The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack
Posing with their UIL State Trophy, the Robolobos Van Halen Team beams with excitement after their win. “It was a team effort,” junior Noah Vo said. “I was happy because something happened in the first match and the match was also really close. So [when] they finally revealed it, I was pretty happy.” Photo courtesy of Amy Lovelace
Drive to Success
May 22, 2025
Smiling at the camera, sophomores Audree Hearnsburger, Haley Evans, Emma McDougal, and junior Lucy Wigert pose for a picture after qualifying for state CDEs in their first year as a team. The girls competed on May 3 and placed 38th overall out of over 80 schools. “Making it to state was such a game changer,” sophomore Haley Evans said. “I’m so proud of us. I’ve never made it to state for anything, so I was really proud of both me and the girls. No matter how we did, I’m just super proud of us for making it to state.” Photo courtesy of CPHS FFA
The Judge of Excellence
May 19, 2025
Broadcast, yearbook and newspaper combined for 66 Interscholastic League Press Conference awards this year. Yearbook won 43, newspaper won 14 and broadcast took home nine. “I think [the ILPC awards] are a great way to give the kids some acknowledgement for all of their hard work,” newspaper and yearbook adviser Paige Hert said. “They typically spend the year covering everyone else’s big moments, so it’s really cool for them to be celebrated so many times and in so many different ways.”
In The Headlines
May 15, 2025
The Tracks Yearbook staff has finished making this year’s yearbook. The theme for this year’s book is “Bigger & Better,” and is organized on a weekly basis. “It was something new that we’ve never done before,” junior assistant editor Addison LoSurdo said. “I think we really delivered on how we did it and worked together to create each spread. The amount of new content, clubs and people that we were able to show on these spreads was a lot more than last year, so I think we should just be really proud of ourselves.” Graphic by Julia Seiden
Turning a New Page
April 28, 2025
Walking students through an in-class rat dissection lab, Anatomy and Physiology teacher Tyler Terry helps them connect rat anatomy to a human’s. Terry also teaches Medical Microbiology, Practicum in Health Science: Pharmacy Technician and is the HOSA sponsor. He expects district-proposed budget cuts to negatively impact class sizes in the coming school years. “It’s going to be a real challenge to try to reduce the number of teachers and squeeze the same number of students into fewer classes,” Terry said. “Classroom management is going to become more difficult for teachers, and students are probably going to feel even more cramped. It’s really hard to give individual one-on-one attention to every student who needs it when the class gets that big.” Photo by Allie Tseng
Budget Deficit to Cause Staffing Cuts
April 9, 2025
Captain Signing Out
Captain Signing Out
May 22, 2025
Holding his opponent to the mat, senior Max Brandt wrestles through the semifinals at Doc Hess, placing first. Brandt has been wrestling for 14 years and after qualifying for state sophomore and junior year he placed third in the 2025 UIL Boys State Championship . “Stepping onto the mat at state, I tried to remember to stick to my good stuff and don’t try new things,” Brandt said. “I had to remember to use the tools and moves I’ve practiced since I was four and I know I can do perfectly. Winning my last match at state, it didn't hit me that I just wrestled my final high school match, but I was happy I ended my high school career with a victory.” Photo courtesy of Max Brandt
Path to the Podium
May 22, 2025
With her varsity jacket wrapped around her shoulders, senior Charlotte Adair smiles for her senior photos. She will attend the University of Texas at Austin with a major in theater and dance, specifying in stage management. “There's only so many regional and big productions out there, but the opportunities that I hopefully will be able to receive are going to be really awesome, fingers crossed,” Adair said. “We are very lucky at Cedar Park High School to be able to do so many shows and have a pretty good budget for most of them, but then you go and see Broadway shows and they have crazy projections and moving set pieces. The possibility of being able to help with that is something that I'm very much looking forward to.” Photo by Melissa McKinney
The Final Cue
May 22, 2025
As summer rolls around every year, I always struggle to find the perfect book to read. So, to help others like me, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books from all my summers spent reading. Here are my top five favorite books: “Edenbrooke,” “Skyward,” “The False Prince”, “Ender’s Game” and “On the Fence.”
Hot Reads for Hot Days
May 22, 2025
Showing off her most recent tattoo and the book it comes from, English teacher Kimberly Vidrine tattoos a line of poetry each year to remember her students. She said she plans to continue the tradition for years to come, or until she runs out of space. “I think my students like it and a lot of people seem to like it,” Vidrine said. “Whenever somebody compliments me on my tattoos, I just usually say, ‘do you want to hear the story?’ And they say yes, and then they always love the story.” Photo courtesy of Kim Vidrine.
Permanent Marks
May 22, 2025
Broadcast, yearbook and newspaper combined for 66 Interscholastic League Press Conference awards this year. Yearbook won 43, newspaper won 14 and broadcast took home nine. “I think [the ILPC awards] are a great way to give the kids some acknowledgement for all of their hard work,” newspaper and yearbook adviser Paige Hert said. “They typically spend the year covering everyone else’s big moments, so it’s really cool for them to be celebrated so many times and in so many different ways.”
In The Headlines
May 15, 2025
Crowded around the newsdesk of KENS5, the broadcast class poses for a group photo. During the class's winter retreat in San Antonio, they visited the local news station for a tour. “When we're brought together, we have more ideas,” sophomore Drew Johnson said. “We have time to talk to each other about stories, and most of all, the winter retreat can be a story. I think bringing us together on the winter retreat really made us think about working together as a team.” Photo courtesy of Anthony Garcia
Behind The Camera
April 8, 2025
Typing away on her computer, junior Stephanie Manoel works on an assignment for her cybersecurity class. Being involved in DECA, which requires students to take CTE course, and having taken Computer Science I in her freshman year, this was the first course Manoel considered as she already felt familiar with the environment. “I’d definitely recommend this class to anyone interested in pursuing computer science or cybersecurity,” Manoel said. “The workload is manageable, but still gives you the knowledge you need. Overall, it’s the environment that keeps me motivated to come to class every time.”
Digital Defense
March 24, 2025
The Brainy Bunch
The Brainy Bunch
March 24, 2025
Senior Rushil Mehta, Junior Katie Liu, Senior Ashley Blair, Senior Anabelle Staples, Senior Jen Nguyen, teacher Amy Buffington, and Senior Kim Dao smile at the camera as they anticipate the upcoming HOSA competition. These students are working together in their Mental Health Campaign, and they have made various preparations for the competition. “We did lots of outreach activities, such as a gratitude jar for students on CPHS and Christmas stockings for children who have to stay at a hospital during the holiday season,” Liu said. “We hoped that it would alleviate anxiety in youth and help brighten their day.” Photo courtesy of Payton DeAngelis
HOSA: Hands-On Healthcare
February 7, 2025
Captain Signing Out
Captain Signing Out
May 22, 2025
Holding his opponent to the mat, senior Max Brandt wrestles through the semifinals at Doc Hess, placing first. Brandt has been wrestling for 14 years and after qualifying for state sophomore and junior year he placed third in the 2025 UIL Boys State Championship . “Stepping onto the mat at state, I tried to remember to stick to my good stuff and don’t try new things,” Brandt said. “I had to remember to use the tools and moves I’ve practiced since I was four and I know I can do perfectly. Winning my last match at state, it didn't hit me that I just wrestled my final high school match, but I was happy I ended my high school career with a victory.” Photo courtesy of Max Brandt
Path to the Podium
May 22, 2025
With her varsity jacket wrapped around her shoulders, senior Charlotte Adair smiles for her senior photos. She will attend the University of Texas at Austin with a major in theater and dance, specifying in stage management. “There's only so many regional and big productions out there, but the opportunities that I hopefully will be able to receive are going to be really awesome, fingers crossed,” Adair said. “We are very lucky at Cedar Park High School to be able to do so many shows and have a pretty good budget for most of them, but then you go and see Broadway shows and they have crazy projections and moving set pieces. The possibility of being able to help with that is something that I'm very much looking forward to.” Photo by Melissa McKinney
The Final Cue
May 22, 2025
Showing off her most recent tattoo and the book it comes from, English teacher Kimberly Vidrine tattoos a line of poetry each year to remember her students. She said she plans to continue the tradition for years to come, or until she runs out of space. “I think my students like it and a lot of people seem to like it,” Vidrine said. “Whenever somebody compliments me on my tattoos, I just usually say, ‘do you want to hear the story?’ And they say yes, and then they always love the story.” Photo courtesy of Kim Vidrine.
Permanent Marks
May 22, 2025
Senior Krish Muthukumar walks ahead on a pathway and said he's excited for the aspiration of what's to come. He spent four years in the school choir and theater programs, where he found his passion for performing. “I've spent so many hours in practice and rehearsal, but it's all been worth it,” Muthukumar said. “The most rewarding part is being able to tell a story through music and performance, and I'm excited to see where it takes me next.” Photo courtesy of Danielle Walker.
Hitting the Right Notes
May 20, 2025
Sitting in his home dugout, senior Kyle McClure stares out onto the turf he has spent all four years of high school on. McClure has been working toward receiving his private pilot certificate throughout high school, and said baseball has helped him learn the leadership skills needed to be a pilot. “I’m really big on how baseball’s helped me grow not only as a player, but as a person,” McClure said. “When it comes to flying, as a pilot, you have to have leadership skills. You don’t want to just let someone else do it because 150 people, 200 people are relying on you to fly that plane. I think being a part of baseball and being a part of the team is really going to help me in my future.” Photo Courtesy of Kyle McClure
From Pop Flies to Solo Flights
May 13, 2025
Bringing her arm over her head and taking a quick breath, junior Lauren Lucas swims the final laps of the 500 freestyle at the regionals swimming competition on date. Lucas broke the school’s 18-year-old record for the 500 freestyle at regionals and again at state with a time of 4:58.63. “I’d had my eye on that 500 record since my freshman year, so I was really excited to see if I could get it at regionals or districts,” Lucas said. “ State is always a really fun experience and medaling for the first time was really great. It was a very very tight race, [so] I was a bit surprised [that I medaled]. [There were] a lot of fast girls at the meet in general, [and] it was like a dogfight back and forth, back and forth.” Photo by Kaydence Wilkinson
Breaking the Surface
March 18, 2025
As the support team sits and poses for a photo in the cafeteria with the counseling team they eagerly wait to start their day. "We [all] seem to be a team, I get up every day and there's days where I don't want to go to work today, but I'm thankful that I have a job and I'm blessed to have what I have," Christopherson said. Photo Courtesy of Julie Weltens.
Heart of the Campus: The Fantastic Five
February 6, 2025
Officer Stephanie Cash is in her second year as an SRO at CPHS. “Seeing [students] grow over the years has been kind of cool,” Officer Cash said. “Freshmen that [are] all over the place and then in the next couple of years get a little more squared away and go to class and do work and start thinking about the future. Being a part of a student's growth is the best way to measure my success as an SRO.” Photo Courtesy of Cedar Park Police Department's PIO, Alicia Gallagher.
Securing the Future
February 4, 2025
Smiling at the camera, senior Nathan Rechtfertig reflects on how the NROTC scholarship program will affect his life in the future. Because he is a recipient of this scholarship, he will join the marines. “It means a lot [to receive this scholarship,” Rechtfertig said. “It’s very calming because a lot of the colleges I applied for are out of state which is expensive and this scholarship pays it off. And I want to serve so it gives me the ability to both go to school and then serve after.”
Nathan Rechtfertig – Future Marine
February 4, 2025
Driving towards the net, senior captain and striker Meredith Koltz scores the game winning goal to send the T-Wolves to State Semis. The team will face Barbers Hill Friday to attempt to make it back to the State Championship for the first time since 2001. “There’s nothing we can’t do together,” Koltz said. “If I make a mistake it’s not like ‘oh do this better’ it’s more like ‘hey, we got this, we can stick together’ and we’re working for each other. Not a single person wanted this goal by themselves, we’re all with each other and we’re just a big perfect family.” Photo by Alyssa Fox
Final Four Frenzy
April 2, 2025
Celebrating a goal, senior defender and captain William Gray poses for the camera. The team finished second in district with a 9-2-3 record. “I am, of course, very proud of this team,” Gray said. “But, we aren’t satisfied. We want to keep winning and go as far as we know we can in the playoffs.”
A Goal-don Season
March 25, 2025
Taking a breath as he raises his arm up and out of the water, sophomore Kaden Padilla swims the 500 freestyle at the UIL state meet on Feb. 21-22. Padilla placed 10th overall and second in the consolation final in the event, dropping two seconds. “My family was there, so being able to drop time for them was really special,” Padilla said. “It was awesome [finding out I advanced to the consolation finals]. I wasn’t expecting it, and I was very surprised. My parents being there definitely made me a lot happier knowing they got to see me swim in finals.” Photo by Skyler King.
Making Waves
March 7, 2025
The 5A state runner up team poses on the podium at the state tournament on Feb. 15. In addition to earning a team medal, sophomore Nathan Reilly won his second state title in the 113-weight class, senior Max Brant placed third in the 126-weight class, sophomore Jett Mentel placed 4th in the 175-weight class and senior Nathaniel Rechtfertig placed 5th in the 144-weight class at the Berry Center in Cypress, Texas. “Watching Max hit 100 wins was really memorable,” Reilly said. “Along with hitting the podium for the second time.” Photo courtesy of Richard Eckley
Victory as a Family
March 7, 2025
Three defenders try to stop senior point guard Hope Edwards before the ball leaves her hands. The girls basketball team faced Liberty Hill on Feb 21, losing 58-40. “[My season was] definitely bittersweet,” Edwards said. It's definitely sad [because] I'm gonna miss all my teammates, my coaches and just the whole CP environment.”
Final Buzzer Sounds
February 27, 2025
As summer rolls around every year, I always struggle to find the perfect book to read. So, to help others like me, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books from all my summers spent reading. Here are my top five favorite books: “Edenbrooke,” “Skyward,” “The False Prince”, “Ender’s Game” and “On the Fence.”
Hot Reads for Hot Days
May 22, 2025
“The Amatuer” is a spy action thriller movie that has you screaming at the main character to run. Graphic by Ingrid Bonner.
No Badge, No Backup
May 22, 2025
High school is full of tests, friends, and a lot of change. Each year in high school is different from the last, leaving the question of what grade is better than the others?
Grading the Grades
May 22, 2025
As the 2025 F1 season tires in, the sport is gaining more popularity than ever. Essential information is compiled into this guide, with information on teams, drivers, tracks and more, helping new fans understand what they need to know. Graphic made by Rania Adil
Lights Out And Away We Go
April 28, 2025
This reboot of the beloved and iconic 1937 “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” came under fire after public relation scandals from the new Snow White’s actress, Rachel Zegler, CGI dwarfs and questionable acting. Although I was hesitant to watch the film at first, I will say, I was almost pleasantly surprised.
Snow White and the Mixed Reviews
April 10, 2025
As summer rolls around every year, I always struggle to find the perfect book to read. So, to help others like me, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite books from all my summers spent reading. Here are my top five favorite books: “Edenbrooke,” “Skyward,” “The False Prince”, “Ender’s Game” and “On the Fence.”
Hot Reads for Hot Days
May 22, 2025
Posing at the Texas border, my brother, Riley, and my sister-in-law, Sarah, hold up a “T” and a “X” for “Texas.” We helped them move to Houston, Texas over the summer, and it’s safe to say that after copious amounts of Torchy’s queso and free access to H-E-B, they’ve been completely converted. Photo by Rachelle Wilkinson
God Blessed Texas
May 22, 2025
“The Amatuer” is a spy action thriller movie that has you screaming at the main character to run. Graphic by Ingrid Bonner.
No Badge, No Backup
May 22, 2025
High school is full of tests, friends, and a lot of change. Each year in high school is different from the last, leaving the question of what grade is better than the others?
Grading the Grades
May 22, 2025
Netflix’s recent releases of sports documentaries following teams and athletes that are in-season, the most recent being The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, which premiered on April 8 has brought attention to struggles athletes face such as mental health and fan interactions. These types of projects are created with an intent to give fans an inside look at the athletes and coaches.
A Look Beyond the Game
April 28, 2025
“The Amatuer” is a spy action thriller movie that has you screaming at the main character to run. Graphic by Ingrid Bonner.
No Badge, No Backup
May 22, 2025
As part of a field training operation, my brother, Hunter Williams, sits on top of a joint light tactical vehicle, JLTV, after going through vigorous activities. Like it is portrayed in the movie ‘Warfare,’ soldiers go through moments that seem unreal to the normal human. After watching this movie, I hope the recognition of my two brothers, Hunter, who's in the Army, and Hayden, who's in the Space Force, will become more prominent as well as recognition of other soldiers in the military. Photo Courtesy of Hunter Williams
The Guts and the Glory
May 12, 2025
Netflix’s recent releases of sports documentaries following teams and athletes that are in-season, the most recent being The Clubhouse: A Year with the Red Sox, which premiered on April 8 has brought attention to struggles athletes face such as mental health and fan interactions. These types of projects are created with an intent to give fans an inside look at the athletes and coaches.
A Look Beyond the Game
April 28, 2025
This reboot of the beloved and iconic 1937 “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” came under fire after public relation scandals from the new Snow White’s actress, Rachel Zegler, CGI dwarfs and questionable acting. Although I was hesitant to watch the film at first, I will say, I was almost pleasantly surprised.
Snow White and the Mixed Reviews
April 10, 2025
On Feb. 27, Hulu released a documentary called “Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke.” The three episode documentary goes through interviews with the two oldest Franke kids (who are both adults) and Ruby’s husband, Kevin Franke, in addition to showing unseen footage from their YouTube videos. I give this documentary a 10/10.
8 Prisoners
March 31, 2025
Spirit Slideshow
March 13, 2025
PackCast hosts, senior Rania Adil and sophomore Kasanadra Reynoso review the 2025 Golden Globes Award Show.
2025 Golden Globes Review Podcast
February 21, 2025
PackCast hosts, senior Rania Adil and sophomore Kasanadra Reynoso review the 2025 Golden Globes Award Show.
Deal With It
February 21, 2025
PackCast hosts, senior Rania Adil and sophomore Kasanadra Reynoso review the 2025 Golden Globes Award Show.
Right or Wrong?
February 6, 2025
2024-2025 Fall Recap
December 19, 2024
PackCast hosts, senior Rania Adil and sophomore Kasanadra Reynoso review the 2025 Golden Globes Award Show.
2025 Golden Globes Review Podcast
February 21, 2025
PackCast hosts, senior Rania Adil and sophomore Kasanadra Reynoso review the 2025 Golden Globes Award Show.
Deal With It
February 21, 2025
PackCast hosts, senior Rania Adil and sophomore Kasanadra Reynoso review the 2025 Golden Globes Award Show.
Right or Wrong?
February 6, 2025
Jonathan’s Corner
March 20, 2024
Graphic by Stef Rios, Wolfpack Editor '20-'21
The Packchat 2-14-2024
February 15, 2024
The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack
The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School

The Wolfpack
Jaden Kolenbrander

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor

Jaden is a senior and this is his third year on staff. While his main activity is writing and posting articles for the newspaper team, he also participates in UIL Academics and the English and Social Studies Honor Societies. He likes to write stories that delve into the topic beyond a surface level, whether it be a club, school event or a book or movie he’s reviewing. He plans to enroll and major in political science or government with a graduate degree in law. Outside of school, he enjoys listening to music of all genres, riding his bike, sleeping and playing (and eventually quitting) video games.

All content by Jaden Kolenbrander
A portion of the debate team’s flier advertising their duct tape fundraiser. Debate team captain Delaney McClure said she hopes the fundraiser will raise the necessary funds to aid next year’s team with their expenses as the formerly debate class-exclusive team transitions into a club. “It costs money to do certain things that clubs have,” McClure said. “I just wanted to make sure that [the debate team] is all set up for next year and start doing fundraisers so we can get to that position as a club.” (Photo Courtesy of @debate_cphs on Instagram)

Duct Taping for Debate

Jaden Kolenbrander
May 22, 2023
Senior and HOSA officer Ryan Liu poses for a photo during his visit to Brown University. Brown University, an Ivy League college in Providence, Rhode Island, is where Liu was accepted and plans to major in both psychology and public health. "“I want to [major in Public Health] because that connects with health equity and helps me develop policy skills to combine it with health care,” Liu said. “I’m also in their eight-year medical program, so I’ll just matriculate into their medical school after graduation.” (Photo Courtesy of Ryan Liu)

Never Liu-sing

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
May 2, 2023
The van of We Are Blood, the primary blood donation organization in the Austin area, sits outside the school. According to senior and HOSA officer Jennifer Pham, the blood drive required coordinating with We Are Blood and the school. “Planning the blood drive required many months of planning and lots of communication with the company We Are Blood and the school,” Pham said. “For us to have a successful blood drive, there were lots of requirements that we had to meet. We had to have a certain amount of donors to even be considered.”

Out For Blood

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
April 13, 2023
Junior Alexander Gilsbach poses with Karl, a resident at the Lakeline Oaks Retirement Community where Gilsbach works. Gilsbach said the interesting stories residents tell will motivate him to remember his life experiences as well. “I've also learned to appreciate my time now, and to remember everything that I can - so many of our residents have fascinating stories, and they are always willing to share them with everyone.” (Photo Courtesy of Alexander Gilsbach)

One Man’s Work Is Another Man’s Retirement

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
April 4, 2023
A picture of College and Career Transition Coordinator Chriss Hexter’s website, which contains a section about scholarships and financial aid. Hexter puts various scholarship opportunities on her site. “The next best way [to get financial assistance] is to just start Google searching for scholarships. I post [scholarships] on my website, [and] I vet the ones I post on my website.” (Photo Courtesy of Chriss Hexter)

Scholars Need Scholarships

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
February 21, 2023
The 2021 -2022 Medical Reserve Corps team poses for a photo alongside their first-aid kits. The first-aid kits were prototypes specifically meant for use by the visually impaired, an issue Liu became aware of after researching Hurricane Harvey. "I saw reports of displacement of visually impaired and blind people during natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey,” Liu said. “Something as small as a power outage or a tornado - it’s hard for people who can see to get through it, let alone people who can’t see. I noticed that a lot of [the visually impaired] were dependent upon their caretakers, so I wanted to make them more independent in the case of an emergency.” (Photo Courtesy of Ryan Liu)

Helping One Kit At a Time

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
February 13, 2023
Members of the Mandarin Club assemble dumplings at their Dumpling Social. The social, which occurred in October, is one of the club's monthly special events, which all try to offer them the opportunity to engage in a special aspect of Chinese culture. “I’m interested in learning more about Chinese culture and Taiwanese culture in general, so it helps me see more into it,” senior Natalia Sanchez-Mejorado said. “[My favorite event] would definitely be the dumplings. We did it step-by-step, basically, and it turned out really good, and we also hung out, with the [club member’s mom] teaching us a few words.” (Photo Courtesy of Eden Yu)

Mastering Mandarin

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
December 13, 2022
During the Nov. 11 ceremony, school nurse Tara Jo Frost recites the names of military veterans who have ties to the school as faculty members, former students or family of faculty members. According to Frost, the Veterans Day ceremony gives students an opportunity to recognize the importance of honoring the troops. "I think that we don't have the ability to see the people that have fought for our country and know their stories, and [the ceremony] gives a chance for a younger population to see the importance, and see the reverence for why we do certain things we do for our government," Frost said.

Supporting the Troops

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 12, 2022

Behind the Ballot: School Board Candidates Q&A

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 7, 2022

Shawn Leege – Place 5

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Brandi Burkman – Place 2

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Trish Bode – Place 1

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Mike Sanders – Place 1

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia – Place 2

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Sade Fashokun – Place 5

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

David Doman – Place 1

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Francesca Romans – Place 6

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Paul Gauthier – Place 7

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Joseph Gorordo – Place 7

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Elexis Grimes – Place 7

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022
https://www.youtube.com/embed/ukcqOMgfwuw

Scott Reese – Place 6

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022

Sharon Bell – Place 6

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
November 1, 2022
Sophomore Emma Weltens browses her BeReal feed during lunch. Weltens said that she appreciates how BeReal focuses on its users posting in-the-moment photos. “I think it’s a good app, it’s less about seeing them with their friends as it is about what they’re doing in their life,” Weltens said. “If you’re not doing anything [and post on BeReal], people reach out like ‘hey, wanna hang out?’ That doesn’t really happen on Instagram.”

Being Real

Jaden Kolenbrander, Editor
October 12, 2022
Wearing a renaissance fair themed outfit, junior Hadley Judd dresses up on Sept. 22 for Throwback Thursday. On this day, students picked an outfit that represented past time periods, whether that be the 70’s disco style, the grungy 90’s style or renaissance fashion dating back from the 14th to 17th century, which was the time period Judd chose. “I had a couple of people who did ask about the outfit,” Judd said. ”I wore parts of it because A- it worked for Ren Faire and B- it’s actually my favorite time period to cosplay as.”

Senior and captain of the swim team Kamryn Kramer swims a lap at the first swim meet on Thursday. Amid the new experiences of leading the team and having a new swim coach with Les Greenwood, Kramer says she most enjoys the social aspect of swim. “Everyone’s best friends," Kramer said. "I’m a captain of the swim team, and I love being a leader where everyone’s friends and being goofy and silly with them at the meets too. The [competitive aspect of] meets are really fun, getting up for each other.” (Photo Courtesy of Sonya Cookson)

Dive In With Both Feet

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
September 29, 2022
Speech and debate teacher Bianca Rocha works in her classroom. According to Rocha, her challenge as the new speech and debate teacher and as the new debate team coach is to uphold the standards and success that debate teams in previous years had seen. “[The challenge is] upholding what the previous teachers have done and maintaining that structure, [and] making sure that all students still have all of the opportunities for success. It’s using the inspiration of what they left behind, but building on that for this new year and hoping that the students can grow [and] learn those new opportunities [so that] new students come join the team and they can see all the trophies that they’ve won.”

New Year, New Challenges

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
September 6, 2022
From left to right, junior Abigail Martinez, freshman Kacey Miller, freshman Jordyn Jones and senior Isabela Johnson pose for a photo at Texas Tech University where the state event for Agricultural Communications is held. Their advisor, agricultural science teacher Shannon Butler, was involved in helping them practice and motivating them for Agricultural Communications, which they placed fifth in as a team, as well as bringing many of them on board in the first place. “I am very purposeful in selecting members for this team who are already well versed in their respective practicums,” Butler said. “I provided resources for the team and formatted practices so they would not feel overwhelmed by the amount of information needing to be learned from the AP and Agricultural Communications textbooks. The girls were a little bummed initially because we had high hopes for Nationals, but were very proud of themselves and their team.”

First State Attempt, First Win

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 17, 2022
Senior Jackson Streit poses for a photo at Duke University while attending its student orientation. Streit is in the class of '26 for Duke University and intends to pursue a major in public policy with the end goal of becoming a lawyer helping foster children. “I want to be a lawyer, and public policy is a great opening into that. What those kids go through is very tragic, and there’s no clearer path for me than to do what I can to right that. Duke is obviously renowned for its education, but I think what sets it apart in my opinion from other higher-end schools is that it also has this culture of teamwork. Duke’s sports are very well known there, and other Ivy Leagues don’t quite have that same culture.  I’m not just paying for education, but for the kind of growth that I can get as a person from being in that sort of ecosystem.”

Marching Ahead

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 13, 2022
Senior and varsity tennis athlete Ganesh Sadasivan prepares to hit an incoming tennis ball. Sadasivan placed second and advanced to Region UIL in the boys double category at District with senior and varsity tennis athlete Jay Kannam. “Our prior tournament, which was [at the Kemah Boardwalk in Houston], was a pretty tough one and we managed to win that,” Sadasivan said. “So we definitely had a lot of confidence going into District.”

Court Battle

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
April 26, 2022
Sophomore Bowie Wu takes a photo in front of a Honors Performance Series Poster in New York City. Wu qualified out of nearly 10,000 contestants to become one out of around 100 young musicians to perform at Carnegie Hall under director Kirt Mosier. "I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the email notifying me that I was accepted into the program,” Wu said. “I don’t remember too much about the etudes or the essay we had to write about ourselves, but I recall not thinking much of it. Experiences like playing at Carnegie Hall will stick with me forever as I continue to develop my playing.” 

From Cedar Park to New York City

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
April 5, 2022
In February, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that gender-affirming treatment like hormone therapy for transgender individuals would constitute as child abuse and be pursued under the fullest extent of the law. According to Abbott, the ban is meant to protect children from harm, but according to modern medical consensus it will have the opposite effect. Much needs to be done to ensure that trans youth in Texas are supported.

A Ban Against Rights

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
March 25, 2022
A picture of junior and Honorable Mention winner Delaney Deruiter’s piece “The Sea of Faith.” Deruiter said that anyone who participates in the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition will benefit from having their work judged. “Even if you don't receive an award, just competing in art events can help you make connections and learn more from similar aspiring artists.”

Creative Vision

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
March 7, 2022
Juniors Abigail Martinez, Jack Polishook and Katie Whitmarsh report for a new episode of the Wolfcast. "Being an anchor and seeing the show be produced everyday has taught me a lot," Martinez said. "I enjoy being able to share the stories of CPHS to the community and representing the Wolfcast. It is important for my co-anchors and myself that we give the student body facts and unbiased opinions while also keeping the show entertaining."

Behind the Scenes

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
February 14, 2022
Juniors Taylor Nguyen, Isabella Swift and Madelyn Roberts pose in front of their Fashion Design project for FCCLA Texas Region V competitions. The project, which involved creating a fictional fashion brand called Hollywood Vintage focusing on special occasion gowns inspired by vintage Hollywood fashion, won second place and allowed the team to advance to state. “It was fun brainstorming all of the ideas and crafting a legitimate project using your own creativity and designs," Nguyen said. "We had to present in front of experienced evaluators while hitting certain Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, standards of fashion design, so while we felt like we did a decent job, we were not at all expecting second place.” 

Family, Career and Community Leaders of State

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
February 12, 2022
UIL Academics teams pose for a group photo four days after the Jan. 15 Burnet Invitational. Senior and captain of the UIL Journalism team Tristan Hernandez, who got first in editorial writing, third in headline writing and fourth in news and feature writing, said that the practice he’s acquired through invitationals and past UIL competitions has improved his writing almost as much as his time in journalism. “I decided to compete in UIL Journalism because I liked the format of the article prompts and wanted to improve further on my writing. While it's possible in school, the timed format of UIL Journalism competitions makes you think quickly on your feet and really get your writing fundamentals down.”

A Match of Wits

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
January 27, 2022
“King Richard,” the new biographical film about Richard Williams, is an interesting and entertaining dive into the man who coached future tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams through watching instructional videos about the sport. Portrayed throughout the movie are his strengths, weaknesses and quirks which enabled him to coach his daughters while living in the streets of early 1990s Compton, California. This film is easily one of 2021’s highlights, and anyone looking for an inspirational tennis story about the bond of family should check it out.

Raising Success

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
December 16, 2021
The Thespian Troupe poses for a photo at the Thespian State Festival in the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Two members, juniors Brady Allen and Claire Poulter won the duet acting competition and qualified for Nationals at the convention. "It was definitely an exciting experience to qualify for Nationals," Allen said. “I’m wishing that we can afford the trip, because advancing to Nationals and seeing all of the activities they have to offer would be a really unique experience that I’ve been looking forward to for a while.”

The Whole State’s a Stage

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
December 13, 2021
The Leander Chamber of Commerce and Leander ISD partnered up with local businesses to present employment opportunities for both teenagers and adults. The Job Fair, which was held on Nov. 10 at the LEO Center, is an important event in hiring more employees from the district, according to Chief Communications Officer of Leander ISD Corey Ryan. “Hiring and retention have been an issue for all school districts, including Leander ISD," Ryan said. "We attend, host, and partner with other organizations on job fairs to keep hiring efforts ongoing. Workers in the area will have more options with all the competition between employers in the area."

Careers For the Community

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
December 8, 2021
Eating breakfast, Junior Scott Marsh sits with his friends in the morning. Marsh regularly eats breakfast from school and said he considers it important for his academic and athletic performance. "Generally, it helps me get through the morning without falling asleep and gives me the protein I need for football," Marsh said. "It's much easier for me to pick up breakfast from school since I don't have much time after arriving on campus."

The Most Important Meal of the Day

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 19, 2021
Executive Editor and senior Brynn Clare designs an advertisement for the Timberwolf Agency. Clare took on the role of Executive Editor, the highest leadership position in the Timberwolf Agency, to have a more active role in the class. "I didn't know about the leadership positions beforehand, but I thought that being able to work a little closer with everyone else sounded fun," Clare said. "Besides, I plan to major in a graphic-design related field and the experience will be nice to have."

Image is Everything

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 15, 2021
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Bill are two parts of Biden’s Build Back Better plan to recover the American economy. Both of them provide well-needed funding to recover from the COVID-19 recession. However, the difference between the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Bill’s legislative processes opens up interesting questions about the need for bipartisanship in dire economic times like these.

Cooperation or Conflict

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 11, 2021
Seniors Piper Vu, Sydney Fuller, and Hemani Goje give a presentation in the first meeting of the Mental Health Club on Oct. 13. The three Mental Health Club officers explained what the club's goals and activities were before letting the club's members speak to each other in a fulfillment of their key promise to let students talk and vent about their lives. "We want to spread the word that you are allowed to vent your frustrations, have good days, bad days, and most importantly know how to deal with your psychological distress," Goje said. "We all come from different struggles and have different perspectives. So, we wanted to respect the different perspectives and create ways to cope."

Taking Care of Ourselves

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
October 14, 2021
Watching the Board of Trustee’s presentation, parents and teachers listen about the upcoming bond proposal and vote being held on Nov. 2. This vote will include the key issue of how LISD plans to fund their $772 million funding plan with bonds. “Bond dollars are not part of the district’s budget,” President of the Board of Trustees Trish Bode said. “Additionally, bond dollars are not subject to recapture, a state law where LISD receives less money in state aid for every additional dollar in local tax collections. Bond dollars are $1 for $1 investment in our district; the state doesn’t remove aid based on collections for debt service."

Bonding Session

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
October 7, 2021
Junior and Mobile App Development student Dominic Caruso works on a project in class. Caruso was one of many Mobile Makers and Mobile App Development students who saw Cody Shilts' presentation and praised the usefulness of the more technical aspects of Shilts' presentation as well as the class in general. "It really helped us create what we needed to do by showing us how to put functions on a simulated app," Caruso said. "In general, this is a very interesting class, and I love the idea of developing my own app, and it has sparked the idea of turning this into a career."

Secrets of the Trade

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
September 17, 2021
Sitting in the cafeteria, masked juniors eat lunch together. Schoolwide, students like junior Yash Shah are in full support of the mask mandate as a necessary measure against the COVID-19 pandemic. "Masks are CDC-approved equipment that amount to a simple piece of cloth on your face, so I think people should at least wear them," Shah said.

Stopping the Spread

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
September 10, 2021
Senior Parker Forbes posing for a soccer photo. After his initial college choice of Appalachian State University removed their soccer program due to COVID-19, Forbes is enrolling in the University of Louisville playing for their Division 1 men's soccer team. "I knew God had a plan for me and that he would place me exactly where he wanted me," Forbes said. I’m super excited for what’s to come, and I’m so blessed and grateful to be playing at the University of Louisville."

Two Sports, One Goal

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 27, 2021
Next year, sophomore Ryan Green is planning to start a geography club that both geography amateurs and experts can enjoy. "The geography club is a worthwhile time for anyone who’s willing to participate. The more people that join, the more fun everyone will have discussing and researching geography together."

Around The World

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 27, 2021
Student Council's full list of 2021 - 2022 officers. Junior Riley Pritzlaff, previously the junior class president, will be promoted to student body president. "As student body president, I will do everything in my power to make Cedar Park High School the best that it can be," Pritzlaff said. "However, a culture is not defined by one person. Ask yourself what you want Cedar Park to be.”

In With the New

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 26, 2021
Senior Aidan Brown has played the saxophone since the beginning of middle school. He plans to continue his music career at UT Austin, where he is majoring in Music Performance. "In fifth grade, we had to make a choice on our instruments for middle school band," Brown said. "Since then, practicing the saxophone and perfecting my craft has been my primary motivation."

The Cooler Sax

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 12, 2021
Junior Sabrina Blount attempts to take the ball from the Dripping Springs team. Despite their loss in the game, Blount thinks the team performed well this year. “What inspired us to get this far was the constant practice and encouragement that came from Coach Pollard and the support from each team member,” Blount said.

Playoffs End For Girls’ and Boys’ Varsity Soccer

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
May 6, 2021
A sample essay prompt for the English II STAAR exam is shown. English Teacher Lauren Madrid said believes that her students are prepared to take the exam. "I will give my students all the material they need to succeed - grammar assessments, opportunities to read essays from the past, poetry analysis and more," Madrid said. "To me, it’s realistic that some of my classes can all score above 80, even if the district isn’t graded by results this year.”

STAAR-Gazing

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
April 21, 2021
Trains are the way to ensure a cleaner, more efficient transportation system for the future.

The Case for Railway

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
April 14, 2021
Gretchen Bakke's "The Grid" explores the flaws of America's modern energy grid, one of the largest machines in the world.

Review of Gretchen Bakke’s “The Grid”

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
March 30, 2021
Navalny leading a protest in Moscow in 2013 about the results of the 2011 Russian legislative election. He was arrested two years earlier for participating in the same protest.

Putin’s Palace: A History of the World’s Largest Bribe Review

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
March 9, 2021
The CPHS campus covered in snow. On Feb. 14, Leander School District called classes off for a period that lasted over a week as students and teachers suffered power outages. "The water supply to my house was cut off for two days," sophomore Caleb Taylor said. "Power came back on the midnight of Feb. 16."

The Big Freeze

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
March 4, 2021
The 2020 - 2021 TMEA All-State placers receive congratulations from the Wolfpack Staff. Adalia Stiglich, who qualified for TMEA earlier this year, is left out. "It was definitely rewarding to see that the time I put in helped me improve as a musician," Gray said.

CPHS Talent Places at State Level

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
March 3, 2021
Point guard Gisella Maul dribbles and runs towards the net while playing against members of Cibolo Steel. Although the Nov. 13 game ended in a loss 54 - 56, the girl's varsity team proceeded to win every game in the season afterwards. Maul owes the team's victories to their teamwork and coaching. "I’m proud of my team for always sticking and working together. Most of the credit goes to their efforts and to Coach Ott for always keeping us in top shape," Maul said.

Basketball Season Comes to an End

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
February 26, 2021
Voting signs at Williamson County voting location on Election Day in Texas.

What You Can Do For Politics

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
February 24, 2021
Every school's healthcare workers receives a vaccine per LISD health guidelines. Vaccination has been part of the district's plan to fight COVID-19. "With so many confirmed COVID-19 cases happening at our school, it’s important that I receive it now to limit the exposure," school nurse Tara Frost said.

COVID-19 Vaccine Administered in LISD

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
February 12, 2021
The documentary “Christmas Treasures: The History and Origin of the Season’s Greatest Traditions” dives into the stories of all these well-known traditions.

A Review of ‘Christmas Treasures: The History & Origins of the Season’s Greatest Traditions’

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
December 23, 2020
Polishook reports for the CPHS WolfPack. Broadcast is one of the sophomore's many interests. “I took Broadcast just because it's a career choice that I'm interested in, whether that be reporting, journalism or operating a camera," Polishook said.

Finding Yourself

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
December 3, 2020
Avaliable on Amazon Prime, "American Experience: The Pilgrims" analyzes the events that occurred around the 132 settlers and crew members of the Mayflower and their colonizing of America.

A Review of ‘American Experience: The Pilgrims’

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 25, 2020
The PSAT Team uses sites like Khan Academy for study material. This year, they used it to study for this year's PSAT, and will do the same for the SAT. “The most useful resource has definitely been Khan Academy,” junior PSAT team student, Tristan Hernandez, said. “It lets us work out practice problems that are similar to the actual PSAT.”

Prep, Prep and More Prep

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 7, 2020
Amid online school, teachers have found efficient ways to digitally convert normal activities. I believe they should be more appreciated and here is why.

An Underappreciated Group

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
November 4, 2020
In March, video game sales were projected to be 34% up from last year. Released Aug. 4, "Fall Guys" is one of the most popular games to be released in COVID-19 season, reaching 2 million. "'Fall Guys' is a game that my friends play all the time,” sophomore Will Davis said. “You can easily make a new group and join a match of about 50 or 60 people. It’s like playing through an obstacle course where you can knock others off.”

Divided as Students, Connected as Players

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
October 20, 2020
In "Stamped - From the Beginning", authors Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds put racism in perspective.

Book Review: “Stamped – From the Beginning”

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
October 16, 2020
Sophomore Kai Gray rehearses drumline show music while keeping in line with quarantine measures. Gray, and the rest of the percussion section, came back on Aug. 24. “Once we’re together playing music, I don’t really pay attention to the masks or distancing, and things feel pretty normal,” Gray said.

A Long March Ahead

Jaden Kolenbrander, Reporter
September 25, 2020
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Jaden Kolenbrander