. He ran 29 or 26 yards on a bad sprained ankle and outran half the defense. So really, that didn’t lose the game for those people. The

reflects on the game’s score. “Yeah, I thought it would be high scoring for sure because the Chiefs [defense] can’t stop anybody.”

As an explanation to his attack on the Chiefs defense

Smith said “Well with the salary cap you can’t pay ev eryone a billion dollars, right?

So we spend our money on a certain quarterback being Pat Mahomes, and I’m pretty sure if I was a Bears fan I’d be glad to spend money on Pat Mahomes, so you gotta cut losses where you can. So we spend our money on offense.”

Junior Louis Getz, a football fan who took the Eagles side in the Super Bowl due his original team getting knocked out of the playoffs had a different idea of how the score would’ve gone. “It was higher than I thought, but yeah it was a little disappointing.”

Getz thought the score would be lower, and he said, “My educated guess wasn’t very educated.”

Getz said he chose to support the Eagles so as to not jump on the “bandwagon” that the Chiefs had going on.

Near the end of the fourth quarter of the game there was a holding call called on the Eagles which resulted in a five-yard

Getz agreed that the call was a valid holding call. Junior Owen Corlis grew up as an Eagles fan after being raised in Philadelphia. He shared his thoughts after the loss. “I definitely knew that it was going to be evenly matched. Um, it was going to be close either way. I was hoping that the Eagles were going to win, but you know it didn’t turn out that way. I definitely knew it wasn’t going to be a blowout like completely one sided. I knew it was going to be evenly matched and a good game.”

Corlis agreed with the call made at the end of the game and mentioned that the player admitted to the holding call. “He admitted to grabbing him in the locker room after the game so I mean if he said he did it, he did it. I think if it was any other game besides the super bowl it would’ve been called, but he sold the game for us.”

After the game there was speculation surrounding whether Mahomes had taken performance enhance

However, this was proven false when the Tweet that had started the rumors was shown to be a satire account that posted fake headlines.

Art

by

Tania Perez Landeiro

Siblings share same sports teams

Maren DeMargel Social Media Manager

Athletes compete with their teammates to make themselves and each other better. For some of these athletes, this competition is in their blood.

Junior Kate Beck has been a women’s swim team member since her sophomore year. This year, she convinced her identical twin, Ella Beck, to join. During this year’s conference meet, the two ended up in the same heat for the 50-freestyle. Not only were they in the same heat, but there was only one lane separating them.

“I could see her when I breathed,” Ella said. While Ella did not get a personal record in that event, she said she “was close.”

This is just one example of the competitiveness that arises when competing against or partaking in a sport with a sibling.

Sophomore twins Kara Pierce and Anna Pierce are Varsity women’s basketball players. According to them, competition with one another can be both beneficial and harmful.

“(Competition) helps make us better because we’re trying harder. Like, if Kara’s getting more playing time than me, it makes me want to work harder so I can earn more playing time,” Anna said.

However, according to Kara, it can also get too intense at times.

“On the court, we end up barking at each other, almost. We just try to make sure each of us stays on it and does what we should, and it doesn’t always come out the best way, especially in game situations whenever we’re just trying to get it out,” Kara said.

Senior Jalen Purvey and junior Iziah Purvey are brothers on the Varsity men’s basketball team. While the Purveys are competitive off the court, being on a team together actually brings them closer.

“Off the court, we are more competitive,” Iziah said. “We like seeing who can do something better than each other. On the court, we really are both together. We think alike. We know what our strengths are and what we can do.”

For the Pierces, sharing a team with a sibling is nothing new. With the exception of

one season, the two have never been on separate teams, so they are familiar with the benefits that come with that.

“You already have someone you know on the team,” Anna said. “Like, if you’re just joining a new team, you don’t have to worry about social anxiety, making friends, as much because you’ve already got someone you know.”

According to Kara, these benefits extend to the court as well.

“Siblings, like, you know them, so it’s easier to trust them more. Like, I trust Anna to bring up the ball more than anyone else on the team, and I know what her tendencies are as a player and as a person, so I can better approach how to help her and how to play with her rather than other people whom I haven’t played with for a while,” Kara said.

The Becks have also experienced the benefits of sharing a team with a sibling.

“I think it’s a lot of fun because you have something to talk about. Sometimes with siblings, you always hangout, but you don’t have anything to talk about. If you play the same sport, you talk about sport-related stuff out of school,” Kate said.

Before high school, the Purveys had never been on a basketball team together. However, they still made sure to compete with each other.

“We grew up around all basketball players, so it’s like, you gotta keep it going in the family, and try to be the best out of the family. I just want to be the best out of the family overall,” Iziah said.

The Purveys have now spent three years on Varsity together.

“Since we grew up with each other and knew what we were capable of, like, we just know when and where we can score and be effective on the court,” Jalen said.

All three pairs noted that there are both downsides and benefits to sharing a team with a sibling, but they all agreed that the positives outweigh the negatives.

“Even if you aren’t enjoying the sport as much, or you aren’t doing as well as you’d hoped, there’s always someone to pick you up or someone who can be like, “hey, come on let’s work harder,” Kara said.

“It’s definitely worth it,” Jalen said.

Sophomore Kara Pierce laughs with teacher Justin Mathes as twin sister Anna Pierce looks on.

Photo by Luca Giordano

Iziah Purvey, junior, prepares to pass the ball, as brother Jalen Purvey, senior, looks on.

Photo by Luca Giordano

Students Spill Celebrity Crushes

Soledad Lee Business Manager

Students search for ways to break the routine of everyday life; one way is celebrity crushes.

more Kate Link said.

Four out of 20 students interviewed said Pascal was one of their celebrity crushes.

“I really like Pedro Pascal because he’s really real. He’s like really funny on Twitter, and he’s active with his fans, and in his interviews he’s just really relat able,” junior Saroya Williams said.

Gen Z can always rely on the classic celebrity crushes like One Direction members, TV and movie casts, and Zendaya.

“I’ve loved her (Zendaya) since ‘Shake It Up,’ ‘K.C. Undercover.’ I’m kind’ve upset that she’s dating a man named Tom and not me,” junior Kyzer Strawbridge said.

clever player and very good at what he does, he’s probably one of the hottest people ever, so watching him play gives you the best of both worlds,” junior Lauryn

“He’s (Felix) hot and plays soccer,” junior Josephine Lewis said.

Music artists and actors are a discoverable outlet to people gaining a celebrity

“FKA twigs makes really good music and her music videos are good too,” senior Noah Weihl said.

“He (Joe Keery) was really good in ‘Stranger Things,’ and I really like his music, and he’s really attractive,” junior Sydney Arrandale said.

“Parasocial relationships are one-sided, where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time, and the other party, the persona, is completely unaware of the other’s existence,” according to Find Psychologist.org.

People develop obsessions with these people, and having a celebrity crush can turn into a defining factor in their lives.

These crushes are developed through forms of media. Including discovering music artists, sports, TV, TikTok and movies.

Some celebrity crushes are more popular than others. As of right now, Pedro Pascal is taking people’s hearts.

“I watched ‘Game of Thrones’ when I was in seventh grade, and he (Pascal) was in one of the seasons, and I fell in love with him because his character was very cool, and also he’s a very handsome man,” sopho-

“He (Niall Horan) was a part of One Direction, and he was top two of my favorite members,” junior Olivia Reisz.

People’s reasons for their developed interest in a certain celebrity are varied. Some students said they grew up watch-

“Keke Palmer, she is just a successful black woman that’s so inspiring to see in this world today, she came up

ing them, and others have discovered them as an infatuation now.

¨Emma Watson, I’ve been crushing on her since like first grade, when I was like watching the Harry Potter movies,¨ junior Josh Delay said.

Professional hockey players and soccer players are very popular among Gen Z as well. Athletes like Portuguese professional soccer player Joao Felix and American professional hockey player Jack Hughes.

“Not only is he (Hughes) just a very

Portraits by Vanessa Schroeder

from nothing pretty much. I just wish one day, I could talk to Keke Palmer,” junior Kellsie Shell said.

Celebrity crushes that were less popular or outliers include Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Brian “Q” Quinn and Aubrey Plaza.

“I think he’s (Gordon-Levitt) a good actor, and I love ‘10 Things I Hate About You,” junior Ellie Jacobsmeyer said.

“He’s (Quinn) silly; he’s goofy; he’s a jokester. That’s all there really is to it,” junior Katherine Ragain said.

“Audrey Plaza is perfect in all aspects,” junior Frances Baken said.

Hearts From Canva

“I really like Pedro Pascal because he’s really real. He’s like really funny on Twitter, and he’s active with his fans, and in his interviews he’s just really relatable,” junior Saroya Williams said.

Valentines Day Top 10 lists

Movies

1. “The Notebook”

2. “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”

3. “10 Things I Hate About You”

4. “Titanic”

5. “But I’m a Cheerleader”

6. “13 Going on 30”

7. “The Proposal”

8. “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”

9. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”

Music

1. “Can’t Help Falling in Love” - Elvis Presley

2. “Lovers Rock” - TV Girl

3. “Lover” - Taylor Swift

4. “Thinkin Bout You” - Frank Ocean

5. “Hopelessly Devoted To You” - Olivia Newton John

6. “Everyone Adores You (at least I do)” - Matt Maltese

7. “For the First Time” - Mac DeMarco

8. “Until I Found You” - Stephen Sanchez

9. “Infrunami” - Steve Lacy

10. “Head Over Heels” - Tears For Fears

Bonus! 11. “Variation 18 of Rachmanioff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”

Date Ideas

1. Andy’s

2. Starbuck’s

3. Webster Groves Garden Cafe

4. The Parkmoor

5. Maypop

6. Sushi Station

7. St. Louis Art Museum

8. Mini Golf

9. Drive around and listen to music

10. Movie Night

Sam Klein Podcast Editor

Hadley Hoskins

Junior Editor

Soledad Lee Business Manager

Art by Tania Perez-Landerio

Webster Groves High School began with just one course, then turned into a high school. The school then became the Webster Groves Statesmen and is still known as the Statesmen today.

Webster Groves High School is a unique one. When people visit the school, one of the most asked questions is, “What are the Statesmen?” While quite a few do not know what a Statesmen is, one word jumps out, “men.” It is the word that everybody knows, that everybody is familiar with. The problem is, it does not accurately represent the school.

Webster is a coed school, so the Statesmen seems illogical. According to the U.S. News and World Report, “49% of students are female, and 51% of students are male.” There is not a clear majority of male to female students. The Statesmen only represent half of the student body, and completely leave out the other half. The biggest time the mascot comes into play is during sports games. Both men’s and women’s sports at WGHS define the school. Both the men’s and women’s programs have had success in the past years. These include both basketball teams making it to the State Final Four, women’s swim winning second in Conference and women’s soccer winning District championships during the 2021-22 school year. Neither the men’s nor women’s sports programs dominate over the other.

Both of these programs have great success, and it does not make sense why the men’s program is the only one represented in the mascot.

Students have shared the ideas of other school mas- cots that are not explicitly female or male. One of the highly popular suggestions was the Webster Woodchucks. One of the favorite phrases of Webster athletes when playing rival school Kirkwood is “chop wood.” Therefore, being the Webster Woodchucks would make sense.

Webster Woodchucks is only one of the suggestions of what the mascot could be changed to. Although, it does seem the most practical of all the options of what the mascot could be. The Statesmen only represents half the school, and considering a new mascot that is inclusive towards the entire student body could create create great change.

Art by Gracie Giles