New Students at Pierce High School
New Student Profile: Greta Guercilena
by Tazlynn Sporleder
Greta Guercilena is a foreign exchange student from Italy who has joined the PHS student body as a senior. She has a family that includes four sisters and two dogs. Her host home here in Pierce is the Peg and Tim Waldner family.
Extracurricular activities Greta plans on doing include volleyball and choir. Greta’s main hobby is music, so this would play into her favorite class so far being choir.
Greta says that her first week of school went well but that there are big differences between PHS and her school in Italy, such as the classes and the block scheduling. She says the students have made the school year good so far by helping her.
New Student profile: McKenna Windahl
by Tazlynn Sporleder
McKenna Windahl is a new student at PHS. She is a 9th grader and moved from Arizona. Her parents are Krista and Travis Whindahl. McKenna’s siblings include Krista, Travis, Kurstin, Myranda, Brooke, Brenna, Symphony, Joey, Shania, Phoenix, and Paisley. Her family also includes two dogs. McKenna and her family moved to Pierce due to her dad’s job. Coming up this school year, she plans on playing basketball for the Lady Jays.
Her favorite class so far this school year is science. So far, her experience at PHS has been good but also different from her old school in Arizona. In McKenna’s free time she enjoys playing volleyball and riding horses.
New Student Profile: Ashton Schweitzer
by Victoria Orona
Ashton Schweitzer is a new freshman at PHS this year. He and his family moved from Broken Bow, Nebraska, after his dad, Zach Schweitzer, started a new business in the area. Additionally, his stepmom Nicole has family from Norfolk. He also moved with his younger brother Zander, who is in 8th grade, as well as his younger sister Ava who’s 5. He also has two dogs.
So far, Ashton says he has had a great time at Pierce High. He enjoys PE and is excited for geometry next semester. He plans to be involved in football, wrestling, and golf. His interests include playing sports and working around the house.
New Student Profile: Zander Schweitzer
by Tanner Kuper
Zander Schweitzer is a new 8th grader who moved to Pierce during the summer and has started his first year here at PHS.
Zander’s parents’ names are Amy and Zach Schweitzer. Zander has two siblings Ashton, a 10th grader, and his little sister Ava. The family also has dogs. He and his family moved from Broken Bow because his dad made his own business called Schweitzer Construction.
This year, Zander is involved in football, wrestling, track, and baseball. Zander says his first week of school was great, and he is glad he got to meet a lot of new people.
New Student Profile: Brenna Windhal
by McKenna Shonka
Brenna Windhal joined the PHS student body as a 7th grader this year. Brenna moved from Arizona. Her reason for moving to Pierce was due to her father’s job. She says PHS caught her family’s eye, and they thought it would be filled with nice people.
Brenna’s family has done foster care since 2004, and she has 12 siblings. The Windhal family also includes two yellow labs. With only a little over a week of school under her belt, Brenna’s favorite class is Exploratory with Mrs. Birch.
Brenna’s extracurricular activities include softball, but she plays it outside of PHS. Brenna’s hobbies and interest are playing softball, hanging out with family, and visiting her cousins. Brenna said, “Time at PHS has been good, but it is a big change from Arizona.”
New Student Profile: Shayde Semm
by Victoria Orona
Shayde Semm is one Pierce High’s new students this year. He moved from Grand Island after his mom decided after a year of commuting to Norfolk from Grand Island that transferring him to Pierce High would be easier.
Shayde’s family consists of his mom, Stacy, who tries to stay very loyal to the Ponca Culture. His dad, Cody, is in Iowa at the moment but is considering moving back to Nebraska. He also has a younger sister who is eight. He also has 2 dogs: a bulldog named Sage and a German shepherd named Bella, as well as a cat named Snow.
So far, Shayde has enjoyed his time at Pierce High as well as being able to make new friends. A class that he enjoys is English, and he is looking forward to PE next semester. He plans to be in one-act and the all-school play as well as basketball. Shayde’s interests include watching 80’s movies as well as basketball games.
New Student Profile: Kailey Coghlan
by Tanner Kuper
Kailey Coghlan is a new 7th grader who is starting her first year at PHS.
Kailey’s family includes her mom Michele, stepdad Eric, and stepsister Maci, as well as her dad Mike and stepmom Kate. She also has a little brother named Hayden. Kailey also has four dogs named Rigley, Bella, Sox, and Murphey. Kailey moved from Saint Paul, Nebraska
As a 7th grader, Kailey is involved in volleyball and plans to also participate in basketball and track.
For hobbies, Kailey likes to exercise and bake, and she loves the outdoors. Kailey’s favorite class so far is English, and she says her first week at Pierce High was good but a bit overwhelming.
