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The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire

The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire

The student voice of West Potomac High School

The Wire

Peter Rainey

Peter Rainey is a senior student in his third year of West Potomac Journalism. Along with writing, his other passions include hiking and graphic design. Rainey heads creative direction for West Potomac athletics and head-designed the official Class of 2023 logo last summer. Rainey looks forward to attending VCU Arts next  school year, minoring in Journalism.

All content by Peter Rainey
“Chromantic” official cover art: Graphic design by Alyssa Hurley.

Student Produced Album “Chromantic” Makes Waves Around Campus

Peter Rainey
June 1, 2023

525. In 2021, it was only a classroom number, but over the last two years, that number has become a movement. West Potomac’s Music & Computer Technology academy class, led by teacher Mr. Luke Alexander...

Allison Balladares, senior, poses with her mother following West Potomac’s “Next Level” Signing Ceremony. Photography by Peter Rainey.

Class of 2023’s College Committed Athletes—The Follow Up

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
June 1, 2023

If you pay close attention to this newspaper, you may remember an article last November highlighting college-bound student-athletes in West Potomac’s class of 2023. Since then, that list has tripled....

New Athletic Director Takes Reins at West Po

New Athletic Director Takes Reins at West Po

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
May 8, 2023

Matthew Macdonald was introduced to the role in a press release last month. For the first time in 17 years, West Potomac High School is welcoming a new Director of Student Activities.  Macdonald sequels...

State Quarterfinal Flier Design by Peter Rainey with photography from Marcus Relacion.

West Potomac Girls Basketball Sees Season Close in State Quarterfinals

The West Potomac Girls Basketball season drew to a close last weekend as the Wolverines fell 34-42 to the Northern Regional Champion James Madison Warhawks in the Virginia State Quarterfinal round. Ending...

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[Photo] March Horoscopes

Alexis Haymon, Guest Writer
March 8, 2023

Graphic design from Peter Rainey with photography from Sean Daros

West Po Boys Basketball Lies a Win Away From States

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
February 23, 2023

The West Potomac Wolverines Boys Basketball team, who entered the postseason this month as the fourth seed in their district–let alone region–are now a win away from the program’s fourth state tournament...

Graphic design by Peter Rainey with photography from Aldo Razo, Shariez Salman, and Sean Daros

West Potomac Boys Basketball Looks to Repeat as District Tournament Champions

Peter Rainey and Aaron Moore
February 17, 2023

Coming off a thrilling week of playoff basketball and an upset victory over Alexandria City Wednesday, West Potomac Boys Basketball has earned its way back to familiar territory, the Patriot District Championship...

Graphic design from Peter Rainey with photography from Sean Daros

West Potomac Boys Basketball Prepares to Open Postseason Play

Peter Rainey and Aaron Moore
February 14, 2023

West Potomac Boys Basketball opens postseason play tonight with a home matchup against conference rival Woodson, the latter end of a home double-header as the girls host Fairfax tonight at 6:00 PM. The...

Mary Prater in Action

Senior Guard Mary Prater Surpasses 1,000 Career Points

Phoebe Schultz and Peter Rainey
February 8, 2023

Mary Prater, a senior guard and team captain on the girls basketball team, surpassed the 1,000 point threshold for her high school career last Tuesday in a 43-27 win at West Springfield. She was eight...

Ms. Terry pictured with Dr. Millard

Shari Terry Crowned West Po’s Teacher of the Year

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
February 8, 2023

This year’s West Potomac High School Teacher of the Year is Shari Terry. Terry, in her 27th year as a teacher and 17th year at West Potomac, is a beloved physics teacher and club organizer. Principal...

Lorelei Dean, a senior captain, strikes down an airborn frisbee.
Photo: Kevin LeClaire

Girls Excelling in West Po’s Co-ed Sports

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
February 8, 2023

While the VHSL (Virginia High School League) does not offer Co-Ed sports in its participating schools, girls and boys can compete on the same playing field through West Potomac’s club sports which...

Girls basketball team celebrates with coach Colligan  Photo: Team Parent

Girls Basketball Head Coach Brian Colligan Tallies 100th Career Win

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
February 8, 2023

With a 42-32 home victory over the West Springfield Spartans on January 12th, girls basketball head coach Brian Colligan broke triple digits in his Wolverine career win column. “The funny thing is...

Captain Hook (Antonio Amaral) threatens a lost boy. Photo from Beyond The Page theatre company.

West Potomac Theatre Wraps “Peter & The Starcatcher”

Peter Rainey, Sports Editor
November 20, 2022

Peter and The Starcatcher, West Potomac Theatre Department’s fall play concluded last weekend after two weeks of shows. The first play under new theater head, Omar Cruz, Peter and The Starcatcher was...

Wolverines Commit to Play at the Next Level

Wolverines Commit to Play at the Next Level

Peter Rainey and Annie Ghaffari
November 7, 2022

West Potomac’s Class of 2023 comes into its senior year with no shortage of high level athletes, with already north of half a dozen committed to play collegiate sports at the time of this article’s...

Graphic by Peter Rainey with photos from Shariez Salman.

Tackling Senior Night

Annie Ghaffari and Peter Rainey
November 4, 2022

West Potomac meets the 8-1 Robinson Rams tonight in a Senior Night matchup under the lights. Emotions will be high, but the stakes will be higher: with a win tonight, the Wolverines will clinch their second...

Student Leaders Weigh in on Roe v. Wade

Student Leaders Weigh in on Roe v. Wade

Peter Rainey, Writer
July 1, 2022

“Women deserve the right to make decisions about their own bodies.” West Potomac Class of 2023 Vice President Saira Nagda firmly stands on her pro-choice abortion views. In a 5-4 decision last Friday,...

Senior Events Schedule

Senior Events Schedule

Peter Rainey, Writer
May 31, 2021

The end to a 13 year journey approaches this year’s West Potomac Seniors. After an unprecedented school year, the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has made it possible for our seniors to be celebrated...

Behind The Wheel Driving Courses Adjusting to Pandemic

Behind The Wheel Driving Courses Adjusting to Pandemic

Peter Rainey, Writer
May 18, 2021

Student drivers at West Potomac and throughout the state of Virginia are required to pass a guided drivers course known as ‘Behind The Wheel’ before receiving their license. As coronavirus clicked...

Teacher Feature - Mr. Johnson

Teacher Feature – Mr. Johnson

Peter Rainey, Writer
April 13, 2021

Kevin Johnson is a mathematics teacher at West Potomac High School, and has been for the past 16 years. Mr. Johnson grew up in both his hometown Prince George’s County, Maryland, as well as Mitchellville,...

Top image is of the mens weight room, bottom image is of the womens weight room, via. ESPN

Weight Room Differences Between The Men’s and Women’s NCAA Tournament Facilities Further Exposes Gender Inequity Within Sports

Peter Rainey, Writer
March 19, 2021

When Stanford’s Sports Performance Coach Ali Kershner posted a photo of the on-campus weight room facilities at the NCAA Women’s Tournament Bubble in San Antonio, comparisons to the men’s bubble...

WP Wire to Host School-Wide NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge

WP Wire to Host School-Wide NCAA Tournament Bracket Challenge

Peter Rainey and George Poulson
March 11, 2021

A year removed from its cancellation in 2020, March Madness has returned. The WP Wire will be running a school-wide bracket challenge for both the men’s and women’s tournaments, where the two winners...

Team photo post regional championship win.

WP Girls Basketball Wins Regionals, Draws Madison for State Semifinals

Peter Rainey, Writer
February 16, 2021

Following a 9-1 finish to the regular season, the Wolverines earned the top seed in the Occoquan Regional Tournament. After receiving a bye through the first round, the Wolverines drew the Lake Braddock...

Photo Credit to Covering the Corridor

West Potomac Varsity Girls Basketball Off to an Impressive 7-1 Start

Peter Rainey, Writer
January 21, 2021

The defending Gunston District Champion West Potomac Wolverines are off to a 7-1 start and rank sixth in the state per maxpreps.com, which is good for the highest mark among non-undefeated teams.  “The...

This is the view spectators will have while watching games through livestream.

After Nearly Nine Months Without West Potomac Athletics, Winter Sports Tryouts Began This Week

Peter Rainey, Writer
December 10, 2020

After months of uncertainty and changing plans from the VHSL regarding return to play, high school athletics return this week with the start of winter tryouts for a variety of sports which include wrestling,...

Peter Rainey

Peter Rainey, Writer
November 5, 2020

Peter is a sophomore at West Po and in his second year of Journalism. He enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his friends. You can catch Peter on the sidelines of West Potomac sports games...

Photo from a girls Varsity game taken by Madison Kellmel.

Women’s Basketball Enters Final Stretch of Regular Season at 14-6

Peter Rainey, Reporter
February 4, 2020

The Lady Wolverines are 14-6 on the season and ranked 15th in the DMV, according to novahoops.com. The girls are on a five game conference win-streak, and are currently sitting at 5-1 in conference play....

History students win the lottery for Hamilton

History students win the lottery for Hamilton

Lila Reidy and Peter Rainey
December 11, 2019

One hundred twenty lucky 11th Grade West Po U.S. history students will be traveling to Norfolk, Virginia, to watch Hamilton live in action this December. This is a project that has been in the works for...

West Potomac Boys Basketball Opens Season With Scrimmage at Stonewall Jackson

West Potomac Boys Basketball Opens Season With Scrimmage at Stonewall Jackson

Peter Rainey, Reporter
November 22, 2019

The defending Gunston District Champions are ready to get back on the court for the 2019-20 season. Last year the team impressed, finishing with a 21-4 record and reaching the Northern Regional Semifinals...

Last years Field Hockey team, which won districts, will the girls go back to back?
(Photo Credit: Annabella Mason)

Wolverine Field Hockey Looks To Make Second Straight District Finals Appearance

Peter Rainey, Reporter
October 22, 2019

The Varsity Field Hockey team is one win away from their second straight district finals appearance; but to get there, they must go through the Hayfield Hawks.  “This would be our second straight...

West Po Varsity before taking on Marshall at home. They take on Lee tonight.

Wolverine Football Looks To Sweep Lee In Springfield

Peter Rainey, Reporter
October 4, 2019

West Potomac Varsity Football takes on Robert E. Lee High School tonight on the road, looking to sweep the Lancers following last night’s JV and Freshman crushing wins over Lee, Freshman winning 52-14,...

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