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
William Murphy

William Murphy, Print Editor-in-Chief

Senior Will Murphy is exhilarated to be returning to The Pitch as Print Editor-in-Chief for his third year. Murphy is also a proud member of Mock Trial and DECA and loves to watch movies, cheer on Washington sports teams, and play Pickleball outside The Pitch.

All content by William Murphy
The girls' cross country team runs together as a group during a workout to prepare for their next meet. After placing fifth at states last year, the Cats will be looking to carry their success into this season and build on it. (Courtesy Sophia Barrett)

Fall Sports Previews

Sep 5, 2025
The Democracy Bl. + Davis Library Metrobus stop now features the sign for the M70. WMATA has changed the signage for stops across the region as they are now 16 days away from igniting the program.

Metrobus to initiate Better Bus Network starting June 29

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Jun 16, 2025
Senior Shaun Rudick stands in the batters box readying for the pitch. Rudick went 3-4 in the state title game, contributing to WJ's victory.

Baseball crowned state champions

Jeremy Silberglied, Print Sports Editor
May 25, 2025
Chase Rieder instructs players during a junior varsity (JV) boys’ basketball game which he coached for five years. Rieder has also worked with the Washington Wizards and coached Northwest to their first regional championship. (Courtesy Lifetouch Studios)

Rieder named boys’ basketball coach

Emily Proger and William Murphy
May 24, 2025
Senior Brady Chan readies for the pitch from Reservoir senior pitcher Matthew Russell.

Baseball takes down Reservoir, advances to state championship

Jeremy Silberglied, Print Sports Editor
May 23, 2025
Boys' tennis celebrates senior night

Boys’ tennis celebrates senior night

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
May 5, 2025
Freshman Alina MacDermott passes the ball to senior captain Ginger Fishberg. The Cats came back down 5-1 against the Vikings, fighting on to win 11-8. (Courtesy Jonathan Gavin via Lifetouch)

Freshman star guides lacrosse team

Emily Proger and William Murphy
Apr 10, 2025
Sophomore Martin Popa sets up for a backhand slice in a practice. Popa is one of the many sophomores who make up the majority underclassmen team.

Boys’ tennis kicks off season with loss to Blair

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Mar 26, 2025

Engineering club showcases projects, educates students

William Murphy and Elizabeth Finn
Mar 10, 2025
Senior Noah Butterfly swims butterfly in a WJ Swim Meet. Although fly is his best stroke, Potter also medaled as an anchor of the 200 freestyle relay at the state championship, with a final leg of 45.1. Potter's time was enough to help break a school record, which people have come to expect from Potter.(Courtesy Marcus Chen)

Senior swimmer etches himself into history books

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Mar 7, 2025
The boys' and girls' team stand together on the podium after both winning a state title. "That was pretty much the goal the whole year, to have both teams win together so we can both celebrate together because we’ve won boys, we’ve won girls before but just never together so it was nice to go up there on the podium together at one," head coach Jamie Grimes said. (Courtesy Marcus Chen)

WJ swim conquer states, win co-titles

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Mar 7, 2025
Senior captain Isla Bartholomew dives in during the Metro Championship. Bartholomew, along with 13 other seniors, will compete in their last-ever meet on Saturday in the State Championship. (Courtesy Marcus Chen)

Swim and Dive to compete in state championship meet

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Feb 21, 2025
An average attendance sheet is marked full with students being absent. But what is the reason for this and we will ever see a return to more consistent attendance across the board?

Rise in absenteeism reflects greater issue

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Feb 18, 2025
Sophomore Elanor Saybolt swims freestyle in the Metros Championship. Saybolt was one of three swimmers who placed individually on the podium to help the girls' team win Metros with a final score of 346 points. (Courtesy Marcus Chen)

Girls’ Swim & Dive win metros, Boys’ place third

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Feb 14, 2025
Coach Tom Martin at a cross country practice in the fall. Martin has coached WJ cross country and track and field for nearly 30 years, and has left an impact on the lives of many athletes.

Tom Martin nominated for PCA Coach of the Year

William Murphy and Jeremy Silberglied
Jan 28, 2025
Sophomore Connor Luecking makes a pull-up jumper against B-CC. Luecking is one of many newcomers to the team that only features three seniors, which has made it hard for the team to find its footing.

Boys’ basketball drops to 2-9

Joshua Singer, Print Editor-in-Chief
Jan 23, 2025
Sophomore Elanor Saybolt swims backstroke in a meet against Whitman. Saybolt and her teammates will have to step up as they lead the team into the postseason. (Courtesy Tom Murphy)

Swim and Dive dominates the pool

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Jan 16, 2025
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)

WJ Swim and Dive split results against Vikings

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Dec 13, 2024
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
Dec 13, 2024
Junior Alessandro Marenco gets into the runner's starting stance as the sun sets over the track. Marenco was one of the four boy sprinters who earned a spot in Nike Nationals in Eugene, Oregon last year. (Courtesy Ariel Stone)

Winter Sports Previews

Dec 5, 2024
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

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Nov 20, 2024
Junior quarterback Jake Forburger takes the snap from junior center Andrew Corrado during the game against Laurel. Forburger consistently drove the ball down the field, contributing to a 40-13 win.

Wildcats trample Spartans in playoffs

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Nov 15, 2024
A student tiredly walks down a hallway after a school day. Many students feel drained after a day of school, but is WJ the problem?

Is the school the problem? The case for WJ

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Nov 15, 2024
Junior Wilson Faucette cycles in a race as a part of the USA Cyclocross series. Faucette has had an impressive season and will be competing in nationals in December. (Courtesy Wilson Faucette)

Pedal to the medal: Faucette, Gentry cycle around Bethesda

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Nov 15, 2024
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

Seth Stein, Online Sports Editor
Nov 15, 2024
Junior Tauren Sirleaf celebrates with his teammates after scoring a touchdown. Although the Wildcats were able to get on the board, it wasn't enough as the Warriors trampled the Cats 47-19. "We didn't come out with the right attitude the whole game, " senior Lloyd Erim said. "Obviously Sherwood is a good team but we believe we're also a good team."

Photo Gallery: Football senior night

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Oct 30, 2024
Senior WR Joshua Koenick runs with the ball in the homecoming game against Wheaton. Koenick was a major playmaker in the absence of wide receivers Devin Markert and Ryan Gardner as the Wildcats took down the Knights. (Courtesy Spencer Robinson)

Wildcats come home with win against Wheaton

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Oct 24, 2024
Wide receiver Devin Markert catches a pass deep into Whitman's 20'. WJ dominated Whitman 41-0 on a Thursday night home game. The student section watched as the play unfolded.

County-wide initiative sacks season-long Friday night football.

Ben Goodstein, Business Manager
Oct 21, 2024
Senior Jonathon Fisher lunges at a fumble in the first quarter of a game vs. Richard Montgomery. The play ended up being a major momentum shifter as the Cats' offense went on to score from the recovery.

Wildcat football runs into 2-2 season

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Oct 4, 2024
Junior Daniel Gershon gives a pep talk to Dylan Byrd during the B-CC game last year. Gershon and Byrd were great teammates last season but the star running back recently transferred to Whitman, and will be facing off against Gershon in the Thursday night game.

WJ football set to face former teammate

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Sep 19, 2024

Barons hold Cats in final minutes

William Murphy and Aviva Katz
Sep 10, 2024
The Wildcats make a statement entrance as they prepare to take on Richard Montgomery. WJ would go on to win the game 53-22.

Fall Sports Previews

Sep 6, 2024
The Oreos have been a classic cookie for generations but which one is the best one? Out of all the different fillings, is there one that stands alone? (Courtesy nicoleleec via Wikimedia Commons)

How much stuf is too much stuff?

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
Jun 12, 2024
Students sit in rows for very extensive hours as they take exams. This is a common scene all across the US, however in MCPS this sight cannot be found. (Courtesy Pexels)

Point/Counterpoint: Should there be final exams?

William Murphy and Ian Alves
Jun 10, 2024
Tipping culture has inflated out of control

Tipping culture has inflated out of control

William Murphy, Print Sports Editor
May 24, 2024
Junior Elsa Santighian cradles the ball down the field as Kristina Einberg attempts to retrieve the ball. The Cats had a tough loss of 11-7 to the Whitman Vikings.

Vikings pounce on Cats in regional finals

Lily Tapparo, Senior Sports Editor
May 21, 2024
LIVE: Boys' lacrosse takes on Churchill HS in regional semifinal

LIVE: Boys’ lacrosse takes on Churchill HS in regional semifinal

Seyun Park, Joshua Singer and William Murphy
May 10, 2024
Senior Noah Diamond prepares himself for his last regular season home game as a Wildcat.

Girls’ and boys’ lacrosse dominate on senior night

Lily Tapparo and Mateus Bouquet
May 9, 2024
Dune: Part Two features an impressive cast including Timothee Chalomet, Zendaya, Austin Butler and Christopher Walken. Dune: Part Two is the second half of the movie series based off the bestselling book Dune. (Courtesy IMBD)

Denis Villenueve concocts a thrilling rollercoaster of a movie in Dune: Part Two

William Murphy, Photography Editor
Apr 24, 2024
Students wait in line to buy their lunch at Chipotle. Chipotle's G-Square location sells their newly discovered secret menu items to customers.

Trying Chipotle’s secret menu

William Murphy and Maayan Keren
Apr 1, 2024
Donta Scott jumps for the opening tip-off from Maryland vs. Minnesota in College Park, Maryland. Scott averaged 11 points for the Terps this year but that wasn't enough as the Terps fell to a 16-17 record. (Courtesy Patrick Rouin via Wikimedia Commons)

Maryland Basketball travels into a disappointing season

William Murphy, Photography Editor
Mar 21, 2024
Senior Sidney Scale promposes during the spring pep rally to his girlfriend after the male pops performance. "I was really surprised and kind of like nervous but it ended up being really good so I'm grateful," senior Maria Goergen Alvarez said.

Promposals spark excitements

Maayan Keren and Michal Shmaya
Mar 15, 2024
Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin R. Smith poses in full uniform as a member of the US Army. Smith previously was stationed in Hawaii before moving to Bethesda where he now lives with his wife and daughter, Jael who attends WJ.

The life of a Military child at WJ

William Murphy, Photography Editor
Mar 8, 2024
Sophmore Dylan Byrd rushes the ball on a friday night against BCC. With NIL, athletes like Byrd would be able to profit off their success.

Point/Counterpoint: Should high school athletes get NIL deals?

William Murphy and Ian Alves
Feb 29, 2024
Senior Guard Isaiah Nickelson shoots the game-sealing free throw in the Wildcats' win over Whitman.

Boys’ basketball slips past Whitman

Mateus Bouquet, Print Sports Editor
Feb 20, 2024
Sophomore Gianna Granados shows sophomore Stephanie Ramirez her poster while handing her a sticker. “I chose this topic because vaping is something very common among teenagers and we should not do it," Granados said.

Photo Gallery: The health fair

Maayan Keren, Staff Writer
Feb 1, 2024
Sophomore Ethan Pletter works out at Washington Sports Club. This was one of the last times he used this machine as the gym closed on January 31.

Washington Sports Club closes after 20 years

William Murphy, Photography Editor
Jan 30, 2024
Sophomore Meher Singh draws a henna hand design as a part of the fundraiser. Along with hand designs, the clubs also put on a bake sale to raise the most money possible.

Clubs band together for Gaza refugee fundraiser

William Murphy, Photography Editor
Dec 19, 2023
Freshmen watch in the distance as the juniors and seniors face off on the 50-yard line in the annual tug-of-war. The seniors overpowered the juniors on-route to winning the whole tournament.

Fall pep rally kicks off fall sports

William Murphy, Photography Editor
Sep 27, 2023
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