The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
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
(Courtesy Maryland GovPics - The Celebration of Maryland Black Excellence Reception via Wikimedia)
Alsobrooks wins major fight for Senate seat
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
Club president Sadie Morgenstern and treasurer Brady Chan embrace in a hug with his younger brother, Ryder, at the annual friendship walk last year. “The walk is a fun way to interact with people from other schools and everyone seems to really enjoy it,” Chan said.
Generational friendship: Best Buddies between siblings
A family happily enjoys a holiday meal together, with all the members seemingly enjoying themselves except for the only child in the image. We all know what she's going through and wish we had something-anything to talk to our extended family about.
No politics, just pie: seasonal dinner table topics
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)
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
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Backstage with WJ STAGE
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 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
Seniors Ellie Weinstein, Rhea Noumair, Naamiah Corke, and Natalie Annulis celebrate Weinstein's first touchdown of the game.
Girls’ flag football falls to Whitman in playoffs
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
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
Support staff of WJ
Support staff of WJ
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Backstage with WJ STAGE
Homecoming hallways walkthrough
Homecoming hallways walkthrough
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Peter Kahrl

Peter Kahrl, Business Manager

Senior Peter Kahrl is excited to participate in his fourth year with the Pitch as a Business Manager. In addition to writing for the pitch, Peter enjoys playing soccer and hanging out with friends.

All content by Peter Kahrl

What would you do with $1 million?

April 3, 2024
The Poms team poses for a picture at a house before the county meet. They were nervous but excited to show what they had been practicing.

Poms performs at county championship

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
February 20, 2024
Bocce players high-five the Churchill team after the match. The bocce team always shows good sportsmanship after a win or loss.

Bocce plays final game of the season

Peter Kahrl and Sam Mayster
January 30, 2024
Walter Johnson Poms team performs a routine at Springbrook High School in their first invitational of the season. They are in their beginning formation for the lyrical section of the routine.

Poms invitational marks promising start of winter season

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
January 12, 2024
This star represents the Sigil of Baphomet and is the symbol of modern Satanism. The original star was flipped 180 degrees from the one shown in the picture and was made to symbolize Jesus or holiness. Satanists flipped the star upside down in order to have it stand for evil and trademarked it as their symbol.

Modern satanist shares beliefs

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
January 10, 2024
Winter sports previews

Winter sports previews

Jeremy Silberglied, Anna Zucconi, Mackenzie Norris, Peter Kahrl, Mateus Bouquet and Lily Tapparo
December 5, 2023
"My hardest class is BC calc. It is a lot of work and very fast paced." -Tommy Dash, 12

Up at bat: What is your hardest class?

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
October 27, 2023

Beyond The Pitch: Interview with Jay Wandell

September 21, 2023
One of few Southwest airplanes that was able to takeoff during winter break. The company caused many delays, cancellations and overall chaos.

Widespread Southwest cancellations disrupt winter break plans

Caleb Kasten and Peter Kahrl
January 17, 2023
Students celebrate various unique holiday traditions. The winter holiday season features many holidays and lots of WJ students of all cultures share their traditions.

What do students celebrate during the winter season?

Olivia Scharf and Peter Kahrl
December 21, 2022
Netflix's new hit show, Dahmer, sparks controversy over whether this show should have been created. Many viewers have said they felt the show is insensitive to the victims families and shouldn't have been created at all.

Point/Counterpoint: Does ‘Dahmer’ raise awareness or create controversy?

Caleb Kasten and Peter Kahrl
October 31, 2022
The graphic shows the favorite NFL teams from each state; however, many students support non local teams.

How WJ students came to support non-local sports teams

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
October 20, 2022
Mackenzie Raue races against various schools in the DMV in a 5k. She was the first to finish for WJ, placing 6th out of the hundreds of competitors.

Athletes lament lack of recognition

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
September 22, 2022
Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness receives mixed reviews, but is generally liked. "The movie was pretty good, but I didn't feel like much really happened," sophomore Torben Mucchetti said.

Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness villainizes Wanda

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
June 16, 2022
Sammy Polott pitches in Lycoming college baseball recruitment camp. He did extremely well and got an offer from the coach.

Sammy Polott commits to Lycoming

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
May 19, 2022
Italian players react to their shocking defeat in an important World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia. A last minute goal by North Macedonia shattered Italian World Cup dreams.

Reigning Euro Champs Italy eliminated from World Cup qualification

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
April 6, 2022
Sophomore Ian Mcclain uses his 504 plan accommodations to work in the hallway and stay focused. "It's easier for me to work in the hall because I get distracted easily in the classroom and it allows me to get my work done," Mcclain said.

504 plans provide inconsistent support

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
April 2, 2022
Sophomores Olin Kimball and Ian Alves study for their APEX English vocab test. "We have to know 50 words I've never even heard of by tomorrow. I've studied for two hours already," Kimball said.

APEX application changes spark reactions

Peter Kahrl, Staff Writer
March 25, 2022
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