The Paw Print

Coach Hawkins gets historic 600th win as head coach of Wildcat baseball
Hunter Reid, Contributing Writer | April 23, 2025
Special education teacher nominated for National Life Groups Life Changer of the Year award
Abby Jackson, Contributing Writer | April 23, 2025
Normal West theater debuts ‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ this weekend
Makinzee Boyer, Editor-in-Chief | April 22, 2025
Students get real life experience fishing on half day
Owen Voorheis, Contributing Writer | April 22, 2025
Senior brick tradition continues to bring color to Normal West hallways
Raya Radoslavova, Editor | April 21, 2025
E-sports continues success, looks forward to sectionals and state finals
Jo Brown, Editor-in-Chief | April 17, 2025
Normal West Mock Trial ends the year making history for 2nd time in 3 years
Owen Voorheis, Contributing Writer | April 17, 2025
For first time ever, the Paw Print staff sends 4 journalists to the IHSA state competition
Paw Print Staff | April 17, 2025
Normal West legend heads in different but familiar direction in retirement
Adsea Schieler, Contributing Writer | April 14, 2025
Prom 2025 set for May 3 at ISU Bone Student Center
Raya Radoslavova, Editor | April 8, 2025

Prom 2025

Bring that Wildcat energy to the dance floor!

News

Mrs. Kristy Fairfield has been a special education teacher at Normal West since the doors opened in 1995. Fairfield continues to make an impact on all of her students and was recently nominated for the LifeChanger award.

Special education teacher nominated for National Life Groups Life Changer of the Year award

Abby Jackson, Contributing Writer • April 23, 2025

Normal West Special Education teacher Kristy Fairfield was recently nominated for the Life Changer of the year award. National Life Groups Life Changer of the Year is an...

Many of the ensemble crew stopped their set build to smear black paint on their worker costumes to appear like coal workers. Hadestown: Teen Edition will hit the stage this weekend with various shows.

Normal West theater debuts ‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ this weekend

Makinzee Boyer, Editor-in-Chief • April 22, 2025

English teacher, Mr. Jeff Kroesch recently took a group of students to Urbana, IL to the H-Mart, an Asian market. The students had recently read a book that inspired the trip.

Creative writing class takes trip to Urbana’s H-Mart

Gilberto Cornejo and Owen Voorheis • April 22, 2025

Juniors Makinzee Boyer, Raya Radoslavova, and Jo Brown along with Seniors Owen Voorheis and Hunter Reid all competed in the IHSA Journalism sectional on Saturday, April 5. Boyer, Radoslavova, Voorheis, and Reid all placed in the top 3 of their events, qualifying them for the State Championships at Heartland Community College on Friday, April 25. Reid was Normal West's first sectional champion in Sports Writing.

For first time ever, the Paw Print staff sends 4 journalists to the IHSA state competition

Paw Print Staff • April 17, 2025

Since the 1998-1999 school year, Normal West has allowed seniors to paint a brick to leave a lasting legacy as they head out into the real world. Mr. Tim Franz, current business teacher, was a key part of getting this West favorite started.

Feature

Senior brick tradition continues to bring color to Normal West hallways

Raya Radoslavova, Editor • April 21, 2025

The Unit 5 E-sports team has quickly made a name for themselves, and the above team is one of the reasons. This crew was the state champions in Fortnite.

Feature

E-sports continues success, looks forward to sectionals and state finals

Jo Brown, Editor-in-Chief • April 17, 2025

Under the guidance of Dr. John Bierbaum and Seniors Benedicte Diamonika, Bailey Vaux, Belle Phillips, Austin Miller, Lena Ganschow, and Isabella Gilbert, the Normal West Mock Trial team had another stellar season, making history for a downstate mock trial team. They placed 3rd at the state competition.

Feature

Normal West Mock Trial ends the year making history for 2nd time in 3 years

Owen Voorheis, Contributing Writer • April 17, 2025

Sports

Normal West baseball coach, Chris Hawkins, was recently recognized for winning his 600th game against Champaign Central High School, with a final score of 8-0. Hawkins and crew are currently 12-6 and will take on Normal Community tonight at 4:30 pm.

Coach Hawkins gets historic 600th win as head coach of Wildcat baseball

Hunter Reid, Contributing Writer • April 23, 2025

After 21 years, Normal West varsity baseball coach Chris Hawkins reached the milestone of 600 career wins. Hawkins, who's been at West since 1998 as an assistant and a...