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
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

Skyler King, Reporter • March 7, 2025

Standing on the top of the podium, senior Ella Mongenel waits to receive her gold medal. As the medal gets draped around her neck, she poses for pictures with a broad smile on her face. She holds up a...

Taking a breath, senior Parker Huang cuts through the water while swimming the 100 breaststroke at the district meet on Jan. 23. Huang advanced to the regional meet in the 100 fly, 100 breast and 200 medley relay. “It’s been really exciting to see everyone make it [to regionals],” Huang said. “There’s been a lot more people who have been advancing than last year, so it’s really awesome to see that.” Photo by Skyler King

District Domination

Skyler King, Reporter • February 3, 2025

Standing on the side of the pool, senior Ella Mongenel waits for the sound of the whistle while breathing in the chlorine in the air. She puts her goggles on and takes off her parka. After two sharp sounds,...

Sucking in a breath of air, freshman Lily Pope competes in the 200 yard individual medley. On Oct. 25, the swim team competed in the AISD Swim Invitational. Overall, the girls team took second place and the boys team came in eleventh. “My favorite stroke is butterfly because I do the best in that stroke,” Pope said. “I feel like [butterfly] can test how [your ability] to convince yourself to keep going. The hardest part of swimming is convincing yourself to stay strong and keep pushing during a hard race [when] everything is tired.”

Diving Into Competition Season

Kassidy Wilkinson, Reporter • November 8, 2024

The smell of chlorine hangs in the air as the swimmers stand on the diving blocks. A whistle blows and they all bend down in ready position. An official clicks a button, sounding a loud beep. The swimmers...

Senior Abigail Boyle helps sophomore Ella Mongenel out of the pool after finishing their 4x100 freestyle relay and securing their place in the final the next day. “After this picture, I ran to hug the rest of her relay team as Ella waited in the water for the rest of the girls to finish,” Boyle said. “When she got out we all hugged and celebrated together. We were exhausted but super excited for what the next day had to bring.” (Photo courtesy of Abigail Boyle)

Swimming Their Way to the Top

Ava Callaway, Reporter • April 10, 2023

For the first time, the girls swim team, as well as diver and senior Pierce Brooke, took home the gold at the state championship meet as their season came to an end in February. With head coach Les Greenwood...

From left to right, junior Mickie Koltz, senior Thomas Wu and freshman Ella Mongenel pose with their medals after competing at State. All three of the students passed the preliminary competition, with Wu earning gold for the 100-meter breaststroke and Koltz and Mongenel earning bronze for the 200-meter individual medley and 100-meter freestyle respectively. “State this year was probably the best meet experience i’ve ever had,” Wu said. “While I had won last year, the guys and girls meet was separated and there were limited spectators, and so it was definitely not as exciting. This year, though, we had a very large team go from Cedar Park, and that honestly just made everything so much more fun.”

Life in the Fast Lane

Madison Shields, Reporter • March 31, 2022

He dove into the pool and felt the cool water against their skin, knowing it was the last time seniors will swim with the rest of the team. The swim team competed for UIL state on Feb. 19 at the University...

Eyes forward and head out of water, junior Thomas Wu competes at the 5A state championships in February. Wu made it to the finals for the 100yd butterfly and 100yd breaststroke events. “Breaststroke has always been my best and favorite strokes since I started swimming, and I have spent a lot of time and effort working on it,” Wu said. “For the past year or so, I've also been trying to expand my horizons and improve my other events. For example, last year I really focused on the 100 butterfly and I improved a lot finishing fourth at the state championships.”

A “Pool” Kid

Estefani Rios, Editor-in-Chief • November 27, 2020

Jumping off the starting board, he heads straight into the chlorine infested pool water. The lack of spectators are replaced by cameras live streaming and the fastest swimmers in the nation surround him....

Senior Caroline Kessler, Coach Meghan DeWees and Mason Luna-Howell talk strategy during a tri-meet against Leander and Stony Point on Oct. 4. The team won the meet with a total point score of 302. "The best part of the meet was being able to cheer everyone else on," sophomore Marian Bouchot said.

New coach swims to CPHS

Hunter-Rose Comtois, Reporter • October 10, 2014

Splash, swim, rotate, repeat. Then Meghan DeWees' whistle blows loud to define the end of practice. DeWees is the new head swim coach this year. She’s always been into swimming and has coached at...

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The student newspaper and broadcast of Cedar Park High School
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