25-26 The Whirlwind - Issue 1

WEST ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL • OC TOBER 2025 • ISSUE 1

WHY MENTAL GAME IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS PHYSICAL TRAINING

HEAD GAME I N

T H E

THE ROLE SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY HAS ON SHAPING STUDENT ATHLETES AND THEIR JOURNEYS (18-21) THE IMPACT OF STARTING ON DIFFERENT SPORTS LEVELS HAS ON AN ATHLETE

A PERSONAL LOOK INTO HOW INJURIES AFFECTED ATHLETES MENTALITY

HOW SPORTS TEAMS UPLIFTING EACH OTHER HELP THEIR MINDSET

SPEAK UP Letter From the Editors

OCTOBER 2025 * ISSUE 1 Follow us on Instagram!

Cover Illustration | Taylour Veith Back Cover Illustration | Addi Winter 1130 Queen Ave SW, Albany, 97321, OR

EDITORS-IN- CHIEF Ariana Goettl Taylour Veith

Throughout West Albany High School, there are a lot of sports that students indulge in; from dance, cheerleading, football, basketball, lacrosse, bowling, etc. To be successful, all of these sports need physical strength, and, although dismissed often, mental strength also known as sports psychology.

We found this topic indulging because it is one not often talked about.

When thinking about sports and how athletes perform, most people think mainly about how they physically perform and not how much mental strength it takes to get on the field, court, or dance floor.

Sports psychology breaks up into many different ideas, and the first is why sports psychology is important in the first place.

Psychology shows how the mind works and how humans interact with one another; more importantly shows how our brains and personalities function. Knowing more about athletes and how their brains work will help everyone around them and themselves understand why they play the way they do.(19)

S TA F F Prteek Atwal Sydney Braaten M A N A G I N G E D I T O R S Emberly Bullard Ava Clark Kayla Stefan Bella Deleon Guerrero Addi Winter Kimmie Drexler A R T S Grayson Goettl Alana Ebaugh Honorable Hecocta Emi Heller Schuch M U LT I M E D I A Cici Jones Te a h C a f f a r e l l a Samantha Jory N E W S Virgil Isaac Jesus Cisneros Obledo Carson Mask Eva Miranda Featured OPINION Maiyan Mollel Julia Berg Zara Morris 06 Naima Nguyen S P E C I A L Ivanna Palacios Cuevas Zion Mollel Maddy Perkerewicz Hailoh Smith Gavin Ray S P O R T S Patrick Read Adilynn Atchley Evan Robinson COPY EDITORS Geronimo Smith Julia Berg Olivia Whitley Yesenia Rosas Chance Young SOCIAL MEDIA 04 Braxton Bullard ADVISER Michelle Balmeo THE WHIRLWIND is a dedicated student forum for the studensts of West Albany High School in Oregon. Content and editorial decisions are made by student staff members exercising their rights as protected by the First Amendment and the Oregon Student Free Expression Law (Ore. Rev. Stat. sec.

336.477 (2007)). Opinions are those of The Whirlwind staff and not West Albany High School or the Greater Albany Public Schools district. The mission of West Albany Student Publications is to serve West Albany High School students, and their surrounding community, in a way that advances mutual understanding of the world in which we live.

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Sports physcology isn’t the only thing that goes into athletes’ ativities, like the aftermath of the phone ban, and how athletes are reacting to not being allowed to be on their phones during practice.(10-11) The United States is currently in a great divide between politicians, and psychology also plays a huge part in politics today. However students are often not of age to vote and speak on political matters so participating in clubs and talking to people around school is a great way to be involved and be informed about the politics that are happening around the world.

(12-13) Lastly, marketing is changing completely in our media world, and how famous people like KATESEYE and Sydney Sweedy are used in our marketing world to appeal to the newer generations and adapting.(14-15) As we begin and continue with the rest of the school year, we want to keep in mind how we act and how we interact with everyone around us at WAHS and beyond.

The Whirlwind Managing Editors and Editors in Chief Ariana Goettl, Kayla Stefan, Taylour Veith, Addi Winter

CONTENTS 14

20

13

03

4-5

The Spotlight

6-7

The Spirit

8-9

The Stance

10-11

Technological Regression

12-13

Political Activism

14-15

Commercial Consumerism

16-17

Fanbase Screening

18-21

Sports Psychology

22-23

Sporting Hours

24-31

Fashion Forward

How the phone ban has impacted students in acedemics and extracuriculars How students express their political views How marketing strategies how taken effect on people’s spending habbits

How certain fanbases express their interest in a particular movie or show How mental practice is just as important as physical practice How practice times have effected the dance team and wrestling team As the years go so do trends: How students express themselves with their clothes

NOVEMBER 2025

The Bark Conversations on campus

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The Highlight

A highlight of a team, person, award, or thing that really stood out or deserves recognition

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PhotoJournalism

A highlight of a team, person, award, or thing that really stood out or deserves recognition

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09

A poll from the students about a question wondering their opinion on it A question answered in detail with the lore

And editorial A staff opinion article from the people working on the magazine relate to the special isssue

Love it/Hate it Asked/Answered

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Editorial Opinion

Staff Ed

An editorialized story from the staff

TOC Alt Families gathered in the commons, filling plates with mashed potatoes and other Thanksgivingstyle foods as the jazz bands from WAHS, Memorial, and North Albany Middle Schools performed on Oct. 16 for the annual jazz night dinner. Each band performed approximately four songs, displaying the talents they’ve learned since the beginning of the school year. The overall purpose of this event, other than showing the skills of the bands, was to raise money for both equipment and supplies for the band program in the coming years. Upon paid entry, many family members and friends were invited to come watch the performances. The event was both functional and enjoyable for both band and family members. Freshman Cadence Hinkle-LaBlue, who is in Jazz Band 1, said, “Band has always been one of my favorite things, and I just absolutely love being part of the band community to help produce music for people and make people happy.”

T H E W H I R LW I N D

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The Bark

THE ORIGIN

FELIPE THE GHOST

Inspecting The History Behind the Ghost Philipe

Story by Addi Winter

In classroom F7, there is no doubt that there has been some interesting activity occurring. Doors open and shut with no explanation. The smart board will abruptly stop working, and papers will randomly fall. According to Spanish teacher Anne Timm, there is only one possible explanation for these weird and unexpected occurrences: a ghost.

“Felipe is the ghost of my classroom,” Timm said. “I blame him for all the weird, unexpected things that happen during class time when

I’m trying to teach.”

Timm views Felipe as a kind ghost, only playing pranks and causing harmless mischief in the classes.

“He has friends in here,” Timm said. “He has Oscar the air conditioner, Cynthia la cinta, and Pedro the pencil sharpener, and I think they play around when no one else is in here.” Timm’s classes do not completely dismiss Felipe and his existence. When he pulls his pranks or ever so slowly opens the door, her classes occasionally say hello to

the friendly ghost.

“Sometimes [in my classes] we say hola to Felipe,” Timm said.

“Then they kind of play along with it. I don’t think they believe me, they play along with crazy maestra.

We’ve never celebrated his birthday or anything, or celebrated him for Halloween, but maybe we should, and maybe he’ll stop pranking me. I kind of like his pranks every once in a while, just to remind the class that Felipe is here.”

The true history behind this strange ghost known as Felipe is still

ultimately unknown to Timm and her classes, but that doesn’t mean Felipe doesn’t still visit. He continues to hang around F7, which could be because he has friends, or another reason that hasn’t been discovered by the student body or staff yet.

Other uncertainties have arisen in F hall, related to more door slams and unexplained occurrences. Could this friendly ghost be roaming not only the colorful Spanish classroom, but also the other classrooms in F hall? And who should we call?

The Revival Club THE HIGHLIGHT

A BRIEF LOOK INTO THE R E V I VA L C LU B

Story and Photo by Jesus Cisneros Obledo

In Spanish teacher Stephanie of class, Mollel wrote directions Engel-Ockerman’s classroom, the for what to include on the sheet Revival club meets once a week on of paper, and all students worked Wednesday. Led by junior Zion together to decorate their sheet of Mollel, club members gather to do paper with markers and writing various activities together at their utensils. own tables.

During their activity, Mollel Members bring their own Bibles walked around the class to monito the revival club. They start the club tor work and also walked around by doing personal prayers at their handing out donuts to the memseats. Students eat pizza provided by bers. After the club meeting was Mollel’s youth pastor as they socialize over, all sheets were collected to amongst themselves. At their meetcontinue being worked on during ings, Mollel leads the club and sets up the next meeting. activities for the club to do.

The revival club has various On Oct. 15, the club met toactivities planned out for the year. gether, and all students participated During the winter giving out basin an activity where all tables got a kets for the homeless and reading large sheet of paper with the words to kids over the winter.

“God has” written on it. At the front

Students gather in Mrs. Okerman’s room Wednesday, Oct. 15, during lunch for The Revival Club meeting.

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NOVEMBER 2025

The Bark

PHOTOJOURNALISM

The Game Is On

MICHAEL GRANT AND KADEN PETERSON H AV E A S H O W D O W N D U R I N G LU N C H Story and Photos by Teah Caffarella

Over the span of three weeks, junior Kaden (Green Bean) Peterson and freshman Micheal Grant spent their lunch periods at the newly added basketball hoops in the parking lot behind the courtyard.

Word spread about a rivalry game that occured on Oct. 16 during lunch at the patio basketball court, though they had been playing official games since Oct. 14.

“It really just started because Green Bean kept saying he was better than me, so I had to put an end to that somehow,” Micheal Grant blocks a shot by Kaden Peterson during the game on Oct. 16. (Left)

Grant said. “I beat him about four times, and he kept saying he was better than me.”

On the day of the game, there were crowds of both staff and students gathered at the patio to see who would take the win of the game occurring on Oct. 16. Whoever had reached 21 points first would take the win, ending with Grant winning this game with a score of 21 to 16, despite a majority of the crowd chanting for Peterson.

“I just want to prove I can be great,” Grant said. Spectators left the game with some demanding a rematch.

A rematch game took place at the same spot during lunch on Oct 17, and with a new scoreboard and rules. This game was out of seven rounds, with Peterson taking the win 16 to 14. As of Oct. 17, the two are now tied in this basketball feud, both having won two games.

Michaell Grant runs after a stray ball during the game on Oct. 16.(Below)

Kaden Peterson makes a shot into the basket during the game on Oct. 16 (Above)

Michael Grant celebrates his victory after the game on Oct. 16.

Grant won by five points.

T H E W H I R LW I N D

Spectators surround Kaden Peterson after he makes a shot into the hoop during the game on Oct. 16.

(Above)

Onlookers watch the lunch time battle between Kaden Peterson and Michael Grant on Oct. 16.

Michael Grant makes a move to steal the ball from Kaden Peterson during the game on Oct. 16.

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The Bark ASKED/ANSWERED

THE TRADITIONAL COURT

Why is Homecoming traditionally a female dominated activity?

Story by Grayson Goettl

Homecoming court is traditionally a mostly female dominated activity. Why is that?

Leadership teacher Erik Ihde explains why this may be the case for the homecoming court and other dance courts that West Albany High School has.

Why is the homecoming court a femaledominated activity?

LOVE IT OR HATE IT

Once Upon a HOCO? WE ASKED 6 STUDENTS ABOUT THEIR OPINION ON HOMECOMING Story by Geronimo Smith, Photo by Teah Cafarella

Ihde: We actually have a very genderbalanced system that’s been in place for a long time…interest to make the homecoming court also [include] males has been down, and that’s why it’s mostly female; however, there have been ideas to bring back male and female courts to homecoming.

Is any other social event gender specific?

Ihde: In the spring, with junior/senior prom, it is a dual gender court. There’s also another time where girls get a chance to be court members in the fall with homecoming, and the guys have a chance to be court members in the winter with Winter Formal.

Have you had any other genders in court?

Ihde: We’ve had a queen who was a nontraditional gender, which is pretty cool. We are very open to having other genders as queens and court members.

5 OUT OF 6 PEOPLE ENJOYED HOCO Senior Maddie Brown 4.25/5 Least fav: “I really liked the theme, I had a lot of fun with that.”

Fav: “I think my least favorite was some of the music; I was really hoping they’d play some Disney music.”

Senior Jason-Grey Moffet 1.5/5 Least fav: “My least favorite thing was going in the first place.”

Fav: “My favorite thing was seeing my friends.”

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Sophomore Kellan Robinson 4/5 Least fav: “I disliked that there was only water.”

Fav: “ I liked how it was set up.”

Sophomore Andrea Bryant 3.75/5 Least fav: “My least favorite [thing] was the music.”

Fav: “My favorite [thing] was actually being able to spend time with my friends.”

Sophomore Allayna Reed 3/5 Least fav: “Pretty crowded…How loud it was, and how many speakers there were, like 8.”

Fav: “My favorite thing was probably the song choices, they were pretty alright.”

Sophomore Karder Collom 3/5 Least fav: “I disliked that there was only water.”

Fav: “ I liked how it was set up.”

NOVEMBER 2025

The Bark

STAFF ED

Five Stars?

T H E WAY S T H AT F I V E - S TA R S T I L L N E E D S T O I M P R O V E E V E N A F T E R T H E P O S T I V E S T H AT H AV E C O M E F R O M I T Opinion of the Whirwind Staff

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tudents throughout West Albany High School gathered in their Dog Teams classes after the speeches for their grade’s presidency.

This day in Dog Teams they had to vote for who they wanted to be their president and other members of their respective class presidencys. However, this year was different, as the voting was conducted through the 5-Star Students app.

This is a new addition to how students use the school’s hall pass, voting process, club information, and a new point system. Its integration was a rocky one, with many students complaining about the amount of time on the hall pass. Students said that there was too little time to go to the bathroom and that five minutes was an unfair allotment of time for a hall pass.

However, some changes have been made, one of them being the increase of two hall passes per day to three.

T H E W H I R LW I N D

That, and the new voting system has streamlined a process that was difficult in past years. It has made a positive impact on hall pass usage, with fewer kids abusing the system to get out of class. Not every student may be entirely welcome to it, however, it has started steps in the right direction for helping kids not skip class time by walking the halls.

The many positive things that have been gained from 5-Star so far are only the beginning of the impact that it can make. It is an application that is fixing so many problems and adapting to our school’s needs. Even though at first the learning curve was quite steep, it has begun to lessen significantly.

These changes, however, don’t mean that no more changes need to be made. In fact, it is quite the opposite.

With the momentum of change

that is helping this application become second nature, there are a couple of things that can be done to smooth this transition.

One of these is a meeting with the club presidents, where they are taught how to add their clubs to the Clubs and Activities page, where students are able to view all available extracurriculars. This would also benefit the clubs, as they would receive more publicity and potentially attract more people to join their clubs.

Another thing that needs to be expanded on is the point system.

It is not clear how it works, even though points have been added.

Students were told it was supposed to be for sports games and through other means, but so far, it hasn’t been clear how they have been awarding points. This is something that should be clarified so that students aren’t confused and are

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aware how to help their class gain these points.

The most important thing, however, is making it so that all of the progress that has been made with those who skip class by walking the halls isn’t lost. It needs to be a priority over the course of this school year and those that follow to make it so that there aren’t loopholes for students to abuse. Learning from the teachers and students who interact with this system every day to make changes where needed.

Overall, making 5-Star into an application that using it feels like second nature will be an uphill battle.

But it will be well worth the effort as the effectiveness is already being seen at this early stage. Once it is used to its full potential, even more positive effects will be seen.

MY VIEW

PRIVILEGE OF IGNORANCE The value behind being unaware Opinion of Zion Mollel

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ost of the time, ignorance has a negative connotation behind it, associated with being “immature” and “uneducated.” But the rose-colored glasses that are a natural part of ignorance are a blessing in disguise for many people.

Growing up, I was always seen as “mature for my age.” My mom’s best friend used to call me “the 40 year old 10 year old.” I carried myself with a level of maturity and understanding on topics that kids my age normally didn’t have. I went to school with my “miss me yet” Obama t-shirt and a mouthful of opinions about the immigration policies of the 2016 Trump administration, the BLM protests throughout the country, and how we handled the COVID-19 pandemic in my small conservative hometown. But I did not choose to care and be affected at an emotional level by these controversial topics; I cared because I was not allowed to be ignorant.

Whenever you open Instagram or TikTok, while you scroll, there is a chance that you may come across a news story. The headline could be ‘ICE Is Cracking Down on Chicago,’ or ‘Hamas Says It Agrees To Release All Hostages In Gaza’, and you choose to scroll, making it fade into just a vague blur of ‘ICE …Chicago.’ and “Hamas …Hostages … Gaza.’ But this willed ignorance isn’t something that all people have the ability to have.

Being able to scroll past the latest news on immigration policies without seeing your family and friends in the faces of the people affected, writing it off as “something that doesn’t affect me because I am young and in high school,” is something that comes with ignorance.

The ability to not see yourself in every headline, every policy, every event is a privilege — the privilege of ignorance. So we shouldn’t see the word in such a negative light. Because to be ignorant is a privilege that not everybody can have. A privilege that fades over time with experience and empathy. A privilege that should not be taken for advantage. Ignorance truly is bliss.

The Bark

THE ROUND UP

The Heart T A TRIBUTE TO BUSINESS TEACHER JOEY RUNNING

Story by Ariana Goettl, Kayla Stefan, Taylour Veith, Addi Winter, Photo by Mina Clower

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o some, business and personal finance teacher Joey Running was the heart of West Albany High School. They say she brought joy to her classroom, challenging the minds of the students she taught. “[Joey’s] die-hard passion was personal finance, and that all students should be educated in personal finance. And she’s a big reason why the bill in Oregon got passed to make it a graduation requirement,” business teacher Morgan Wadlow said, “but it’s an amazing legacy for her to leave behind.”

Running died unexpectedly on Oct. 4, surrounded by family, a few weeks after a complicated medical procedure.

“Joey had asked me which brain surgeon I went to, and I had asked her if it was for a friend, and she told me no…Then I never heard from her again,” science teacher Shana Hains said.

Running has been teaching at WAHS since 2006, dedicating 19 years to the school. Before Running’s death, she had accepted a position to teach at the College of Business at Oregon State University to embark on the next chapter of her career.

“I don’t think I said goodbye. I told her, I’ll see you later,” French teacher Jacqueline Kahler said. “She’s touched a lot of people of a lot of different ways during really hard times. So this was really hard because it was unexpected.”

In 2024, Running was recognized as the National Financial Empowerment Educator of the Year. In previous years, she was named the 2022 Western Business Education Association Outstanding High School Business Educator and the 2021 Oregon Council on Economic Education Teacher of the Year.

“She was a leader on a national [level], and I always felt like she was very approachable,” Kahler said. “Because on a personal level, when you talk to her, you just felt like her best friend, and she has this whole huge network of people across the entire country.”

Around the holidays, a few faculty members would gather and celebrate with one another, Kahler explained. Running was a big part of that tradition.

“I will never celebrate holidays the same without her,” Hains said. “Half the decorations in my house are from her.”

Along with all of Running’s attributes, the way she taught, and all the kind words that teachers and students have said about her, in the end, many teachers and students will miss the amazing person Running was.

“Our world has lost a really good human,” Hains said.

NOVEMBER 2025

Driving out Devices Story by Kayla Stefan

BEFORE THE PHONE BAN Q&A with Amaryllis Zarzosa-Grier about how the phone ban impacted her life Story by Naima Nguyen

HOW THE PHONE B A N H A S A LT E R E D ACADEMIC SET TINGS

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rom first to last bell, students are unable to use their phones, smart watches, and headphones, which causes some students to express concern about what it means for getting in contact with family members and how it affects their education.

Some students have expressed frustration with the inability to locate friends throughout the school day, which, in turn, has had a positive effect on student life by encouraging students to talk to one another face-to-face rather than hide behind a screen.

“I can’t really find my friends, and if they send me a text, I have to look after school. But that might be too late,” junior Godfrey Conn said. “The people I have classes with, I have to become friends with.”

Not only has student interaction increased during lunch, but it can also be observed throughout the day. “Every kid would be in [the classroom] already sitting in here on their phone, and now they’re standing, and I can say, specifically for my ninth graders, that they are talking [to each other],” English teacher Krissy Rasmussen said.

While the phone ban has

posed challenges for students, its effects have extended beyond West Albany High School.

“In settings where I am hanging out with my friends in person.

I’d say the use of my phone has lessened a bunch, and it’s kind of like an internalized PTSD from the fear of getting taken away,” senior Mahmoud Rashid said.

The phone policy in previous years was similar to the current executive order; however, the primary difference is that students can’t use their devices during breaks and lunch.

“We had essentially the same rule in place last year, no phones in the classrooms, no earbuds, and it was a constant battle, but

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W H AT W E THINK WE’RE IN CONTROL O F WA S A C T U A L LY CONTROLLING US

Story by Patrick Reed

WW: Did you use your phone for a lot in your performing arts class?

Moffet: I do because the way we learn our parts is through practice files, and our practice files are on canvas. And most of the time in T H E W H I R LW I N D

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class, we would pull up the practice files on our phones to play when we went into smaller sections with our parts.

WW: How does the new phone policy affect the way you do assignments?

89% S

Story by Zara Morris

because somebody made it a law, I do think that we had the ability to monitor ourselves, and we blew it,” Rasmussen said.

Few staff members in the building would allow students to use their devices for various reasons, such as playing Blookets or Kahoots, or listening to music during work time, but after the phone ban, that is no longer an option.

“I’ve not had anybody say, ‘Well, I really need to listen to my music to do this,’” Rasmussen said. “We had become a little bit entitled, like I have these things, thus I must be allowed to use them, versus, there’s a time and a place.”

While the phone ban provides benefits in classrooms by pushing students to communicate and fostering student engagement, it has created additional challenges for students in the performing and fine arts.

“Whenever I’d audition with Welsh and McFadden, having my phone on me was really important, because I’d be practicing right before the audition, and I wanted to get one last listen before recording,” Rashid said.

In a similar vein, some students

Moffet: It did for me because a lot of my choir assignments are online through Google Docs or Google spreadsheets…It’s a lot easier for me to use my phone for a lot of assignments, especially if I miss a class and I have to record my singing in a practice room during my open.

WW: Do you feel like the phone ban affected you more than others?

of people feel phantom vibrations according to The University of Chicago Press Journals

who participate in an art class or the fine arts would use digital references on their phones to complete their assignments.

“I have to print out all the pictures that I want,” Conn said.

“Luckily, it’s in color, but it doesn’t have the same magnification. I

27%

Of teens with 4+ hours of screen time experience anxiety according to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics

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IT’S JUST SOMETHING WE’VE CONVINCED O U R S E LV E S [WE NEED]

have to zoom in extra on everything, and the measurements and the portions are off.”

Phones, headphones, and smart watches used to be a focal point of everyday life and communication, but were causing issues in student engagement.

“It’s just something we’ve convinced ourselves [we need]. It’s a very useful tool, when in actuality, the benefits were not continuing to outweigh the harm it was doing to us,” Rasmussen said.

26%

Of teens with 4+ hours of screen time experience depression according to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics

6.4%

improvement in student grades when cell phones are banned according to the London School of Economics

74%

Moffet: No, I think it affected a lot of people in a lot of different ways. I don’t think I or any of the other performing arts students were affected more than others.

I think we were just affected differently because of the way we learn our music and we pull up like pitches.

Of U.S. adults supported banning phones in middle and high school according to Pew Research Center

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ome teachers at West Albany High School are shocked and impressed by our student body. It turns out that the Bulldogs can adapt and don’t go down easily, even when facing a state-wide cell phone ban.

“My initial thought was a little bit concerned that a school daylong cell phone ban… would cause conflict with students,” history teacher Jeneveve Winchell said.

This was a sentiment echoed by some of the WAHS staff. But some of our student body showed out, shattering teacher expectations.

“Students almost immediately adjusted to the new expectation,” Winchell said. “I was shocked when I didn’t have to take any cell phones.”

This was a win for the Bulldogs, and an underdog win nonetheless.

Some of the student body have been incredibly resilient in overcoming the mental challenges of life without phones.

“These phones were releasing dopamine in your brain that was getting you addicted,” Psychology teacher Mr. Hall said. “And then on top of that, if kids didn’t have it, they develop a total fear of missing out. So it creates all these layers of mental health struggles that kids have to work through.”

Some teachers have seen immediate returns from students that are invested in the phone ban.

Math teacher Ashleigh Johnson has witnessed this change firsthand.

“I thought that this was the first year [that] during the first pep assembly, every single student was engaged,” Johnson said. “It was so loud… it was just awesome to see no one distracted by [phones].”

Some students are showing incredible resilience through the process of the cell phone ban, and some of the WAHS staff are proud to have been involved in it.

“The majority of [students] have bought into [the ban] and are following that rule, which has been amazing,” Johnson said.

NOVEMBER 2025

Voiced Perspectives

WEST ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS SHARE THEIR OPINIONS ON THE EXPRESSION OF PERSONAL VIEWS Story by Jesus Cisneros Obledo, Illustration by Patrick Read

Political activism is not just about sharing ones personal views its staying informed, caught up and double-checking to make sure one is getting the right information. Senior Ritish Ratanpal talks about how he stays caught up with current worldwide events.

“I just check everything, always look at both sides. Whenever I hear something, I’ll always doubt it, no matter what it is. I always want to see, ‘Is this really true?’ I go online and just fact-check and read a little bit about it and see both sides,” Ratanpal said.

Gaining a deep understanding of those around you is important, like how senior Noah Ebbs views others around him.

“I think based on my beliefs, I tend to look at things differently, because I’m the type of person that wants to understand all perspectives of something, and so I wouldn’t say I’m prejudiced or anything,” Ebbs said. “I think everybody has different perspectives, and I think learning all different perspectives and points of view [is] important. That motivates me to react

differently to an event, or motivates me to learn more about something.”

Ebbs speaks on the matter of sharing personal views.

“I think people are scared of self-expression, and so they take up this idea of uniformity, and because everybody wants to be like everybody else, and everybody wants what they can’t have. I would say there is a lack of self-expression,” Ebbs said.

Senior Alex Mason adds to the topic by speaking on when certain political issues should be talked about or shared.

“Some things I do express, but some other things I keep to myself because there might be some people that won’t like that opinion, and that could start arguments and conflicts,” Mason said, adding on, “I kind of try to separate our friendships from our things that we self-express just because I value that person for something more than their standpoint on something.”

When it comes to joining an actual protest to get their voice out there,

Boucher and Sophie Garland who both go to Model UN and share how MODEL POLITICS Ali being in the club has benefited them Story by Geronimo Smith

How politically and internationally aware do you think you are?

Sophie Garland: I think I’m pretty politically aware. I mean, I try to follow as many reputable news stories as I can and kind of just stay involved on a local scale, but also a global scale.

Ali Boucher: I think I’m more aware of stuff happening in the US, I’d say...I’m a good amount aware.

What do you think aided you in procuring this awareness?

Garland: My mom is also very politically active. I mean, we listened to NPR on the way to school every day when I was in middle school. So she’s also just always taught me to be very aware of what’s going on in society and not make myself blind to anything.

Boucher: I think it was just a lot of T H E W H I R LW I N D

people didn’t really know what was going on in the world, and I’d see a lot of misinformation spread, and I wanted to find out what was true for myself so I could make my own opinions.

Currently, what is an international/ national issue you find yourself interested in?

Garland: I mean, to go with the obvious, I’d say in America, probably the Trump administration plans on deploying the troops to Portland. That’s a pretty hot topic right now. But I mean, obviously, like, on an international scale, I mean, what’s going on with Israel and Palestine and the other neighboring countries that are being affected by their conflict Boucher: I’m very interested in the ban around abortions recently. I don’t know.

I’m very passionate about it.

“

I LIKE TO EXERCISE MY RIGHT TO VOTE, EVEN IN JUST SMALL PROCESSES Do you believe that people are generally as aware as you?

Garland: Honestly, not really. I have a lot of times where I’ll mention recent political issues, and I’ll kind of just get blank stares and like crickets.

Boucher: I think it depends on where you’re located, but from what I’ve seen, I’m gonna be inclined to say no, because

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I feel like a lot of people are just going with what they see on TikTok, which is not a good source of information.

Are you politically active?

Garland: I would like to say so. I mean, I did just get my ballot. That was a very exciting moment in my life. But I like to think so. I like to exercise my right to vote, even in just small processes, like local things or even in school, like voting for simple stuff. I think so.

Boucher: Not really, other than Model UN.

it comes down to whether or not it is something worth protesting for.

Ratanpal shares his circumstances to actually take part in one.

“I would join a protest if something concerns me enough, but nothing’s concerned me. If it affected me enough to the point where I need to join one. Maybe there does come a day,” Ratanpal says. “I haven’t had a feeling where I [want to] go to them. Usually, when protests happen, chaos follows, and then it makes the protesters look bad, and it ruins their message, so it’s probably better for them not to go and protest.”

ACTUAL CHANGE IS BROUGHT BY CHANGING T H E WAY PEOPLE THINK. Senior Ritish Ratanpal

with Sophomore Nessa Scott and her mom, Celeste Scott about MEET THE INSPIRATION Q&A politics and activism Story by Zara Morris

How do you both feel about political activism?

Celeste: I feel like it’s really important.

It’s really important for people to voice their opinions and be heard. It’s our Amendment right to be able to be heard.

So I believe it’s really important to be active activists in your community and in your country as far as politics go.

Would you consider yourselves political activists?

Nessa: I post a lot of things on social media. I do other little things.

Celeste: We’re not quite out actively protesting, but I think we are protesting in our own way, with some of the boycotts that we do, and with some of the organizations and stores that we support.

Why does political activism matter to you?

Celeste: It really matters to us specifical-

ly because it helps the people in our community. I think it’s important that people are aware of what’s happening to a certain demographic of people, whether that is people of color or our teachers, or our teenagers, but this is really important to fight for those people that might not be able to fight for themselves or have the privilege to fight for themselves.

Are you both aware of the situation that was going on in Portland regarding potential military presence and the public backlash that was related to it? How do you both feel about that?

Nessa: It is kind of scary knowing that they’re in our state and in our community, especially being people of color; it is a little bit scarier knowing that something could happen.

Celeste: It’s scary because the idea that

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the military could be used against our about them and helping her get a better own people of the country, that’s not understanding of a little bit she doesn’t what it’s supposed to be used for, or that completely understand. Also, me being we could become a militarized area. gay has opened her eyes to those issues Martial law, that kind of thing kind of as well. comes into the back of your mind, like, Do you think that your political views what’s going to happen? I think, though, change the relationship that you two that Oregon, fortunately, is kind of have at all? pushing back on that.

Celeste: I think it makes it stronger.

How do you think you have influenced We’re just open enough to be able to Nessa’s view on political activism? share our opinions, and even sometimes, Celeste: I think that I am pretty outspo- if I think she’s 16 and not correct or ken on what I believe. We talk about the doesn’t have all the information, I’m still issues, and I let her have her own opinion willing to listen to her. on any political issues. I also work for a Nessa: I also think that it builds a Head Start program, so politics is very stronger relationship, because we can ingrained in the work that I do with still have a strong connection, even if we families and children. think the other is wrong. We do not let Nessa, do you think you have influenced our different views separate us. your mom’s view on political activism?

Nessa: I like to think that I can change her mind on some things, speaking NOVEMBER 2025

A Lingering Moment Story by Yesenia Rosas, Illustration by Sydney Braaten

T H E W H I R LW I N D

HOW BRANDS TURN ADVERTISEMENTS INTO LASTING MOMENTS

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blur of blue denim, a simple white background, and a troupe of dancers moving to “Milkshake” by Kelis.

The viral GAP’s X KATSEYE “Better in Denim” video is not a typical commercial, it’s a whole performance. Instead of pitching a brand’s product, it pulls you into a moment. Modern marketing isn’t just about selling, it’s about creating an experience for the audience.

“It’s a memorable commercial, exactly an experience,” College and Career Coordinator Theresa Davis said. Pointing out how the ad used music, movement, and pop culture.

She compared it to the 1971 “ Hilltop” Coke commercial. “ That was a super big ad that Coca-Cola ran,” David says. The commercial featured a diverse set of people, each holding a Coke bottle and singing in unison the song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony).” Like the GAP video, it wasn’t about the product, it was about the feeling it created. “That sticks in my mind because it was definitely emotional, and it also played on your senses, as far as emotions, “ Davis said.

Davis explained that television broadcasting company ABC often featured popular songs in their advertisements. “They would have a song that was popular at the time, and it would set the emotion and the feeling of what they were going to present for the season.” Davis continues, “[The songs] were totally stuck in the atmosphere for a while.”

The same applies to the song “Milkshake” from the GAP’s ad. According to Forbes Magazine, the week before the commercial dropped, the song averaged 75K streams, after the launch, it hit over 200K streams daily. With the song gaining such popularity, on TikTok, over 50k users recreated the dance, using the song and Robbie Blue’s original choreography, mimicking the dance GAP created

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a viral trend.

By tapping into catchy music and TikTok choreography, they turned a simple ad into a social media wave. This kind of strategy of successful modern marketing now depends on how well it can live beyond the original platform.

The virality isn’t just luck; it’s all strategy.

This marketing is all about multimedia, which is a part of the whole experience. Using TikTok and Instagram, brands can turn a single ad into dozens of moments that audiences can interact with.

“I looked at Gap’s TikTok account, and there were so many different pieces of content referencing this video,” Oregon State University Marketing and Communication Director Jen Rouse said. “There were behind-the-scenes clips and copycat dances. Instead of that being one piece of content, that was twenty pieces of content.”

Modern marketing strategies have become reliant on user engagement across platforms.

“The interesting thing about social media and multimedia is that your audience can also participate in the content in a way that we couldn’t 30 years ago,” Rouse said. “It can just become, reused, copied, and amplified in a way that it couldn’t previously.”

In an interview with Forbes, Oli Walsh, Founder of brand transformation consultancy Invisible Dynamics, who teamed up with GAP for the Campaign, says, “There’s no such thing as an overnight success: in any person, any brand, any anything… It’s about the compound interest of what you’ve been doing for a while.” Walsh said.

These strategies rely on the audience and the reaction they create. “Brands are keeping people that are more popular in things that aren’t so popular,” Sophie Garland explains that for her, the aspect that caught her attention was the popular group KATSEYE. “You see your favorite celebrity working with a brand, now you want to buy something from that brand,” Garland said.

“Coming from a Hispanic background, in the ad, there are all different races and skin colors,” junior Lizeth Degante said. The KATSEYE group, featured in the ad, reflects this diversity that Degante liked to see. With members from the Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, each with different backgrounds. GAP’s message under their ad holds onto that individual identity, stating, “This is denim as you define it. Your individuality. Yourself expression. Your style.

Powerful on your own. Even better together.”

It’s not just about showing a product anymore; it’s about creating a moment people want to be part of.

I BIRKENSTOCKS “They are very comfortable and you can wear them with anything.”

-Sophomore, Zyana Samuels

Adidas “I don’t regret getting them; they are comfortable and good shoes, I don’t think they will fall off [be] cause they have been popular for a long time, and people [wear] them for soccer.”

-junior, Aidric Washko

n 1980, a Calvin Klein ad featuring Brooke Shields was released. The ad featured Brooke Shields putting on a pair of jeans and talking about nothing coming between her and her Calvin jeans. Due to her being 15 years old at the time, she received an influx of backlash. Some people are saying her ad was sexualizing her too much. Nonetheless, that ad was a big success for Calvin Klein’s campaign.

In 2025, an American Eagle ad featuring the infamous Sydney Sweeney was announced. The ad used wordplay, implying “genes” with “jeans,” along with a famous tagline saying, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.” To some, this also implied that Sweeney´s blonde hair and blue eyes are ideal for “American” beauty. Overall, ads have had the same idea: to market the product they are selling. But is the way they attempt to sell these products good to the environment?

Atlas Coreson, a Sophomore at West Albany High School, said, “[Ads have] gotten so much worse.

I feel big corporations are trying so hard to appeal to online people and they’re not quite grasping what we would actually be interested in,” Coreson also claims, “I

Buy or Bye

WHY AND HOW AD MARKETING H A S S E T U S B A C K G E N E R AT I O N S Story by Alana Ebaugh Berg

don’t think a single person could set feminism back. I think she doesn’t understand the repercussions of what she’s saying,” said Coreson, “I don’t think she has a grasp of women who are especially in this field.” In the near future, West Albany High School students hope to see better marketing for the future.

“We can definitely see more things [being] made by young adult creators. It’s definitely worked before, it’s starting to get better, and I think there will still be the occasional Sydney Sweeney ads,” Coreson said.” They will hopefully get better, but I also think people, especially Gen Z, are more conscious of advertising.”

While some people think ad marketing has gotten worse, that’s not the only opinion at WAHS. Freshman Gwen Hill says, “I’d say better, I don’t know, I feel like they’re more fun,¨ Hill said. “I guess [the Sydney Sweeney ad is]

overrated in my opinion, I don’t think it was that bad.¨ Sophomore Kingston Norris also said ¨[The ad] didn’t appeal to me, but I think people were too sensitive about it. I can see why someone would get mad about that, but the [producers of the ad] didn’t mean it in that way.”

These types of ads make the product less appealing, according to some WAHS students.

“Well, I think there’s a certain demographic of people who would [buy these products],” Coreson said.

Norris also had a similar opinion, saying, “It depends on the person, I feel like that’s just desperate for money.¨ As the years go on, people can hope to see the ad marketing techniques get better and steer away from ads like Sydney Sweeney because it seems that people didn’t find it as appealing.

New Pop Culture

Story by Prteek Atwal, Photos by Alana Ebaugh Berg and Yesenia Rosas

CAMO “I got it because I saw other people wearing it and thought it was cute. I feel like people say they’re basic now.”

-freshman, Nora Goodman

OWALAS “I got tired of spilling my Tumbler [water bottle], and wanted something I can put in my bag and has a straw. I was really late to the Owala party, and then when I got one, I ended up getting two more, and now it’s all I use.”

-marketing teacher, Morgan Wadlow

UGGS “I got them because I saw other people wearing them and thought they were cute. I like them for comfort, but regret them because they fall off easily and because of the rain.”

-freshman, Dakota Grey

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Popular brands have made their ways into the halls, kids walking around with the latest trends Owalas, Birkenstocks, and much more. Brands don’t just advertise themselves, this is what the kids at West Albany think about the latest trends.

NOVEMBER 2025

In the Mind of a Fan FA N B A S E S E X P L A I N I N G W H AT T H E Y D O A S FA N S , A N D W H AT B E I N G A FA N M E A N S Story and Photos by Addi Winter

POKEMON Letho’s favorite Pokemon card, costing a pretty penny and sadly being sold was able to reunite with Letho after a (insert the word here). Recently being sold once again for (insert money count here) will continue to be Letho’s favorite pokemon.

FUNKO POP Beiser’s first ever Funko-Pop. Receiving it from his wife as a christmas gift one, it was only beging to a very large and recognizable collection that is now prowdly displayed in Beiser’s classroom.

T H E W H I R LW I N D

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tudents and staff at West Albany High School have different ways to show their interests in different fan bases.

Whether that be with a T-shirt of a band that they really enjoy, or covering their classroom with merchandise and sponsored partnership items from their favorite movie saga. WAHS even has clubs such as ¨Magic: The Gathering¨ groups that allow students to participate with a group of people who enjoy similar interests.

“I think being a fan is generally liking something or having [an] interest in it,” junior Emmalynne Ness said. “I think being a fan means supporting them, and how you [do] that doesn’t always mean buying stuff.”

Ness represents herself as a fan of Lincoln Park, not just by buying T-shirts, tapestries, and vinyls, but also by going to concerts of artists she enjoys.

“This was my first Lincoln Park concert,” Ness said. “[It] was very well performed, and the technicalities and the visuals and the interactions with the crowd were really cool [and] interesting.”

Spanish teacher Ken Beiser is a big Star Wars fan. Not only loving the movies, but also the franchise and the universe collectively as a whole. One of the biggest things he is known for at WAHS is his classroom, decked out from baseboard to ceiling in Star Wars-based merchandise. From his bookshelf dedicated to Funko Pops to his Star Wars-themed cereal boxes.

“I think my Star Wars fandom started when I was a kid. I don’t remember exactly how old I was, probably six or seven,” Beiser said.

“I love all things Star Wars. But the shows, some of the shows, are fantastic, must-watch, even if you don’t like Star Wars, just amazing TV.” Even for a big-time Star Wars fan like Beiser, he doesn’t view the franchise as something that should be gatekept. As a big fan, he views

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the fanbase as an exciting thing to be part of.

“I don’t actually like the idea of gatekeeping fandoms. People will say things like, ‘Well, you’re not a fan unless you [blank],” Beiser said. “I think people can be fans of whatever they want, regardless of if they’ve been following it their whole life, like I have, or if they’re new to something, I get really excited.”

For junior Reese Letho, there doesn’t seem to be qualifications to exist in order to be a fan. Even with these different things to love and support, to these people, there doesn’t seem to be qualifications to be classified as a “true fan”, whether that be of a band, a franchise, or Pokémon.

“It varies on what it means to be a fan cause, to me, I enjoy [Pokémon] and it’s a way to relive my past. Being a fan is if you enjoy [something] and like it.” Reese said, For Letho, he’s been enjoying Pokémon ever since 2014, when a student that he went to school with showed up to school with a Pokémon binder, and he thought to himself “[I] saw a couple kids at school, [they] had a couple [cards] in their binder, I thought ‘That’s so cool, let me buy some!’ and I’ve been collecting them ever since.”

“This Zapdos card, I got like a month or two ago, and I sold it because I needed some money. Then last week I bought a booster bundle, which is a little box that comes with six packs and I got it! It’s like $90 right now. [I was sad] cause I really liked that card, now it’s back!”

With these big passions and great interests, these attendees of WAHS think being a fan of something means to just simply enjoy it.

“Being a fan just looks like, just enjoying something and being with other people who also enjoy it,” Beiser said.

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dapting a book into a movie or TV series represents its original book? can be a long and quite complicated “My least favorite adaptation was the non-exprocess. The author of the book has to tended edition of ‘The Lord of the Rings: The agree to an adaptation to happen, and many Two Towers’”, said junior Becca Johnson. “The authors find themselves uncertain of how their Characters Mary and Pippin [main protagonists] story will look on screen. An example is lost a lot of their maturity, which I didn’t Stephen King’s novel “The Shining.” like.”

Once it was adapted into a movie People get disappointed when

by Stanley Kubrick, King publicly characters turn out differently admitted to not liking the movie. from how they appeared in the percent of all Many movies that originated book. For example, in the article as books have gotten positive ‘The Outsiders’: Book vs. Movie’, Hollywood films are reviews over the years. Books like Kali Tuttle (movie critic) wrote, adaptations “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s “The novel was much better at Stone,” “The Hunger Games,” and portraying the relationship between “To Kill a Mockingbird” have gotten the Curtis brothers. We got more of a praise for their well-made adaptations that sense of who they are and how much they accurately represented the books that they were cared about each other.” Luckily, in most cases, based on. Movie versions of books help readers movie directors consider the original books when visualize the story and make it easier to underproducing a film, which makes waiting for them stand the plot and aesthetic of the book. even more exciting to many book lovers.

Senior James Drexler said, “My favorite adapWhen reading a good book, students usually tation is the new ‘Percy Jackson TV series,’ which go on to watch the movie that goes with it, or was directed by James Bobin.

Junior Josiah Collman said, “One of the best adaptations was ‘Good Omen’ which was originally written by Terry Pratchett and later adapted into a TV show by Rachel Talalay.

What happens when a movie inaccurately

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wait for an adaptation to happen. “I’d like to see ‘Small Gods’ by Terry Pratchett. He’s a very cinematic writer, so it would be difficult, but I would like to see it,” said Collman. Students also tend to have a different view of books versus the movies.

“There are a lot of movies that could be [an adaptation], but [I] wouldn’t trust [producers] to make a movie because books have different strengths than movies,” said Johnson, talking about how books are seen differently than movies.

Similar to this, many books didn’t need to be turned into books or were simply unnecessary and poorly written. Senior Javier Soto said, ‘October Sky’ by Homer Hickam should have stayed a book.”

With the colder seasons coming up, reading is a great way to spend some time inside and relax. Overall, most students enjoy reading all different kinds of books and watching the movie or TV show that goes along with it that fulfill the expectations that they had in their minds.

From Page to Screen

BOOK LOVERS SHARING T H E I R FAV O R I T E A D A P TAT I O N S A N D W H AT THEY THOUGHT OF THEM Story by Emilia Heller Schuch, Photos courtesy of Disney Hyperion

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is the newest TV show adaptions of the New York Times Bestselling book that was published in 2005 by Mirmax books and written by Rick Riordan. Its streaming on disney+ and Hulu and had 13.3 views withing its first six days of streaming.

THE SUMMER I TURNED LAZY

By Kimmie Drexler

Movies that were binged throughout West Albany High School students.

What is your favorite show that you have binged?

Why did you binge watch it?

Senior Ryan Kane: My favorite show that I have binged was “Dandadan.”.

I watched it because I watch a lot of anime and it was a new show that just came out; also because it has a cool story to it.

Portey: I watched it because Wednesday was dark and mysterious, and I like those types of shows Kane: It was a new show that just came out and it has a cool story to it

Junior Kiara Portey: My favorite show that I have watched was “Wednesday.”

Buckner: I watched it because I love the fall time, and it’s good to watch in the fall

Freshman Brooklynn Buckner: My favorite [movie is] Twilight.

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NOVEMBER 2025

MIND MATTER O V E R

WHAT SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY IS AND HOW IT IS SHOWN THROUGH ATHLETES

TRAINING THE BRAIN

Senior Kyrah Gladney runs up to serve the volleyball against McKay High School.

W H Y S P O RTS P S YC H O LO G Y I S A GAME-CHANGER Story and Photo by Taylour Veith

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etermined athletes will spend countless hours improving their physical skills, whether it is shooting hoops, scoring goals, or running faster. Success in sports often requires more than just physical conditioning; it also depends on mental toughness and the ability to overcome psychological barriers. West Albany High School basketball coach Drew Halvorson teaches a sports psychology class, designed to help students unlock their full potential through mental training.

“People most of the time thought about [sports performance] as physical, which it is, but there is a lot of mental training and tools that can improve performance in sports,” Halvorson said. “That’s what drew me to sports psychology.”

Sophomore Harry Moyes is learning a new position this year in football, running back. While he is getting more play time and

T H E W H I R LW I N D

coaching through the process, sports psychology has reminded him that feedback doesn’t have to be negative. “It’s not criticism, it’s just the way to learn,” Moyes said.

That approach to learning from mistakes carries over into other sports as well. Sophomore soccer player Shay Williams sees every piece of advice as an opportunity to improve.

“I see [feedback] as fixing what I did wrong [and doing] it right the next time,” Williams said.

Halvorson hopes to grow the program and rebrand it as ‘Performance Psychology’ to show that its lessons go beyond athletics.

Students learn strategies such as managing stress, setting goals, and staying focused that can help them succeed in multiple areas of life.

“In the future, we’re going to change it to ‘Performance Psychology’, because it’s not only sport-based,” said Halvorson.

“These tenants can help you in any

performance.”

Students are beginning to see how those lessons apply in their own lives. “Sports psychology provides you with so many [more] things than just sports, any sort of public performance, it’s a lot of mentality and focus,” Moyes said.

Williams takes that lesson a step

further, seeing failure as part of the path to success. “A lot of people fear failing,” said Williams. “Failing means that you’re going to succeed.

You can’t succeed without failing.”

VOICES OF THE GAME How do coaches build up and maintain strong mindsets for their players?

Story by Carson Mask

Most coaches are very engaged with their players. Making them a key role to maintaining strong mindsets for their players and to create a successful team, also allowing them to build off that past success and create more confidence.

Even through defeat, coaches help student-athletes move past the loss and help them prepare for the next

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game. Cross country coach Kristen Grosserhode, varsity football coach Andrew Sturgill, and track and field coach Bryan Wadlow explain the role coaches play in shifting players’ mindset.

THE CLIMB

T H E D I F F E R E N C E B E T W E E N AT H L E T E S W H O W O R K E D T H E I R WAY U P TO T H E VA R S I T Y L E V E L V E R S U S AT H L E T E S W H O G O T A N E A R LY S T A R T Story by Adilynn Atchley

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n any position, starting in a higher position can help boost confidence.

Having prior experience, and therefore better suited in a specific field. This can apply to plenty of things in life, classes in school, a new job, and, although it’s not common, being an underclassman on a school’s varsity team.

Senior football player RJ Fallows was on the freshman football team his first year, but was abruptly cut short by an injury. “It was hard at first because I wanted to play with the rest of the team,” Fallows said. Having the loss of his freshman season only pushed him to be better.“But it honestly made me stronger because the following summer I made varsity, [overcoming] my injury,” Fallows said.

Even with an injury, Fallows persevered through the struggle and became stronger, rightfully earning his spot on the varsity team. “I think it gives confidence to know that even after a big injury or a big sacrifice you made, you can come back and be as good as you are.”

While some people have put in the work to be at a higher level right from the beginning of high school, another route is to start on a lower-level team and develop skills to then work up to the varsity level.

“She is really resilient and has gone

Track and Field coach Byran Wadlow

“The nice thing is from week to week you may not always have your best effort, [but] one of the things I’ve always said is bad things are going to happen and things aren’t going to go right. It’s how you respond to those by making the next attempt.”

through a lot to get where she is today,” Volleyball coach Megan Wallace said about Senior volleyball player Kyrah Gladney. Gladney was cut from the volleyball team her freshman year and has steadily improved since then, working her way up through the teams, landing on the varsity level this year. “You can tell that she has put in a lot of work and is ready to fight for her spot on the varsity level.”

“There was always a chance I would get cut again; that was always a fear in my mind,” Gladney said. Being one of the oldest girls on her team, she felt she always had to be on the court. “In a way, it was embarrassing playing less than the younger girls,” Gladney said. Despite all of those factors, she liked being older than the other girls. “I was put into a leadership role, being able to tell [the incoming freshman] about school and help them outside of volleyball,” Gladney said.

Whether an athlete at West Albany High School starts on varsity or gets there eventually, it can be hard for both people in terms of the mental effects and the physical work.

“I do think it’s harder to start on varsity as a freshman,” Wallace said. In the volleyball program, they do their best to be welcoming, but it can still be hard for newcomers coming in.

Football coach Andrew Sturgil

“Everything we try to do in practice we think is right, but what I think gets our kids most ready for gameday is team practices, like 11 on 11, because that’s where you put all of the pieces together and where all of the positions are on the field together getting the real feel of the football field”.

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“It’s one of those things where you feel like you’re an outsider, and it can be hard to find your place at first,” Wallace said.

Even when it’s mentally and physically challenging to work your way up through the levels of a sport, sometimes it’s necessary to have better skills and mindset.

“Sometimes a freshman will be good enough to play JV football, but he will not play JV football,” Mehl said. When it comes to football, the coaches try to make athletes climb up to the varsity level instead of starting at the level, simply for development. “I have many examples of players that were first-team All-league starters that played JV their entire junior year, and they always stand out.”

“Don’t let the fact that you’re older take away from doing what you love,”Gladney advises those in her situation not to let things like that take away from the experience and instead embrace it.

“As long as you keep pushing, don’t give up on yourself,” Fallows said. Fallows encourages athletes suffering from an injury to persist and continue to improve themselves, along with their skills. “ This is not your lowest point. You’re going to keep fighting, and it will be even better when you get back.”

Cross Country coach Kristen Grosserhode

“I make sure to show up to practice everyday so they can see that practice is valuable and the coach is involved in what’s happening like the workouts, we do all of the workouts with the runners, building workouts we know they can be successful at.”

NOVEMBER 2025

Ties That Bind

H O W T E A M M AT E S I N S P O R T S U P L I F T THEIR MINDSET AND CONFIDENCE Story and Photo by Bella Deleon Guerrero

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tudents in the bleachers are watching a girls’ volleyball game on October 14, 2025.

The team is down by eight. Everyone’s concerned; the opposing team just needs three points to win the game. The referee blows the whistle, and the game continues. The team is suddenly gleaming, their energy is infectious, and their confidence has skyrocketed. The game is more exciting than ever, and your team has won the first set. How were they able to come back so strong?

They accomplish this simply by uplifting and encouraging one another. Connection is an important aspect in sports teams. It is important that any sports team shares similar values. “We try to keep encouragement and always try to come together,” said freshman JV2 volleyball captain Annie Fowler.

These values are important to teams at West Albany High School, such as the boys varsity soccer team and the JV2 girls volleyball team.

These values not only improve performance but also overall mindsets.

BEFORE THE WHISLE

“I’d say that it’s improved our performance really well. When we’re down in a game, [we] hype each other up [with some] encouragement,” Fowler said.

Encouragement shows players a helping hand, allowing them to excel. However, this isn’t just for sports games; the players can be seen outside the gym or field, encouraging each other to do their best.

“Sometimes I fail in something [or] I don’t do good, so they encourage me and push me to do better next [time],” senior varsity boys soccer captain Julian Romero said. “I think it’s the main reason why we keep pushing each other [into] being positive, and having [a] positive mentality in general— [it’s] what pushes everyone to become better.”

This positive mindset applies both in the game and in life. It’s something that always sticks: words, memories, and moments in life that will always linger around.

“We get food and snacks, and

Gatorade and liquid IV Wrestling coach Casey Horn believes WAHS athletes and coaches share home dual meets are very important to their pre-game rituals they do and get the wrestlers hype before compehow they affect their sports season. tition. “We all line up in the hallways, Story and photo by Emberly Bullard listen to music, and it makes the kids get pumped up and excited,” Horn said.

As the fall season for sports comes in, Although Horn doesn’t have personal student athletes and coaches across evrituals, he supports and encourages his ery sports platform have both team and team to do these pregame traditions . personal rituals. Throughout the season, They work as a bonding experience, and these are things they do to help them to switch their body into competitive transition from practice to competition. mode.

For senior Tyson Walker, who is both “I like to have a routine,” Girls basketa football wide receiver and basketball ball coach Shawn Stinson said. Stinson post/forward, he and his team have a is aware hes superstitious. He parks in team dinner before a game. “As a team, the same parking spot, goes through the it’s very important to have a team dinner same door, and write with the same pen. to bring us together pre-game,” Walker While those are the little things, his main said. Before every game or practice, pregame ritual is closing his eyes and Walker drinks a Gatorlyte, a mix of visualizing the game before it happens, T H E W H I R LW I N D

we do some fun activities, like competitions between our teammates,” Romero said. “We’ve organized some trips, and we went to Bend, Oregon, once to have a team bonding activity for a couple of days.”

JV2 volleyball enjoys sneaking in a dance party before games— dancing around and having the best time they could before they bring that energy out into the court. “We just dance around and have fun, or we’ll just sit and talk and really just get to know each other,” Fowler said.

the good and the bad outcomes. Stinson and his team have a team dinner before a big game to bring everyone together and give them a pep talk. While Stinson isn’t sure why he does it ,a silly one he does is before every game, he shaves his head for a clean look.

For wrestling and football coach Bryan Barker, although he doesn’t have many pregame rituals, his big one for both wrestling and football is a prayer.

“I say a prayer before the game, I watch over our kids and the other kids.”

Barker’s most exciting pre-game tradition would be an unusual one “Whenever I wear a shirt to a football game and we win, I continue to wear the same shirt every game for the rest of the season, as luck,” Barker said.

Pregame rituals are important to coaches and student athletes to help

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Athletes will often go through difficult times. They will often hear positive comments from peers that they will always remember. Words they will use as fuel.

“I remember that when we were [in] the state final during my freshman year, I was on the field, and we were losing by one,” Romero said. “[My teammate] said to just remember all of the hard times we had during practice, and to have that mentality come back during the game; the mentality of going

Basketball coach Shawn Stinson and Wrestling coaches, Casey Horn, and Bryan Barker.

build focus, confidence, and team importance before competition. These routines help relax and bring coaches and athletes into the competition mentality and prepare for their best effort throughout the game, and for coaches, it mainly brings them into a serious mentality and creates a tightly bonded team with consistency and a positive mindset.

Back on Track

JUNIOR PENA HONG-MOORS SHARES E F F E C T S O F H I S I N J U R Y, A N D F E E L I N G S C O M I N G B A C K T O T H E S P O R T. Story by Maiyan Mollel

T JV2 Volleyball team comes together to do their final cheer after a successful win against McKay High School.

through all [of ] the bad things [and growing from them].” This support gives athletes like Romero a reason to keep going and brings out the best in them.

“I’m a really good player, I’m strong, and I have a lot of dedication. I’ve gotten told that by multiple people, and it just sticks with me,” Fowler said. These words seem small to a blind eye, but to the receiver, it is gold. “It’s made me feel good, it helps me work harder, and it makes me want to strive for even more.”

It’s truly special when support from your team shines through and becomes a striving for more. “I don’t really know where I’d be without a lot of them. Without them, I think that there would be things in my life I wouldn’t strive for, things I wouldn’t do outside of my comfort zone. They push me to be better,” said Fowler. Stirring up that drive and motivation pushes athletes to achieve their goals. This won’t only improve their performance in their sport, but also strengthen their character.

Team support can uplift in ways that sometimes go unnoticed. The support of a team can also create the person that athletes become.

The drive, resilience, and passion they gain through hard work and support prepare them for challenges in all areas of life, proving that sports are about more than who wins or loses.

“I wouldn’t be the same [person I am today] because my teammates taught me to have the mentality I have in school— for example, to never give up or be positive even when I don’t feel like doing something, and to always do my best in everything,” Romero said. “I feel like without the team, I wouldn’t have the same mindset that I have in life in general. In soccer, we put a lot of passion into the sport, and that has also taught me to put the same passion into most of the areas of my life.”

As much as effort is important, passion is equally significant. It doesn’t just teach them to go all in, but it makes room for the team to have fun and make this a truly great experience.

“Everyone shares the same passion [and] high levels of energy.

Every practice and every game [we] push each other to have [a] positive mindset and to focus on the game,” said Romero.

In the second set of the volleyball game, the score is now 23-21.

It’s getting close, and the gym is full of spirit. Points go back and forth, but the team doesn’t lose its energy.

Cheering can be heard from every corner of the gym. They just need one more point. The ball is served, the crowd is loud, the players hit it, and they’ve won! The team gathers together to celebrate, and the crowd goes wild! Everyone is happy at yet another Bulldog win!

here is an estimated 5,228,791 sports injuries that occurred nationally, according to the National Library of Medicine. Many of those injuries take a toll on the athlete’s mental health.

In a Nebraska Medicine article written by Dr. Andrew J Ahrendt and Matthew A. Toa. Dr Ahrendt wrote, “Sports injuries can impact the mental health of athletes at any level, but the more your identity is tied to being an athlete, the greater the impact. Suddenly, you feel like you’re no longer whole.” The National Library of Medicine said that common responses to sports injuries are depression, lack of motivation, and identity crisis. In the same article, they shared that these effects might be worse for high school athletes, as this might be their first obstacle in life. That being said, West Albany High School athletes are no exception to this statistic.

After Pena Hong-Moors’ freshman year, Moors sustained an injury, putting him out of football for his entire sophomore season. The summer before Moors’s sophomore year, he tore his Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) at a football camp after an awkward landing. The injury took around 10 months to heal.

Moors spent a lot of time with the football team; however, he still felt it was hard to miss out on the season. “It was hard watching them because it was such a good team, but I was still at every practice,” Moors said in reference to the 2425 varsity football team.

Moors’mental health also took a hit during this time. “I just felt

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really down not being able to play,” Moors said. Since he couldn’t play, Moors felt many emotions all at once. “I felt mad and sad at the same time,” Moors said. “It sucked not playing.”

Moors comes from a family of football players and athletes, so the news of his injury was not anything his family wanted to hear. While Moors’ family was upset, they were supporting throughout the whole recovery process. “Of course they were all upset, but they’re all supporting,” Moors said. “[They were] getting ready for next year..”

Moors’ rehab process consisted of a lot of physical therapy, along with the help of family and friends to get him prepared for the upcoming season. “A lot of physical therapy, [pretty much] every day,” Moors said.

After a long break from the sport, Moors feels confident coming into this season. He feels 100% again, the same as he always has. “It feels fine, it doesn’t even feel like I was hurt,” Moors said. Going into the season Moors’ biggest goals were based on this injury. “[My biggest goals are] not getting hurt [and] to be able to play the whole season.”

Junior Pena Hong-Moors

NOVEMBER 2025

Time to Dance

THE WEST ALBANY HI-STEPPERS VOICE THEIR OPINIONS ON THEIR ZERO PERIOD Story by Braxton Bullard, Photos by Adilynn Atchley

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efore the first week of the school year, West Albany High School’s dance team, the Hi-Steppers, were notified of a major change that would affect their schedule; they would be starting and ending their dance practice earlier.

In previous years, the Hi-Steppers would start their practice at roughly 6:30 a.m. and end at 8:30 a.m., but due to the shift in schedule, their new starting time is 6:00 a.m., and they will end at 7:15 a.m. The Hi-Steppers start their practice time earlier in the morning, before most students arrive at school or even wake up, during a zero period.

As described by senior and dance team member Nyah Kinney, “A zero period is a class before school starts. The zero period does count as an elective for us, so we do get an extra open later in the day.” A zero period isn’t new, as the dance team was

accustomed to a longer duration in previous years.

“The last two years it [was every] gold day,” said senior and dance team member Makenna Hay, “My freshman year, it was [every] blue day. We would start earlier than school [still], so we would practice zero period and first period,” Hay said. “Now that it’s only a zero period, we start even earlier than we used to. It officially [counts as] a zero period.”

The change of the Hi-Steppers’ schedule was short notice, and would cause them to wake up earlier than they planned. The upperclassmen of the team were upset and went to get answers from Mr. Engle, “Our school cut sixty class offerings during certain periods, and Wind Ensemble is always during first period,” Senior wind ensemble and dance team member Baylee Fox said. “We couldn’t put the dance class there, and we couldn’t put it on gold days, because there

was an underclassman required class during [that] time. It [is] not offered during any other time.”

After getting their answers, the upperclassmen appreciated the honesty of Mr. Engle.

Since the Hi-Steppers start their practice at 6:00 a.m., they don’t get much time to sleep, which could lead to potential burnout.

“This first month of school, I’d gotten sick, and I’ve stayed sick for way longer than I should be,” Fox said. “I’m pretty sure it’s because I have no time to rest because of all the things that I’m doing, and having to wake up super early and getting home late at night, I’m getting only about six hours of sleep,” said Fox, noting that her time on the team is starting to burn her out, even though the school year started last month.

Kinney is also feeling the effects of her lack of sleep; she believes her performance is being affected by the schedule change. “I would say it affects my performance, since our practice times are a lot shorter now, it feels like we get less done each practice, which can feel a little bit discouraging sometimes,

Senior Baylee Fox striking a pose.

T H E W H I R LW I N D

especially since a lot of the upperclassmen are used to the longer practices.” Kinney thinks she and her upperclassmen teammates are struggling to adapt to the new schedule.

Despite waking up early and being exhausted, the Hi-Steppers are finding the silver lining to their situation. “We don’t have to do it during school anymore. We don’t have people walking through the gym or interrupting us or getting kicked out of the gym consistently, because whenever we had practice that would go on during our first period, the PE class would always kick us out to the auxiliary gym or upstairs,” says Hay, who sees the schedule change as a positive, rather than a negative.

“I would 100% change it back if I could. I understand that it wasn’t anybody’s fault, it just happened to be that way,” said Kinney. Fox feels the same way, wanting to revert to the schedule that she grew to know. “We’re just super rushed now and don’t have as much time to warm up and get the fundamentals that we used to be able to work on.”

The Hi-Steppers performing at the home football game against Silverton High School on Oct. 3rd.

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Did you know?

Extra Hours

W H Y D O W R E S T L E R S PA R T I C I PA T E I N M O R N I N G O P E N M AT S A N D H O W I T AFFECTS THEM Story by Adilynn Atchley and Gavin Ray

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ports at West Albany High School are typically practiced in the afternoon. The volleyball team in the gym, the football team on the field, and soccer even later on the field. That being said, most sports hold practices during their respective season.

During the off-season, sports like wrestling offer optional practices at the beginning of the day for athletes who want to wake up earlier and get practice in. While not many students take up this offer, there are a few students who participate to help better themselves and their skills.

Junior Mason Ramseyer

O

pen mats offer an experience different from regular wrestling practice.

It allows wrestlers to have more one-on-one coaching so they can help improve their skills as an individual. This is especially important as more and more people have been signing up for wrestling every year. Most seasons start with many more players in the first practices, leaving some wrestlers feeling left behind.

Open mats are an opportunity for those who feel they need more practice, but they aren’t just for people new to the sport. Varsity wrestlers also find open mats useful.

“Since there aren’t as many people in there with us, it gives the coaches time to focus on what they

coaches, I don’t want to seem lazy.

I want to put in as much effort as I can.”

Along with not wanting to disappoint his coaches comes pressure to succeed, which can make it challenging. “[Having a strong passion] definitely makes it easier during practices, to get up in the morning and show up,” Ramseyer said. “But it’s harder during the match, everybody that you care for watching [you], it’s a little pressure.” He overall realizes that this pressure can also be a good thing.

“They definitely drive you [to] try your best,” Ramseyer said.

“If you’re messing up on any basics or fundamentals, you should definitely show up [to open mats],” Ramseyer said. Open mats are slowed down compared to normal in-season practices and are much more personal. The practices are fewer in number, which allows athletes time to practice specific moves they’re having problems with. “If you want to improve anything, even in the slightest, it really opens up new doors.”

Among those students is Junior Mason Ramseyer, who started wrestling around the beginning of high school after a friend convinced him, and now attends the open mats. “I knew I needed to get better [and] the regular practices weren’t catching me up to [anybody’s skills],” Ramseyer said. Assistant wrestling coach Daryl Watkins recruited Ramseyer for the optional open mats in the morning before school. The open mats provide an opportunity for students to get some extra practice and conditioning in before the school day. “In regular practice, you do a lot of moves and go through them quickly, but at morning practice, you focus on [perfecting] one, and it definitely helps,” Ramseyer said.

Ramseyer knows that participating in open mats has helped improve his skills, and he enjoys seeing that change. “I go to see myself get better, I like to go to improve myself,” Ramseyer said.

“But I know there’s also a part of [not wanting] to disappoint my

can teach wrestlers [individually] to do”. Junior Cordae Harris said.

But like most things, it isn’t all positive. Since open mats are in the morning, they can have the side effect of exhausting the students before the day even starts.

Wrestling takes a lot out of students, and practicing before school can impact their academics.

“It depends on the person.

For me, since I’m not a morning person, it does make me feel sleepy here throughout the day,” Harris said. “But if you’re a morning person, then you’d probably feel fine.”

So while the impact it has on wrestlers can vary, the results remain fairly consistent.

Harris believes he has improved while attending morning open mats. While the open mats aren’t required, wrestlers are encour-

Junior Cordae Harris

aged to attend to improve their own ability. Even when they can help students with wrestling, it’s important to gauge whether or not it’s worth it. They can make huge impacts on your life and wellbeing, physically or mentally, positively or negatively.

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YOU LOSE 20% MORE BODY FAT IF YOU EXERCISE IN THE MORNING RATHER THAN LATER IN THE DAY

EXERCISING IN THE MORNING LEADS TO A BETTER NIGHT OF SLEEP

PEOPLE THAT EXERCISE IN THE MORNING EAT FEWER CALORIES DURING THE DAY Sources: Catholichealthli.org Photos: Noun Project NOVEMBER 2025

Fashion Forward HOW WEST ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL IS EXPRESSING T H E M S E LV E S T H R O U G H FA S H I O N

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What Stitches Us Together T H E VA R I E D E M O T I O N A L M O T I VAT I O N S B E H I N D T H E C L O T H I N G T H AT W E C H O O S E , A N D H O W T H AT D E T E R M I N E S O U R M O O D .

Story By Hailoh Smith and Eva Miranda

F

ashion is one of the many ways people can convey themselves. People can use it to express themselves, to display the culture they belong to, and to stand out or integrate themselves from the crowd. For some people, fashion is not only about looking good, but also about feeling good about themself.

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OC TOBER 2025

“

I JUST LIKE BEING ABLE TO FEEL C O M F O R TA B L E BECAUSE IT MAKES ME HAPPIER.

“I represent what I like through it,” senior Hillary Carino said. “When I go to school, it’s important to wear a good outfit.”

She takes self-expression through clothing seriously. Some people use clothing as a form of expression because of its versatility. Each piece can have a story or meaning behind it that has a deeper meaning.

“I like dressing up, that’s my favorite thing,” Carino said.

“Getting yourself ready boosts your confidence, [and] you feel better.”

The confidence Carino gets from her clothing builds her passion for the hobby. Creating outfits and feeling good in them inspires her to get through the day.

“What you wear can make you feel good,” she said. “If you are dressed good, you can feel good throughout the day, but when you wear lazy clothes, you feel lazy.”

For Carino, her confidence is dependent on her outfit and can change the outlook of her day.

Sophomore Kingston Norris shared a similar opinion.

“I don’t want people to look at me and think I wear the same thing every day,” Norris said, “I feel like that’s not a good view.”

He worries about being perceived negatively due to the way he dresses, and because of this, tries not to repeat outfits. If Norris dislikes his outfit, he says he can be annoyed and have a bad day.

“I just like being able to feel comfortable because it makes me happier,” Norris said. “It makes me feel better about what I’m wearing.”

Comfort is a significant factor in Norris’ clothing style, and is what he often prioritizes over aesthetic. Feeling comfortable makes him feel secure, which contributes to his overall confidence throughout the day.

“Wear what makes you happy,” Norris said. and grays,” Houton said. “It’s just something I Freshman Lena Watson says the clothes she think looks good.” wears aren’t her priority for an outlet for self-exSenior Nathan Richter says his style is pression. punk-inspired.

“They don’t have to express your values, but YOU SHOULD DRESS “I would call it soft-wannabe-punk. This they should express the kind of person you are,” denim jacket is a signature for me this year,” H O W Y O U WA N T Watson said. “I feel like self-expression varies Richter said. “I also wear a lot of t-shirts. from person to person, but the clothes I wear arSometimes they’re really comfortable. I really TO, NOT TO FIT en’t really important to the way I express myself.” like [it] when things match.”

IN WITH OTHER Overall, she enjoys soft colors, including lots Richter says he’s noticed a lot more personal of pink and denim, and she prefers to stay warm expression recently, especially with the juniors, P E O P L E and comfortable, claiming she usually runs cold. who he’s noticed wearing bright colors.

Freshman Benin Houton also doesn’t use clothes Senior Jose Jimene suggests this is because as his main form of self-expression, but he prioritizes looking upperclassmen feel more comfortable. After all, they have good consistently.

Continued on page 28 “Kind of comfy, monochrome, lots of blacks and whites

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Falling Back into Old Ways

H O W I S FA L L S E A S O N SHOWING THROUGH S T U D E N T S ’ WA R D R O B E S ?

Story by Ivanna Palacios

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t’s officially fall, which means it’s time for fall fashion, and as this season makes its comeback, so do fashion trends from all the way back in the 2000s.

A new season means new alterations in the closet; often, the effect of these alterations can be stressful as people pick out what’s a yes and what’s a no, but they also bring in fresh inspiration for new outfits.

“I’d say it’s affecting it in a good way because it brings out new, cute outfits and ideas for fall,” said Junior Nazareth Puentes.

This new inspiration also prompts the comeback of staples from all the way back in the 2000s, such as fur clothes and sweaters.

People are starting to feel the excitement of these returns.

“I can’t wait for the furry boots and jeans with cuffs, but mainly furry boots and clothing,” said Junior Barbara Rosas.

“I’m really excited to see cute sweaters, especially sweaters with 2000s vibes,” added Puentes.

Fall has brought countless trends throughout the years, some good and some bad. These trends are making a comeback, and as much as we can’t wait to see our personal favorites, there are also some that we’re hoping we don’t see at all.

“I do not want to see flannels at all, but I mean the ugly flannels, they weren’t in back then, and they’re still not in now,” said Puentes.

Now that people have in mind what they’re looking for this fall, let’s get to know what people’s fall fashion predictions are. The beginning of fall is here, so it’s the perfect time to know what everyone thinks will be the “it” pieces of this year’s season, and some people already know what they’re ready to see.

“Definitely shorts over tights. The furry boots, too, I feel like that’s a big comeback,” said Rosas.

Fur clothes seem to be a popular comeback since Puentes agreed with Rosas on this prediction.

“I’m guessing fur coats and boots are gonna be coming this fall,” said Puentes.

Within all of the predictions that people are making, there are the pieces that are expected to be seen.

“My Uggs,” said Puentes, “I can’t wait to bring out the Uggs.”

Uggs seem to be one of the most popular fall staples of all, and they’ve been a known fact that they have held their ground as one of fall’s staples since the beginning of the 2000s, and even more now as they make their comeback.

“Having reached peak notoriety in the 2000s, the renewed interest in Ugg boots is more of a comeback story than a star-is-born one,” said Vogue Magazine.

This fall is offering many new opportunities for fashion staples to bring out what has kept them in their peak in fashion, even as decades pass, and these opportunities are already showing as people meditate on fall’s effect on fashion this year.

Textural Stitch Cable Crew Sweater from Abercrombie & Fitch $80

Women’s Bailey Tie boots from UGG $220

Faux Fur Trim Logo Graphic Zip-Up Hoodie from Hollister $69.95

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NOVEMBER 2025

Continued from page 26

yourself through your clothes, you should dress how you want to, not to fit in with other people,” Perry said. already gotten to know their classmates.

“It’s probably because we’re later in the year, so peo- “Dressing how you want can really show how you are, and some of your personality.” ple are warming up and are more comfortable with the Perry likes to express herself through her clothing and people around them. Seniors specifically,” said Jimene. feels confident when she does. She finds that being exJimene prefers simple clothes with a pop of color pressive through outfits allows others to build a stronger and doesn’t stress much over styling. He also uses relationship with her. jewelry to express his faith.

“Me and my friends can bond over sharing clothes, “My necklace is the Virgin Mary, and so it shows and shopping at the same places together,” Perry said, my Catholic faith. And then this [ring] is Saint Judas, “picking out things that we know we both like, then we which is also Cathboth wear [them].” Some people use clothes as a way olic.” to connect. For Perry, clothing is about feeling connected.

While Jimene feels comfortable in his style, he wishes he felt like he could experiment more.

“I prefer to wear things I know I’m not going to get bullied in, like I’m gonna get stared at in the halls,” Jimene said, “I’d try to do a little more punk-ish style, but I’d still want to look somewhat approachable.”

Watson has noticed a bit of homogeneity with what others wear. She believes that even if teens are not afraid to stand out, they may want to have something in common with their friends.

“I feel like it’s a little bland, everyone’s wearing the same brands, too,” Watson said. “I don’t really look at brands when I’m buying clothes.”

Jimene says what hinders him from his preferred She uses clothing to bond with her friends and express style is money and time.

“A bunch of things I want are quite spendy,” Jimene herself by following the fashion trends of social media.

Clothing makes a difference not only in our appearsaid. Also in the morning, I wouldn’t have the time or ance, but also in who we are as a person. How we dress patience to put on a big outfit, so I wear whatever is can allow us to communicate with one another and feel most available.” comfortable in our own bodies.

Sophomore Khloe Perry is immersed in her “My clothes make me feel good,” Perry said. “I try to self-expression through fashion as well. One of her buy things that I know I will feel favorite outfits is an Ed good in, and continue to wear, Hardy zip-up with a tube and feel comfortable while still top and low-rise jeans. Perry feeling confident in them.” mentions that in this outfit, she feels amazing.

“If you want people to YOU SHOULD DRESS see you for you, and express

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H O W Y O U WA N T T O , NOT TO FIT IN WITH OTHER PEOPLE

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Follow Your Tracks!

FIND W H A T 2 0 1 0 ’ S PAT T E R N T I E SD E ICNKT O Y O U R PERSONALITY

Would you rather go to a volleyball game or a water polo match?

Are you a night owl or an early bird?

Do you prefer reading books or watching movies?

Would you rather go to a sports game or a ballet performance?

Do you like to drink coffee or tea?

Which do you prefer, sweet or sour?

Do you prefer to wear Uggs or Converse?

What genre would you rather watch a rom-com or thriller?

Would you rather for a swim or for a jog?

Are you a dog person or a cat person?

Do you prefer gold or silver jewelry?

Do you prefer jewel tones or pastels?

Do you prefer to listen to music or podcasts?

Do you like jeans or leggings more?

Sports are your jam! You have a competitive spirit and love a good game of some kind. Be it outside, inside, or on a board, you’ll play to win. Athletic wear is on your side and comfortable clothes are just your style.

You’re cool, a team player, and never back down from a challenge.

You know how to make a good outfit! Be it a mix of jeans and fringe, you always get the best of both worlds with style and functionality. You value love and optimism over most anything and are the positive force in all your friends’ lives. You are kind, caring, nurturing, and even when times get tough, you look at it with your glass-half-full mentality.

Using your creativity to draw, paint, or make little trinkets to give to people. You love hanging out with your friends, but nothing beats a rainy day and a good book.

Colorful socks, lots of frills, and fancy nancy inspired outfits are what you love to wear. You are quirky, creative, and most of all, you want people to see you shine for your individuality.

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Fashion first! Every outfit you wear must be accessorized and have a good balance of solids and prints. Big chunky statement pieces with tons of mattes and sparkles are a must!

You are confident, self-assured, and never give up the chance to help a friend in need, especially when it’s a fashion emergency.

NOVEMBER 2025

the pink one.”

Ihde was extremely proud of that outfit and the “Pink, pink, purple pop!”

Pop culture staples like “16 Candles”, “Back to the Future”, and “Miami Vice” are influences on how people dressed. “What the cool people were wearing in those movies and shows and stuff, that was it.”

The absence of the internet and social media made trends more limited. Which is a striking contrast to the diverse styles found around the halls of west albany.

“It’s a lot more expressive. You can walk through [the halls] and there’s 10 different styles.”

When looking back, Ihde remembers that in the 80s, everyone owned levi’s 504 jeans, and everyone wore pastels. The ability for self-expression was limited by the social constraints around them. This new individuality that Ihde has noticed throughout the years is his favorite part of this new era of fashion sweeping our school. “My favorite thing about now is there are so many kids that [are] comfortable having their own [style]. They’re like, ‘This is my stuff’, ‘This is who I am’”.

A

s time goes on, fashion trends continuously come in and out of style. Even a staple, such as denim, has changed drastically over the past few years. With the dramatic low-rise skinny jeans that were all over the early 2000s evolving to the high-rise skinnies in the 2010s, eventually combining with the 90s baggy denim to create the wide-legged jeans that are everywhere. Over the span of two decades, even a clothing item as simple as jeans has undergone very drastic changes. And denim is not the only thing affected by the ever-changing interests of fast fashion. West Albany High School is not immune to these changes. As styles have evolved in pop culture and media, so has the fashion culture at WASH. The staff at WASH have been constant observers of these patterns.

More Than a Fad

Krissy Rasmussen

TEACHER’S OPINIONS ON THE R E V I VA L O F D I F F E R E N T FA S H I O N TRENDS. Story and Photos By Zion Mollel

Erik Ihde Going to high school in the 80s, history teacher Erik Ihde was constantly surrounded by neon, parachute pants, and Adidas without laces.

“Run DMC never tied their shoes.

In fact, they [the kids at the time] would oftentimes ‘top’ the laces [or take them out].”

For Ihde, layers and bright colors were “the thing”. Everyone was spotted in a pastel or neon color palette, paired with a good pair of jeans and some Adidas or Nikes. Whenever planning his outfits for school, one of the trends that stuck out the most to him was the layering.

Ihde had two button-up shirts with bold tropical print on them. He knew that he wanted to combine that with his pegged jeans for the ultimate first day of school outfit.

“I wore the pink [button down] one underneath, [and] the purple on top.

Pop[ed] both the colors, I rolled [the sleeve] so I had a purple shirt that rolled and you could see T H E W H I R LW I N D

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For English teacher Krissy Rasmussen (Ras), fashion and shopping have always been a huge part of her ‘fashionista’ lifestyle.

“I have always loved shopping, not just like, Oh, I get a new thing, but like, I have just always loved shopping, and I loved fabric,” she said, “I cannot sew for the life of me, I cannot design, but I just have always known what it would feel like if an outfit was perfect.”

Growing up in Oregon, Ras was never the first to join a trend, but she did love participating in each one that caught her eye.

“Embracing those new trends--just it felt so meaningful--even when you look back and you think ‘Dear God, why was [it] like that?’”

As the trends changed, Ras was sure to follow. Staying up to date with all the latest ‘fads’. In her early middle school years, she wore more wide-legged and baggy style clothing. “I wanted it not to be falling off of me, yeah, but I did not want something that was very fitted.”

As she went through her high school and college years, she entered something she deemed the ‘Brittney Spears Era’. “I was a Britney girl.”

During her high school years, it transitioned from the loose-fitting cargos to the snug low-rise bootcuts.

“I am horrified to say that I readily embrace the snug low rise with the baby tee or the crop top.”

After so many years of skinny jeans being the main staple in many fashion pieces, the return of the widelegged jean was a refreshing change for Ras. “I forgot what it felt like just to put on a pair of jeans that were comfortable.”

Ras’ love for fashion transcends even the eras she has lived in. One clothing trend that she wished would come back would be the 50s dressing norms. With the long dresses and makeup always done. Very similar to the way they dressed in Amazon Prime’s iconic TV show, “The Marvelous Ms. Mazel”.

“I wish that dressing [up], just to dress, came back in

fashion.”

Whenever Ras dresses nicely, it makes her feel just as beautiful as the outfit she’s wearing. “I love to put on just a beautiful outfit, just to attend something.”

Each outfit that she puts together for herself is a way to show her growth. Each era that she has lived in, each experience that she has had, is displayed in the clothing that she wears.

Denim Trends

H O W P O P U L A R S T Y L E S O F J E A N S H AV E CO M E TO B E

Story by Virgil Issac, Photos by Haihloh Smith

Popularized in the 80s and 90s with skateboarding and surf culture, jorts are a controversial point of conversation. In 2023, long jorts became much more of a trend.

Frequent jorts-wearing junior Miles Warren said, “I got my style from Pinterest and seeing people like me find community in their style of dress.”

Marty Johnston Fashion trends ebb and flow with the times. It can vary based on the time period and the environment around them. This is something that history teacher Marty Johnston noticed throughout his high school career.

Johnston attended two high schools.

One in Northern California, and another in Lebanon, Oregon. Growing up in California, his wardrobe consisted of many surf T-shirts or jeans, and skater shorts with his long hair and a puca shell necklace. Johnston was a real-life ‘surfer dude’ in his early teens.

After moving to Lebanon to finish out his high school career, he noticed a big shift in the way people dressed.

“I noticed [that] guy’s fashion was, like, super baggy, oversized T-shirts.”

This starkly contrasted the ocean-riding surfer boy era that had surrounded Johston in his earlier years. Swapping it instead with the So-Cal-inspired ‘stoner’ baggy look. Even though everyone around him decided to wear baggy clothing, it was never exactly his style. But when looking back, the baggy jeans are what really defined the era for men’s fashion. “[For] the guys, it’s always been [the] T-shirt and jeans, [they were] definitely baggy,” he said.

While working at West Albany, Johnston has noticed some trends in fashion. Even though it’s been over two decades since he graduated high school, Johnston believes that “Guys’ fashion is a little bit more subtle change [compared to women’s] ”One trend that he has noticed a recent resurgence of is the 80s band T-shirts.

“One of the popular trends [I’ve noticed] is the music group T-shirts,” he said.

When seeing kids walk down the halls repping Metallica and Guns and Roses, Johston gets excited by the shirts and the music that is represented by each shirt.

Whenever he saw a kid wearing a 40 Ounces of Freedom T-shirt, an album he has deemed one of the Sublime’s ‘best albums ever’, he tried to start a conversation.

“I’m like ‘Oh, 40 ounces of freedom. That’s a great album! And then they look at me like ‘uhh.’”

After that, he realized that those names were coming back “More for the fashion than the understanding [of the topic]”.

Fashion takes cultural moments and causes them to resurge. Making everything that is created a recycled version of the “Original”.

Tripp pants, or phat pants, originally came from the ‘90s British punk culture, but are now popular in many different subcultures. Tripp has seen a major comeback in grunge and skater style. “I saw a few people online,” said sophomore Kellan Rosecrans, “I just liked the way it looked, the chunky shoes and baggy pants.”

Skinny jeans saw lots of rise and fall, starting with a major decline in the early 1900s when flare or tapered jeans took on a craze. While a little basic at first glance, skinny jeans still have lots of personalized options like gemstones and patterns, and they can still be very unique.

“What I love about the clothes that I wear is they’re very unusual,” Washburn said.

Pop that Tag

classes.

“It started with candy,” Truong said. “Then I slowly started reselling shoes.”

During Troung’s adventure in repurposing and selling clothes, he came to the realization that some people happen to be wasteful and don’t always wear the clothes that they have.

Though The Third Bin is in the early stages, Truong is currently working on how the clothes are going to be cleaned for the club.

“In the future, our steps are to get everything organized and discussed,” Truong said.

Troung is very committed to giving back to A PROFILE ON KADEN the people and communities around him, and because of this commitment, he plans to use TRUONG AND A the proceeds that he gets from the club and give U P - A N D - C O M I N G C L U B them to the communities around him.

“Since it’s a community helping us, I want to Story By Ariana Goettl, Photo by Hailoh Smith give back to the community,” Troung said.

The Third Bin club wants all the proceeds that they The cafe and the students store are all student-run profits make from this club to go back to organizations around at West Albany High School. If sophomore Kaden Troung them, like Jackson Street Youth Services, which helps has his way, The Third Bin will be the next student-run struggling youth in the area, and Cardv, which addressprofit. es issues of domestic abuse.

The Third Bin is where club members will sell clothes Truong hopes others will want to be involved with they find, clean, organize, and price, creating a thrift store The Third Bin. They are currently holding meetings on for students at WAHS. The idea of the club wasn’t a spontaneous idea for Troung; thrifting and repurposing clothes Tuesdays in social studies teacher Jeneveve Winchell’s room. are among the many hobbies that he indulges in.

Troung started this idea in the seventh grade, when he was not able to get a job, and he needed to pay for college

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NOVEMBER 2025