• 12/16: Pajama + stuffed animal day
  • 12/17: Jersey day
  • 12/17: Girls basketball vs. Wahlert Catholic
  • 12/17: Boys basketball @ Wahlert Catholic
  • 12/17: Boys swimming @ Linn-Mar
  • 12/17: Band concert in Arganbright Auditorium
  • 12/18: Pink out day
  • 12/19: Throwback Thursday
  • 12/19: Boys wrestling @ Linn-Mar
  • 12/19: Girls wrestling @ Solon
  • 12/20: 2 HOUR EARLY RELEASE
  • 12/20: Ugly sweater day
  • 12/20: Boys and girls double-header vs City
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
The student news source of Iowa City West High

West Side Story
Alyssa Skala

Alyssa Skala, Yearbook Managing Editor

(she/her) Alyssa Skala is a senior at West. She is a third year photographer on staff and a second year editor for yearbook. When she doesn’t have her camera, Alyssa can be found playing softball and rowing.

All content by Alyssa Skala
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The offensive line sets up before a play against City High in the Battle for the Boot at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

Grant Henderson '20 walks into the end zone for a two-point conversion in the second quarter of the Battle for the Boot at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

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2 pt c catch

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Right guard Fred Syata '21 eyes City High linebacker Tonka Hickman '20 before a play in the Battle for the Boot at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

Superfans Even Brauns '20, Alec Murley '20 and Collin Leavy '20 create noise during a third-down play at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

Mikey Brown '21 and Grahm Goering '21 celebrate following Goering's fourth-quarter touchdown in the Battle for the Boot at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

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Grahm Goering '21 celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown which gave the Trojans a 36-32 lead in the Battle for the Boot at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

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West High fans throw flour into the air upon the opening kickoff of the Battle for the Boot at Bates Field on Oct. 25.

Team captains Tate Crane '20, Marcus Morgan '21, Will Hoeft '20 and Grant Henderson '20 line up befor the coin toss at Bates Field on Oct. 25. The quartet won their final game together after three years as teammates.

The offensive line sets up before a crucial third down play against Davenport North on Oct. 11 at Trojan Field.

[Photo] Trojan Workhorses: Offensive linemen

October 25, 2019
The student section participates in the chant "Lean" directed by the cheerleaders at the Homecoming football game against Linn-Mar on Oct. 4.

Team captains Marcus Morgan '21, Grant Henderson '20 and Tate Crane '20 gather for the coin toss at midfield before the Trojans' game against Davenport North at Trojan Field on Oct. 11.

[Photo] Hoover heroic for playoff-hopeful Trojans

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
October 12, 2019
Setters Kearsten Lenth '22 and Emma Dunlap '22 encourage their teammates after scoring a point against Waterloo West on Sept. 29.

[Photo] Trojan Workhorses: Emma Dunlap ’22 and Kearsten Lenth ’22

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
October 6, 2019
Abbie Weipert, Business teacher at West High, works at her desk after dismissing her fourth period class.

[Photo] The financials of teaching

September 19, 2019
Running back Marchaun Hoover '20 runs the ball during the Green and Gold Scrimmage at West High on August 17.

[Photo] Football season preview

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
August 28, 2019
Jason Strunk '19 performs a pre-game handshake with teammate Zac Moore '19 before their game against City High on July 11.

[Photo] West rallies to beat City in extras

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
July 12, 2019
West High softball players cheer on Ryleigh Mulcahey '19 from the dugout on her senior night in a game against Cedar Rapids Washington on June 25.

[Photo] Learning how to win

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
June 27, 2019
Head coach Charlie Stumpff observes the game from his position as third base coach during a game against Liberty on June 3.

[Photo] Staying green while chasing gold

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
June 6, 2019
Grant Henderson '20, the goalie for the boy's varsity soccer team.

[Photo] In the zone

Natalie Dunlap and Natalie Katz
May 26, 2019
Micah Frisbie '20 looks for an opening to take a shot.

Senior Night: Boys Soccer

Alyssa Skala, Yearbook Managing Editor
May 18, 2019
Luke Moenning '21 plays the ball up field, trying to make it easier for his teammates to score.

Roberto Machado '20 sprints to try and score a goal.

Val Trussov '19 is accompanied by West's athletic trainer, Shelia Stiles.

Matthew Mcdonnell '19 stands by his parents.

Zach Albright '19 stands wearing his goalie jersey, ready to play.

Joey Kuehn '19 stands with his parents.

Mitchell Pottratz '19 is joined by his parents.

Colsen Krupp '19 stands receiving recognition on senior night.

Gada Ambo '19, aside his brother, smiling about a joke his coach made.

Joshua Jasek '19 stands with his parents while being honored by his coach.

Coach Hartwig watches Joey Chase '21 as he gets ready to lift at football practice.

[Photo] Homefield advantage

May 22, 2019
Ali Alwahdani '20 back squats during his football weightlifting session.

[Photo] Stay-at-home athletes

Owen Aanestad, Online Editor-In-Chief
May 13, 2020
Alex Carlon '21 and Aditi Borde '21 discuss their tiny room podcast.

West Side Story has compiled a periodic table of items found in the Lost and Found.

Laurel Haverkamp '20 records a wrestling match for the West High wrestling team.

[Photo] Managing the transition

Joe Goodman, Sports Editor
May 2, 2019
Alyssa Skala '21 discuses her experiences with anxiety and panic attacks.

Don’t panic

Alyssa Skala, Yearbook Managing Editor
March 27, 2019
For those with a sweet tooth, St. Patrick's day candy melt popcorn is a good snack to try out.

[Photo] Popcorn

March 17, 2019
Mix the candy melts with the popcorn and you are almost done.

Melt a bag of green candy melts in the microwave and pour it over half of the popcorn.

To start off, pour out a bag of your favorite popcorn.

After mixing the regular popcorn with the candy melts, the St. Patrick style treat is finished.

Displayed are three St. Patrick's day recipes West Side Story made to celebrate the holiday.

[Photo] 3 simply delicious St. Patrick's Day recipes

March 17, 2019
Once finished mixing the lemonade, 7-Up and food coloring, the lemonade is ready to be served.

St. Patrick's day lemonade is a three step and three ingredient simple recipe to serve as a refreshment for the holiday.

[Photo] St. Patrick's Day lemonade

March 17, 2019
The recipe is very quick to make and the ingredients are easy to obtain.

The St. Patrick's Day lemonade recipe calls for a total of three ingredients.

Make sure to let the cupcakes cool after taking them out of the oven.

Use a toothpick to swirl together the three different colors.

The more green food coloring used, the darker the shade will be. Make sure to leave one bowl without any food coloring.

Separate the mix equally into three different bowls.

The first step is to mix the vanilla cake batter together.

To make the vanilla cake mix you need vegetable oil, eggs and water.

The ingredients to make ombre cupcakes include vanilla cake mix and green food coloring.

Although the stereotypical vanilla cupcakes may seem a bit bland, these ombre cupcakes diverge from the norms for the holidays.

[Photo] Green ombre cupcakes

March 17, 2019
Alex Carlon '21 and Aditi Borde '21 record their first podcast for a new addition to WSS Radio.

[Photo] Tiny Room: Perry Heredia '21

March 11, 2019
The room where the coffee shop was located will be undergoing construction soon.

[Photo] Pump it Up to move locations for third trimester

Alex Carlon, Online Editor-in-Chief
February 28, 2019
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[Photo] Seeking help while facing stigmas

February 27, 2019
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Making sure that the bars will stay sturdy is an important part before preforming, if the bars are loose it could cause a very serious injury.

Zach Gilbaugh '21 does a handstand on the even bars.

Using all of his strength, Zach Gilbaugh '21 holds himself in a upside down pull up.

Zack Gilbaugh '21 does a half T-position on the rings while mentally preparing himself to dismount by a flip.

Using a bar with foam underneath gives more flexibility to practice more dangerous moves.

Practicing his form, Zach Gilbaugh '21 focuses on his up-coming competitions.

Brayden Adcock '19 dribbles the ball up the court during the first half on Saturday, Dec. 1.

West defeats Grand View Christian

Alyssa Skala, Yearbook Managing Editor
December 4, 2018
The West High team is given the under 15 seconds mark by the ref on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Tate Crane '20 looks for another player to pass to while being guarded by two opposing players on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Brayden Adcock '19 takes a reverse layup on Saturday, Dec. 1.

The bench high fives Brayden Adcock '19 after being subbed out in the third quarter on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Patrick McCaffery '19 scores two points during the first quarter on Saturday, Dec. 1.

Marcus Morgan '21 eyes the basket as he gets ready to shoot a three pointer on Saturday, Dec. 1.

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The student news source of Iowa City West High
Alyssa Skala