The student news site of West High School

West Side Story
The student news site of West High School

West Side Story
The student news site of West High School

West Side Story
Hanah Kitamoto

Hanah Kitamoto, Print Co-Editor-In-Chief

(she/her/hers) Hanah Kitamoto is a senior at West. This is her third year on staff and she is the print co-editor-in-chief with Kailey Gee. She enjoys meeting new people, along with reporting about West High and the surrounding communities. In her free time, she loves to travel (virtually) on Google Maps and is constantly astonished by how many corn fields Iowa has.

All content by Hanah Kitamoto
Nicolo Schianchi '22, Alex McKane '22, and Caden Noeller '22 sprint off the start line during the state cross country meet on Nov. 2 in Fort Dodge.

Trojan cross country teams races at Spartan Challenge

September 5, 2021
Jade Roghair '23 takes a breath as she swims in the 500 yard freestyle on Sept. 2 in a dual meet against Waterloo at the Coralville Rec Center.

Trojan Bolts fly past Waterloo in first home meet

September 3, 2021
The boys soccer team stands while starters are announced before playing Pleasant Valley in the state championship game on June 5 in Des Moines.

Boys soccer hosts alumni game

August 16, 2021

Softball sweeps Dubuque Wahlert on senior night

July 2, 2021
Marcus Morgan '21 delivers a pitch in the Trojans' season opener against Bettendorf on May 24.

Baseball team falls to Cougars

June 17, 2021
The girls tennis team qualified for the team state tournament May 22.

Girls tennis qualifies for state

May 22, 2021
Eli Young '21 eyes the ball as he prepares to make a play while playing singles at the IHSAA Boys District Tennis tournament on May 12.

Boy tennis wins districts

May 13, 2021
Aurora Roghair '21 waits to jump into the water to swim her leg of the 400 freestyle relay at the Mercer Park Aquatic Center on Oct. 17.

Roghair qualifies for 2021 U.S Olympic Trials

May 1, 2021
Owen Smith '21 heads the ball into the back of the net to put the Trojans up 2-0 against City High at Ed Barker Field on April 23.

Boys soccer fights past City

April 24, 2021
WSS investigates the long-term effects of separating students into different learning programs.

The division decision

April 23, 2021
This photo of Dylan Salge '23 was taken on his birthday, January 27, 2020.

Remembering Dylan Salge

April 10, 2021
Good Time Company rehearses their performance in the West High cafeteria.

GTC to hold performance on Zoom

February 27, 2021
Despite progress made toward the inclusion of transgender and non-binary athletes in high school sports, challenges and stigmas are still prevalent in athletic programs throughout the state.

Beyond the binary

February 26, 2021
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29 West High seniors named National Merit Finalists

February 14, 2021
The boys swim team placed third at the Iowa high school state swim meet in Marion on Feb. 13. The team finished with 208.5 points.

Boys swimming places third at state

February 13, 2021
Kareem Earl '24 is the latest shining star on the Trojan boys basketball team.

Rising star: Kareem Earl ’24

February 10, 2021
Pete Moe '22 calls for the ball on an inbounds play against Xavier on Jan. 29.

Boys basketball falls in rematch against Xavier

January 30, 2021
Liam Edberg '22, Bivan Shrestha '22 and Jonathan Chen '22 perform in a virtual trio.

Cadenza to hold second virtual concert

January 27, 2021
Phoebe Burt '21 looks to drive her opponent downward during her final match Jan. 23.

Girls wrestling competes at third annual state tournament

January 24, 2021
Andy Luo '22 swims in the 100 butterfly during a dual meet against Cedar Rapids Washington on Jan. 14.

Trojan Bolts show off young talent on senior night

January 14, 2021
Advika Shah giving the first section of her debate in the semi-finals round on Oct. 19.

Debate team named IHSSA state debate champions

January 10, 2021
Emma Ingersoll-Weng '22 looks to score against Linn-Mar on Dec. 22.

Girls basketball flies past Linn-Mar

December 23, 2020
Ryan Bys '22 bowls a strike against Kennedy on Dec. 18.

Bowling teams fall in season opener

December 19, 2020

Behind the Cover: Detached

December 18, 2020
WSS examines how the disadvantages students face during online instruction can hinder their ability to learn.

Detached

December 18, 2020
The new club held its first meeting Dec. 15.

Students for Environmental Action club holds first meeting

December 16, 2020

Behind the Cover: Indigenous in ICCSD

November 21, 2020
The Lukachukai Mountains in Arizona are located on the Navajo Nation.

Indigenous in ICCSD

November 20, 2020
The girls swim team placed second at the state meet in Marshalltown with a total of 277.5 points Nov. 14.

Trojan Bolts swim team makes history at state meet

November 14, 2020
Aurora Roghair '21 announced her commitment to Stanford University Aug. 7.

Life in the fast lane

November 4, 2020
The offensive linemen take position to prepare for the next play Oct. 23.

Football team advances to third round of playoffs

October 23, 2020
A three-week pause in West High athletics has impacted team atmospheres and athletes' mentalities.

Broken season

October 17, 2020
Lauren Trent '22 swims breaststroke during the 200 IM Sept. 29 against Dubuque Wahlert. Trent finished with a time of 2:21.88.

Trojan Bolts dominate Golden Eagles in first home meet

September 30, 2020
The Iowa City West High School was established in 1968 and the school motto is

Students return to in-person learning after six months

September 28, 2020
ICCSD granted an additional two weeks of fully online school

ICCSD granted an additional two weeks of fully online school

September 11, 2020
Head Volleyball Coach Keeley Arnold, talks to her team during a Cedar Rapids Jefferson timeout.

Women of Troy beat J-Hawks in hard-fought battle

September 7, 2020
Katie Hoefer '21 fights towards the finish line during the 2018 Earlybird Invite at the Ashton Cross Country Course on Aug. 23.

Cross country teams compete at Spartan Invitational

September 6, 2020
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School board votes to start school year fully online

August 29, 2020
Department of Education grants ICCSD permission to start year fully online

Department of Education grants ICCSD permission to start year fully online

August 27, 2020
Student Senate to hold first monthly webinar

Student Senate to hold first monthly webinar

August 26, 2020
Six current and former West High students share their experiences with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Standing in solidarity: protester profiles

August 5, 2020
Naeji Washington '22

Naeji Washington ’22

August 5, 2020
Josh Hurtado '22

Josh Hurtado ’22

August 5, 2020
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ICCSD board members unanimously vote to delay start of school

August 4, 2020
Tamiah Teran '23 swings the bat in the regional semifinal on July 18.

City overpowers Women of Troy in regional semifinals

July 18, 2020
The Iowa City West High School was established in 1968 and the school motto is

School board votes no in-person classes to begin 2020-21 year

July 14, 2020
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ICCSD releases survey results regarding back-to-school plans

June 26, 2020
Ben Vander Leest '20 makes contact with a ball on June 25.

Trojans sweep J-Hawks in doubleheader

June 26, 2020
Freshman Lexi Nash tries for a double play after an out at first base by Liv Williams '21.

Baseball and softball teams fall to Liberty

June 24, 2020

Trojans fall to Liberty at new field

June 24, 2020
Marcus Morgan '21 swings towards a ball while playing against Xavier.

Baseball and softball teams host highly ranked Xavier and Prairie in home opener

June 19, 2020

Women of Troy host doubleheader against Prairie

June 19, 2020
Iowa City Mayor Pro Tem Mazahir Salih speaks at the Speak Up, Speak Out event.

Second Speak Up, Speak Out event held at Pheasant Ridge

June 6, 2020
6 things that bring us joy despite tough times

6 things that bring us joy despite tough times

June 3, 2020
The joy of the little things

The joy of the little things

June 3, 2020
Seniors Kaitlyn Hansen, Khlood Saeed and Elena Koogler pose for a photo during the senior car parade on May 31.

Car parade held to congratulate class of 2020

June 1, 2020
Social distancing has impacted students' mental health both positively and negatively.

Trapped

May 21, 2020
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Iowa high school sports given permission to resume June 1

May 20, 2020
Yard signs that honor the class of 2020 were placed in seniors' yards on May 15.

Seniors honored with graduation yard signs

May 16, 2020
Sophie Stephens '19 poses as she writes a letter on Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Interrupted tradition

May 11, 2020
English Language Learners at West face a language barrier while adjusting to the new environment.

Overcoming obstacles

April 28, 2020
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West High lunch meals site moves to new location

April 21, 2020
With this school year coming to a close, students may feel nervous about what the upcoming year will bring. A general tip for all grades would be to try new things and not procrastinate assignments.

Iowa schools to close for remainder of school year

April 17, 2020
Fabian Brown '21 runs a relay during a track meet.

COVID-19 transforms landscape of spring sports

March 21, 2020
The coronavirus has been affecting numerous of people around the world.

Five myths about coronavirus

March 19, 2020
West High athletes share their nicknames and their origins.

Nifty nicknames

February 22, 2020
Izaak Hajek '20, along with his teammates and coaches, celebrate as Jordan Christensen '22 recieves his medal on Feb. 15.

Trojan Bolts take home state title

February 15, 2020
Liv Williams '21, Rylee Goodfellow '21, and Ana Prouty '23 cheer from the bench as Matayia Tellis makes a shot and gets two free throws off of a foul.

West takes control of Cougars on Senior Night

February 8, 2020
Katie Hoefer '21 stares down her opponent for the start of her first wrestling match at City on Dec. 16.

Girls wrestling team wins first home dual meet

January 29, 2020
Amelia Stevens '23 and Emily Elizalde '23 joined West High's first girls wrestling team, gearing up with their game faces.

Wrestling with stereotypes

December 23, 2019
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Lacrosse looking to be added to West High

December 5, 2019

Out of sight, out of mind

November 17, 2019
West's girls swimming team poses after winning regionals on October 27

West/Liberty girls swim team impresses at state

November 9, 2019
Pictured are West High athletes Noah DeSaulniers '22, Marcus Morgan '21, Matayia Tellis '21 and James Pinter '20.

No off season

October 1, 2019
Lily Ernst '20 swims down the lane on Sept. 10, 2018.

Trojan Bolts continue win streak against City

September 25, 2019
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