This time of the year, West Jordan comes together as a family to help raise money for charity! Charity season is an important and meaningful tradition for us because we’re helping others and raising awareness in our community. This year's charity is Incly Ohana—an amazing, supportive, and family-oriented organization.

West Jordan has already raised a significant amount of money, and it means so much to everyone involved. Every year, West Jordan holds activities such as odd jobs, which take place almost every day after school from 4–7 pm. To help raise funds, students come together to perform acts of service for anyone in need.

I’ve had experience with these odd jobs, including going door-to-door within assigned neighborhood groups to raise money. We offer services like dog walking and many other tasks. People can donate any amount for any job, because every little bit counts!

Last year, West Jordan High School raised approximately $40,000. This year, I believe we can raise even more for Incly Ohana and help bring smiles to even more families. Let’s go, Jags!!

Utah vs. BYU (or the Holy War) is one of the biggest college football rivalries, and it is arguably the biggest sporting event of the year in the state of Utah. Former alumni, current students, teenagers applying to these schools, football fans, and everyone in between look forward to this annual contest. I took a poll of West Jordan High School students to see who they thought would win the game, and the results I got were slightly in favor of the Utes. Out of 60 people polled, 35 predicted a Utah victory, while 25 thought BYU would win. 

It turned out that the 25 predicting BYU to win were correct, as this year’s game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on BYU’s campus in Provo ended in a 24-21 Cougar victory. Much like the Holy War games over the past couple of years, this edition of the rivalry didn’t disappoint. The Cougars, coming into the game ranked 15th in the country, were able to hold off the 23rd-ranked Utes behind stellar performances from quarterback Bear Bachmeier, running back LJ Martin, safety Tanner Wall, and several others. Utah, although favored to win, had several costly mistakes that proved too much to overcome, including two turnovers and some failed fourth-down attempts deep in BYU’s territory. The Utes almost completed a miracle comeback late in the game, however, scoring a touchdown with 1:24 remaining and nearly completing an onside kick to regain possession right after.

The win for the Cougars marks their third straight in the rivalry, while Utah looks to regain momentum following its second loss of the season. Both teams are playing quite well this year, and there are several key games left for both squads as they try to qualify for the Big 12 Championship Game.

Most people don’t go to the nearest church to be blessed when they accidentally cross paths with a black cat, at least not anymore. Those who did go out of their way to be cleansed probably read the statement the Catholic church published in the 13th century, directly linking black cats to Satan and starting the spiral of rumors that have led to the superstitions most people know today. 

Including their link to witchcraft, which was pushed by the church because of the link between the felines and witches. Not only were cats used as mousers by these women, but the animals’ behavior and indifference towards people reminded many of the independent women that they belonged to. 

And although many cultures have worshiped and praised black cats, the superstition surrounding them has overwhelmed those good sentiments. Many studies and shelters confirm the fact that black cats are adopted far less than other cat breeds and colors. This makes them much more likely to be euthanized than the other animals sent in. So maybe next time you are thinking about adopting a furry friend, pick up a black cat from your local shelter.

“The best way to create the future is to see it on a chessboard,” said Junior Sienna Newson. Are you interested in learning more about chess, or are you a master of chess? Either way, you’ll love to join the Chess Club! This club is fun, exciting, and you can always just come and hang out and talk to people; you don’t have to play if you don’t want to! As you assumed, the Chess club is about…CHESS! They meet every Wednesday in room E-26 from 2:30 - 3:30. If you don’t wanna join chess now, you can always join later; This club lasts the full school year.

A few years ago, a ton of kids did a fundraiser that helped pay for expenses for the future. So don’t worry about having to pay, it’s completely free to join! Later on, you are able to go to tournaments; they don’t know how many yet, but once you join, you can find out soon. You’ll be playing with people both adept and novice and begin to develop your skill throughout the year, slowly becoming a chess master. 

“Wrestling is not for the weak; however, it can be the most rewarding,” said Porter Jones (12th grade) as we interviewed him during Club Rush. One of the biggest things that we found during the interview is that they make very strong friendships and bonds with each other. Not only do they grow strong relationships, but they also get physically strong. This can be one of the hardest things about joining wrestling, but in the end, it is most rewarding. 

The wrestling club offers challenging matches for all weight classes, ranging from the biggest students to the smallest; the club is open to anyone willing to put in the work and determination. They hold their practices every day, and on the weekends, they have their matches. This year, they will be able to get to take an overnight trip to Box Elder, which they are all very excited about. They want to share the love they have for the sport and want others to join. They are willing and want to teach new people, so the wrestling club is a great first choice for a sports club.

Mario Kart is a family-friendly game that everyone loves. West Jordan’s E-Sports club agrees. The E-sports club is a wonderful way to get engaged in the school activities. After school every Wednesday and Thursday from 2:30-4:00, the E-Sports team will meet as they teach and compete in games like Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart. Practices and meetings aren’t mandatory unless you are playing in a real match against another high school’s E-sports team. 

That’s right! The E-Sports team has head-to-head battles with other schools as they fight for a spot in the final tournament at a local college. The club is fun, exciting, and helps you build great friendships with teammates along the way. One representative, Nolan Roy, even says that playing video games can become a career! Now, you're probably wondering, How do I sign up? It’s easy: Just talk to Coach Tracy if you have questions or if you want to sign up. Sign-up closes soon and is only available at the beginning of the school year, so don't miss it!

Making a splash onto the scene is the West Jordan High School Swim Team. A competitive group of students led by dedicated coaches and parents, they valiantly stroke forward into a new season. We interviewed Coach Copp and volunteer parent Karen Sandstrom at the Swim Team booth during Club Rush to try and see what all this buzz was about. The Swim team has been a lesser-seen sports group within the High School, not attracting the big crowds that basketball and football bring. However, this doesn’t mean these athletes aren’t dedicated to their craft. Even though it’s a large time commitment (practices are at 5:15 in the morning), Coach Copp encourages all students to join, stating that the personal growth that she has seen in each of her athletes is incredible. Last year, the Swim Team had thirty-five members. This year, they are expecting to have upwards of fifty. Because of the growing interest, this will be the first year that the Swim Team will host real tryouts. 

This growth has been an upward trend seen recently through the years of the high school Swim Team, with the number of swimmers growing since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. This growth in numbers and skill was seen last year when the Swim Team placed third in the region for both the men's and women's teams. Now they hope to hold their position as the new schools enter the region, and though they are larger, Coach Copp is confident in their ability to hold on to their podium position. “It’s a competitive region, but we hope to do just as well, if not exceed our success from last year.” 

The Swim Team accepts anyone, no matter how much swim experience they have. The Coaches are experienced teachers and leaders, well able to help anyone on any level. If interested in joining the team, contact the coaches and visit a practice to see if you would be interested. We wish the best of luck to all swimmers out there. Have an amazing season!