The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Junior club treasurer Lily Bienfang unlocks the equipment collection bin. As of April 2024, the WJ LPF club became the bin ambassador for the Falls Road bin.
WJ LPF club levels the playing field
WJ Food4All serves community
WJ Food4All serves community
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.
A look at the winners of the Board of Education elections
NAHS brushes up creative murals
NAHS brushes up creative murals
Social studies teacher Mitchell Joy analyzes an AP World student's work using the timeline feature in the Brisk program. Brisk allows educators to see students type each word, making it much easier for teachers to ensure that students do not use AI or other students' work to cheat.
New academic integrity systems strengthen WJ grading system
With phase I of construction completed, Woodward High School now accommodates Northwood students. Phase II and III of the project have yet to be started, and will likely incorporate the construction of an athletics field and auditorium. (Courtesy MCPS)
MCPS miscalculation leads to $39 million construction deficit
The college and career center there are many pamphlets on college information and SAT/ACT prep. Within the center is Mrs. Evans' office, she can help answer some questions one may have about the next steps
The benefits of college visits
Junior club treasurer Lily Bienfang unlocks the equipment collection bin. As of April 2024, the WJ LPF club became the bin ambassador for the Falls Road bin.
WJ LPF club levels the playing field
A group of Israelis in the community rally together on Montrose Bridge. They decided to gather together around 6:30 a.m., marking the exact one-year anniversary of the war. (Courtesy Liann Keren)
Oct. 7: the impacts one year later
Two friends play video games together through their TVs. They met through social media, and have become best friends since thanks to the internet. Without it, their friendship wouldn't have been possible, as it is the case for many real life relationships.
How social media has changed relationships
AP Calculus teacher Rachel Zussman works on finishing up her grades prior to the end of the quarter. With many teachers wanting change in the MCPS pay system, a performance-based pay system is an intriguing idea.
Teachers reflect on performance-based pay system
Senior Mwape Sokoni (middle), junior Daniella Ngah (right) and senior Michelle Lett (left) practice a routine in the cafeteria. Step Team practices diligently, performing the routine until the entire group catches on.
A force for good: Mwape Sokoni’s social impact on WJ
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
Ariana Grande as Ghilda whispering in Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba's ear. A fan edit of this poster caused controversy with Cynthia Erivo. (Courtesy Universal Pictures reused via Fair Use)
Wicked movie promotion causes mixed reactions
A group of kindergarteners sit on the carpet listening to their teacher tell them about the months of the year. Teenagers feel nostalgia when remembering how they used to sit on the carpet in elementary school. (Courtesy woodleywonderworks via Wikimedia Commons)
What nostalgia means to teenagers
Vijay Kannen (11), Bertie Bennett (11), Theo Hansen (11) and Idan Tzioni (12) pose for a photo at the Junior's Homecoming Hallway. Their performance caused a traffic jam as students stopped to listen to the music. (Courtesy Paul Gomes)
Jazz quartet reaches for the high notes
Pep Band plays a song at a home fall football game. "I think pep band is for people that want to go to football games a lot and maybe don't have people to go. It's a place to have fun with a lot of friends," pep band captain senior Theo Hansen said.
Putting the pep in WJ’s step: pep band rallies “juice,” builds community
Opening night's narrators, juniors Yuri Sternberg and Sasha Rotton, turn to watch as a wave of confetti is dropped onto the stage. The performance was unusually colorful, complementing its chaotic nature. "I’m really proud of the cast and the way we were able to come together and work towards putting on the show,” Rotton said.
STAGE salvages ‘Grimm’ choice of play
President-elect Donald Trump speaks to a crowd at a 2024 Arizona rally. Trump swept all seven swing states and won the popular vote en route to a victory over Vice President Kamala Harris. (Courtesy Gage Skidmore via Flickr)
Alienating Trump voters is counterproductive
The college application process is stressful for all seniors; many students work their way up the grades with stacked extracurriculars. However, student-athletes seem to be favored more than "regular" applicants. (Courtesy Empowerly)
Student-athlete or part-time worker; which weighs more?
Senior Ginger Fishberg defends the ball against an opposing player during a varsity girls' soccer game against Blair. Despite her obvious athleticism, as well as that of other varsity athletes, she is still required to take a full year of Physical Education to earn the credit. (Courtesy Lifetouch)
Varsity athletics should count as a gym credit
Almost every student takes the ACT or SAT and many take both. Preparation outside of school often correlates with high scores. (Courtesy Citrus County School District)
ACT/SAT prep should be accessible in class
The WJ Baby is held up for a photo by one of its fans during a football game in 2021. Unfortunately, the baby was only able to attend one football game this season before being incarcerated. (Courtesy WJ Baby)
Free the WJ Baby
Common slang ranked from best to worst
Common slang ranked from best to worst
Junior Grant Levins sprints down the track. "I'm here to try out because I love the sport of track and field and I'm working on my 800 [meter] time. Just trying to get better," Levins said.
Photo Gallery: Friday winter track tryouts
Junior WR Corey Dooren checks with the referee that he is on the line of scrimmage. Dooren helped step up throughout the Wildcat's season and will continue to step up as he matures into a senior next year.
Panthers pounce Wildcats, ending football season
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Senior Ginger Fishberg defends the ball against an opposing player during a varsity girls' soccer game against Blair. Despite her obvious athleticism, as well as that of other varsity athletes, she is still required to take a full year of Physical Education to earn the credit. (Courtesy Lifetouch)
Varsity athletics should count as a gym credit
Captain Patrick Murphy skates past a defender on a race to the puck. Murphy's defense was a huge contributor in the 1-9 win against Blair.
Icecats breakaway to 4-0 after win against Blair
The cheer squad struts to the floor to start their routine for regionals on Nov. 2 at Harford Community College. The team spent weeks working on their routine and were proud to get the chance to perform it at regionals. “Stepping on to the mat at regionals, I felt really nervous, but I was also very excited because I wanted to show the judges all the hard work we put into the routine,” junior Lyla Cho said. (Courtesy Candice Nsoga-Mahob)
Cheer closes season, scores 4th at regionals
Washington Capitals captain and forward Alex Ovechkin tracks the puck while Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram skates behind him getting ready to defend. Both teams are competing for playoff spots this season. (Courtesy Brian Murphy via Wikimedia Commons)
WJ hockey players discuss Capitals’ strong start
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
Students give their thoughts on the fall play
ASL 2 students eat at Mozzeria, a deaf- owned restraunt. Students practiced their signing with the deaf employees to order their food and drinks.
Photo Gallery: ASL Gallaudet Field Trip
Junior Grant Levins sprints down the track. "I'm here to try out because I love the sport of track and field and I'm working on my 800 [meter] time. Just trying to get better," Levins said.
Photo Gallery: Friday winter track tryouts
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Day in the life of a student-athlete
ESOL hosts pumpkin carving event
ESOL hosts pumpkin carving event
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Lydia FitzPatrick

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer

Lydia FitzPatrick is a senior at WJ and this is her first year as a staff writer in the Pitch. She is very excited to join the Pitch family and make it a great year full of unique stories. She spends her free time as being captain of the  WJ varsity cheer team and a member of a club competitve cheer team as well.

All content by Lydia FitzPatrick
The Netflix original film The Perfect Date movie cover shows star of the film Noah Centineo, who plays the heart throbbing Brooks Rattigan in the movie. He plays several different roles on his multiple different kinds of dates he attends through his dating app, “The Stand-In”, based off of a book.

Netflix’s new release of The Perfect Date pleases teen audiences

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
May 17, 2019
The senior leadership class rocks their colorful Hawaiian shirts and leis on Tropical Tuesday. This was one of the easier spirits for students to be involved in.

Last spirit week of the year goes out with a bang

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Apr 5, 2019
Science teacher Jamie Grimes loves both his alternative rock and country tunes. He gets his fair share of music from the radio stations that fit just what he wants to hear.

What are our teachers listening to?

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Mar 14, 2019
Parents and students from the WJ community crowd the auditorium to watch the showing of the “Like” documentary presented by the WJ PTSA. A Q&A was held after the viewing by counselors and professors that came to the event for parents to ask questions of the panel.

WJ community views documentary “Like”

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Mar 8, 2019
The “thank u, next” cover photo resembles the burn book from the movie “Mean Girls”. Ariana’s music video to the song, “thank u, next” is based off of many different stereotypical high school movies like “Mean Girls”, “Clueless”, and “Bring it On."

Ariana Grande releases newest album

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Feb 25, 2019
Senior Zoe Hubacker is proud of her accomplishments that credit her to be the artist of the month. She plans to continue her passion of art no matter where she ends up at school next year.

Artist of the month: capturing Hubacker’s Story

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Feb 11, 2019
Seniors Karina Lee and Meg Nelson show off their Airpods in class. A lot of friends share their Airpods to listen together, and the wireless aspect of them makes sharing very easy.

Point/Counterpoint: AirPods

Lydia FitzPatrick and Kiley Ring
Jan 22, 2019
The Chainsmokers please their crowd at the 2017 Jingle Ball concert with their bright lights and EBM hit songs. They will perform again this year at Jingle Ball in DC.

Holiday season comes with Jingle Ball season

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Nov 28, 2018
A group of sophomore friends attend Markoff's Haunted Forest. Most patrons can finally enjoy themselves and laugh after making it out of the scary forest trail.

How much scare can you handle?

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Oct 26, 2018
The varsity cheer team goes out for a team lunch with time to spare before they compete. Bonding with your teammates helps alleviate the stress level and make lasting relationships, which play an important role on the mat/field.

The secret to success

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Oct 26, 2018
Poms perform the snake at the fall pep rally. The snake has always been a fan favorite at WJ.

WJ poms is just getting started

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Oct 5, 2018
The new SGA keeps the tradition going by creatively decorating their bulletin board. This year's SGA is bringing new and improved wildcat spirit to the school.

Q&A with SGA

Lydia FitzPatrick, Staff Writer
Sep 28, 2018
A poll of 66 juniors was taken, and the data collected is show in the graph. The students were asked whether they have a license, permit or neither. Photo by Annika Backer

Juniors journey into adulthood

Lydia Fitzpatrick
Jan 29, 2018
Load More Stories
Donate to The Pitch
$356
$1000
Contributed
Our Goal