The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

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The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Junior Sonia Pegoue celebrates her win, after beating her opponent during the Who's #1 tournament. Courtesy Sonia Pegoue
Wildcat wrestlers achieve tournament wins, fall against Blair, Churchill
Gabby Davids, Layout and Design Editor
A giant check is written out for the winners of the "2024 Speak Up, Save A Life Video Contest." This was the second year of the contest, with more entries than last year at 600 video submissions.
Photo Gallery: ‘Speak Up, Save A Life’ contest raises opioid awareness
Josh Hananel, Online Editor-in-Chief
Squid Game returns after three years with a new line-up of players, while starring old favorites like former winner Seong Gi-Hun (Player No. 456) and the Front Man (Player No. 001). (Courtesy Netflix, reproduced via Fair Use)
Squid Game raises the stakes in thrilling second season
Seyun Park, Editor-in-Chief
With the increased use of AI in schools and society, AI detectors are becoming much more common. With them being used more often, the accuracy of the detectors are very much in question.
How accurate are AI detectors?
Jonathan Bahat, Print Opinion Editor
Senior alternate captain Max Epstein celebrates his third goal to clinch the hat trick. Epstein scored the final goal of the game to secure an 8-6 win over Sherwood High School on Friday, Jan. 3.
Photo Gallery: Icecats beat Sherwood on senior night
Seth Stein, Online Sports Editor
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Latest in Print
Meet the Staff
Meher Parsinni
Meher Parsinni
Photography Editor

Junior Meher Parsinni is the Photography Editor for The Pitch. Outside of The Pitch, Meher crochets and enjoys watching films with her cats.

News
Performers and backstage crew pose for a picture at the end of the three shows. The many flags shown represented the diversity of cultures represented in the assembly.
Hispanic cultures shine in all-school assembly
Megha Mohanty, Staff Writer
Superintendent proposes $3.61 billion budget
Superintendent proposes $3.61 billion budget
Seyun Park and Hugo Conquet
WJ, MCPS fall on state report card, other MCPS news updates
WJ, MCPS fall on state report card, other MCPS news updates
Seyun Park and Gabby Davids
New lights create blinding environment at WJ, steps taken to dim them back down
New lights create blinding environment at WJ, steps taken to dim them back down
Madeleine Simmons, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Editor
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Upcoming Games
WJ HS
Sidwell Friends
Jan 17 /4:30 PM / Girls Wrestling
WJ HS
Paint Branch HS
Jan 17 /7:15 PM / Boys Basketball
WJ HS
Churchill HS
Jan 18 /5:15 PM / Swim & Dive
WJ HS
Paint Branch HS
Jan 21 /7:15 PM / Girls Basketball
WJ HS
Seneca Valley HS
Jan 22 /6:15 PM / Wrestling
WJ Sports
Terrific tip-off: Girls' basketball jumps out to undefeated start
Class of '24 Emma Matalia pins down an opponent in a match last year. Matalia was one of the few girls on the team last year and has helped pave the way for future female wrestlers. (Courtesy Geoffery Prior via Lifetouch, reproduced with permission)
The WJ pickleball team finished off their regular season with a smash. The team tied for first in the county championships last Wednesday, winning the Division II doubles tournament. (Courtesy Dave Hauf via Lifetouch)
Senior J.D Peppelman swims butterfly in the meet against Whitman. WJ boys had a few strong individual performances but were missing key swimmers. "When we have our full team back, we'll win," junior Owen Friedman said. (Courtesy Tom Murphy)
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Videos
Injured athletes discuss if the risk of sports are worth it
Xavier Alexander-Pounds and Olivia Korita
Trio of new Board members sworn in
Seyun Park, Editor-in-Chief
Captains of winter sports share thoughts on upcoming season
Addie Strbak and Madeleine Simmons
Students predict their Spotify Wrapped results
Vania Charo, Online Arts & Entertainment Editor
Photo Galleries
Dr. Michael Helgerman leads the Symphonic Band, one of the five ensembles that performed at the instrumental music department's winter concert on Thursday, Dec.12. The performance was highlighted with many Christmas classics such as "The Polar Express" and "Let It Snow."
The track team lines up in front of the crowd in Christmas-themed costumes. Track is the largest sports team at WJ with over 80 members, and the line spanned almost the entire width of the gym.
Feature
The class average grades for each AP Bio test hang posted in the classroom for all students to see. Many students appreciate the sense of friendly competition that is fostered as a result of this system.
Academic competition in AP Bio classes prevents cheating
Gil Gordon, Online Editor-in-Chief
WJ clubs give back during holiday season
WJ clubs give back during holiday season
Noah Prevost, Elizabeth Finn and Abby Kee
Math teacher Tricia Cooper helps junior Caroline Lasko on a precalculus assingment during lunch. Cooper is consistently available for extra help from students as she tries to leave no student behind. “I think she has such a way to connect with students,” Math teacher Terri Bullock said.
Cooper set to retire after 30 years
William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
The derelict Davis Mansion, built in 1926, sits a short distance from the WJ school building. After 40 years of abandonment, the house's exterior has become covered in graffiti and overgrown foliage, creating a foreboding appearance.
Uncovering the mysteries of WJ’s local abandoned house
Jay Resnik, Online Opinion Editor
Arts & Entertainment
(Courtesy Juliescribbles via Wikimedia Commons)
The Pitch’s 2024 Gift Guide
Bea Roberts, Copy Editor
Grammy Awards are lined up and ready to be received by their winners. The 2025 Grammy's will be on Feb 2, 2025. (Courtesy of Wiki Commons)
A deep dive into 2025’s Grammy nominations
Vania Charo, Online A&E Editor
Meyer Gordon performs with his old band, Burnout, at the Comus Inn. Once Gordon entered WJ, he found a new band with fellow WJ students. (Courtesy Mike Gordon)
Freshman discovers music through drumline, bands, teaching
Olivia Stokes, Print A&E Editor
Senior Marcy Harper, co-editor-in-chief of Spectator, gestures to a piece of art being reviewed by the Spectator staff. "I’m very uninvolved in the discussion about what gets in and what doesn’t get in, aside from if any of the executive heads need me to step in,” English teacher and Spectator's adviser Alexia Remy said.
Spectator updates submission, review processes
Liam Barrett, Online Managing Editor
Opinion
Trippy Taco food truck serves students in the WJ athletics circle. As the food trucks return, many students line up to get a taste of these specialties.
WJ should have more available food trucks during lunch
Kaina Sy-Savane, Film Editor
WJ receives much needed improvement with new regulated lights
WJ receives much needed improvement with new regulated lights
Ivan Duchkov, Staff Writer
The track team lines up in front of the crowd in Christmas-themed costumes. Track is the largest sports team at WJ with over 80 members, and the line spanned almost the entire width of the gym.
It’s time to improve winter pep rallies
Zack Roach, Social Media/Marketing
Junior Bruno Lilje studies for the impending Calculus test. The library is filled with students catching up on homework during lunch hours, and seats are constantly occupied.
The underlying effects of an overbearing school culture
Ben Goodstein, Business Manager
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