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By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

By the students, for the students of Central Washington University

The Observer

Parker Wood

Parker Wood, Sports Editor

All content by Parker Wood
Junior Punter Wyatt Redding pointing to camera.

Special teams continue to secure success for CWU

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
November 6, 2025

The special teams side of CWU Football has been an essential part in the team’s success. Of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) football accolades awarded to CWU, two of the four have been awarded to special...

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Photo courtesy of Parker Wood

“No a los Reyes” desde Ellensburg hasta Washington D.C: surgen protestas en todo el mundo

Lucas Pierron and Parker Wood
November 4, 2025

Las protestas nacionales llamadas “No a los Reyes” se extendieron por todo el país el pasado sábado. Fue otro día de manifestaciones pacíficas organizadas contra Trump y las recientes decisiones...

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CWU celebrates multi-day Dia de los Muertos festival

CWU celebrates multi-day Dia de los Muertos festival

Mulholland Dunlap and Parker Wood
November 4, 2025

Photos courtesy of Fabi Vargas, Izellah Rainer and Bianca Gil De Lamadrid The importance of celebrating Día de los Muertos The Day of the Dead, also known as Día de los Muertos, is a multi-day...

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Photo courtesy of Parker Wood

“No Kings” from Ellensburg to Washington, D.C. : Protests pop-up around the world

Parker Wood and Lucas W. Pierron
October 23, 2025

Nationwide “No Kings” protests swept the country this past Saturday with another day of organized peaceful demonstrations against Trump and his administration's recent policy decisions in the United...

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Justice Taylor celebrating touchdown with Kennedy McGill against Eastern New Mexico (Photo Courtesy of Nevaeh Capetillo)

Wildcats celebrate a Homecoming Victory

Parker Wood and Tage Dayton
October 23, 2025

CWU held their annual homecoming game on Oct. 18, hosting Texas A&M Kingsville at Tomlinson Stadium. The Wildcats held strong through the rain and cold, outscoring the Javelinas 24-21, extending their...

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Jalen Owens in coverage against UTPB receiver.

CWU steals win from sixth ranked UT Permian Basin, jumps to first in LSC

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
October 16, 2025

On Oct. 11, the Central Washington University (CWU) Wildcats beat University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) Falcons in a tight 27-14 matchup. The Wildcats entered the day as underdogs, sitting at No. 13...

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Chase Coalson analyzing West Texas A&M offense.

Catching up with the ‘Cats: CWU Sports recap

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
October 2, 2025

Some of the biggest Wildcat sports programs start well before students jump back onto campus for fall quarter. The school’s football team started their season with a strong 3-1 start, two of those wins...

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Emy Ntekpere smiling during the GNAC Outdoor Championship.

Emy Ntekpere jumps into the record books

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
June 5, 2025

Emy Ntekpere is finishing her second year at Central and has already written her name not only in Central Washington University’s Track and Field record book but also in the Great Northwest Athletic...

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Protest signs at March For Your Rights protest.

“Educación, no deportación:” Marcha por tus derechos, una protesta estudiantil, marcha bajo la lluvia

La Universidad de Central se ha convertido en un anfitrión habitual de las protestas de los estudiantes. Después de la protesta contra las reducciones presupuestarias de la Universidad, una protesta...

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Emy Ntekpere on the podium.

Wildcat wins two National Championships: NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championship results

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
May 29, 2025

On Tuesday, May 13, the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II (NCAA DII) announced the qualifiers for the 2025 Track and Field Outdoor Championships in Pueblo, Colo.. Among them, seven Wildcats...

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Malik Cantu (Left) watching Hondo Acosta-Vega (Right) give his oaths at inauguration.

[Photo] Q&A With Incoming ASCWU President Hondo Acosta-Vega

Kyley Glenn, Lead Reporter
May 29, 2025

Malik Cantu (Left) watching Hondo Acosta-Vega (Right) give his oaths at inauguration.

Protesters marching at March For Your Rights protest across campus.

“Education, not Deportation:” March For Your Rights marched through the rain

CWU has become a regular host of student protests. Following the protest against CWU budget cuts, the Environmental Club hosted a protest called “March for Your Rights”.  Students as well as citizens...

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Photo by Kyley Glenn

Abortion protest and counter-protest breaks out in front of Discovery Hall

Parker Wood
May 22, 2025

A Christian anti-abortion group named “Tiny Heartbeat Ministries” came to Central Washington University and Western Washington University with signs of “lives violently taken” in front of Discovery...

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Emy Ntekpere and E'lexis Hollis showing off their Athlete of the Meet awards

CWU Track and Field athletes take home gold at GNAC championship

Parker Wood, Lead Reporter
May 22, 2025

On May 9 and 10, the Central Washington University Track and Field team met with many other schools at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, Wash. to compete in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Track...

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Photo by Parker Wood

Wildcats Takeover: Mariners host CWU Night at T-Mobile Park

Parker Wood, Lead Reporter
May 1, 2025

The annual CWU night hosted by the Seattle Mariners was electric, with the Mariners slamming the Marlins in a 14-0 wipeout. The Wildcat experience started before the first pitch was thrown, with both students...

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Emy Ntekpere celebrating National Championship win on March 15

Records are meant to be broken: Track and Field bring home GNAC Team of the Week honors

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
April 10, 2025

Central Washington University (CWU) Track and Field athletes met in Texas for the Bobcat Invitational and Texas Relays from March 26 to 29 and came home with multiple personal bests (PB), school records,...

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Karsyn Decker coming up to bat

Double the Power, Double the Joy: Karsyn Decker launches first two career home runs

Jackson Roberts and Parker Wood
April 10, 2025

Coming into the 2025 softball season, senior outfielder Karsyn Decker, out of Anchorage, Alaska had yet to hit a home run in her collegiate career. During a four game road series taking on Montana State...

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Capri Sims defending the paint.

CWU sophomore Capri Sims captures second career GNAC honors

Hudson Moore and Parker Wood
February 27, 2025

Sophomore Forward Capri Sims earned the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Feb. 10. Sims started her freshman year at CWU in the 2023-2024 season,...

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Sunny Huerta running up the court.

Sunny Huerta breaks 22 year old CWU record

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
February 6, 2025

On Jan. 25, 5 foot 4 inch senior Sunny Huerta broke the CWU record for All-Time women’s scorer in Basketball. Huerta entered the game just shy of the record and despite scoring less points than her average...

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Sunny Huerta (Right) fighting through Anchorage defenders.

‘Cats Continue Carving the Competition: Winter Break Recap

Parker Wood, Sports Editor
January 16, 2025

While CWU students went home for Winter Break, women's and men's basketball both continued to represent the Wildcats, playing multiple games between the last days of finals, Dec. 13, and the first day...

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(Photo courtesy of Pexels)

The Justice League’s starting offense

Parker Wood, Columnist
November 21, 2024

The Legion of Doom has made the ultimate gamble– They have challenged the Justice League of America (JLA) to an 11 on 11 football match for control of the world. Superman, being the goodie two-shoes...

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Gavin, Jaxin, and Tina McCallum after a high school game.

Brothers in Arms

Parker Wood, Staff Reporter
November 14, 2024

The Central Washington Wildcat family is a vast and expansive one, shown by the generations who continue to attend the college, in the alumni and the different sports teams. The Wildcat football team has...

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Tanner Volk celebrating on the field. (Photo courtesy Nevaeh Capetillo)

A ball hawk among Wildcats

Parker Wood, Staff Reporter
November 12, 2024

Central Washington University has one of the best defenses in the Lone Star Conference (LSC), boasting the second lowest points allowed with 121 points through nine games, in part due to senior defensive...

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'Cats on the sideline. (Photo by Parker Wood)

Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting

Parker Wood, Staff Reporter
October 31, 2024

Oct. 26 was a busy day for Wildcats as five different Wildcat teams took on a variety of matchups, including a championship for cross country and a homecoming game for the football team. With only one...

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Team members cheering on the sideline. (Photo courtesy of Jacob Thompson Sports Media)

Back in Black: Women’s Rugby wins home-opener, season debut 106-0

Parker Wood, Staff Reporter
October 25, 2024

The Wildcats women’s rugby team returns to the field after 168 days. After losing seven of their last nine games, the Wildcats made their debut at home on Oct. 19. With new and returning faces alike,...

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Marianna Payne (Photo courtesy Jacob Thompson sports media)

Wildcats surge ahead

Parker Wood, Staff Reporter
October 17, 2024

The Wildcats volleyball team have started the season with seven straight conference wins, continuing an eight conference game winning streak they ended last season with before falling in the NCAA West...

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Jordan Bartlow kicking ball. (Photo courtesy Andy Guerrero Sports Media)

660 days later… Jordan Bartlow Returns

Parker Wood, Staff Reporter
October 9, 2024

After two surgeries and being told to hang up her cleats, Jordan Bartlow is back on the field for CWU after 660 days. Bartlow suffered a back injury early in 2023 but recently got cleared by doctors...

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