The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Luke Liden

Luke Liden, Print Editor-in-Chief

Luke Liden is one of the Print EICs (Editor-in-Chief) and loves creating the print editions of The Pitch. He also loves sports, especially at WJ!
All content by Luke Liden
A student checks their phone for updates and numbers for their bets. Online sports betting and other methods of sports betting are prevalent amongst many high schoolers.

Bookies: The underground of high school sports betting

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Jun 13, 2023
“[It was] kind of [beneficial], I don't think a lot of students are really comfortable with talking to adults most of the time.” Clifford Hubbard, 9.

Up at bat: Are SOS lessons beneficial to students?

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Mar 26, 2023
Senior captain Ethan Birndorf lines up for a faceoff against Marriotts Ridge. The Icecats went on to win the game in style, 12-1.

Icecats blaze trail towards state championship

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Feb 24, 2023
The Icecats line up for a faceoff in their defensive zone against Whitman. The banners picturing all of the senior Icecats are hanging behind the glass for their senior night.

Icecats enter county playoffs as the team to beat

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Feb 7, 2023
Junior assistant captain and left wing Brendan Klotz controls the puck in the Icecats' defensive zone. The Icecats have continuously had success breaking out of the defensive zone and quickly shifting into offensive attacks.

Icecats rocket to first place

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Jan 4, 2023
Icecats swarm Alex Chang to celebrate in front of a full crowd decked out in black. Even though they were in the process of killing off a penalty, Chang was able to put one past BCC's goalie.

Early goals propel Icecats to victory over Barons

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Dec 10, 2022

Luke Liden chats with the Icecats before and after BCC’s funeral

Luke Liden, Print Editor-in-Chief
Dec 3, 2022
Senior and captain Ethan Birndorf picks up his stick after laying the boom on a Churchill player. The crowd's energy was off the charts and contributed to a more physical affair.

Icecats eruptive offense brings hope for states

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Nov 30, 2022

Nikita Farshinyov bikes through a day of BMX

Luke Liden
Nov 14, 2022
The infamous Barstool logo reimagined with WJ colors. Most "barstool" accounts in the county have a similar profile picture, using the same logo with their own color scheme.

Barstool accounts add to high school sports

Luke Liden, Print Editor-in-Chief
Oct 10, 2022
Senior Caleb Olaez checks the value of stock he is currently holding. After being introduced to the stock market, Olaez has put endless hours into researching and checking the market.

Caleb Olaez: online school and online money

Luke Liden, Print EIC
Sep 19, 2022

People of WJ at Graduation

Andrew Plotnick, Luke Liden, Alex Wolfson and Caleb Kasten
Jun 14, 2022

The People of WJ challenge

Andrew Plotnick, Alex Wolfson, Luke Liden and Caleb Kasten
Jun 8, 2022

People of WJ interrupt AP exams?

Alex Wolfson, Andrew Plotnick, Luke Liden and Caleb Kasten
Jun 7, 2022

People of WJ: The Health Fair

Alex Wolfson, Luke Liden, Andrew Plotnick and Caleb Kasten
Jun 6, 2022
Senior captain Julia Beato performs a front handspring during the vault event. While the Wildcats finished in 3rd place, the whole team gave it their all and had a fantastic last meet.

Gymnastics team takes 3rd place in counties

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
May 24, 2022

People of WJ 3: Students “Pushing P”

Alex Wolfson, Caleb Kasten, Luke Liden and Andrew Plotnick
May 18, 2022

People of WJ: Episode 2

Alex Wolfson, Caleb Kasten, Andrew Plotnick and Luke Liden
May 12, 2022

People of WJ: Prom edition

Alex Wolfson, Andrew Plotnick, Luke Liden and Caleb Kasten
May 5, 2022
The Icecats pose for a team photo in their cowboy hats, showing off their Texas spirit. While the national tournament didn't go their way, the trip was a fun time for all.

Icecats take on top teams in national tournament

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Apr 4, 2022
Jackson Van Wagener squares up against a Wootton defender. His explosive abilities have helped the team greatly on both offensive and defense. The Wildcats would go on to win the game 65-59.

Senior Jackson Van Wagener rebounds from ACL tear

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Feb 9, 2022
Senior Amir Frye takes the field on defense ready to make a play. Frye has played an essential role on the defensive side of the ball for the Wildcats in all of his three years on the varsity squad.

Amir Frye, division 1 athlete in the making

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Nov 16, 2021
Junior wide receiver Christion Wright channels his inner Randy Moss to make the catch in the end zone over the BCC defender. WJ trailed by a touchdown until Wright's touchdown which changed the momentum of the game greatly.

Wildcats wave Barons goodbye

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Nov 12, 2021
WJ alumni Jacob Daley and Jack Liden perform their set at 7300Pearl's Philadelphia pop-up. Daley and Liden have both been invested in music since their time at WJ and are currently continuing their musical careers elsewhere.

7300Pearl’s Philadelphia Pop-Up

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Nov 7, 2021
Junior wide receiver Pablo Foley lets BCC know where they stand. The rivalry between BCC and WJ often gets heated. After making a clutch tackle on a third down, Foley decided to have a word with the opposing team.

The Football Team Silences BCC

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Oct 15, 2021
Justin Davids and Ethan Birndorf race down the ice for a breakaway opportunity. Davids and Birndorf have played both hockey since a young age and decided to continue their careers at WJ.

The Walter Johnson Hockey Club

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Oct 7, 2021
Walter Johnson sets up on defense against Whitman. In their second game of the season, Walter Johnson destroyed Whitman 42-8.

Varsity football winning culture solidified

Luke Liden, Print Sports Editor
Sep 20, 2021
Fantasy football, while created in the 1960s, has remained a staple of American football culture to this day.

Draft day drama disrupts WJ fantasy football league

Luke Liden, Special to The Pitch
Jan 5, 2021
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