Wildcat football is back at the den with a game against rival B-CC tonight. The much-anticipated matchup is a rematch from last year’s contest, with WJ coming out on top, 21-14. The Wildcats look to defend the title of superior team with the gates opening to an expected sell out crowd at 5:30 p.m. and kickoff at 6:30 p.m.

The game comes after grueling offseason work for the Wildcats as players put their blood, sweat and tears into becoming the best team the Wildcats can be. 

“Over the summer we participated in summer workouts in the morning every week,” senior WR/CB Devin Markert said. “Every week we would go and we would workout in the weight room.” 

WJ is coming off an impressive season from last year, reaching the state quarterfinals before losing to Wise High School. Although the team lost a lot of seniors, including multiple Division III commits, other players look to step up. 

“New faces have to step in, filling those roles,” senior captain OL/DL Jonny Fisher said. “People have been working hard and learning their roles, even though it’s new for them.”

One of those players is Junior OL/DL Dan Gershon. A sophomore starter last year, Gershon is hoping to grow as a leader as he continues to mature.

“I want to help teammates out with plays they maybe don’t know and just leave my position group striving,” Gershon said.

“We’re definitely a very close-knit team,” Markert said. “A lot of the people I’ve known for years since I was in kindergarten, first grade, and I met a lot of them along the way.” 

However, not just the players and coaches are excited for the new season. Much anticipation is among WJ fans as the return of Friday Night Lights is finally here. 

“The atmosphere gets really amped and it’s just something you can’t replicate,” junior Jose Marroquin said.

A further look down the schedule can reveal key matchups against Whitman, Wootton and Churchill. A total of nine games with five at home and four away, the season will be a test for the Wildcats.

The game against the Barons marks the beginning of the season as the Wildcats hope to spring off the win as they take on Richard Montgomery next week. Trying to stand out from the previous WJ teams, this year’s team wants to cement its legacy.

“I think this win will help us with the rest of the season because it’s one of our rivals and that goes along with the Congressional Cup (award given to the best football team out of Whitman, B-CC, WJ, Whitman and Wootton),” junior quarterback Jake Forburger said. “We lost that last year so it’s one of our goals to get it back.” 

After losing key seniors and finding a new coach, field hockey has big changes to stand out among the competition. The team’s intense off-season training has fueled their desire for the start of the season.

Playing field hockey at Quince Orchard, new head coach Lauren Zucconi has extensive experience. Zucconi later coached at her alma mater and continued to coach with tenures at B-CC, Holy Cross and a club field hockey team. Zucconi aims to bring growth to the field hockey team.

 “I plan on focusing on developing fundamentals and allowing players to find their position,” Zucconi said.

The new approach has already influenced the team’s training during the preseason. 

“I think that coach Lauren has helped us a lot in improving skills and preparing those who have less experience,” senior captain Jackie Fuller said.

The team recently scrimmaged Potomac High School to test their readiness for the season. Although the team won, various opinions were offered on the team’s performance. 

 “I thought we looked really good with a lot of depth and not a lot of drop off so I am excited for the season,” Zucconi said. 

On the other hand, some players were more critical of the team’s play.

 “We still need to improve on communication to make sure the team can push the ball up the field,” senior captain Hildi Altman said. 

The new roster looked promising, but challenges are expected to arise with the team adjusting to new coaching dynamics and the absence of key playmakers.

“I thought the team did well especially since we needed to adjust to new players and being a new team,” Altman said. 

After a disappointing early loss in last year’s state playoffs, boys’ soccer has its sights set on a deeper playoff run. Whitman, handing WJ a 2-1 final, prematurely sent the Cats packing. 

If the Cats want to be a competitive team this season, they’re going to need a strong senior class to come through and support the team. The team’s starting lineup consists of almost all seniors and demands senior captions Jakob Lindsey, Fraol Kebede and Isak Holmberg to help bring this team to the Promised Land. 

“It’s about bringing the team together because I know we have a chance to win,” senior captain Lindsay said. “So it’s going to be about keeping the team composed.” 

The team’s substitutes will be primarily sophomores and juniors. These substitutions will allow the starters enough rest time while also making sure every player on the field is fresh. Some were called up last year as sophomores and gained valuable experience in winning big games. 

“I gained experience as playoffs are a different type of game, it’s all or nothing and you have to give it your all, all game,” junior Alessandro Galdzicki said. 

Before the team can look towards winning when it means the most, they have to first look at week one. Saturday, Sept. 7, the boys take on Salesnium School, a nationally ranked high school team out of Delaware. A win against this tough opponent will set the stage for a deep playoff run. 

A promising mix of talented sophomores, junior and seniors creates a hopeful outlook on the 2024 season and an exciting fall for the Cats. 

A first-round playoff exit is never a good feeling. 

But the WJ girls’ soccer team’s 7-6 loss in penalty kicks (PKs) at the hands of Winston Churchill High School in the first round of the playoffs last season, was truly a crushing defeat. There’s no doubt that the loss plays like a record inside the team’s head, igniting a spark within them to continue to get better.

“I still remember losses like that one,” coach Neil Gottlieb said. “That’s one that will stick in my head, because it was PKs and not just PKs, but it went to 7 PKs which is very unusual in soccer. So anytime you lose like that, it makes you think about that all in the offseason, what could’ve been and what should’ve been.”

Now, heading into the 2024 season, the Cats are coming back determined. A big part of the team’s success this season will rest on the team’s captains, seniors Ella Hoban and Maya Panicker and junior Evie Avillo. The team also has lots of talented new players to watch throughout the season.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we play on the field, there’s a lot of good chemistry this year, a lot of new young girls,” the Salisbury University-committed Hoban said. “So I’m excited to see how they play with us.” 

Gottlieb is entering his second season coaching the team, with a focus on continuing to establish his system.

“Every season starts with such a degree of hope, and optimism, and so I’m really excited about the new players (and) I’m excited about the returning players,” Gottlieb said. “It’s great to see the new leadership take over, and I’m just really excited for the way the season is starting, even in the preseason. So good vibes, good chemistry. The team is buying into my system and the way I coach.” 

The Cats are gearing up for what they hope will be a great season while making a run in the postseason.

“Our motto this year is ‘play in November.’” Gottlieb said. “The reason that’s the case is because November 1 is when states start. So if we’re still playing in November, which is our plan, that means we’ve surpassed our goals from last year and we’re moving forward.” 

After an inspiring victory against Gaithersburg during last year’s regionals, the Cats were hungry for more. Yet, they lost in heartbreaking fashion to Churchill, losing their ticket to states. 

The Cats were unable to maintain a strong roster, as five seniors graduated last spring. Seniors comprised almost half of the team in 2023, leaving holes to fill this season. 

For the 2024 team, arranging specific lineups that will benefit both offense and defense, while also weaving in plays to coexist with the lineups, are key components. Strategy enables teams to outmaneuver their opponents and optimize their performance. 

“Our coach, Coach Jackie, is very strategic with the lineups and plays. We have both a strong offense and strong defense, and all around our team will do great things, and I’m so glad that I can be a part of it,” sophomore Sophia Beato said.

One thing the 2024 team has going for it is positive team culture. A positive team culture with high morale can influence a team’s performance. 

“I think that this is one of the first years where the team has meshed together from the beginning. We have a lot of talented girls. Together, as a unit, we are a strong team,” senior captain Stella Lichter said. 

Being a new addition to a team of girls who have been on varsity for most of high school isn’t easy. 

“So many of my upperclassmen, including seniors and juniors, have made me feel like a part of the team,” sophomore Sophia Beato said. 

Sophomore Emilia Zhang had a big impact in the first preseason game against B-CC, helping the team win key points. Head coach Jackie Krampf hopes to see Zhang’s impact shine into the regular season. 

Winning a regional title is an achievement that underscores the hard work and dedication of a team. 

Girls’ cross country’s victory at states last year is pushing them into this year’s season with confidence. The cross country team has been in the preseason for weeks before their first meet, getting back into their training schedule. This year they face the challenge of losing seniors who helped support the team last year. 

Senior captain Megan Raue returns following her fourth-place finish time of 19 minutes, 30.25 seconds at states. In all of her past years of running in both cross country and track Raue has run alongside her sister, Mackenzie, now a freshman continuing her running career at Washington University in St. Louis. 

“I feel sad, I miss running next to Mackenzie in workouts and races, and her driving me to meets.” Raue said. “I miss having her to motivate me and I miss going on long runs and getting food after. Of course, I am also going to miss how much she pushed me to go faster.” 

Coach Thomas Martin returned to coach the team to cover for coach Ashley Corbey. Martin retired at the end of the spring track season last year but is ready to continue his coaching abilities and train the team through the season. Over the summer, they met up for long runs and going on hikes to stay in training. 

“Our team has been training over the summer both by ourselves and together,” sophomore Mirae Denaro said. “A lot of my teammates would gather in groups for long runs which seemed lots of fun and it was a really good way to stay connected with everyone. But I spent most of my summer in Japan, so I joined a local school’s track team and practiced with them. After I came back I joined everyone else for a few of their summer meet ups until our actual pre-season practices started.”

The team works hard in pre-season to push themselves to prepare for their first races. The training schedule includes long runs and workouts, switching every other day. 

“Training can be hard every day but having others to run with gives us motivation to keep training the best we can,” senior Nick Tamaro said.

The team has also held time trials in preseason. They timed two miles and many of the runners feel confident in their upcoming races.

“The time trials were nerve-wracking at the end of the week but we had good weather and it was a good way to end the week after that,” Tamaro said.

The team is looking to perform well later this week in their first meet on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Georgetown Preparatory School.