The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
There is a rise in teenagers using e-cigarettes compared to last year, the percentage of sophomores using vapes doubled to 16%. It was becoming more of a problem in schools, causing MCPS to implement vape detectors. (Courtesy Flickr)
Stopping the smoke: vape detectors to be added to high school bathrooms
Social studies teacher Mitchell Joy lectures during his AP World History class last school year. While the school policy on students use of phones in class has not changed since last year, many teachers have increased their enforcement of the policy.
Teachers increase phone policy enforcement
Dr. Thomas Taylor, the Board of Education's pick for the next superintendent, stands with members of the Board at the announcement on Monday. Taylor is a graduate of MCPS but has never worked for the district. (Courtesy MCPS News)
Dr. Thomas Taylor to be appointed MCPS superintendent
Incoming SGA plans for successful school year
Incoming SGA plans for successful school year
From left: Junior Honorary officer Skylar Zheng, junior Secretary Alexis Batac, junior President Sareen Papangelou. The officers of the Southeast Asian Union pose in front of a mural in the school. The club will join the school roster for the 2024-2025 school year, and all are welcome.
Southeast Asian Union to bring region’s culture, food to WJ
Film Club members gather around a table at Cabin John Park before the Oscars begin. Months of meetings and film discussions culminate in this special occasion, where students can finally showcase their movie-making abilities. (Courtesy Delina Palma)
Making Scorsese proud: Film Club Oscars strike again
The WJ Step Team readies themselves to perform one of their iconic numbers at the 2024 Fall Pep Rally.
Pep rallies should include JV sports
Time to break the ice: best to worst icebreakers
Time to break the ice: best to worst icebreakers
Columbia University is one of many schools across the United States where large groups of students have been protesting at.
Columbia protests escalate
Item bought online from "Demons Basement".
What’s wrong with these new online clothing brands?
The human mind is complex and may be a daunting concept for students. (Courtesy Rawpixel)
Why everyone should take AP Psychology
Travis Hunter is one of the most valuable college football players in the country. He moved from Jackson State University to the University of Colorado to join his former coach Dion Sanders. Hunter has an NIL evaluation of $2.7M according to On3.
College sports are ruined
The new movie poster for the upcoming film "Inside Out 2." The poster features existing emotions from it's past film, as well as new emotions such as Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, Nostalgia and Ennui.
Inside Out 2: Preview into the realm of new emotions
Zendaya scowls into the lenses of paparazzi on the Met Gala carpet. 2024 was Zendaya’s first year co-chairing the Met as she hadn’t attended the red carpet spectacle in five years. (Courtesy Getty Images)
The Met Gala: rating 2024’s best and worst dressed
Twenty One Pilots "Clancy" review
Twenty One Pilots “Clancy” review
Billie Eilish released her third studio album "Hit Me Hard and Soft," on May 17. All 10 songs on her brand new album were able to make their way up into the Billboard Hot 100. (Courtesy Glenn Francis via Wikimedia Commons)
Billie Eilish: “Hit Me Hard and Soft” most viral tracks
Drake performs on his Summer Sixteen tour in 2016. Along with many other rappers, he was accused of being an industry plant at the beginning of his career. (Courtesy The Come Up Show)
Are industry plants real?
Coming soon: movies coming out in 2024
Coming soon: movies coming out in 2024
MCPS’ Summer RISE program aims to provide students with work experience before graduating high school. “I worked with ‘Girls with Impact’...it was kind of entrepreneurial and that’s what I want to get into,” junior Alexis Batac said. (Courtesy MCPS)
Students elevate college applications with ‘Summer RISE’
Students hard at work during class. Many students struggle with balancing work with play. Students share how they overcome distractions and prioritize their work.
Balance between school life and extracurriculars and athletics
The Oreos have been a classic cookie for generations but which one is the best one? Out of all the different fillings, is there one that stands alone? (Courtesy nicoleleec via Wikimedia Commons)
How much stuf is too much stuff?
Special clubs at WJ to check out
Special clubs at WJ to check out
Sophomore Ahrin Letourneau looks through the College Board website attempting to get information about the SAT and ACT. “I’m feeling scared, petrified to be honest, to be a junior. Summer’s gonna be stressful … and I need to be really thinking about colleges and programs,” Letourneau said.
Previewing the summer by grade
A student reviews the rejection wall. The rejection wall was created to encourage students to know that even if they're rejected, they're not alone. "I'm scared I'll be rejected from the schools I will apply to, so it's comforting to know I wouldn't be the only one," junior Cristina Simpson said.
What summer looks like for rising seniors
Senior Hannah Schmidt prepares to take a shot in a preseason game this year against Einstein. The Wildcats prevailed against the Titans with a score of 5-1. (Courtesy Hannah Schmidt).
Divison III-bound: Schmidt commits to Kenyon College
Co-captains Connor Kim and Paul Gomes walk across the golf course during a practice. Both players gave impressive performances in their match on Sept. 3. (Courtesy Paul Gomes)
Golf comes out swinging with win over Clarksburg, Damascus
Senior Ginger Fishberg dribbles the ball into the attacking half, with junior captain Evie Avillo approaching behind her. (Courtesy Spencer Robinson)
Girls’ soccer dominates Poolesville in shutout win
Barons hold Cats in final minutes
Barons hold Cats in final minutes
Girls' flag football chant "Go cats" for good luck heading into the second half of the game in a dead heat with the Poolesville Falcons.
Wildcats lose to Poolesville Falcons 1-0 in 2OT in season opener
Freshman Owen Struzzerio winds up for his shot on Hole #12 a par 3. While Struzzerio's shot did not reach the green, he got up and down for par from a disadvantaged position.
Photo gallery: Golf starts out swinging
Clubs' first meetings
Clubs’ first meetings
Barons hold Cats in final minutes
Barons hold Cats in final minutes
Assistant Principals Jeff Leaman and Terry Heintze, dressed up as Gru for Despicable Me day, mimic the movie villain's iconic pose.
Photo gallery: Spirit Week
Freshman Owen Struzzerio winds up for his shot on Hole #12 a par 3. While Struzzerio's shot did not reach the green, he got up and down for par from a disadvantaged position.
Photo gallery: Golf starts out swinging
A group of seniors triumphantly celebrate their class' victory in the class tug-of-war. It is the fourth consecutive year the seniors have won the fall tug-of-war.
Photo gallery: Fall Pep Rally
Public Transportation Safety Podcast
Public Transportation Safety Podcast
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
WJ Sports
Recent Results
Football
Senior linebacker Dylan Minnick tackles junior Blair wide receiver Jay Mendoza in the second round of the MPSSAA playoffs. With the Wildcat's win over the Blazers, the Cats advanced to the school's first-ever state quarterfinal.
Wildcats down Blazers, look to biggest football game in school history
Mateus Bouquet, Print Sports Editor • November 17, 2023
Boys' Soccer
Senior Sven Meacham commits to play soccer at Yale University. Meacham thanked his family, coaches and team for supporting him in his athletic career.
Sven Meacham dribbles into the Ivy League
Audrey Ring, Online Editor-in-Chief • November 14, 2023
Girls' Soccer
Alec Latifov (middle) watches WJ girls varsity soccer battle Whitman in their 2022 regular season conference match. He stood alongside former head coach Joshua Kinnetz (left) and current assistant coach Fumie Takahashi (right) in his 27th season with WJ girls soccer.
Police officer by night, soccer coach by day: girls soccer assistant serves WJ community for 30 years
Maya Panicker, Print News Editor • March 8, 2024
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Cross Country
(Courtesy Madeleine Simmons)
Simmons cements legacy with four state titles
Elizabeth Finn, Print Managing Editor • May 24, 2024
Field Hockey
Lauren Zucconi is the new 2024 girls’ varsity feild hockey head coach. She has been coaching for 20 years and is excited to be part of the WJ athletic community.
Lauren Zucconi named new field hockey coach
Hillevi Schine, Staff Writer • February 29, 2024
Girls' Volleyball
Junior Stella Lichter spikes the ball against Gaithersburg. The team won the match 3-0, but went on to be defeated once again at the hands of Churchill.
Volleyball eliminated in heartbreaker vs Churchill
Jeremy Silberglied, Staff Writer • November 15, 2023
Golf
Freshman Elizabeth Martin lines up the shot. She went on to score a 61 in the first match as the Wildcats won by 8 strokes.
Golf team stays undefeated after recent match
Dylan Schmidt, Print Sports Editor • September 29, 2022
Athlete Profiles
Junior Mia Milicevic practices her forehand at tennis practice with the WJ girls tennis team. “Sometimes I don’t like [tennis] because you’re alone but most of the time, I do like it for that reason because it really is just you out there. I do experience being part of a team at WJ but in tournaments and when I’m playing outside of school, I like that rush when I win a point because I did it all by myself," Milicevic said. (Courtesy Mia Milicevic)
Milicevic aces her way to the top
May 24, 2024
(Courtesy Madeleine Simmons)
Simmons cements legacy with four state titles
May 24, 2024
Junior attacker Ginger Fishberg carries the ball during a match. With her scholarship to Butler University, she looks to continue her performance on a bigger stage. (Courtesy Ginger Fishberg)
Wildcat to Bulldog: Fishberg Butler bound
April 26, 2024
Senior JR Dubose sets his feet up for a shot. DuBose has developed over the years as a three-level scorer and looks to carry that into his collegiate career at Chatham University. (Courtesy JR DuBose)
Lacrosse standout JR DuBose commits to Chatham University
March 21, 2024
Pro Sports
Jonny Venters is one of the only pitchers to ever receive Tommy John's surgery three times. He had the operation performed in 2005, 2013 and lastly in 2014.
Pitchers look to surgery for success
Graeme Pearce, Print News Editor • June 12, 2024
The 2024 EURO trophy in FC Koln’s stadium in Cologne, one of the 10 host stadiums at the tournament. (Courtesy Raimond Spekking)
Looking ahead at the 2024 Euros
Finn McArdle, Staff Writer • June 11, 2024
The WJ Pitch's bracket league ends in a victory for Josh Hananel. According to the NCAA, over 31 million brackets were entered in the men's tournament.
The highs and lows of this year’s March Madness brackets
Josh Hananel, Online A&E Editor • May 6, 2024
Caitlin Clark guards Shay Ciezki as she drives to the rim. The Iowa Hawkeyes won in a 95-51 game against Penn State with Cailtin Clark leading in scoring with a triple-double. (Courtesy Tim Weight via Wikimedia Commons)
Caitlin Clark shines in the spotlight
Leo Holma, Film Editor • April 17, 2024
Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns set up a throw in for a chance to score. The Spirit welcomed a new coach and new management this season. (Courtesy Ivanka Weerasinghe)
Washington Spirit to start 2024 season
Emma Matalia, Staff Writer • March 22, 2024
Donta Scott jumps for the opening tip-off from Maryland vs. Minnesota in College Park, Maryland. Scott averaged 11 points for the Terps this year but that wasn't enough as the Terps fell to a 16-17 record. (Courtesy Patrick Rouin via Wikimedia Commons)
Maryland Basketball travels into a disappointing season
William Murphy, Photography Editor • March 21, 2024
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