The Echo is a monthly publication of the newspaper staff of Webster Groves High School, 100 Selma Ave., Webster Groves, MO.
To contact staff members, call 314-963-6400 ex. 11157 or write to wgecho@wgmail.org.
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of a majority of staff members; signed articles are the opinion of the writer
Letters to the editor of 300 words or less are welcome; submit letters by the 10th of the month to wgecho@wgmail.org, or room 155. All letters must be signed, although the name may be withheld from publication if requested. The Echo has the right to edit letters for publication as long as intent remains unchanged.
The Echo is a member of JournalismSTL, Quill and Scroll, JEA, MIJA, NSPA and CSPA.
Cover cutline:
Junior Mary Norby and seniors Maddy Gibson, Norris Baker and Genevieve Norby walk into prom on Saturday, April 12.
Photo by Jocelyn Reiss
Letter to the Editor: Commencement speakers measure popularity
Students, staff share summer vacation plans
Baseball team has ‘insatiable hunger’ to return to State Cheer team to begin competitions
Men’s basketball team wins 1st place at State Championship game
‘Snow White’ attempts to rewrite a classic
Community members celebrate Earth Day
Music department celebrates centennial
Seniors share thoughts about preparing for prom
Students face parking challenges
Word search
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Letter to the Editor: Commencement speakers measure popularity
This school year has seen a lot of changes unfold within WGHS, especially as we start the countdown to graduation for our seniors.
Earlier this year, the school board mentioned that the process for nominating and selecting the Class of 2025 Commencement Speaker would be changing this year, and these changes have shifted the commencement ceremony to one of selecting a good speaker to selecting the most popular person at school.
The commencement ceremony is meant to take the one person who embodies the shared values and experiences of every
individual at WGHS and to allow them to speak on behalf of each student in a sort of “final hurrah” to the end of pre-collegial education; being both qualified in the integrity of the person themselves and the depth of tier speaking and communicative abilities.
This year, the administrators are requiring seniors to “vote with a neutral bias” on who they would like to have as a commencement speaker, following a specific rubric.
With these changes, though, there have been no steps taken to ensure that there will be fair voting amongst the students.
From the people I’ve talked to about the process, nobody has even remotely mentioned the “neutral bias” portion, (or event the entire rubric), and it gives the impression of most students going out and ignoring the instructions, and once again choosing the most popular person, invalidating most of the changes made this year.
Popularity should not be the sole basis for voting, as it leaves many potentially great speakers with the reality that they will not be recognized without it.
-Ian Whitler
Students, staff share summer vacation plans
Myles Pollack
Contributing Writer
Students are making plans for the summer and have shared them with the Echo. Some students will attend educational and athletic programs, some will stay home, and some will travel.
Patrick Bommarito, Chelsea Center Community Connector, said via email, “Students are exploring their career interests through a Chelsea Center Passion Pursuit course in a number of fields. In healthcare, students are attending Mizzou’s Mini Med School and SLU’s Adventures in Medicine (AIMS).”
“We also have students interested in entrepreneurship and are running their own babysitting business while others will attend SLU Allsup Entrepreneurship Academy,” Bommarito said.
“Students with a passion for leadership will attend Boys and Girls State (a program through Lindenwood University that offers college credits for attending a week-long learning experience),” Bommarito said.
“Those pursuing STEM careers will attend SLU’s Engineering camp as well as Missouri S&T’s Space Camp,” Bommarito said.
“Students with a desire to volunteer will take the Service Learning Experiential Learning course and participate in the Freedom School Program and others will work with the Webster Groves Parks Department,” Bommarito said.
“Alongside the Chelsea Center team, all students set goals, reflect on their experiences throughout the course and will get together to celebrate their learning,” Bommarito said.
Several students at the high school shared their summer plans.
Senior Carter Williams said, “I am going to be playing video games and hanging out with family for at least part of the summer.”
Kaige Dauphin, freshman, said, “I plan to go to Virginia because I have family living there, and I am excited to spend time with them.” They plan to visit museums and eat a lot of food and have fun.
Freshman Montez Manley said, “ I will be playing basketball for a club team outside of the school.”
Finally, freshman Ethan Shindler said, “I am going to the Swiss Alps on an international tour of the mountains and can’t wait to see new sights.” He is going with his family.
Graphic from Canva
Baseball
team has ‘insatiable hunger’ to return
Isaac Choi Junior Sports Editor
Statesman Varsity baseball currently has a 6-13 record and is beginning the season with a hope of continuing its recent success and rallying around the leadership of the upperclassmen.
In the 2024 season Webster was a runner-up in the State final. The coaches and players agreed there was much celebration though it, but now it is the beginning of a new season and time to look forward.
“We play a unique, aggressive style of baseball. We emphasize the [stealing] bases a lot, but the kids are great and have found a way to work it out,” assistant Varsity Coach Jacob Clark said about some struggles of beginning the season.
“Last year we had the State run, and now with the seniors coming back, and their bringing leadership, we have a great group of juniors and like I said before we play a different style, but these kids know how to work together on that,” Clark said.
The Statesman finish as the State runner up was their best ever, the players use that recent success as a motive.
Head Coach David Wiggins said, “Our current seniors experienced the fight, the intensity and the joys/heartbreak of fin-
to State
ishing as runner up, and it’s led to an insatiable hunger amongst the group, to do whatever it takes to return to the playoffs this spring.”
Additionally, the players expressed excitement to begin again with the season.
Senior Shota Ishiyama said, “I like everything about [baseball]. It just feels good, you know, hitting the bat, sliding into bases. I just love it.”
Ishiyama additionally said, “I can do everything at a competitive level.”and said he can balance baseball with his personal life.
The team also has games it has circled on the schedule.
“You know Kirkwood of course. We always want to beat them, and that game is a rivalry. It’s in Ballwin; it’s in the bright lights,” Clark said about the Kirkwood game on May 2.
Clark said he knows that the season schedule is tough, but he likes the challenge it brings.
Baseball has a long season from the end of March to late May, and about the struggles that may arise, Clark said, “We have a great group of kids, and I know that they’re going to communicate any problems to us, and you know we know that we just have to keep going.”
Sophomore pitcher Anderson Luecke throws the ball at a game against the St. Louis Patriots on April 8. The Statesman won 7-3.
Photo by Isaac Choi
Cheer team to begin competitions
Opal Hays
Contributing Writer
In years prior, Cheerleading at Webster has solely been for support on the sidelines. Starting this upcoming season, the Cheer team will compete against other schools in the area.
Sophomore Charlotte Wicke said, “We’re entering a competition which is hosted by Lindbergh High School and a bunch of schools from all over can join, and it’s just a way to compete and perform another routine, and have fun.”
Wicke added the competition is a good way to get introduced to the competition environment, and that it’s going to help the team perfect their skills and technique.
Junior Stella Dauve includes that during the Lindbergh competition the team will perform their Turkey Day routine. Dauve said, “I think competing will help us feel a lot more confident because we’re going to be doing the routine more and in front of new people, so I think it’ll help us feel less nervous with the routine.”
Dauve added the downside to entering a competition is the team is going to be in more of a time crunch, because there is not going to be as much time in November to practice.
Sophomore Addi Vanecek said, “The environment competition could bring to this team is a more competitive atmosphere, but it can also be a way to bring us together more and grow together.”
Vanecek added she’s excited for the team to start something new, and get to spend more time with each other as there are going to be more practices.
Varsity head coach, Kita Thames, said
via email, “My inspiration to enroll the team in competition is simply witnessing the work they put in this 24/25 year, and I think it’s time for a new challenge. It’s something we’ve never done before, but I know we will rise to the occasion. This team has a lot of passion and drive that will shine through in this comp/ Tday routine.”
Thames added the time commitment is hefty, as the team has practices Monday through Thursday, games Friday, and Sunday practices in preparation for Turkey Day. Also during basketball season the team typically had two to three games a
week.
Thames said, “To be on this team means to be responsible with your obligations, discipline to show up and give 100%, dependability, holding yourself and teammates accountable, hitting the weight room/gym, Cheer requires a lot of physical strength.”
Varsity Cheer performs during halftime of the Senior Night game in Robert’s gym on Friday, Feb. 14. The women’s game ended in a 38-43 loss against Cor Jesu, and the men’s game ended in a 68-51 win.
Photo by Sam Enlund
Men’s basketball team wins 1st
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
“I just think back to that moment [in games] where you’re up one [point], and they got all the momentum, and you gotta answer,” head varsity basketball coach Justin Mathes said about the journey to State.
On Thursday, March 20, the men’s basketball team won the State Championship title after playing against Summit Christian Academy in the finals at Mizzou. Webster won with a score of 67-56.
“I know how much this group invested both in terms of working hard and how much they cared about each other, so it’s almost just a relief to see all that hard work pay off as a coach,” Mathes said.
In the championship game against Summit Christian Academy, Mathes said one particular moment stood out to him.
Mathes said, “I’ve been fortunate to win two State titles as an assistant and now two as a head coach, and there’s always that moment that you look back on like, you know, that was the gut check or whatever you want to call it where you kind of had to prove that you were worthy of being a champion.”
Mathes said Summit Christian was a really good team; it had a senior who scored 25 points on Webster and a player inside who was a good shot blocker as well.
“We’re in a battle with them, and we’re up one with about threeand-a-half [minutes] to play. They’ve got all the momentum at that point in the game, and Scottie comes down, gets a paint touch, draws two defenders, makes the right play, kicks it to [junior] Quincy [Williams], and he hits a big three to put us up four, and we kind of had control of the game from that moment on,” Mathes
added.
About winning State, senior Carl Whitehead Jr. said, “It means a lot. Last year we fell short to Vianney in the second round, and the same for the year before that, so to get back to where we were my freshman year [2022] really means a lot.”
This year, Webster won against Vianney with a score 76-70 in the Class 5 District ll Championship game on March 10. Following this, Webster competed in the State Quarterfinals against Sikeston on its home court and defeated it with a score of 71-70, bringing Webster to the final four.
In the final four, the team defeated Westminister Christian Academy 66-50.
Mathes said, “Now, what I think is really cool, and what’s unique about Webster is how much it means to our alumni and kids in the school and what it means to the community, and we had support all the way through.”
At the Semi-finals, athletics director Chris Johnson estimated about 200 students attended and said the school took four buses down to Mizzou while some students transported themselves.
Johnson also said he believes around 400-500 Webster community members and students attended the championship finals.
“I think it just shows how much our students love this school and interacting with each other. We had great teacher support as well; a handful of teachers stepped up to ride the buses [to the semi-finals] cause had you not had that teacher support supervision
Freshman Miles Simpson drives to the basket to attempt to score during the 2025 MSHSAA Basketball Show-Me Showdown Class 5 State Championship game.
Photo by Sam Enlund
Senior Aiden Sanders and junior Quincy Williams embrace varsity head coach Justin Mathes after winning the 2025 MSHSAA Basketball Show-Me Showdown Class 5 State Championship game at Mizzou on Thursday, March 20. Webster won against Summit Christian High School with a score of 67-56.
Photo by Sam Enlund
1st place at State Championship
to actually transport the students to Columbia, we wouldn’t have been able to offer those buses,” Johnson said.
“I think when you see the amount of support and how much people love being around things that are very positive, like sports and athletics and success, it just really makes you appreciate the school we have,” Johnson added.
Sophomore Scottie Adkinson said what stood out to him in the journey to State was “the way most of our guys stepped up leading up to the playoffs. A lot of people stepped up in big games, and I feel like that what made the job get done for us.”
Overall, Webster’s team went 27 and five for its season record.
Leading up to State, the team focused a lot on its strategies working together in each game.
In the pre-season, Mathes said the team was ”very hyped up and everyone thought we’re gonna be really good and in reality, we were very average and very inconsistent. We could beat anybody, but we could also lose anybody on the wrong night. So that was something we talked about all season was like, you know, the playoffs they might not come down to what our best game looks like.”
Sophomore Scottie Adkinson maintains control of the ball while being defended by an opponent from Summit Christian High School during the 2025 MSHSAA Basketball Show-Me Showdown Class 5 State Championship game.
Photo by Sam Enlund
make us win we just all played together.”
“It’s ‘Can we win on our worst night when we’re not having a good shooting night, when the other teams, you know, playing out of their minds and can you can you overcome that?’” Mathes said.
Whitehead said, “We just knew that if we wanted to beat better teams, we were gonna have to play good on both ends of the floor.”
“It wasn’t just gonna be we’re gonna shoot 50% from three every night because that’s not always gonna be the case. Some days you’re going to have games where you don’t shoot well, and that definitely happened to us, and we were just able to play great at both ends of the floor,” Whitehead added.
Senior Eddie Peplow said he believes the team’s success this season came from “the way we worked hard in practice every single day. We also focused on the way that we play, scouting out other teams and knowing what to do to stop them.”
Another main focus of the team that several players highlighted was the team “staying together.”
Freshman Miles Simpson said, “I’d say all of us staying together and playing as a team [made a difference]. Not becoming individuals and not one of us trying to be the ‘superhero’ on the team. To
Adkinson also believed working as a team benefitted them overall. He said, “Staying together you know even through the tough games that we lost early on in the season and in midway point. I think that was more of the building point for us, and we did that.”
Mathes said as the season progressed, “We played so many close games, and I think people are gonna remember them for a variety of reasons, but for me, I’m just most proud of– I thought we got a lot better from day one to March.”
As for the upcoming seasons, Mathes said, “We’ve got a good number of returning letter winners, and I’m excited about the future, but I also know that we’re losing a great senior class, and we’re gonna need guys to step up to fill those rules.”
This year the men’s Varsity basketball team has five seniors graduating.
About the journey to State, Mathes said, “We always say Statesmen Nation, and I thought they had our backs all the way through, and you know, sometimes you get to host in the playoffs and sometimes you have to go on the road, and we were on the road every single game. So them showing up and showing out, I thought made a huge difference and pushed us over the top.”
“I just want to say a huge thank you to everybody who supported the team and stuck with us,” Mathes added.
Review: ‘Snow White’ attempts to rewrite a classic
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
“Snow White” is what one would expect from the newest installment of Disney’s never-ending list of remakes. With unnatural acting and a convoluted story, Disney’s “Snow White” feels artificial and boring.
The film, starring Rachel Zegler (“West Side Story”) and Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”), tries to take a more contemporary approach to the original story.
The 1937 original (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”) has been criticized in recent years for its one-dimensional protagonist: Snow White seems to have as much control over the events as the viewer does, just going along for the ride until she is finally saved by the prince she has always dreamed of.
theaters March 21.
Image from Disney UK Press Kit
However, the 2025 “Snow White” promised to be more of a modernized version of the classic. Trailers and promos made sure to point out that this wouldn’t be some antiquated fairytale.
“Snow White” begins with a narration of the princess’s (Zegler) upbringing, emphasizing the happiness and unity of the kingdom with a forgettable song. Then the trademark Disney misfortune occurs: her mother dies and her father remarries. After her father leaves, Snow White is left to live with her stepmother, who becomes consumed with greed and the need to be “the fairest of them all.”
The fairytale unfolds from there, with Snow White eventually fleeing and coming across a cottage inhabited by seven CGI dwarves.
The dwarves are just one example of the lack of magic in “Snow White.” Their presence feels mandated because of their roles in the original film, but they add little to the 2025 version. Though it would feel strange without them, they only seem to muddle the plot, introducing seven characters into an already-packed movie.
Zegler’s Snow White is more charismatic than the original but continues to be just as boring. She teaches the other characters to better themselves, but her character is already flawless in the beginning, so she has no growth. The viewer is then uninterested in how her story will end. Zegler’s acting is still impressive, especially considering the stilted script and the fact that she’s talking to CGI creatures half of the time.
Gadot’s performance as the Evil Queen is as unfeeling as the rest of the film, maybe more: her acting is robotic and her singing is strained. Rather than fear or intrigue, her main influence on the audience is to leave them wondering, “How much is Gal Gadot getting paid for this?” as they leave the theater.
Some songs were also included that had not been in the origi-
nal movie. Their addition rushes the plot; because it is the same story, but more in-depth and with more music, the entire plot moves too quickly. Every issue is immediately solved, removing any possible intrigue in favor of a song—some of which are catchy, but are mostly endless and tiresome.
While it is an upbeat film that could be fun for young audiences at times, “Snow White” lacks emotion and feels like Disney is just trying to check the box for another remake.
“Snow White” is showing in theaters and is rated PG for “violence, some peril, thematic elements, and brief rude humor.”
As with many of Disney’s remakes, “Snow White” disguises a cash grab as a chance to give a classic a feminist spin. While it’s important to make female characters that children can look up to, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” was made 88 years ago and is too late to change.
If it’s what they’re really aiming for, Disney should try writing an original movie to inspire its young audiences. In the meantime, if audiences want to see “Snow White,” they should just cut to the chase and watch the original.
Rachel Zegler stars in “Snow White,” which opened in
Green in the Gateway: Community members celebrate Earth Day
Shane Delanty Contributing Writer
Community members will celebrate the 55th annual Earth Day on April 22. Earth Day is a day where many passionate environmentalists gather around and celebrate and come together to come up with ways to make the earth a better, more sustainable place for future generations.
St. Louis shows up and out to Earth day celebrations every year, making it one of the most celebrated environmental events in Missouri every year. “I believe it is the biggest Environmental Holiday celebrated in MO. Stream Team clean up events are also very large.” Dr. Elizbeth Hobbs said.
Forest Park’s annual Earth Day celebration is one of the biggest gatherings in the St Louis metro area. Forest Park offers a fun day of festivities with food, drinks and a chance to meet with Non-profit organizations to see how they are working to have an impact on our Earth.
“The Forest Park Earth Day celebrations are a great way to get out and celebrate Earth Day festivities” said Dr. Hobbs.
The nationwide store Buffalo Exchange runs a $1 sale of all clothing on Earth Day and donates all profit from sales to Environmental Clubs around the world. Since its Earth Day sale started they have raised nearly $665,000 for environmental resources in the last 20 years.
The environmental club celebrates Earth Day by having a “Root beer float party” then going out and picking up trash in the community. “Even the smallest actions, when multiplied by many,
News Brief:
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
can create a powerful wave of change.”
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is American law devoted to promoting the enhancement of the environment.
Sophomores Miles Drury, Atlas Mach, Eleanor Judge and Zachary Gamber and junior James Gilliland take part in Earth Day activities.
The NEPA allows for all federal agencies to check the risk of the environment before taking action for their projects. They must complete an environmental assessment (EA) The purpose of an EA is to ensure that decision makers consider the environmental impacts before moving through with projects.
Music department celebrates centennial
lection and decor, and a dinner will be held beforehand. Alumni who have made accomplishments in music will also be honored.
Band, orchestra and choir will celebrate 100 years with a concert at the Touhill Performing Arts Center at UMSL. The concert will be on May 7, at 7 p.m.
The concert will have a 1920s theme, including its musical se-
CONSTRUCTION ZONE REAL INTELLIGENCE IN PROGRESS
Informing readers for over 45 years.
Posters will be around the school to pur chase tickets.
Fine Arts Department Chair and asso ciate band direc tor Jill Young said the creator of the band program in 1925, Hen ry Lemcke, brought the instru ments from Germany and the department has grown since.
“It’s been a really integral part of the Webster Groves High School community since that time…there’s a lot to celebrate there, so I think it’s important to mark that occasion and just be part of history,” Young said.
Photo provided by Elizabeth Hobbs
Graphic from Canva
Seniors share thoughts about preparing for prom
Micah McCoy Contributing Writer
Prom was on Saturday, April 12, at 7 p.m. Tickets were $55. It was an event for only senior high school students at Webster Groves.
Senior Brooklyn Matthews said, “I am excited about prom. I have pictures with my friends before and then after we have a party, but my day is gonna be pretty stressful. I have to do my hair, curl my hair and do my own makeup and then get ready.”
From getting ready to coordinating with friends, the preparations add just as much to the event as everything else.
Senior Tony DeArmitt said, “I don’t know. I went to prom last year, and it’s like another school dance at another venue. I might go, but I’m not very excited about it.”
DeArmitt said about what would make the dance more enjoyable, “You gotta bring back the slow dance because the slow dance is very multiple choice. It adds a natural cycle to the constant non-stop stream… You just can’t keep that pace up for two hours; you kinda of have to have some flow to it.”
Senior Riley Fitzgerald, prom committee member, said about planning and preparation of prom, “We weighed how much it cost in previous years and then how much the venue would cost and how much we wanted the tickets to be and then based everything off how much we wanted to spend for the tickets.”
Junior Abby Smith and senior Elise Leon discuss how “hot” they were and their surroundings while attending prom, Leon said. The event was held at the Majorette on Saturday, April 12, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Photo taken by Jocelyn Reiss
Senior Gabe Wright, prom committee member, said, “You wanna make sure you have the best venue for the vibes and space, making sure you fit enough people, so it’s not too crowded. Make sure it has all the amenities for fun.”
Op-Ed: Students face parking challenges
Quincy Williams Contributing Writer
Students have faced ongoing challenges with parking availability, with some reporting frequent tardiness, warnings and difficulty finding spots near campus.
It is hoped by sharing student experiences and facts, the school might take a closer look at the problem.
Secretary Julia Huelsman said there are 190 student parking spots, but only a portion is available to most students. Some are reserved for Thrive, SouthTech and Junior Buddy programs.
Passes cost $60 and usually sell out within the first hour of registration. Once spots are gone, students are put on a wait list.
Junior DJ Bowen said he has been late multiple times due to a lack of available parking spots, which has led to detention. He typically parks in front of Roberts Gym and said while he doesn’t need to arrive early for that spot, he has occasionally had to park on Lockwood Avenue due to no space being available.
Bowen also mentioned receiving warnings for parking both in the student parking lot and on the side of the school. While he acknowledged there are open spots in the back lot, he said they are off limits to students without a parking sticker, leaving usable spaces inaccessible.
Sophomore Drew Hedenberg also described challenges with parking, calling the experience “extremely frustrating.”
Because sophomores aren’t allowed to park in the student lots, Hedenberg said he has to search for parking in surrounding areas, sometimes driving around long enough to make him late to class.
Hedenburg said he must arrive by 8 a.m. at the latest to find a decent spot and has also received tickets or warnings for parking in unauthorized spots.
Senior Colin Lopez said parking was more difficult during his junior year, when he didn’t have a pass and had to walk two blocks from his car to school, which caused several tardies.
Lopez said, “There were times junior year where I had to make that walk, and it
got me a few tardies.”
Now, with a pass, Lopez parks in the second student lot to avoid after-school traffic and hasn’t had many issues finding a spot, even when arriving just five to 10 minutes before the bell. He mentioned receiving one warning after switching to a new car and not yet displaying his parking sticker.
Senior Carl Whitehead does not own a student parking pass, and he said he usually arrives 20 minutes early to find a spot, and despite that, he’s still been late to class multiple times.
Whitehead said, “I struggle finding a parking spot every day. It is very annoying and time-consuming. I usually park a few blocks away from the actual school, so having to walk and park that far every day is pretty
annoying.”
Huelsman said there are no further talks or plans to add more parking.
The need for accessible parking is necessary, and addressing this problem could help reduce tardiness and stress, and im-
Webster Groves High School offers 190 student parking spots.
