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
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
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
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
Nicole Weaver

Nicole Weaver, Online Managing Editor

Nicole Weaver is an Online Managing Editor on The Pitch. In her free time, she enjoys driving and dancing.
All content by Nicole Weaver
Nicole Weaver's senior reflection

Nicole Weaver’s senior reflection

Nicole Weaver, Online Managing Editor
May 24, 2023
Senior Julia Schneider describes her work to a visitor. This exhibit features artwork from several different artists with both functional and decorative ceramics.

Students visit the art department’s Fine Arts Festival

Nicole Weaver
May 17, 2023
WJ Poms team conclude their pom category of the routine before the hip hop portion at counties. The team performed an electric four minute routine, placing 7th in Division II.

Poms season concludes with counties

Nicole Weaver, Online Managing Editor
Feb 15, 2023
Assistant Principal Jeff Leaman directs traffic in the front loop during morning drop-off. Agitation amongst drivers and pedestrians in the morning and afternoon creates a significant safety concern for students at WJ.

Safety concerns plague morning drop-off

Jeremiah Morkre and Nicole Weaver
Jan 24, 2023
Rendition of The Nutcracker sweeps the Strathmore stage

Rendition of The Nutcracker sweeps the Strathmore stage

Nicole Weaver, Online Managing Editor
Dec 29, 2022
Freshman Jason Carcamo, Ahrin Letourneau and Brian Tudor participate in the safety training drills. They practiced their severe weather drill, where students must find shelter in hallways with no windows near by.

Safety drills test emergency preparedness

Jona Jancewicz and Nicole Weaver
Dec 11, 2022
AP US History teacher Nathan Schwartz delivers a lecture to his class per the College Board curriculum. AP students learn the important skill of note-taking from these college-level lectures.

Point/Counterpoint: Are AP classes worth it?

Mia Halper and Nicole Weaver
Oct 25, 2022
Gallery: Students engage in Operation Outbreak Simulation

Gallery: Students engage in Operation Outbreak Simulation

Nicole Weaver
Oct 14, 2022
Seniors take the time to catch up on college applications during the wellness period on Wednesdays. One of the topics discussed on the SAB was about changing the Wildcat Wednesday schedule to create a more desirable environment for the student body.

New student advisory board creates voice for students on school issues

Nicole Weaver, Online Managing Editor
Sep 30, 2022

PRE-GAME: Interview with Linebacker Dylan Minnick

Sep 23, 2022

PRE-GAME: Interview with Wide Receiver Reid Wisniewski

Sep 23, 2022
The classic 1980s aviation film, "Top Gun," now has become a sequel, "Top Gun: Maverick," which follows Maverick (Tom Cruise) in the Navy 30 years later.

“Top Gun: Maverick” accomplishes sequels in a new way

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Jun 13, 2022

Interviewing the class of 2023 SGA officers

Liann Keren, Meron Berhe and Nicole Weaver
May 16, 2022

McKnight community meeting

Nicole Weaver and Maeve Sanford-Kelly
May 16, 2022

Superintendent Monifa McKnight holds MCPS community meeting at WJ

Nicole Weaver and Zsuzsanna Juhasz
May 5, 2022
A Little Free Library in the WJ neighborhood is appropriately filled with used books. These donation boxes often become complicated when they are used at the convenience of donors as a place to dispose of old books.

Little Free Libraries: Help or Hinder?

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Mar 28, 2022

WJ students and staff discuss experiences and tips on mental health

Rucheek Kuppachi and Nicole Weaver
Mar 25, 2022
Varsity girls lacrosse team celebrates after winning the first game of the season against BCC in their 2020-2021 season. BCC has been one of their biggest competitors leaving high expectations for the team to perform this season.

Girls lacrosse heads into a new season with tough competition, new motivations

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Mar 25, 2022

WJ girls’ swim team reflects on victorious season

Nicole Weaver and Jillian Ward
Mar 4, 2022

State of the School: One-on-One with Principal Baker

Maeve Sanford-Kelly, Jillian Ward, Josephine Meriot, Nicole Weaver and Sanir Byanjankar
Feb 9, 2022
The term "Oscar Bait" has been used recently to describe Hollywood movies with the purpose of getting Oscar votes. It has caused a lot of controversy over the purpose of the movies and sparked new ideas for the film industry.

Oscar-bait movies controversial

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Feb 8, 2022
The vice president of LPF, Sydney Stein fills the truck with the donated sports equipment from this year's holiday drive. After just two days of donations, the club collected a wide variety of sports goods to fill the trailer up to the top.

LPF equipment drive is a homerun

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Dec 17, 2021

Jo & Julia recreate Crumbl Cookie recipes

Julia Garms, Josephine Meriot and Nicole Weaver
Nov 30, 2021
School Health Room Technician, Daniel Yankie observes the symptom sheet given to him by a student. When students go to the nurse feeling ill, they are now supposed to bring this symptom sheet with them to display their symptoms.

Difficulty distinguishing Covid from the common cold increases vigilance

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Nov 17, 2021

Starbucks vs. Dunkin: Which is Better?

Jillian Ward, Julia Garms and Nicole Weaver
Nov 3, 2021

Day in the Life of WJ Student Athlete: Thomas Poliseno

Nicole Weaver, Video Editor
Oct 26, 2021
Sophomore Madison Fraser finishes her first homecoming game performance with Poms. This performance was a longer version of their usual routine and was a crowd favorite.

WJ Poms Team adds trending TikTok dances to their routine and surprises students

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Oct 19, 2021

“Stand Up to Hate” WJ Student Walkout

Nicole Weaver, Video Editor
Oct 15, 2021

WJ Pitch investigates the anonymous and new student-run social media accounts

Nicole Weaver and Liann Keren
Oct 7, 2021

What music are you listening to?

Nicole Weaver, Josephine Meriot and Raquel Daley
Sep 23, 2021
After a long halt in the movie-making industry, a great number of new movies were released in theaters this summer. Many of the movies are highly rated but some viewers say otherwise.

Movie theaters opened up over the Summer, were the movies worth it?

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Sep 20, 2021

Questions with New Wildcats

Nicole Weaver, Video Editor
Sep 17, 2021
WJ students get ready for summer but find themselves wanting to relax more than any summer before. They have thought of some ideas and are planning on having a summer full of tranquility.

Bucket list ideas for relaxation this summer

Nicole Weaver, Film Editor
Jun 11, 2021
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