EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
Arianna Peper
PRINT/PODCAST
MANAGER/ SPORTS
EDITOR:
Sam Enlund
JUNIOR SPORTS EDITOR:
Isaac Choi
ADVISOR:
Donald Johnson
ECHO Family Supporters
Jodie and Chris Allen
Abbie and Chris Enlund
John and Kathy Enlund
Kelsey and Sean Hogarty
Mary Jane and Rick Kuhn
Aerin Johnson
Keillyn Johnson
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.
Coaches impact student athletes
March events calendar
Esports team prepares for upcoming season
Students march to City Hall in protest of recent actions from ICE
Echo staffers review romantic comedy movies
Op-Ed: Toxic masculinity creates harm for men, women
Editorial: Silencing journalists threatens democracy
Op-Ed: Super Bowl Halftime Show honors Puerto Rico
Word Search
Chase Hoskins
Contributing Writer
Coaches don’t only decide the game plan, they help reshape students’ values and traditions.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “When athletes feel a stronger coach–athlete relationship, confidence is enhanced.”
Sophomore Henry Loddes said he feels like coaches help him put in more effort and try harder in school.
One way coaches can impact students’ lives is through the development of important life skills.
According to a study by MU Health, playing in a team sport can teach teamwork and communication skills. “This experience is helpful when encountering problems at work or at home.”
Football Coach John Schurk said, “The thing I’m most proud of as a coach is bringing out the best, not just athletically but as a human being… It’s about how you develop these young athletes into good human beings for the future.”
Photo by Karter Goskie
“Individuals see increased concentration, enhanced memory, stimulated creativity and better-developed problem-solving skills,” according to Bridgeport University.
In addition to personal development, sports have been linked to increased academic performance and time management skills.
Coaches not only are role models, but they also help students and athletes to have more self-confidence.
According to the National Library of Medicine, “A stronger connection between the coach and athlete is linked to enhanced self‐confidence.”
“Many times, I have seen sports ‘save’ student-athletes from poor decisions in life. I have seen it inspire students to become leaders. I have seen it inspire students to be lifelong competitors. I have seen it make individuals lifelong athletes and lovers of healthy lifestyles.” track coach Jon Petter said about the impact he has seen coaches make on students.
Coaches don’t just write the game plan; they make a lifelong impact by inspiring student-athletes to develop good habits, gain confidence, and attain higher academic performance.
Isaac Choi Junior Sports Editor
Bub talked about a moment where he felt his work had paid off when he was top 128 out of 1,000 in a major tournament.“
1
Esports team is soon to begin its season, where it will feature in two games Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Marvel Rivals. The players and coaches are both looking forward to the upcoming season.
e it will feature arvel Rivals.
d up-
ed that the last three and a half years I’ve put into this game are paying off,” Bub said. Even after this success Bub is still looking to get better. “If I keep working hard, I’ll be able to reach higher peaks.”
“Everyone is so excited for the season,” Coach Colin Todd said. “I love how energetic everyone is, and that type of energy makes me excited as well.”
Todd added he most likes the team’s passion: “They’re very dedicated, and they’re all very caring of their teammates.”
ach Colin d They’re f their way aching rystal
“These kids are very bright, and have a unique way of thinking,” Todd said about what he most likes coaching the team. “Their smarts is something that shows crystal clear in their performance.”
As far as where the team must improve, senior Jack Bub said, “I want to truly master safe gameplay and know when I should and shouldn’t be taking risks.”
Bub said he’s wanted to get better at esports continuously, since his first experience in the St. Louis Science Center. It was a free Super Smash Bros tournament. “After the tournament, I wanted to get so much better at it so I kept working hard.”
This moment truly solidified pay success Bub is s hard pr Todd sai technolo from the c “I thi balanc ers to match for the for the playin
About preparing for the upcoming season, Todd said they were grateful to have new technology which they received in a grant from the school, and they’re happy that the school is committed to the team.
“I think we’re really trying to work on balancing skill levels, and allowing players to cooperate so that we can mix and match skills,” Todd said about preparing for the season. Cooperation is important for the team because for most players, playing video games as a team rather than alone is new to them.
Bub said,“This season will be a lot harder than last year, due to us losing two of our best players.” However, Bub believes the team is up to the task.
Bub and some esports alumni have also won scholarships. Bub, who received a scholarship from Michigan State, said, “People can find success in so many different ways, so they shouldn’t limit themselves to how others define success.”
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
“We walked out with a clear goal in mind: to show that the students of WG don’t tolerate injustice,” senior and organizer of the WGHS walkout against ICE, Kiran Bergfeld said via email.
On Jan. 30, schools from across the United States participated in a national walkout protesting the recent events involving the mass deportations and the violence displayed by ICE agents.
Amongst those schools, WGHS students participated in a peaceful walkout that began at 10:15 a.m. where students marched from the high school to City Hall to protest of ICE.
According to NPR.org, ICE has grown to be the highest-funded U.S. law enforcement agency with $85 million now at its disposal due to President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which was passed in July of 2025. The bill set aside over $170 billion to support the Trump administration’s deportation and detainment of a “record number of people from the U.S.”
Senior Kiran Bergfeld reads her address to Mayor of Webster Groves Laura Arnold as students gathered at City Hall to peacefully protest the actions of ICE. The walkout took place on Friday, Jan. 30.
Photo by Arianna Peper
for us to take a stand and show that we don’t support this. “
Since Trump took office in January of 2025, ICE has deported roughly 540,000 people according to an article from brookings.edu.
As the ICE agency surges in funding, violent outbreaks and harm from ICE agents have been rapidly occurring as shooting incidents from ICE personnel across the U.S. continue, resulting in several deaths.
On Jan. 7, American citizen and 37 year-old mother in Minneapolis, Renee Nicole Good was shot to death in her vehicle by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. Her death was ruled a homicide by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
According to the article from PBS News, Minnesota’s investigation agency said the U.S. The Attorney’s Office claimed federal jurisdiction and blocked Minnesota state officials from obtaining evidence.
About the Trump Administration freezing Minnesota out of the investigation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized the choice and said, “It feels very, very difficult that we will get a fair outcome.”
In response to these incidents, walkouts across the country occurred in schools in hope pushing representatives to take action.
Bergfeld said, “The need for action became blatantly apparent within the past few weeks. The violence ICE is inflicting is not only inhumane, but terrifying. Now is the time
Junior Ruby Reeves said, “ICE and the DHS continue to attack and challenge rights enshrined in the Constitution and the fabric of our nation. To me, this walkout was not a moment for me and the rest of the students at Webster to complain; it was an opportunity to be tactful and send a message.”
Bergfeld said the event was planned for WGHS in two days, where “lots of people were involved in organizing this- making sure information was spread, signs were distributed, chants were known, and goals were articulated.”
During the walkout, Bergfeld said students told Webster Groves Mayor Laura Arnold they are fearful of ICE entering St. Louis encouraged her to do everything in her power to keep them out of the community and to urge her colleagues of different municipalities to do the same.
Students from Hixson Middle School also participated in a walkout and gathered at City Hall.
About the walkout, Arnold said via email, “This was the largest student organized protest that I have seen in my time in city government. I applaud the organizers for their determination and inclusiveness. I am very happy that students are using their voices to influence important policy, especially in speaking for those who may not be able to speak for themselves.”
In response to the message from WG students, Arnold added that although she nor the city have power in this situation, “What we do have control over is how our police department engages with other law enforcement agencies when it comes
to immigration. We do not have any agreements to share information with ICE and I do not expect that we will in the future.”
The protest inspired discussion of next steps and the police chief will appear at the City Council meeting, following the walkout, on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to “brief us on our policies, training and procedures related to immigration enforcement and interactions with federal agencies like ICE,” Arnold said.
“We want to have a very open conversation about what our community expects from our own Police Department and how that may be limited by state and federal law. We also want to consider if changes are necessary to ensure that we are as welcoming and safe for all people as possible,” Arnold added.
According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, more than 1,000 Webster Groves students participated in the event.
Arnold said, “ The presence of high school and middle school students at City Hall fighting for the rights of their neighbors, friends and families was inspiring. We must work to create the country and community that we want to live in. They are doing that.”
Hundreds of students participate in the walkout against ICE, organized by Kiran Bergfeld. Students marched from WGHS to City Hall and then down Elm Avenue, where they passed the middle school walkout happening at the same time on Friday, Jan 30.
WGHS staff members were made aware of the event a few days prior to its occurrence.
Assistant principal Madeline Craig said, “Once we had an idea of what was happening, we as an administrative team did our best to keep students safe and minimize the disrup-
tion to the rest of the campus. We made sure that we had eyes on the students as they walked, which meant a couple administrators followed students off campus. The rest of us stayed back and made sure the building was safe and running smoothly.”
Students participating in the event skipped their third period class and in response to that, Craig said they received consequences per the WGHS handbook.
Craig said, “In our handbook, it lists reasons why students can miss class. These include things such as illness, college visits, religious observation or doctors’ visit.”
Despite the knowledge of the consequences, students participated in the walkout.
Bergfeld said, “Watching hundreds of my fellow classmates take a stand not only gave me chills, but it also made me insanely inspired. I have never been more proud to be a member of Webster Groves.”
Moving forward, Bergfeld encourages students to keep an eye on the news and “remember to stand up in the face of oppression and fight for what’s right.”
As for Arnold’s message to students who participated in the walkout, she said, “Advocate for the community and country you want to live in. Even if you are not of voting age, you have a voice that you can use to hold leaders accountable.”
Arianna Peper Editor-in-Chief
Margaret Korte Print/Podcast Editor
From “The Notebook” (2004) to “500 cant part of Valentine’s Day traditions
Whether it be the acting, plot or confession scene, many factors make up a memorable and sentimental rom-com.
One of the most well known classics, “The Notebook” starring Ryan Gosling (“La La Land”) and Rachel McAdams (“Mean Girls”) follows the coming-of-age love story between two teenagers facing the external pressures of both society and their families.
tified.
While initially appearing unique in its plot, with a tale of a sex worker and a rich businessman, the story feels incredibly service-level as there is a lack of chemistry and
out from others in the rom-com genre and contradicts and manipulates the need for a happy ending.
When it comes to chemistry, certain casting choices can impact the romance between the main characters.
For instance, in “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) starring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger (“The Dark Knight”), though the main actors have a believable romance, their characters are too similar, creating a failed attempt to have opposites
S Knig believ romance, their characters are too sim oppo attract. upli and comedic love story and follows
Despite this, the movie is an uplifting and comedic love story and follows the paths of multiple characters, allowing the audience to be thoroughly entertained and
conversation between the two leads.
“The Notebook” has a reputation as an incredibly sentimental film, as the audience often finds itself in tears at the emotional twists and emphasis on the c hanges life brings as one grows old. W hile it may not be the most unique version of a romantic tale, the movie feels like the standard for all romcomsfollowingastorythatfeelsfa
rom-coms, following a story that feels familiar yet new in its own way. It portrays the struggles of choosing between society and oneself. In addition to this, the acting from Gosling and McAdams creates a sense of realism to each character’s struggle.
On the other hand, some movies hailed as classics lack the depth and character development which is necessary for a film to be enjoyable.
Of those films, “Pretty Woman” (1990) starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere leaves the audience feeling as though the movie’s length and reputation are not jus-
Instead of a conclusion that leads to self discoveryasthe lmintendsthemovie’s
discovery, as the film intends, the movie’s ending is unfulfilling, making the movie feel like an empty promise.
One movie that does accomplish a more satisfying ending is “500 Days of Summer” (2009) starring Zooey Deschanel (“New Girl”) and Joseph Gordon-Levitt (“Inception”).
The film highlights the importance of self-discovery and independence in times of confusion within one’s relationships.
“500 Days of Summer” doesn’t follow the typical rom-com plot, depicting the ups and downs of relationships instead of just the positives. Because of this, it stands
Although love-triangles can become ffer a fresh perspective on the traditional rom-
“27 Dresses” (2008) starring Katherine Heigl and James Marsden, depicts an she follows the path to self-discovery. In this lm, Heigl plays the role of Jane, a people-pleaser, who struggles with icting emotions as her sister grows closer to the man she has
offers a more well-rounded plot. bec tiresome and unrealistic, they can o r com story Ka depict unofficial wedding planner as self cove In fi H of Jane, a confl emotion secretly admired.
Md’htKihll
Marsden’s character, Kevin, challenges her tendency to put others first, teaching the audience the value of pursuing their own goals.
Each rom-com brings its own characters, plots, and perspective on romance to the genre, the odds of becoming a true classic are incredibly low; however, they are still able to be entertaining for the audience depending on what they are looking for.
Graphic by Margaret Korte
Connor Spellecy
Contributing Writer
definitely think it’s harmful to both… It
Toxic masculinity has become a more prominent topic of conversation as people like Andrew Tate or Joe Rogan have been pushed more and more into the spotlight.
Toxic masculinity is an expression that refers to a set of expectations of masculinity that encourage emotional suppression, aggression and misogyny.
ng ng Write linity c ate nd linity ourage n misogyny of views are found in conmanosphere,”
These types of views are found in content from the “manosphere,” such as videos or websites where men speak about their opinions on masculinity and women, which usually use misogynistic language and speak against things like feminism and women’s rights.
Creators like Tate and Rogan have created content promoting hyper-masculine ideas to other men, especially male teenagers, in the form of self-confidence tips and dating advice, but the effects of this “advice” have been more negative than positive.
h ge minism and women’s ke ontent e nce positive hese effects, men can find motions swithyoungersiblings
To prevent these e spaces where they feel they can speak about their emotions with people they trust. Students with younger siblings or parents with young children can also make sure their younger family members trust them and feel comfortable speaking to them about their emotions.
Sophomore Charlie Grossman said, “I
ators push encourage misogyny, which can result in physical or mental abuse towards women.
have with a woman.”
pushes this idea of men needing to be more dominant or needing to have some kind of leverage over women, which is obviously harmful to women when you have men growing up, especially at a young age, being told online that they need to be superior in any relationship they havewithawoman ”
Manosphere content creators usually make multiple points involving power between men and women, involving male dominance over women. This need to be dominant can lead to harm to women, especially women in relationships with men who follow these creators, as the messages these cre-
can result ph women b
Sophomore Isaac Frese said, “I think, obviously, it affects men negatively… but it also kind of drives men to act toxic towards women.”
While toxic masculinity can be harmful to women, it can also be harmful to the men participating in it.
Toxic masculinity pushes ideas to men that they should conceal their emotions, that things like crying or getting upset makes them “weak.”
According to “Verywell Mind,” bottling up these emotions can cause depression and anxiety as the emotions continue to grow.
Toxic mascu men that m the grow
The rise of toxic masculinity is closely associated with the internet growing in accessibility.
According to The University of Maine, nearly 4.8 billion people have access to social media, including chil-
The rise of tox wi to 4 access to social dren and teens.
People’s brains are more susceptible to information when they are younger, and when they have access to the internet, they have easier access to manosphere content, which makes it easier to find and retain false and harmful information.
I WANT MY
Journalist and ex-CNN news host Don Lemon was arrested by federal agents as a result of his coverage of an Anti-ICE protest. His arrest follows a clear trend of journalists being unfairly targeted and silenced by the federal government.
Lemon, who is now facing federal charges, has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to deprive rights and violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act by allegedly interfering with religious worship.
The incident occurred on Jan. 18 during a protest at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in response to news that a pastor there was an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer. Lemon, along with other journalists, was present covering the protest and later was arrested as a result of his involvement.
Lemon has been criticized by the government
ws was as a result of his test. His arrest nalists being ed the acing aded dehe cs oms sts, was and later the government
for his w torney General H tw him as one o ald Tru a “los him trio o o l je tra con Ac porters article, “A nalists have age twin cities of Min Paul since the start of the
for his involvement, with Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon reposting a tweet referring to him as one of “today’s Klansmen” and President Donald Trump calling him a “loser” and accusing him of “abusing patriots.”
Though Lemon’s arrest is one of the more publicized incidents of journalists being targeted, he is not the first to become the subject of the administration’s attempts to control the media.
According to a Reporters Without Borders article, “At least six journalists have been violently attacked by agents in the state’s twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul since the start of the new year.”
Graphic made in Canva
Though the physical attacks against journalists are more recent, the administration, and President Trump in particular, has targeted and spoken against journalists since his first term’s inauguration, frequently referring to and labelling journalists he disagrees with as “the enemy of the people” and “fake news.”
Freedom of the Press has been a core value of democracy in the United States since its founding, and trying to silence or punish journalists reflects a slippery slope into an authoritarian government and away from democracy.
According to a PBS article, “Trump has filed lawsuits against outlets whose coverage he dislikes, threatened to revoke TV broadcast licenses and sought to bend news organizations and social media companies to his will.”
The article also states, “The tactics are similar to those used by leaders in other countries who have chipped away at speech freedoms and independent media while consolidating political power, including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close Trump ally whose leadership style is revered by many conservatives in the U.S.”
The recent attacks against journalists prompts concern across the country for people pursuing the career, and while St. Louis hasn’t had many experiences with local journalists being targeted, the federal government’s actions impact everyone and reflect the risk of the country losing its democratic principles.
toric Grammy win in his performance.
Sam Enlund
a rtínez known s per Bowl HalfThe ntó,” afaera”
Social Media Manager /Sports Editor
Puerto Rican rapper and singer Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, known professionally as Bad Bunny, was this year’s Super Bowl Halftime performer. The performance included his songs, “Tití Me Preguntó,” “Yo Perreo Sola,” “Safaera” and “Monaco.”
Bad of perwl
At only 31, Bad Bunny is one of the youngest performers to star in the Super Bowl Halftime show. Using this opportunity, Bad Bunny included symbols in his show sparked controversy within the American population and paid tribute to his Latino heritage and to Puerto Rican history.
n
Scattered throughout his performance, Bad Bunny used symbols or “Easter eggs” to provide a deeper meaning to his show and to his presence at the Super Bowl.
“During the opening of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl medley, several of the singer’s backup dancers – dressed as sugar cane field workers – wore pavas, brimmed straw hats traditionally made from leaves of the Puerto Rican hat palm,” according to USA Today’s article “All the Bad Bunny Easter eggs at Super Bowl halftime show, explained.”
More symbols included the references to Puerto Rican cuisine through the coco frío cart with dancers posing around it cosplaying customers. There was also a piraguas cart recreation, where Bad Bunny made a short stop to grab a frozen dessert. A piragua is a Puerto Rican version of shaved ice, often topped with fruit-flavored syrups.
Bad Bunny also referenced his own his-
The USA Today article said, “The sing-
The USA article The sin er walked in on a vignette of a co pl w at c B awar ce r e m o the young son. At t Gram
couple watching Bad Bunny at the awards ceremony with their young son. At the 68th annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 1,
B a d Bunny made hist ith th t
tory with the first Spanish-language album to win album of the year.”
“Bad Bunny later pulls out a Grammy statuette and hands it to the couple’s son and tells him, ‘Gracias, papi,’ or ‘Thank you, baby,’” according to USA Today.
During his performance Bad Bunny also used exploding telephone poles to illustrate the frequent power outages that continue in Puerto Rico.
Also taking place during the
show was the wedding of Eleisa Aparico and Thomas Wolter, who were married by Pastor Antonio Reyes. The couple had originally invited Bad Bunny to their wedding, who instead invited them to be married during the Halftime show, serving as their witness and signing their marriage certificate.
The marriage wasn’t the only symbol from the wedding. The ceremony also featured a sleeping child.
“A child asleep in a chair while the party raged around him, a universally relatable image from any Latin family gathering that goes late into the night,” according to Forbes’ article “What Did Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show Mean? Every Cultural Reference Broken Down.”
Other symbols from the show included traditional instruments, the common Puerto Rican stores and businesses featured, the two people boxing on stage, and a house party-featuring many well known celebrities, such as Pedro Pascal, Jessica Alba and Cardi B.
Graphic from Canva
