• The Pitch staff is on summer break and will resume publishing in September
  • The first day of school is Monday, August 26
  • Have a great summer!
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Dr. Thomas Taylor, the Board of Educations 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
MCPS Board of Education members raise their hands in favor of delaying construction at Woodward and Crown High Schools. The plan specifically calls for delaying auditoriums at both schools until funds are appropriated for their construction.
Live updates: MCPS Board meeting 6/11
Chronicling GW’s pro-Palestine encampment
Chronicling GW’s pro-Palestine encampment
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
ASL 2 students on the Gallaudet field trip watch their tour guide explain the life of the university’s founder, Laurent Clerc, pictured in the statue to the guide’s left. The tour guide signed in ASL throughout the tour and an interpreter translated his signs into English.
High school field trips benefit students and learning alike
Students sit in rows for very extensive hours as they take exams. This is a common scene all across the US, however in MCPS this sight cannot be found. (Courtesy Pexels)
Point counterpoint: Should there be final exams?
The new movie poster for the upcoming film Inside Out 2. The poster features existing emotions from its 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
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 theyre rejected, theyre not alone. Im scared Ill be rejected from the schools I will apply to, so its comforting to know I wouldnt be the only one, junior Cristina Simpson said.
What summer looks like for rising seniors
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
The WJ Crew team poses for a picture following the Metropolitan Championships. The team had many good races at the tournament, such as the Girls winning the Varsity 4. (Courtesy WJ Crew)
Crew in review: team paddles their way to success
ALL IN THE FOOTWORK: Participants practice their blocking footwork and learn flag football blocking techniques. During the drill, a coach held and moved the ball to one side which participants would have to shuffle over to.
Girls’ flag clinic brings excitement to MCPS
Jonny Venters is one of the only pitchers to ever receive Tommy Johns surgery three times. He had the operation performed in 2005, 2013 and lastly in 2014.
Pitchers look to surgery for success
After taking a hard foul, sophomore Norah Youssef takes her first free throw attempt. Youssef sank the shot and added a point to the scoreboard. Youssef had a stunning performance, helping the Wildcats secure the win against Sherwood.
Photo gallery: Summer league basketball
(Courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation)
Pickleball volleys into WJ this fall
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
Public Transportation Safety Podcast
Public Transportation Safety Podcast
Up at bat: Duolingo streaks
Up at bat: Duolingo streaks
What is your special talent?
After taking a hard foul, sophomore Norah Youssef takes her first free throw attempt. Youssef sank the shot and added a point to the scoreboard. Youssef had a stunning performance, helping the Wildcats secure the win against Sherwood.
Photo gallery: Summer league basketball
Physics classes visit Six Flags
Siblings Podcast
Siblings Podcast
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Ben Kim

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor

Senior Ben Kim is excited to participate in his first year with the Pitch as the Senior Opinion Editor. In addition to writing for the Pitch, Ben also plays for the WJ basketball team and runs for the track & field team.

All content by Ben Kim
Courtesy Raw Pixel

Women’s basketball takes center stage in media coverage

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
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

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
March 21, 2024
Vance Bonior sails over the high jump bar at the MPSSAA 4A West Region Championships. Bonior finished 2nd in the high jump, jumping five feet and 10 inches. Although I had a bit of a disappointing high jump, I was fortunate enough to qualify for states, Bonior said. (Courtesy Vance Bonior)

Vance Bonior reaches new heights in his dual dominance of high jump, shot put

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
March 21, 2024
As the second semester begins, students scramble to make tweaks to their schedule, in an effort to evade the harsh grading tactics of certain teachers.

Variation in teacher grading policies causes concern among students

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
February 2, 2024
Lack of student engagement in class can be a point of frustration for teachers. Oftentimes, it is attributed to disinterest in course content, but there may be a more fundamental issue at hand.

A solution for lack of student engagement in class

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
January 18, 2024
Following the pandemic, schools across the county have been making efforts at providing the necessary resources for their students to cope with mental health issues. However, the shift in focus towards mental health prioritization comes along with neglect regarding physical health.

A holistic approach at enhancing mental and physical health

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
December 15, 2023
On June 29 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. This decision reversed years of precedent upheld by the Supreme Court in multiple decisions, such as in the University of California v. Bakke and Fisher v. University of Texas.

Affirmative Action, the Asian-American perspective

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
October 20, 2023
The WJ boys basketball team maximizes its offseason time by participating in various local leagues, and holding weekly workouts. The general consensus is that playing on the summer league team gives players an advantage come December when the real season starts.

What I have learned from summer league basketball

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
June 14, 2023
Steven Yeun and comedian Ali Wong star in the tense and emotional drama Beef, which came out this April on Netflix. Yeun has been on a run of critically acclaimed projects beginning with the heart-warming Minari in 2020, and then followed up by Jordan Peeles Nope last summer.

“Beef” exactly what the Asian community needs in AAPI Heritage Month

Ben Kim, Senior Opinion Editor
May 26, 2023
How is leadership decided in sports?

How is leadership decided in sports?

Ben Kim, Special to The Pitch
March 3, 2023
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The Pitch

The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

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