West High’s music department hosted a full slate of performances and competitions since winter break. After traveling to the Valley Orchestra Festival in Des Moines Feb. 25, all three orchestras performed in Arganbright Auditorium Feb. 26. Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble performed Feb. 19, followed by the ninth-grade and Varsity Bands’ performance March 5. Concert choirs collaborated for their second annual showcase Feb. 24. The show choir competition season concluded for the junior varsity group Showtime and varsity group Good Time Company. GTC placed second at the Sauk Prairie Invitational and Norwalk Nexus competition. Both choirs finished the season with the Spring Swing Show March 1.

Amid red and gold firecrackers, West High’s Asian Student Union hosted its inaugural Lunar New Year Gala Feb. 15 in Arganbright Auditorium, celebrating the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Horse. The display marked the club’s first event at West, highlighting cultural performances from West students along with members of Asian communities in the Iowa City area. Student acts included traditional Chinese dragon and lion dances, instrumental and vocal performances and dance numbers from West’s K-pop dance club, Kpoppies. The gala was emceed by Asian Student Union committee members Emma Lai ’28 and Konnon Chen ’28.

Wrestling, bowling and dance ended in February, with several West High teams advancing to competitions after their regular seasons. Wrestlers Brianna Lucero ’27 and Eva Jara ’28 qualified for state, wrestling Feb. 5-6 at Xtream Arena. Lucero finished in eighth place and Jara in second place in their respective weight classes. Additionally, West’s dance team traveled to Orlando, Florida, for the Universal Dance Association’s national competition. The team performed jazz and pom dance styles Feb. 6, earning a semifinalist finish in jazz and 19th place in pom. Before girls basketball regionals, which began Feb. 18, West’s varsity team ranked seventh place in Class 5A with a game record of 15-7. They qualified for state Feb. 24 after defeating Liberty High School. In recent weeks, spring sports have launched into action, with track and field, soccer and golf all starting their seasons.

From the bowling lane to the basketball court, West High’s boys athletes have hit their marks in the last several weeks. Notably, 11 swimmers and three relays raced at the state meet Feb. 14. The team won the state championship and both the 200-yard medley and freestyle relays, with Ethan Landon ’27 and Winston Fan ’26 earning second-place finishes in the 100-yard backstroke and butterfly events, respectively. Wrestling also performed strongly, competing in the team event Feb. 7 and individual competitions Feb. 18-21. Nine wrestlers qualified for state after capturing the district title Feb. 14. Four placed: Diego Robertty ’29 in second, Alexander Pierce ’26 in third, Kaden Stitt ’26 in sixth and Campbell Janis ’26 in eighth. After the close of winter sports, boys track and field kicked off at the end of February, while soccer and tennis will begin after spring break.

As the third trimester begins, West High students are diving into extracurricular activities with renewed energy. Science Olympiad teams tested virtually in their second invitational during the last week of January before traveling to the Mount Vernon Invitational Feb. 21. The Technology Student Association brought student competitors in science, technology, engineering and math to the Center for Innovation Feb. 6 for their national qualifier. Meanwhile, members of West’s Business Professionals of America chapter competed at the state conference in Des Moines Feb. 15-17. After hosting their annual home tournament, the speech and debate team wrapped up their season at the East Iowa District Tournament Feb. 13-14 and Feb. 21. Six students — Thora Schimmel ’28, Eddie El-Fadil ’27, Faizaan Ahmed ’27, Aahana Gupta ’27, Faisal Hamzeh ’27 and Ella Haim ’27 — qualified for nationals.