The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
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
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
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 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
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
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 Wildcats make a statement entrance as they prepare to take on Richard Montgomery. WJ would go on to win the game 53-22.
Fall Sports Previews
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 John's 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
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
All content by Daniel Fanaroff

Boys Basketball vs. Blair

Daniel Fanaroff, Sports Editor
December 13, 2011

WJ Girls Volleyball Senior Night

Daniel Fanaroff, Print Sports Editor
November 1, 2011

NBA Draft Predictions: Lottery Picks

Daniel Fanaroff, Sports Editor
June 2, 2011

The End of an Era: Gary Williams Steps Down as Maryland Basketball Coach

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
May 23, 2011

WJ Pitch Bracket Challenge

Daniel Fanaroff, Onilne Sports Editor
March 16, 2011

Hypothetically Speaking: NBA Needs to Cut Teams

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
March 16, 2011

Brett Who? Rodgers Claims Foreground in Minds of Green Bay Fans

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
February 17, 2011

What’s On My Mind?:Remarks from 35,000 ft.

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
February 16, 2011

Fanny’s Favorites: Wildcard Round

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
January 13, 2011

World Cup Locations for 2018, 2022 Announced

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
December 18, 2010

Movie/Music Video/Kanye’s Magnum Opus: ‘Runaway’ The Movie

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
November 15, 2010

WJ Sports Closes A Legendary Season

Daniel Fanaroff, Online Sports Editor
October 28, 2010

NHL Playoff Preview: Stanley Cup Finals

Daniel Fanaroff
May 28, 2010

NHL Playoffs: Conference Finals

Daniel Fanaroff
May 13, 2010

Season Wrap-Up: Varsity Tennis

Daniel Fanaroff
May 12, 2010

NHL Playoffs: Round Two

Daniel Fanaroff
April 29, 2010

NBA Playoff Preview: Round One

Daniel Fanaroff
April 15, 2010

NHL Playoff Preview

Daniel Fanaroff
April 13, 2010

Boys Tennis: April 8, 4-3

Daniel Fanaroff
April 12, 2010

Serving Up a Storm: Sophomore Volleyball Player Halid Hamadi

Daniel Fanaroff
April 7, 2010

Boys Tennis: March 23, 7-0

Daniel Fanaroff
March 24, 2010

Fear the Turtle

Daniel Fanaroff
March 19, 2010

Indoor Track: Season Wrap-Up

Daniel Fanaroff
March 9, 2010

‘Leave Elin Alone:’ Our Take on the Tiger Woods Speech

Daniel Fanaroff
February 20, 2010

Olympic Hockey Preview

Daniel Fanaroff
February 16, 2010

Indoor Track: MoCo Championships

Daniel Fanaroff
February 1, 2010

Go Big or Go Home: Shaun White

Daniel Fanaroff
January 28, 2010

NFL Recap 2009: The Top 5 Stories of the Season

Daniel Fanaroff
January 12, 2010

Varsity Wrestling: Jan. 6; 21-54

Daniel Fanaroff
January 11, 2010

Ice Hockey: Dec 12, 0-10

Daniel Fanaroff
December 15, 2009

Michael Oher Biopic “The Blind Side” Scores Big

Daniel Fanaroff
November 30, 2009

Girls Soccer Season Wrap-Up

Daniel Fanaroff
November 9, 2009

Cross Country: Boys and Girls Sweep Regionals, Prepare for States

Daniel Fanaroff
November 9, 2009

Fall Sports Wrap-Up: Varsity Girls Soccer

Daniel Fanaroff
November 6, 2009

Varsity Field Hockey: Nov. 3. 1-2

Daniel Fanaroff
November 4, 2009

Varsity Girls Volleyball: 3-0, Nov. 3

Daniel Fanaroff
November 4, 2009

Varsity Girls Soccer Oct. 12, 2-3

Daniel Fanaroff
October 20, 2009

Cross Country: Running to the Top

Daniel Fanaroff
October 7, 2009

CH1NA: The Story of Two WJ Students Quarantined

Daniel Fanaroff
October 2, 2009

Student Lunch Preferences: Chipotle

Daniel Fanaroff
September 30, 2009
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