The Pitch
Walter Johnson High School
November 9, 2012
Volume 58 Issue 2
6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814
Senior sets out to spread smiles with Operation Positivity
Photos by Wahid Ishrar
Far left: Senior Maesa Titensor, and friends Sarah Sheets and Bethany Simmons, hold up signs with positive messages at an intersection on Rockville Pike; middle: Titensor holds one of the signs she made for Operation Positivity; far right: Sheets displays a “You rock!” sign to the drivers on Rockville Pike.
MoCo renovation plans to transform White Flint By Claudia Nguyen
Full article on page 9
A Different NFL: WJ inducted into National Forensic League
By Izzy Salant
On Sept. 17, the WJ Forensics and Debate, teams, coached and sponsored by William “Rusty” McCrady, earned significant recognition from National Forensic League (NFL). Created in 1925 by Ripon College speech professor Bruno E. Jacob, the NFL is a nonprofit organization seeking to encourage and motivate high school students to participate in and obtain a level of proficiency in the forensic arts such as debate, public speaking and interpretation. According to the NFL mission, the responsibilities of the league are to “provide leadership for the speech and debate community, build community and
In an effort to revitalize the community near White Flint Metro Station and along Rockville Pike, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission adopted the White Flint Sector Plan, a multi-decade endeavor seeking to transform the area into an urban center of residences and businesses. The plan specifically outlines renovations the county wants to make to certain shopping centers along the pike, including White Flint Mall and MidPike Plaza, which used to be home to Silver Diner and Toys “R” Us. The White Flint Community Coalition, a group of eight community associations, and the White Flint Partnership, a group of seven of the largest property holders within the area, collaborated to pitch and develop the White Flint Sector Plan, which was approved by the Montgomery County Council on March 23, 2010. Although the plan addresses community development over the next 30 years, renovations for White Flint and Mid-Pike Plaza are already under way. The plans for Mid-Pike Plaza include residential units, increased retail space, a hotel and over one million square feet of office space. The project, led by Federal Realty Investment Trust, signals the start of Rockville Pike’s transformation under the White Flint Sector Plan, with its renovations already under way. Demolition of the Plaza began this past summer, and the expected completion date for the newly renamed Pike & Rose plaza is set for 2014. “Pike & Rose will dramatically enhance the quality of life in Montgomery County,” said Evan Goldman, vice president of development for Federal Realty.
Each fall and spring, students flood into the WJ auditorium to see the plays and musicals produced by WJ S*T*A*G*E. Before the actors take the stage though, the WJ makeup crew must practice its profession. The art that makeup artists perform enables the audience to see the actors’ facial features, which is an important part of acting. Seniors Alison Staffin and Karen Tchuindjo are both makeup artists. The crew does not publicly advertise as much as other crews do, many students may not have heard of it. The main way the makeup crew recruits members is by word of mouth. Staffin joined makeup crew as a freshman, after hearing about it through a friend. Staffin recruited Tchuindjo, who had many friends in the crew, in sophomore year. Both girls do makeup as a hobby and as a way of expressing themselves, but not in preparation for a future career.
“Renovation” continued on page 4
“Face” continued on page 16
Inside, Check Out:
excellence around our speech and debate students, share resources necessary for our activity to thrive and increase awareness and exposure of our membership and the importance of forensics.” According to the WJ website, “All students who participate in either forensics or debate become eligible to earn points toward membership and advanced degrees in the National Forensic League, a national honor society which recognizes achievement in public speaking, oral presentation of literature and debate.”
“NFL” continued on page 3
Makeup crew puts a new face on art
By Audrey Marek
, e r u t Fea s. 9-12 pg
Editorial, pgs. 5-8
Photo courtesy of Alison Staffin
Senior Alison Staffin experimenting with feathered eyelashes during “Les Miserables” last spring.
Arts and Ent., pgs. 13-16
Sports, 17-20 pgs.
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wjpitch.com
M O R F Follow the WJ Pitch on Twitter! @TheWJPitch Homecoming Game 2012 Online Photo Gallery By Sarah Schecker
From left to right:WJ’s football captains convene for the cointoss; SGA president Chris McCurry shows school spirit and cheers on the football team; cheerleaders pump up the crowd during the homecoming game.
Opinion Blast: Lance Armstrong By Dashel Lewis, Online Editorial Editor In a stunning fall from grace, seven time Tour De France winner Lance Armstrong has been stripped of his titles due to doping charges. At one point the biker was considered one of world’s leading sportsmen and athletes. His heroic feats in the Alps during many Tour De France races were stunning and awe inspiring to many, which makes it all the more disappointing to learn they were fueled by blood doping. Cycling has had well know and documented stuggle with blood doping, which is the proccess of boosting the number of red blood cells in the bloodstream in order to enhance athletic performance. Along with
Armstrong, former winners Floyd Landis and Alberto Contador have both had Tour De France titles stripped due to the usage of blood doping. While some may argue that doping is becoming less popular, the conviction of the sport’s most recognizable star ever, certainly won’t help global image of cycling. The issue isn’t completley one-sided either. A slippery slope of morality emerges when Armstrong’s (who is a well known cancer survivor) Livestrong Foundations contributions to cancer research are brought into the discussion. These contributions, which have made major impacts on cancer research and treatment, would never have been possible without the success of Armstrong, which was achieved through blood doping...
To see full articles and much more, visit www.wjpitch.com
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
LETTER FROM THE EDITORS Dear Pitch Readers, We have an exciting issue for you this month. Inside, we focus on local developments that are both contemporary and historic, such as new shopping complexes along Rockville Pike and Walter Johnson’s former house, which is located on Old Georgetown Road. Additionally, we are profiling staff in many different ways, from asking them what they have in their bags to discussing their past careers. As fall sports come to a close, we also present the All-Pitch Team, which highlights student athletes who have shown excellence in their respective seasons. As you may or may not know, we are distributing the papers late this month due to Superstorm Sandy, which hit the East Coast last week. Although the majority of the damage was inflicted on the coastline and in New York City, our community was still impacted. We are keeping those affected by the storm in our thoughts and hope you will do the same as we transition into second quarter. Lastly, we encourage you to contact us with any comments, suggestions or feedback regarding our print or online mediums. Thank you for your continued readership! Sincerely, Print Editors-in-Chief Sari Amiel amd Phillip Resnick,and online Editor-in-Chief Megan Chun
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
NEWS
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Debate, forensics teams accepted into National Forensic League Debate Team
WJ’s debate team has been county champion from 1993 to 2000 and 2003 to 2011. Last year, they came in second in the championship, behind Montgomery Blair High School, and they hope to reclaim their title. This year, the team was admitted as a member of the NFL, along with the forensics team, because it reached the number of points required for membership. Points are won when students win an individual debate, and the team as a whole receives the points earned by its debaters. “A debate isn’t about what you say,” said senior captain Rachel Wilcove, “but how you say it.” Her fellow captain, senior Mira Kruger, agreed. “Speak like you are winning even if you aren’t,” she said. Wilcove and Kruger have been on the team since they were sophomores, and senior Xinyi Li, the team’s third captain, joined during her freshman year. All three are members of the NFL, having exceeded the required 25-point minimums in their debate careers. Kruger has 168 points, Wilcove has 211 and Li has 393, which means all three have received a level of excellence, and Li has increased her level to distinction. Nevertheless, Li believes her performance in the league is more important than her acceptance into it. McCrady said he was proud of the team for reaching such an accomplishment. McCrady started the WJ debate team in 1991. He has since retired from the school, but he still runs the team. He
“NFL” continued from page 1 By Izzy Salant
Photo by Izzy Salant
Debate captains, seniors Xinyi Li, Mira Kruger and Rachel Wilcove, and coach Rusty McCrady run debate practices.
got involved with debate in 1975 when he was asked to judge a debate and loved it. He became the debate coach at Damascus in 1989. He has led WJ debate to victory for 17 years. McCrady said that there is a problem with debate right now. WJ has one of the largest debate programs in Maryland and, with its expansion in size, McCrady is afraid that he might have to cut people or take less people to compete in debates and make the rest stand-bys. With that in mind, he is still looking toward the future of the team. “We have done so well so far,” he said. “We’ve had 36 winners this year and there is [a] prospect for more. If we get more than 40, then we set a record for the most wins at a debate and, if we can accomplish that, then we will definitely take back [the championship] from Blair.”
Forensics Team
The WJ forensics team has won county championships from 2001 to 2012. Before that, the forensics team placed either second, third or fourth every year from 1990 to 2000. Along with debate, the forensics team was accepted into the NFL this year, having earned 100 or more points, called degrees, for the chapter. Points are awarded based on how well a team or competitor places. Forensics cocaptain senior Eliana Papanicolaou explained that many different factors are considered in the competition, such as eye contact, tone and presentation. “It’s more than how well you read [your presentation], it’s how you act it,” she said. Last year, the team clinched the first place title by winning the county championship approximately 200 points ahead of the other teams. Currently, the team is in fourth place. “We won for 12 years,” said McCrady. “I think we’re in fourth because not as many people are involved.” According to McCrady, senior captains Papanicolaou, Defne Dilsiz and Sophie Spencer-Zavos are far from that description. Papanicolaou and Spencer-Zavos became members of the team during their freshman year, while Dilsiz joined as a sophomore. All three are members of the league and have achieved a level of excellence by collecting over 150 points. Thus far, Spencer-Zavos has 176 points, Dilsiz has 211 and Papanicolaou has 243. Papanicolaou said she feels very privileged and honored to be accepted into the league and to be a part
of something bigger than school. Dilsiz agrees, but also likes forensics for a different reason. “It’s nice to be recognized by a league that has driven so many people to success,” she said. McCrady said the reason they were chosen as captains was because of their proficiency and merit. McCrady took over the forensics team in 1993, two years after he started the debate team. The coach at the time was diagnosed with cancer, and asked McCrady to step in. Former principal Dr. Christopher Garran, after realizing the coach was not returning, asked McCrady to take over the position. McCrady said that, in all his years as coach, there is one thing that annoys him about what people think of forensics. “People need to understand it’s not the science course,” he said. “[Forensics is about] understanding the meaning of the written word.”
and eight periods. Those who did well will be given the opportunity to advance to the second round, and then, finally, the three students who score highest in the Maryland and D.C. districts will win a full-ride to UMD. There are a total of two parts to the competition, and the second test is considered to be substantially more challenging than the first. For the most part, the first part of the contest went off without a hitch, only running into trouble when seven
students, who had misunderstood announcements, were compelled to leave early to catch busses instead of staying through the entire test. The statewide event has been put together every year since 1979, helping an estimated 2,500 students compete in math for scholarships each year. For more information on the UMD math competition, and to see a list of previous winners, visit the website at www.math.umd.edu.
Photo by Sarah Schecker
Forensics captains, seniors Defne Dilsiz and Eliana Papanicolaou, head the team alongside fellow senior captain, Sophie SpencerZavos (not pictured).
Doing the Math: WJ students participate in UMD math competition By Caroline Steel On Wed., Oct. 24, 52 math-savvy WJ students participated in the annual 2012 University of Maryland (UMD) High School Mathematics Competition, held by UMD every fall. Organized principally by WJ math team sponsor Amy Watkins, part one of two in the competitive tournament at WJ drew about twice as many students as it did last year. Stakes are high, as the top three scorers from the second section receive a full-ride to UMD, and cash prizes will be awarded to similarly high-achieving competitors. Watkins, who is also a math teacher, spearheaded the process, working with UMD to coordinate WJ’s annual participation for her first time after transferring to WJ in September. “I’m pretty organized and I enjoy organizing events like this,” said Watkins. After contributing to similar events in her previous schools, which included Loiederman Middle School and Lee Middle School, Watkins had previous experience prior to the UMD competition . The test is only one of the yearly competitions the math team consistently participates in. Although it took place
due to the team’s initial interest, UMD required the competition to be open to all students, not just to those from the math team. “[I wanted] students at WJ to challenge themselves and remove the stigma that math competitions are scary and too hard,” said Watkins. The math team targeted higher level math students from Honors Algebra 2 upwards for participation in the contest, although the competition includes subjects from precalculus. Nevertheless, the UMD math competition page notes that competitive students should possess a certain “mathematical insight and ingenuity” in addition to basic math skills. Watkins tried to get the word out to students through both announcements on the Daily Lineup and math teachers, who were asked to advertise to their students during class. Additionally, some math team members stopped by math classrooms to inform students about the competition. Efforts paid off, as 52 students showed up to take the test, an improvement compared to last year’s 20-30. Along with math teacher Mike Egan, Watkins acted as a proctor in the round one competition held during seventh
Photo by Caroline Steel
Math teacher Mike Egan proctors the first section of the UMD Math Competition test in the auditorium.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
White Flint Sector Plan
MoCo plans renovation of Mid-Pike, White Flint Mall shopping centers “Renovation” continued from page 1 By Claudia Nguyen
“We are excited about the development of Pike & Rose and what is represents for the area in terms of jobs and economic development. Pike & Rose will be arts-inspired both in its design and environment, delivering an inspired place to live, shop, work, dine and be entertained.” Many of the buildings in the new development will be multi-level and multi-purpose, with ground-floor retail and apartments above. The design concept will be similar to that of North Bethesda Marketplace, the shopping center containing Whole Foods and L.A. Fitness. A 250,000-square-foot hotel will also be located on the upper levels. The majority of the buildings will have vegetation on the rooftops to aid storm-water management. According to a Federal Realty news release, this plan will offer the first rooftop garden plots for rent in the county. According to a June 2012 article from The Gazette, plans for Pike & Rose are expected to generate $1.1 billion in tax revenue over 30 years and create 550 permanent jobs, although developers claim that the project’s first phase is expected to generate up to 688 jobs. The redevelopment of White Flint Mall is also expected to generate more jobs and residential space. White Flint Mall retailers have been hosting sales and have begun closing in preparation for construction. Last November, the mall owners held a meeting with members of the community at White Flint’s Dave & Buster’s restaurant to explain their plans. Lerner Enterprises and the Tower Companies, owners of the mall and members of the White Flint Partnership, have collaborated to revamp the 35-year-old mall by turning it into an outdoor town center. The architects and planners want to implement a walkable street grid across the mall’s 45-acre plot in order to make it more pedestrian friendly. The sector plan’s sketches also include designated bike paths and local transit stations, including those for RideOn buses and Metro, to make transportation more efficient and convenient.
Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Planning
The planners mapped the proposed space usage for the redevelopment of White Flint Mall.
The core of the shopping mecca will be what the planners have named the “Central Piazza,” a 2.1-acre public open space inspired by European town squares and plazas. In addition to seeing many of the familiar retail businesses of White Flint Mall, such as Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdale’s, locals should also expect to see residence and office buildings, more restaurants, a hotel, additional space for the existing White Flint neighborhood park and a potential elementary school. The Montgomery County Planning Board originally reserved space for a new elementary school to address the projected influx of 400 elementaryaged students from the residential developments that will be built around White Flint Metro station. However, there has been controversy surrounding the school’s construction. “The need for schools is a contentious issue which has arisen in virtually all meetings with community members,” wrote the White Flint Advisory Group in its September Report to the Planning Board. According to local news website
Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Planning
Plans for Pike & Rose included aerial sketches of the buildings.
Bethesda Now, Lerner Enterprises believes it should not have to donate land for the school to quell overcrowding concerns. Robert Brewer, one of the attorneys representing Lerner Enterprises, said the company would be willing to sell the land to MCPS, but added that it would be unfair to require Lerner to give away the land. “There is a fairness issue here,” said Brewer to Bethesda Now. “We’ve spent millions of dollars getting here today in good faith with reliance on [the] design guidelines and [the] sector plan.” Some members of the Garrett Park Estates community have also opposed the plan. In a letter to the Montgomery County Planning Board, they expressed that the proposed location would be too far from the high density core of the proposed Metro redevelopment area and would require busing across the 4-lane ring road, increasing traffic and overall inconvenience for parents and other commuters. They also raised the concern that relying on redistricting would split up the WJ cluster, causing hundreds of Garrett Park Elementary School children to feed into Einstein
High School instead of WJ. On WJ’s Yahoo community discussion group, members of the community expressed the problems they believed would arise as a result of the construction of a new elementary school at the White Flint site. “It is likely that the new elementary school would swallow up the park land for playing fields and we would lose our neighborhood open park land,” wrote Paula Bienenfeld on the online group discussion board. “From what I can tell, the new sector does not have the extra acreage for a traditional suburban elementary school campus.” Although the issue still remains unresolved, the planning board decided to move forward with the White Flint Mall reconstruction amidst the controversy. However, the overall planning process has had few conflicts, as the landowners and representatives of the district are collaborating to reach the same goal of improving the community. “These are steps to try to build trust between the community and the developers,” said Arnold Kohn of the Tower Companies, a member of the White Flint Partnership. One of the major collaborations of the White Flint partnership will be the White Flint Civic Green. Citizens and developers teamed up together to design the centerpiece of the White Flint Sector Plan. While the specifics and location are not fully determined, the draft puts the 2-acre civic green near the North Bethesda Conference Center, south of Old Georgetown Road and west of Rockville Pike. “The civic green we all kind of agree upon,” said Kohn. “Maybe the next thing will be harder, but the purpose is to come together and build trust.” Plans for the park include hiker-biker trails connecting the civic green to urban developments and shopping centers in the area, including Pike & Rose. According to plan sketches, the civic green will be the second largest in the area behind Wall Park, located on the corner of Nicholson Lane and Old Georgetown Road. While Wall Park is currently covered by the Shriver Aquatic Center and a large parking lot, the sector plan will shift the parking to a structure to the north and convert the parking lot into a series of informal park fields.
Photo courtesy of Montgomery County Planning
Pike & Rose planners digitally rendered images of what the area will look like once renovations are complete.
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EDITORIAL
The downfall of the double third tradition
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Assemblies should not be incorporated into International Night ByWahid Ishrar Culture and diversity are two words that define the WJ community. Our school has students of various ethnicities from many different parts of the globe. One way the students and administration had sought to represent this diversity was through the annual cultural assemblies which focused on different ethnicities that are represented at WJ. However, this tradition has ended abruptly this year with the administration’s decision to have the groups perform at International Night. This year, every cultural group will perform on the evening of International Night. The performances were previously held one at a time in the auditorium. Now, they will be held simultaneously throughout the school. This will result in students having to choose which group they would like to watch perform. Principal Jennifer Baker justified this change by stating that there are too many WJ students to fit in the auditorium during the double third periods dedicated to assemblies. Now the student commons, the cafeteria and the gyms will be used to accommodate all of the students and their families. Vice Principal Micah Wiggins said another factor taken into consideration was the limited available time. Each assembly was allocated a brief 28 minutes to explore every aspect of the culture. By performing in the evening, the cultural groups will have more time to explore their heritage in ways other than through dance and music. I understand that we should not take the assemblies for granted, but we like assemblies. We appreciate the effort put in by our friends and peers, and we don’t want this to end. However, by shifting the cultural celebrations to the evening and removing the obligation of attending the events, they may draw to a close. Many students, due to conflicts in scheduling with extra-curricular ac-
tivities or the lack of transportation to school at night, will stop coming. Although the reasons cited by the school’s administration are credible, the change in time could hurt the students and faculty dedicated to the assemblies. By spreading the groups throughout the school, they are splitting the audience into many pieces. This will end up not allowing audience members to fully experience the night, as they will either feel the impulse to sample all the events or they will see only one culture. WJ has many events that are open to the community, and, since diversity is one of the core elements representing the student body, it is more important for all students to be present, even if that means closing this event to the outside population. A break in the schedule is an overdue blessing after the monotonous routine faced by students and teachers. The double-third schedule shortens classes by only five or six minutes and allows them to see the ethnic richness and cultural background of the students of WJ,
an experience that much of the student body doesn’t want to lose. An option to be considered would be having “International Night” appear during lunch, only with a different name. This would ensure almost all the benefits of “International Night,” while also having the entire student body present during the festivities. A precedent for this is set by “Bad Day to be a Pumpkin,” WJ’s festival for Halloween. Lunch is extended and students go to the football field to observe the holiday. This schedule would not only open up the opportunity of having all students present, but would give the cultural groups plenty of time to do what they prefer. Administration wants “International Night” to be a learning experience. However, reducing the size of the student body present during the program, and dividing attention from one group to another, counteracts this cause. Instead, we should focus our attention on encompassing as many students as possible, while also dealing with the issue of time.
Cartoon By Caroline Steel
Administration has crashed the double third period party, combining all cultural assemblies into one after- school International Night.
Message Megan: I lead a double life like and who likes me, and who's six years older than me. I kind of want to have a relationship with him, but 1) it's illegal and 2) it would be difficult and awkward. What do I do? If I keep pursuing my coworker, that goes into dangerous territory, but if I let it pass by and focus on my high Dear Megan, I feel like I'm living a double life. school life (which I sort of want I spend my time at high school as to do), I could lose a great guy or a regular kid, with friends, class- even a great friendship. Help me! es, maybe a bit of romance in the works. But when I go to work, I'm Sincerely, a totally different person. I act, Girl with a Dilemma and apparently seem, like I'm 18 or 19. I hang out with coworkers Dear Girl with a Dilemma, This is a very sticky situation, but it's who are of age and who drink and so on (although I'm never pres- good that you have restrained yourself sured to do the same), and most from going any further until you really importantly, there's a guy who I think about the important decision you
have to make. First of all, it's not necessarily a bad thing that your work life and acquaintances are so different from your academic environment. As long as your older coworkers are not negatively influencing you, work can provide you with the escape you may need from the stress and havoc of high school life. But moving on to the real issue at hand, what to do with your coworker... ... For further reading, go to wjpitch.online.... Following the success of 2012 graduate Ali Jawetz’s advice column “Ask Ali,” current Online Editor-in-Chief Megan Chun will also serve to tackle your life problems. Please email inquiries or suggestions to thepitch@walterjohnson. com. Please specify in the title that your submission is for “Message Megan.” Also, be aware that your question may also be printed in the monthly version of The Pitch.
Rees’s Pieces By Nathaniel Rees
It was a scene seemingly taken straight out of “Napoleon Dynamite,” “The Benchwarmers” or any other movie with a comical bullying theme, featuring a grossly exaggerated nerdy character, paired with a stereotypical jock. But this particular scene was anything but funny; it was a real life example of bullying and intimidation. A real life example of bullying so surreal that, had someone retold the story to me, I would have viewed it as an obvious comical exaggeration. The scene opens on a busy computer lab on a Thursday, as a class files in to work on a project. I am working on other material, so I have the opportunity to be a watchful observer. The class is rowdy; lab time usually means an environment to play online games and disregard teacher’s instructions. But one student, a row in front of me, works diligently, his work ethic and mannerisms juxtaposed against the chaos of the class. He is wearing, to describe in not too much detail to maintain anonymity, some very strange clothing items. The student has not realized, though, that he has made a fatal mistake. His work ethic and his clothing preferences make him different from the norm. And thus, unknowingly, he has singled himself out. The scene suddenly takes a nasty turn. Another student, obviously a jock, of mammoth proportions when placed next to this measly squirt of a boy, strides up to the nerd with a clear purpose and smacks him across the back of the neck. The jock’s friends snicker maliciously, and the lead jock, spurred by the power he feels when he is in control, hits the boy again. This time, the jock’s friends can’t help but dissolve into fits of derision and helpless laughter. As the bell rings, I catch my first glimpse of the boy’s face. His mouth is frozen in a grimace of embarrassment and pain. He looks entirely hopeless, as if this intimidation is a common occurrence. He is completely, utterly, alone. End scene. The scene left me feeling shocked. It was unfathomable to me why anybody would get pleasure from hurting and disrespecting another human being. Why, just because someone acts or looks differently from some skewed perception of what is normal, would a student be taunted and bullied physically? But the scene left me with one other feeling, an intangible and indescribable feeling deep down in my gut that threatened to boil over. Remorse. As the boy, only trying to work, trying to be himself in a world cruelly disposed to judge him for his personality, was mercilessly bullied, taunted and condemned, I sat afar as a watchful observer and did nothing. My lack of action, and the boy’s final grimace of sadness, will stick with me forever.
Up Bat
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EDITORIAL
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Daniel Hart Freshman
“‘The Orphan’ [is my favorite] because the revelation of the woman that disguised herself as the girl was really cool.”
at
Matthew Chun
Halloween has come and gone, but the fun and excitement of watching horror movies continues. As kids eat through their supply of candy and families pack away their decorations for next year, The Pitch asks you what movie gives you the most goosebumps.
Junior
“‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ [is my favorite] because I like how Freddie can move from drama to reality.”
Q: What is your favorite horror movie to watch on Halloween and why? Esther Kamellah
Monique Mendez
“‘Prom Night’ [is my favorite] because it was really fun [at first] and then the man came out of nowhere and started killing people.”
“The ‘Final Destination’ series [is my favorite] because the idea of death following me freaks me out.”
Junior
Sophomore
Roni Sesvold
Enrique Bigne
Senior
Senior
“‘The Ring’ [is my favorite] because I watch TV a lot.”
“‘Tucker and Dale vs. Evil’ [is my favorite] because it is very comedic and horrying [at the same time].”
Zack Cain
Grace Ray Freshman
Sophomore
“‘Shutter Island’ [is my favorite] because it messed with my head.”
“‘Psycho’ [is my favorite] because it is a classic and it was well-directed.”
THE
STAFF
All photos by Wahid Ishrar
Editors-in-Chief Arts & Entertainment The Pitch is published eight times a year by the students of Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Sari Amiel Editor Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, Md. 20814. Advertising and subscription rates are available by Phillip Resnick Emily Cosentino calling 301-803-7302. Editorial opinions represent those of The Pitch staff and do not necesMegan Chun* Sabrina Clarke* sarily reflect the opinions of the staff, faculty or student body. We welcome letters, articles, News Editors Assistant Arts & Ent. photographs and artwork, to be submitted to room 196 or e-mailed to thepitch@walterClaudia Nguyen Editor johnson.com. The Pitch is an award-winning paper that works towards providing the student Izzy Salant* Audrey Marek body with accurate, as well as credible, information. Caroline Steel* Assistant News Editor Editorial Editors Nathaniel Rees Columbia Scholastic American Scholastic Maryland HS Journalism Award Izzy Salant Dashel Lewis* Press Association Press Association Best Newspaper Overall Sports Editors Assistant Editorial Editor Gold Medalist First Place Third Place Ian Morrison Wahid Ishrar 2009 2010-2011 2009-2010 Ben Resnick* Assistant Sports Editor *Online Editors Ben Resnick
Feature Editors Copy Editors Sari Amiel Ellie Jorling Sabrina Clarke* Megan Chun Photo Editors B u s i n e s s / P R Emily Cosentino Manager Claudia Nguyen Wahid Ishrar Photographers Hope Marshall Sarah Schecker Cartoonist Caroline Steel Advisor Sylvie Ellen
Head Staff Writer
Anders Norberg Staff Writers Christine Bersabal JJ Henn Grace Leslau Michael Lumbuku Melissa Wainaina
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
EDITORIAL
School Start Times Point
The early bird gets the worm By Megan Chun For many years, students across the nation have complained about early school start times. Over the past few years, many parents, concerned that these early start times lead to unhealthy sleeping habits, have taken the initiative to start school later. They argue that starting school later will give kids more time to sleep, which will in turn boost their academic performance. This may be true for a lot of students, par ticularly those who do not participate in after school activities or sports. But, what people don’t realize is that pushing times back an hour or two does not reduce the amount of work given to students, nor does it reduce the length of sports practices or other after school activities. Thus, little to no sleep time may actually be gained, because students will have to stay up until the wee hours of the morning to finish their school assignments anyway. There is no arguing that most teenagers in the United States don’t get nearly as much sleep as they need, which, according to kidshealth.org, is approximately eight-and-a-half to nine hours per night. Although I wake up every day at 5:50 a.m. feeling absolutely exhausted, I can’t even begin to imagine going to sleep at an even later time. On nights where I have upwards of five hours of homework or a late dance class, I some-
times won’t get to bed until 1 a.m. I feel as if implementing earlier start times will push my bedtime back even farther, throwing off my sleep schedule even more and upsetting my poor circadian rhythm. Another issue that is overlooked is that of the school buses. The same buses transport elementary, middle and high school students on a daily basis. School times are staggered so that bus drivers can first take students to the high school, then to the middle school and lastly, to the elementary schools. Pushing high school start times back would affect elementary and middle school start times as well; they would either need to be moved up or pushed back. Logically, it Cartoon by Caroline Steel just makes sense for high school to start earlier. High school students have more after-school commitments than do younger students. Having earlier start times gives high school students more freedom to participate in clubs, sports, jobs or internships, which are vital aspects of a high school experience. So, even though I would love to wake up to a bright sun instead of a pitchblack sky, there are too many complications that come with the shifting school start times. Between later bedtimes and issues with buses, it simply isn’t worth the change. Teens will always stay up late and complain of fatigue, no matter what time the first bell rings in the morning.
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Counterpoint
The second mouse gets the cheese By Caroline Steel If I looked in the mirror right now, I would probably start to cry. Regardless of the eight hours of sleep I managed to squeeze in last night, I can still feel the bags under my eyes and the mucous-y sand gathered around my tear ducts. A foggy cloud of exhaustion obscures my vision. Each morning, it is a struggle to rise out of bed to the incessant beeping of my alarm clock. My bed is so warm, cozy and inviting; the lights are too bright and harsh – I want absolutely nothing more than to fall back asleep. I am not unique in my plight. Every day, students across Montgomery County struggle to stay awake through the flood of classes and to stay coherent long enough to absorb the torrent of information teachers throw at their students at times as early as 7:25 a.m. This exhaustion, however, is not only the result of a lack of sleep caused by homework or sports, but is rather also the consequence of adolescents’ fundamental chemical composition, which conflicts with high school start times. Studies by Brown University Professor Mary Carskadon have outlined the fact that adolescents are genetically programmed to go to bed later than adults or children – at around 10 or 11 p.m. – and then wake up later than both groups as well. The same studies have also concluded that teens need more sleep in general than the average adult or child – they need about nine and a quarter hours of sleep, and they’re getting only
around seven and a half hours. So why has MCPS, in its infinite wisdom, chosen to force teens out of their beds at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m., leaving their seven- and eight-year-old siblings bouncing around the walls from 7-9 a.m. while they wait for the bus to arrive? Proponents of this counter-intuitive start time have pointed out that high school students should start earlier so that they can also finish earlier and thus have more daylight hours for sports and homework. However, the facts point to the conclusion that this plan will actually afford teenagers less homework time, because 17-year-old students’ internal clocks will force their eyes Cartoon by Caroline Steel closed before they have a chance to finish their homework. Hours of cumulative exhaustion caused by a total disregard for what a teen’s body needs will lead to waning energy levels and ultimately be damaging to high school performance. High school students are not fundamentally lazy. Occasionally, we will procrastinate on a monster essay, or stay up texting too late, but, for the most part, tiredness during classes each day is not caused by teenagers’ lack of work ethic, but rather by biological settings beyond their control. School is important, and Montgomery County needs to learn how to set start times so that each students of age block can be as alert as possible for all of their classes. The facts point to later start times for teens, and so do all the sleeping students.
Facebook groups connect WJ students In years past, students had to rely on the morning announcements and flyers for information. Now, student quesRecently, the WJ community has tions are being answered quickly and become more connected through the efficiently through constant Facebook various Facebook groups that the SGA group notifications. and WJ students have created. These Groups that invite students to cergroups, such as “MadCows 2012-2013” tain activities, such as the WJ-Churchill and “WJ Class of 2012-13,” are con- Homecoming Game and “Senior Movie necting WJ’s community by updating Night,” help our spirit and boost attenstudents regarding school spirit, sports dance for these events. events and other activities. In addition, groups created for cer-
By Hope Marshall
tain academic subjects, such as “AP Lang 2012-2013," help students with their homework, aiding their understanding of complicated concepts that may initially seem impossible to grasp. Although the benefits of the WJ community groups are clear, some may view them as annoying. For example, Facebook news feeds of students are often crammed with information that some may not even want to know. During the summer, the “Senior Girls ‘13”
group was the major topic of discussion. A number of WJ students found the countless notifications about the senior girls shirts to be irritating, unnecessary or both. “Most of the information was useless, but we ended up having great senior girl shirts,” said senior Samantha Chemali. In the end, however, these groups are now a fact of student life at WJ – a potentially useful tool that can also be a timewaster.
EDITORIAL
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Slider: Applying myself to the task Photo by Emily Cosentino
By Sari Amiel On Aug. 1, the day the Common Application opened, I decided to create an account. Then…I logged out, feeling satisfied with myself. Time passed, and in the beginning of October, after deciding they were more urgent than schoolwork, I actually started working on my college essays. At the beginning of the college application process, it seemed like every time I took a step forward, more steps appeared ahead. Sometimes I had to step back, like when I addressed the wrong types of envelopes to schools (I didn’t notice the words “self-adhesive”). Although I had to figure out the application process by myself, I soon got the hang of it. At first, the Common Application’s essay prompts seemed limiting. Sure, there are always those students who rescued endangered tigers from Indonesia or vaccinated children in a remote village. I know, it’s crazy – but unlike many kids these days, I spent most of my high school career actually being a high school student.
The day before my college essay was due in AP Lit, I was staring at the blank screen of my computer when I suddenly had a burst of inspiration. The most dramatic and imagery-filled words started flowing onto the paper, and I watched in excitement as my essay took shape before my eyes. Fearing I would destroy what I wrote in my burst of inspiration, I didn’t touch the essay again until a month later. Through the supplemental essays I
answered, I ended up writing things about myself I had not considered before. Those were the hardest questions to answer, since I never previously spent time analyzing my identity. If asked, I can now list five character traits, three leadership opportunities and two enlightening experiences in under a minute. Is this a good thing? I’m not sure whether I know myself better now than I did before. Then there are the seemingly random
“
factors that colleges take into account. There is a series of questions on the Common App that seem completely irrelevant, asking about my parent’s marital status and whether any of my grandparents have attended a certain school. I hope my answers won’t play a role in the admissions process, but I keep wondering why they are required if they don’t affect admission. In the past two months, I spent many class periods at college visits. At each visit, there’s always that one person who seems to go to every college visit just to skip class, the one who accidentally visits the wrong college or the one who wears a sweatshirt from a different school. At the end, although the college representative is always met with silence after asking whether anyone has questions, a mass of desperate students corner them the minute the bell rings. At this time, I have already turned in five college applications. Although I have more to go, I feel relieved that I have already turned in this many. Everything I was working on during high school is finally beginning to fit together. The hours I spent working on homework as an underclassman have led to hours spent on college applications, but hopefully all my work will lead to hours of relief after all my apps are submitted. I still don’t feel ready to move away to college, but I am already excited to finish the applications and to just see where I get in.
Photo provided by commonapp.org
High school seniors all over the country are familiar with this sight, the homepage of The Common Application website, which hundreds of schools use as an admissions tool.
Changeup: How we can change the school system
What students should do to make their voices heard
Photo by Emily Cosentino
By Phillip Resnick
For most of my 12-year tenure as an MCPS student, I agreed with the mindset that our school system is structured to benefit the masses, not the individual. On numerous occasions I have felt like I am simply a six-digit ID number with a GPA that kept me eligible and passing MSA and HSA scores. Even within WJ’s cluster, I have often felt I am just another student with a cookie-cutter schedule who, because I don’t have any major personal or academic problems, guidance and administration don’t have to concern themselves with on a regular basis. I am not trying to bash WJ and MCPS, as I feel lucky every day to receive one of the best public educations in the country and am very appreciative of our staff. However, I feel like our
school system has some major systematic flaws, that, avoidable or not, hinder the experiences of tens of thousands of our county’s students. I, like so many other WJ and MCPS students, recognize the problems with the school system, but feel like there is no way I can confront them. The only ways I feel I have a “say” are through electing the SMOB and filling out “what would you change” questionnaires from teachers at the end of each semester, which probably become kindling material at staff cookouts. I can recall more than one time when I have felt I had a good idea for our school, but haven’t been able to get the idea off the ground due to bureaucratic red tape or administrative indifference. However, last week I was fortunate enough to be selected to be shadowed by Dr. Rebecca Thessin, one of the county’s assistant superintendents. This was part of a new program instituted by Dr. Joshua Starr to facilitate more communication with the student body, in which every member of his staff shadowed a high school student to see the school system through our eyes.
Over the course of the day, Dr. Thessin observed me in class, but she also had the chance to ask me some questions. Some of them were pretty basic, like what the senior hallway was, but she also presented me with some
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Baker
Phillip Resnick with Dr. Rebecca Thessin, one of Moco’s assistant superintendents.
very challenging questions, like what was one thing I would change about our school system. This experience was the first time in 12 years that I felt I had a personal effect on how MCPS is run. I applaud Dr. Starr and his staff for their initiative to try to include students’ perspectives in policy making, and hope that they will stay committed to this principle. The lesson behind this column, for all 99,999 MCPS students that aren’t me, though, is that it’s important to make your voice heard. I had a wonderful opportunity awarded to me in which I was able to voice my personal opinions to someone who can actually make changes to our system, but that doesn’t mean that you aren’t able to make changes, just because you aren’t being shadowed by an assistant superintendent. Write emails, send letters, make calls or simply pull one of our schools administrators over when they have a moment to voice your opinion about a school issue. That is how we will make the necessary changes to our school system.
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FEATURE
WJ student spreads smiles among strangers
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All photos by Wahid Ishrar
Senior Maesa Titensor (center and right) and her friends Bethany Simmons (left) and Sarah Sheets hold signs with positive messages for oncoming drivers in Rockville every month.
ByWahid Ishrar Driving home on a weekday at 5:30 p.m. is not the most pleasant thing imaginable to most people. After yet another day at work, the infamous frown and creased forehead signify a tired being, both physically and mentally. The familiar feelings of going home and taking a hot bath or drinking a cup of tea and unwinding take over as the drivers aimlessly push through the rush hour traffic. Some might even start pondering everything that is wrong with their life, starting with the monotony of their everyday routine. But a student from WJ has set out to change this feeling of despair that creeps upon so many of us. Senior Maesa Titensor, along with two of her friends, has started an official organization titled “Operation: Positivity.” At least twice a month, the girls meet on the intersection of Rockville Pike and Montgomery Town Center, a street laden with cars, and they hold up handmade posters that harbor words of en-
couragement and happiness. Some of their most identifiable signs include the words “Smile!” or “You’re Beautiful!” Titensor’s organization draws inspiration from a personal story. “I had a friend in Montana... who saw a girl on a street corner and she had a sign that said ‘Smile! You’re Beautiful’ and she said it reminded her of me, so I wanted to do something like that,” she said. Titensor approached her friends, Bethany Simmons and Sarah Sheets, both seniors at Shady Grove Homeschool Academy, with the idea of writing signs on poster boards to make people happy. Their mission soon gained approval as passersby started asking them what they were doing and who funded them. “When they found out we wanted to honestly just help people have a good day, free of charge, a light immediately came from their eyes,” said Simmons. “We decided to start this group because
others needed to have that light turn on.” Some of their positive reactions include getting waved at, smiled at and honked at. “Some of my favorites include having One Direction serenaded to us... little kids promising to smile at a stranger, and a guy shouting ‘I really needed that!’ as he drove by,” said Sheets. “[I love it] when people are at a stop light [and] they roll down their windows and blast up the music for us to dance to,” said Simmons. However, unlike most of their audience, some choose to act negatively. “The worst was when a woman told us that we needed to ‘shut up and stop being so desperate for attention,’” said Sheets. “The trick is to remember that those people need our message even more than those who respond positively.” Titensor feels most depressed when people she knows react negatively.
“It’s the worst when your friends aren’t there to back you up,” she said. In terms of funding, they have been approached by many people who wanted to endorse them. However, they currently don’t have anyone funding them. “We’ve had directors of social media approach us and give us their cards, but we have yet to pursue that,” said Titensor. All three girls plan on pursuing this program in college, and taking it farther than just sign holding. “We want to do other things, like [going to] soup kitchens and food drives,” said Titensor. “We’re not here only to hold signs, but to spread positivity.” Sheets explained that she thinks each person should commit to helping one another. This is reflected in their motto, “A smile is a spark. Light the fire. Pass it on.”
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FEATURE
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
BEFORE THEY W
Although it seems like they’ve been at WJ foreve
Steve Miller, U.S. Senate
By Grace Leslau AP Government and Politics and AP Economics teacher Steve Miller worked in the Senate for 15 years. It was his first job out of college and he began as a typist for a senator from Arizona. He was promoted to an administrative position, where he was responsible for hiring and firing staff as well as managing budgets. He worked closely with two other senators, one of whom was Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski. He especially enjoyed being present during many groundbreaking litigation decisions and seeing famous people who came to the Senate, like director Woody Allen. “[Working in the Senate] gave me an insider’s perspective,” he said. “Since I have known personally pretty well three senators, I feel like I have more knowledge about what motivates politicians.” Miller was inspired to become a teacher by a colleague of his who switched from a career in the Senate to one of teaching. With his experience as the coordinator of an internship program in Senator Mikulski’s office, he became familiar with high school students. After remaining at home with his children and volunteering, he decided to become a social studies teacher, with the intent of teaching government. Working for the Senate required long work days, but Miller enjoyed his former job in the Senate and feels that, overall, it was a good experience. He enjoys teaching more, though, because it allows for interaction and is not a desk job. Miller finds himself drawing many parallels between his two occupations. “In the Senate you work in a small office with one Senator, but it’s part of a bigger institution and, in teaching, your classroom and your department is just a small portion of a bigger institution,” he said.
By Christine Bersabal Photo courtesy of Steve Miller
Miller is pictured above with Senator Harlan Mathews (D-TN).
Photo by Wahid Ishrar
Kevin Daney, Peace Corps
Photo by Wahid Ishrar
Daney, far left, in Zimbabwe in front of the school where he taught.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Daney
Before coming to WJ, Technology E Kevin Daney spent two years in the tioned in Mutoko, Zimbabwe. “It was a little bit unplanned,” said president of the [Technology Educati sociation] during college. So, they cam ‘Can we give a talk to [members of yo having those skilled people in the Peac arranged that and I sat in…but didn’t thought.” About a month before graduation, had no real post-college plan. One day school’s International Building by chan go in for an interview and came out w “Basically, four or five days before this letter saying, ‘You’re invited to g said Daney. Daney described his experience as Although he was completely isolate technology, Daney said he was never being self-reliant. For two years strai a bad day. After completing his mission, Daney U.S. wanting to continue teaching, bu the differences between the two cultu was hard because of the less severe dis dents here, but his experiences in Afr for many situations. “I taught kids who were in gangs in job,” he said. “I would tell them, ‘Yeah hiked across Africa two months with knowing where I was going,’ and th that… [I] could teach them better an discipline problems.” Daney’s wife was also in the Peace in Sri Lanka. When their kids grow u tired from teaching, they plan on bot together.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
FEATURE
WERE TEACHERS
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er, some staff members weren’t always teaching
Stephen Dubrow, U.S. Foreign Service By Sabrina Clarke
Photo courtesy of Krister 462/flickr.com
Pictured above is St. Charles Church in Vienna, Austria. Dubrow worked for 25 years as a diplomat in various cities around the world, including Vienna.
Education teacher Peace Corps, sta-
Daney. “I was the ion Collegiate Asme to me and said, our club]? We like ce Corps.’ And so I t give it that much
Daney realized he y, while passing his nce, he decided to with an application. e graduation, I got go to Zimbabwe,’”
being “awesome.” ed from modern r bored and liked ight, he never had
y came back to the ut quickly realized ures. The transition scipline of the sturica prepared him
n my first teaching h, well, I’ve hitchh no idea of really hey would respect nd [had] much less
Photo by Wahid Ishrar
By JJ Henn New to WJ this year, special education paraeducator Deb Sarno worked as a budget analyst for the Grumman Aerospace Corporation before becoming a teacher. “I got the job of budget analysis because I had been a bank teller,” said Sarno. Grumman Aerospace Corporation is a business involved with producing military and civilian aircraft. She was responsible for the aircraft carrierbased A-6 fighter jet. Most of the aircraft from Grumman is carrier-based and sold to the Navy. She worked first in New York and then in Melbourne, Fla. before coming to Maryland to teach at WJ. Coming from a job that involved crunching numbers and managing money, Sarno has turned to the hands-on occupation of working with kids. “I think the job here is more enjoyable because I have the ability to touch a young learner’s life,” said Sarno. Being able to work face-to-face with young adults has been more enjoyable for Ms. Sarno than her previous job. At WJ, Sarno frequently works in the Academic Support Center. “I love working at WJ,” said Sarno. “I enjoy the interaction with young adult learners.” She believes that WJ embodies her belief that everyone has the potential to achieve their dreams. Instead of working a desk-job, Sarno enjoys assisting and helping young learners be their very best. “So far, every day is a memory at WJ because it’s my first year,” said Sarno. “I hope every year will be this great.”
Foreign language teacher Stephen Dubrow worked as a Foreign Service Officer, more commonly known as a diplomat, for 25 years prior to teaching. He worked with government officials in cities such as Belgrade, Zagreb, Lubumbashi, Warsaw, Brussels and Vienna, and informed them about America’s positions regarding topics that affected their countries. “I spent my days with really interesting people in the community,” said Dubrow. Specifically, he got to know those who shaped the general opinion in each country, or institution, in some cases, and shared these opinions with the American government. He used these connections to ensure that opinion-makers in each country had good information concerning the U.S. Consequently, Dubrow spent little time home in the U.S., was challenged by the non-stop work and drained from constant travel. His children had to move due to his regular change of scenery, and after 25 years of this, he decided to stop. He didn’t immediately become a teacher after leaving the government, though. He worked for two years as a contractor for the U.S. Department of State, while simultaneously taking education classes at American University. He was offered a full semester position as a long-term substitute as a French teacher at Quince Orchard High School. He would have become a permanent teacher there, but was offered a position at WJ. “WJ is my professional home,” said Dubrow. Dubrow doesn’t regret anything from his decisions, but would have liked to go to more countries for foreign service work.
Deb Sarno, Grumman Aerospace Corporation
Photo courtesy of Jerry Gunner/flickr.com
Sarno worked at Grumman Aerospace Corporation, a company that makes aircraft like the one pictured.
e Corps, stationed up and he has reth teaching abroad Photo by Wahid Ishrar
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FEATURE
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
9100 Old Georgetown Rd. opens doors to WJ’s past
All photos courtesy of the Thomas family
Around 1930, when this major thoroughfare was still a dirt road, 9100 Old Georgetown Road was the residence of baseball legend Walter Johnson.
By Ellie Jorling
It’s a pretty unassuming house. Located on the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Oakmont Avenue in Bethesda, the house is now home to an oncologist’s office and is passed by thousands of drivers daily. A fire station and the National Institutes of Health are just across the street. However, this house has more history than is expected. Walter Johnson and his family lived there from 1925 to 1935. Carolyn Johnson Thomas, now 89, the fourth of Johnson’s five children, still remembers the house as it was when she was a child. “[Bethesda] was considered a country place [back then],” said Johnson Thomas. “[The property] was on almost nine acres. We had an apple orchard and a baseball diamond, a rose garden and lots of space.” The house was built in 1906, and similar houses built in Bethesda at the time were summer homes for the wealthy. Henry Thomas, Johnson Thomas’ son and Walter Johnson’s grandson, wrote in his 1995 biography of his grandfather that the property looked like a small farm and included a grape arbor, a small house for domestic help, flower gardens and chicken coops. “Although it seems so close…it was considered going out into the country; it was cooler,” said Thomas. “It would get very hot in D.C. summers –
[there was] no air conditioning in the [19]20s.” Johnson Thomas, who attended Bethesda Elementary School, remembers the house fondly. “My mother died young and I guess I associate that house with her,” she said. “We had a music room, she played piano and I took lessons…it was a gracious house.” Even though Bethesda was far away from where most lived at the time, including D.C., where Walter Johnson played for the Washington Senators, fans still came to his house and tried to get autographs. “Dad was awfully nice,” Johnson Thomas said. “People drove out [to the house] unexpected[ly], unannounced and expected to be received. I remember many times Dad would get up from the dinner table and go outside because a carload of people had arrived…and expected him to say hello, and he did. He was nice about it, but I can remember my grandmother used to get irritated, and thought it was very inconsiderate [of them].” Even driving in the car, the Johnson family was not exempt from fans identifying the famous baseball player. “We were always delayed, no matter what was going on, because people recognized him,” said Johnson Thomas. “He was well-known in the area and even
[when] driving around in the car with side of a well-known man. The house him people would [shout] ‘Hey, Walter!’ represents less of what Johnson did as an athlete and politician and more of his and he would wave.” Johnson tried to be with his children character as a man who wanted a good as much as possible, despite his busy life for his family. “[Dad] never acted as though he schedule, which included playing for and eventually managing the Washing- thought he was famous,” said Johnson ton Senators, and later managing the Thomas. “I think he was surprised up [un]til his dying day that people thought Cleveland Indians. “[Dad] was so nice; we just adored so much of him.” The house was named a Maryland Hishim,” she said. “He made time [for us kids]. His mother died young and he toric Site in 1988. Today, the property tried awfully hard to make up for it. He no longer stretches nine acres, and the took us with him whenever he could. baseball diamond has since been paved When he was managing in Cleveland, over. Despite this, Johnson Thomas’ my sister and I spent the summer out memories of the house off the dirt road there with him…He didn’t talk down in the countryside of Bethesda are still to us…He tried to include us in as many strong. Here at WJ, we often don’t think things as he could.” However, the Johnsons lived in about the significance of the name of Bethesda during a dark period of Amer- our school, but Johnson Thomas believes that it is telling to have a school ican history. “During the Depression years…I re- named after her father. “I don’t think most athletes have that member that people used to knock on the back door, and the maid would come in and tell us at dinner that there was a man at the back door who was looking for work,” Johnson Thomas said. “My grandmother always said, ‘We don’t have any work here, but give him dinner.’ It was a very bad time for unemployment.” Even though there were disturbances at the house, Johnson Thomas did not want to move to Germantown in 1935. “I told the family I was going to stay in Johnson Thomas, pictured above in a 1999 newspaper article at Bethesda – they could the house, has many great memories of her childhood home. go to Germantown,” she said. “I loved Bethesda.” Johnson retired from baseball after kind of tribute,” she said. “It says nice the 1935 season and was inducted into things about Dad that they named a high the National Baseball Hall of Fame the school after him. I think it indicates that following year. He remained in the Ger- Dad was more than an athlete.” mantown house until his death in 1946. Walter Johnson’s home isn’t as well known as the high school that is named after him; it represents a more personal
At left: Carolyn Johnson Thomas is pictured with her father Walter Johnson in 1924.
At right: Carolyn Johnson Thomas is pictured on the stairs of the house with her brother Bob to her right. Her grandmother Minnie Johnson is standing on the porch to the left, and their maid is standing on the right, 1925.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
WHAT YOUR SHOES SAY ABOUT YOU
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By MelissaWainaina
Shoes make an even bigger statement about your personality than they are given credit for. The University of Kansas and Wellesley College performed research on how shoes and personality are intertwined. A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality showed that 63 college students could accurately tell 90 percent of people’s personality traits and economic backgrounds based on their shoes. Each subject was shown pictures of 280 shoes and was asked to guess the personality, age group and owner of the shoe’s economic class. We did our own research here at WJ, by talking to some random students during lunch to see what they thought of a student’s personality based on these four pictures of shoes.
Shoe 1: Vintage pumps
Shoe 2: Sperrys
All photos by Emily Cosentino
Shoe 3: Low boot
Shoe 4: Combat boots
A low-rise gray boot is a neutral shoe that’s warm enough for the fall weather and closed-toed for protection. This comfortable shoe is casual enough for everyday use, but can also be cohesive with a dressier outfit. This simple and practical gray boot illustrates a quiet and introverted yet trendy person, who can be targeted as also having a happy personality type. Most students’ impression of the photo was that they were the shoes of a quieter person. Others stated that, when they looked at the shoes, they saw a trendy person who follows the latest fashion styles. When asked what type of music this person is likely to listen to, most people said the latest pop song. This person is seen as an up-to-date individual, whether it be on the matter of music or fashion.
This belt buckle boot directly contrasts with the low boot, even though both are boots. For one thing, this one is sturdier and has a thick rubber sole, so it can be used more easily in the rain. The heel also adds an element of sass. WJ students guessed this individual would be hardcore and outgoing. The owner of this boot would not follow the latest trends, but would have a consistently unique style. When asked, most students said the person would seem tough and either listen to alternative or country music. This person would not be into sports. Instead, people said this person would most likely be spotted hanging around at a concert.
Personality: classy, unique Personality: studious, orga- Personality: quiet, introvert- Personality: rocker, country and vintage nized and preppy ed and trendy and outgoing These black and white laced pumps helped to classify a person as being a “hipster.” People who wear vintage-inspired shoes, such as Oxfords, are most likely to be put in this category. They are artistic people who enjoy a wide array of music, style and art. When asked what the personality type of this person might be, most people said “classy,” “unique” or “artsy.” People thought that this person would be involved in activities such as theater or writing or could have an interest in an art like photography or painting. Some even viewed the shoes as reminiscent of the 1920s era. Other students took away that the person was probably more practical or conservative. The overall opinion was that this person is an artsy person that has a vintage style and appreciates unique items of clothing.
This type of shoe is very popular within the student body. People who wear this type of boat shoe are viewed as preppy, studious and organized. Many students stated that this shoe represents a person who is most likely to be structured and dedicated to the activities they have chosen to pursue. When asked what personality traits this shoe exemplifies, students mostly thought that this person was very organized. Students also mentioned that people who wear these shoes would most likely have a fashion sense that revolves around the polo and khaki pants trend. When asked what type of activity this person would participate in, most people guessed they are on a sports team or in an academic club such as the math team or an honor society.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Men’s fall fashion made simple
By Emily Cosentino
Sporty:
Formal:
Progressive:
Casual:
Preppy:
We explored the men’s fashion available at Montgomery Mall and came up with these five simple styles for our models. Sporty:
If fashion is not your biggest priority and you want something comfortable that you would be ready to play in, a sporty look is probably what you’re looking for. Our first outfit consists of a simple sleeveless gray T-shirt, a pair of black running pants striped with white along the sides and a pair of black sneakers, worn by Kai Zlotnitsky. This outfit is comfortable and still shows off your sporty side. It is simple enough to look great both in class and in practice. Our other outfit, modeled by Maxx Espinosa, is more for indoor play or warmer weather. Many athletes at WJ are part of a Wildcat team, so we decided to go with the primary school color, green. We paired a green sports tee with a pair of gray shorts that have green stripes running down the sides. Matching colors between tops and bottoms can be tricky if the colors are not exact, but, if possible, it pulls the look together and makes it great. These outfits were supplied by the Macy’s sportswear section.
We dressed sophomore Kai Zlotnitsky in five outfits from various stores at Montgomery Mall. The Progressive style ended up being his favorite style, which he purchased at the end of the spree. This gray buttondown coat from Gap at Montgomery Mall can complement any simplistic style. Cost= $128.00
Formal/Night Out:
Whether you are on your way to a first date, to a party or to a dinner with your family, there will be occasions where dressing up to achieve a tip-top look is necessary. Although you want to look as good as possible, it can be easy to overdo it, so try to keep it as minimalistic as you can. Our first outfit, modeled by Zlotnitsky, consists of a blue and white striped button-down and a pair of blue jeans. This look shows that you are dressing to impress, but are not going overboard. It perfectly fits a nice evening out to a dinner or the movies. If you want to go a little further than just the classic button-down, try mimicking the outfit modeled by Espinosa and add a sweater. We took a gray collared shirt and a navy blue sweater coupled with a normal pair of jeans to get this look. Enhancing your normal style every once in a while can help keep things interesting. All of our outfits were supplied by Gap.
This gray sweatshirt accented with light red stripes is casual and fun. Cost= $29.50
This white crew cut T-shirt is from Gap. A white T-shirt can match any outfit and can always come in handy. Cost= $24.50
Preppy:
This style consists of simpler clothes than most styles and is generally a neat outfit. Supplied by Gap, our outfits highlight a more sophisticated and clean-cut style of clothing. Zlotnitsky’s outfit displays a more simplistic, preppy look with a dark blue sweater matched with a pair of gray jeans and a simple pair of black sneakers, which were bought at Journeys. This is an outfit that can be worn straight from school to the movies. If sweaters are not really your forte, then try matching a basic colored T-shirt with an old-fashioned button-down jacket like our second outfit, modeled by Espinosa. Along with any pair of jeans, this style can look basic, yet still neat and thoughtfully laid-out. This look is further depicted to the right.
Kai Zlotnitsky
This pair of dark blue skinny jeans is sold at Gap. A darker pair of jeans gives off a sophisticated style. Cost= $69.95
Khakis can provide a modest look without being too attentiongrabbing. These are on sale at PacSun. Cost= $49.50
Maxx Espinosa Formal:
Progressive:
Progressive:
Progressive outfits have a laid-back look to them. Our first outfit, displayed by Zlotnitsky, consists of a gray sweatshirt with faded red accents on the sleeves, matched with a pair of badge khakis and a simple pair of black shoes. The sweater demonstrates a low-key look, but adds color and personality to the outfit with the light red. The light khakis show off a different style than just a pair of jeans; they exude simplicity, but also sophistication. Our second outfit, exhibited by Espinosa, consists of a pair of black jeans along with a pair of red shoes and a red sweatshirt. This outfit shows a colorful pop, making the outfit fun and interesting. These outfits were put together using PacSun clothing, which has a variety of prints and colors in the progressive style. This outfit is further depicted on the left.
Casual:
A pair of black and white tennis shoes sold at Gap for $19.99 Black shoes with white soles, provided by PacSun, give a polished look to the outfit. Cost= $55.00
Sporty:
Photos by Emily Cosentino
Casual:
This style has a wider range than most, spanning from a T-shirt paired with jeans to a jersey matched with sweatpants, or even a pair of cargos. For our perfect casual outfit, we paired a colorful purple sweatshirt with a Fox brand white, black and green T-shirt and a simple pair of black jeans, modeled by Zlotnitsky. If bright colors are not your style, try Espinosa’s outfit. We went with a simple gray hoodie matched with a fun graphic shirt and a pair of dark jeans. All outfit pieces were supplied by PacSun.
Sophomore Maxx Espinosa models five simple outfits picked out from different stores throughout Montgomery Mall.
Preppy:
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
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What’s in your bag?
Teachers’ edition
Three stuffed bags and three possible teachers: who is carrying what? Three WJ teachers have lent us their bags and spread out the contents for all to see. Can you tell whose is whose just by the objects they contain? Give it your best shot!
2.
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Glamorous bag number one includes everything from car keys to nail polish. Large sunglasses and lip gloss also make an appearance in this teacher’s large blue bag. An iPhone, its charger and an additional camera are present in this technologically prepared teacher’s arsenal. Finally, look for a teacher with fresh breath, with both mini Wisp toothbrushes and a handy pack of gum.
2.
Bag number two is large enough to hold a bike helmet. Inside is a smaller bag to hold all the papers she has to grade. This particular teacher glows in the dark, with fluorescent yellow straps for when she rides in the dark. Why does she have a car manual? Here’s another iPhone appearance, this one sturdily encased in bright red.
3.
The third and final bag is overflowing with lip gloss, receipts and pens. This teacher, although not the most organized, is well-equipped. She also carries keys and an iPad plug-in, as well as hair clips, a comb and, to finish it off, a wallet.
Joanne Reynolds Amanda McAndrew English Department
Foreign Language Department
Carolina Freitas
Foreign Language Department
3.
See answers at wjpitch.com!
Halloween Search
WORDS: BLOOD, CANDY, COSTUMES, CROWS, DEATH, HALLOWEEN, HAYRIDE, HORROR, JACKOLANTERN, MOVIES, PARANORMAL, PUMPKIN, SCARECROW, SCARED, SKELETONS, SPIRITS, TRICKORTREAT, WITCHES
SUDOKU
See answers at wjpitch.com!
Photos by Audrey Marek and Emily Cosentino
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Third Base The Humor Column
The font of desperation By Audrey Marek and Emily Cosentino
“I did my best to make you proud tonight.” This is a phrase one might say to a parent or teacher, when trying to get some credit for all their hard work. It could possibly be found in a tearful cinematic breakup speech, or perhaps a skeeball championship. But no, this sentence was sent to a high school student by the vice-president of the United States. He did his best to make you proud tonight. And only you. Now give him five dollars. Students and adults alike have been bombarded with emails vying for their time, their support, their money and even their company at the dinner table. The emotional bribery is not just limited to political candidates; celebrities will also be working for your vote. “Friend-- I don’t usually email you,” when seeing this as the subject of a message in your inbox you may think, “Oh, my friend finally remembered their email password!” but no, said friend is Beyoncé Knowles. Inviting you to a party. With Obama. In NYC. This is not the only travel opportunity though; these campaigners are practically travel agents. “Travel with us to Virginia this Sunday.” Just hop in the car and knock yourself out, we don’t bite! Haven’t they gone far enough? Open a magazine, an email, a webpage and you will be told to vote for someone or join some campaign activity. In no uncertain terms, it must be you; nobody else is qualified for this job. This incessant pandering can start to mess with your head, making you view alterior political motives behind every single action. Someone offers you a food sample in the mall? “My name is Barack Obama and I approve this sushi.” Going to the movies with your friends? “My name is Mitt Romney and I approve Breaking Dawn Part 2.” After a while, making eye contact with your cat will make you feel the political pressure. And the best part? Most of the young people these ads are swarming cannot even vote yet. Sure, we can volunteer with the campaign or tune-in to the debate, but when it comes to Election Day, we are no help. These candidates and their support programs are sending emails and not even realizing who they are sending them to. They might as well be sticking notes in 3,000 bottles and flinging them out into the Atlantic in order to grab people’s attention. The high school students they are reaching are the equivalent of the coral reef whose only job is to receive the waterlogged bottles that have sunk to the bottom of the sea. Another thing, Students in high school are not going to be the CEO of Apple; they do not have the money to donate. To put it bluntly, we do not have much say in who is elected president. These campaigns are wasting money, time and our precious email space in order to reach out to students who cannot help them in any way. I get it. Campaigns are trying to personalize emails to appeal directly to you, but isn’t this a little bit crazy? Beyoncé Knowles does not know of my existence on this planet and especially does not consider me as a friend. I am not going to abandon my duties as a current day adolescent and ignore all of my mother’s warning of getting in the car with strangers, for the purpose of joining Beyoncé in traveling to NYC in order to party with Obama and other A-listers.
NOVEMEBER 9, 2012
The face of art
The art of makeup and the students who practice it in WJ’s makeup crew “Face” continued from page 1 By Audrey Marek “I feel like you kind of get into a bit of a trance while you’re doing it,” said Staffin. “It’s a little bit therapeutic… art is something you can do anything with.” Both girls view the painting of makeup as an art form that uses unusual mediums like eye shadow and the face rather than canvas, clay or paper. Staffin views it as a practical form of art, as it can be used in everyday life. Especially for those whose schedules conflict with art classes or clubs, makeup provides an artistic outlet. “This is really the only form I’m able to express myself in,” said Tchuindjo. The group is searching for new members of all grades, but for the current year, especially juniors. Staffin explained that many of the crew’s members are seniors this year, and that as of yet they don’t have leaders for the upcoming year. The crew, although a part of S*T*A*G*E, is not as performance-oriented as other sections of the theatre program. Staffin described it as the group that is most distant from the rest of S*T*A*G*E stage, so students interested in joining don’t have to be dedicated to the performing arts. Staffin and Tchuindjo both praised S*T*A*G*E as a wonderful community and an easy way to make unique friends, even though they are not interested in the performing arts. Makeup crew also doesn’t require any makeup experience. All new members are accepted. Neither Staffin nor Tchuindjo went into makeup crew with any formal makeup training, and they are willing to teach others what they need to know. To learn the art form, both girls turned to makeup tutorials online and help from their peers. “YouTube has a great beauty community,” said Staffin. Makeup can also be learned from parents or friends who have experience with it. Tchuindjo was first exposed to the practice in her family setting, learning the basics through watching her mother. She then went on to join the crew and learn from the instruction of Staffin and other members. For students looking to join, no skill is required but a steady hand. Staffin suggested interested students watch YouTube videos as a means of introduction, and
“
All photos courtesy of Alison Staffin
The seniors of WJ’s 2012-13 makeup crew, from left to right: Hanna Cha, Karen Tchuindjo, Renee Lau and Alison Staffin.
then can learn by experience once they join the crew. There are other options besides the Internet for makeup classes if a student is looking for a more formal education or isn’t comfortable going into the crew without more experience. There are more official online resources, like Maybelline.com, which dedicates an entire section of its website to video tutorials for all levels of skill. There are also formal makeup programs. Many stage programs, like Imagination Stage in Bethesda, will offer occasional stage makeup programs. There are many professional makeup artists who hold classes also. Makeup is a skill that can move beyond stage. Many of the girls at WJ wear makeup on a daily basis, and even more experiment with it for formal events. Staffin offers her skills to her friends for school events like homecoming and prom. “I have them pay me in food, so it’s great,” said Staffin, “I just do it for fun.” Whether it is to look nice for the prom or to make facial features stand out under the bright lights of a stage, makeup is a form of art that almost everyone encounters. It has been around for centuries, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. Makeup crew is open to teach you the art of makeup.
This is really the only form I’m able to express myself in.
”
All photos provided by Alison Staffin
Jaquelin Maranville a WJ graduate of Eliyana Abraham, a WJ graduate of 2012, Senior Alison Staffin immitates makeup 2012, is made up for her senior prom. is made up for prom in her senior year. from “Black Swan” on senior Sarah Sull.
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NOVEMBER 9, 2012
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SPORTS
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
The Fall All-Pitch Team
Female athlete of the season: Anna Rowthorn
Male athlete of the season: Charlie Barry
Photo by Sarah Schecker
By MelissaWainaina
Junior Anna Rowthorn was named MoCo Field Hockey Player of the Year. Through the regular season she scored 20 goals and had 10 assists through 13 games. Rowthorn began playing field hockey while living in Uruguay. She started playing the sport when she was in second grade because it was mandatory. For a while she only did it only because she had to, but eventually she started to love the sport. “I didn’t take it seriously until fourth grade,” said Rowthorn, “but then I started to love it. Then I came here and started playing it.” Although she began the season slowly with the scrimmages, Rowthorn has led the team to a 10-1 record and a second overall seed in the 4A west playoff. “It’s going great for the team and [me],” said Rowthorn. “I love my team. I think this year we have the strongest team and we’re doing great things.”
James Duncan, Sr. Cross Country
Duncan led the WJ boys’ team to a division title and clocked a blistering 16:26 for his season PR.
Nabayee Tesfu, Sr. Boys’ Soccer
The captain leads the team into the playoffs with 10 goals, the most on the team.
Outside of school, Rowthorn has participated in a field hockey program called Futures that helped her get a slot on the Junior Olympic team. “Field hockey is my main sport, but I love lacrosse because it’s a way to stay in shape for field hockey while still playing competitively on a fun and close team,” she said. Rowthorn notes that her strength is being an offensive player with a vision for the goal. “When I am with our offensive, I like it because it is an opportunity to make plays and score,” she said. Rowthorn believes she has improved greatly as an athlete since last year and is looking forward to advancing in the playoffs. “I want to be on my game, playing my best and playing 110 percent throughout the [playoffs],” said Rowthorn. “I want to be able to walk off the field knowing I did everything I could to be there for my team and feeling proud of myself and my team.”
Nathalie Kirsch, So. Cross Country
Mackenzie Early, Sr. Field Hockey
Photo by Eggerton Campbell
By Hope Marshall
After three years on varsity football, captain Charlie Barry believes a bit more depth and confidence will turn the WJ football program into a force to be reckoned with. Since he was called up to varsity his sophomore year, Barry has dominated for the Wildcats, earning a spot on last year’s All-Gazette team as an honorable mention at DE and also playing a prominent role on offense. However, Barry’s favorite part of being on the team has been the great relationships he has made. “No matter what happens now, I’m closer to my teammates than I am to almost anyone else,” he said. As a captain, Barry knows that he has to be confident in what he does. “Attitude reflects leadership,” he said. His confidence and his style of leading by example show in his performance: he hauled in a total of 22 receptions for 354 yards and nine touchdowns so far
Gus Gill, Sr. Football
Evan Shapiro, Sr. Golf
Tom Stavrou, So. Boys’ Soccer
Shapiro capped off a great career by leading the team to its first ever division title.
Stavrou is second on the team in goals and leads the boys with eight assists.
One of the best players in the county, Paul will play at William & Mary next year.
Larrick dominated the net for volleyball all season and will join Paul at William & Mary.
Kirsch ran a 20:08 at the Carlisle Invitational and has been one of the team’s best runners this year.
Early had a great year and was the team’s second leading scorer in the regular season.
Gill has been the key to WJ’s offense, tossing 14 TD’s through nine games.
Sydney Calas, Sr. Girls’ Soccer
Eden Sela, Fr. Girls’Tennis
The Northeastern commit leads the Wildcats with four assists and is second in goals.
Calas has been the team’s best defender this season and will play for Brown next year.
The freshman sensation has been WJ’s top singles player all year.
Carina Deandreis, Sr. Girls’ Soccer
this season, both of which lead the team. Those who have watched Barry on the field know that behind those numbers are memorable moments and great individual efforts. At the top of his personal list of favorite moments was this year’s 13-12 overtime win against Clarksburg. For Barry, effort is the most important ingredient in winning football. “People aren’t always perfect, and sometimes teams can get caught in quicksand,” he said. Barry has put in work over the offseason, attending college camps and meeting good players from around the country. Barry has yet to commit, but is leaning toward accepting an offer to play for Cornell University next year, while majoring in mechanical engineering. During Barry’s time on varsity the team has left winless seasons behind and has put together winning seasons. His experience during this time has convinced him it won’t take much for WJ to reach a higher level.
Stephanie Paul, Sr. Girls’Volleyball
Kristen Larrick, Sr. Girls’Volleyball
All-Pitch photos by Wahid Ishrar and Sarah Schecker
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Pitch
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
SPORTS
Field hockey wins regional final for first time since 2001
By Anders Norberg
Field Hockey finished the fall season with a record of 10-1, which makes them the number two seeded team moving into the playoffs. This year, however, the team has changed from previous years, as it is focusing more on the chemistry between its players rather than on individual skills. “We all have specific skills and are good at the sport, but when we all come together we just work as a unit really well,” said senior captain Claire Gambrill. Compared to last year’s team, this year’s players have meshed better and they have put the team before their individual needs. “[Our biggest strength] is our team bond,” said Gambrill. “We lost three days of practice because of the storm and then we went right into a game and we didn’t struggle because of our bond.” This team is full of talented individuals; Anna Rowthorn-Apel has scored 21 goals and has 10 assists and Mackenzie Early has scored 15 goals, but even so the team’s greatest strength is that it is able to come together as a unit on the field, instead of simply being 11
Photo by Sarah Schecker
Junior captain Anna Rowthorn passes through the Gaithersburg defense.
Renewed resentment in Churchill rivalry By Ian Morrison
Photo by Sarah Schecker
Sophomore midfielder Ulane Albrecht shoots past the Gaithersburg goalkeeper.
separate players. “Individually, they are all talented,” said coach Erika Murray, “but the way they have come together as 11 players on the field is really, I think, what makes the difference.” Murray is confident that the team doesn’t have any big weaknesses this year. She said that the team focuses only on its upcoming game rather than previous matches or the cumulative outcome of the season. It also goes into each game focused on winning rather than worrying about which team it is playing. “We are just making sure we know how to play together,” said Murray. “We’re making sure we’re keeping the team aspect on the field and it’s not just one person [but] the whole team.” WJ beat Gaithersburg in their first playoff game and then defeated Wootton 2-1 in double overtime to advance to the state semifinal on Wednesday.The state championship game is this Saturday Nov. 10.
Volleyball bumps their intensity up a notch for a playoff run
By Michael Lumbuku
WJ Volleyball has become one of the biggest power- been our maturity, because our team has always been houses in Montgomery County. Ranked fourth in the so young,” said Larrick. state by MaxPreps and second in their division, WJ With this major change in maturity, the team has not volleyball has become a major contender for the state only developed talent but also in-game experience. title. Led by Coach Bill They are familiar with Morris and Captains the screaming fans, the Kristen Larrick, Brigid bright lights and the Morris and Stephaclutch situations that nie Paul, the team every team must face at has rallied back from some point in time. last year’s devastating “We are not as playoff loss to Richard tense now, so we have Montgomery and have learned how to relax,” won all but one of their said Larrick. matches. In the reguAs they approach lar season, Larrick led playoffs, their main fothe team in kills with cus is to play together 170, senior Gina Fischas a team and to build etti led the team in digs off of the energy from with 178 and senior their outstanding seaCorry Straathof led in son. Larrick and Paul blocks with 31. will be huge elements Photo by Sarah Schecker Morris said that his Senior libero Gina Fischetti celebrates being the first Montgomery of the team’s success, team is better thanCounty team to win a set against Sherwood. but they will have to teams in previous years. rely on strong perfor“[The team is] totally dedicated to the team and not mances from all of their seniors in order to win a state the individual,” he said. title. With most of their team composed of juniors and Straathof is hopeful about the teams’ future. seniors, they have the experience and talent to win “If we have the right mindset, then nobody can beat almost every match they play. Many of the players have us,” she said. been a part of the team for much of their high school The team’s first playoff game was on Nov. 5 against career; consequently, they have been through many of B-CC in the regional quarterfinal. The 4A West rethe ups and downs that the team has faced. gional final is on Nov. 15 at the Ritchie Coliseum at “One of our biggest stepping stones this season has the University of Maryland.
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At WJ it’s uncommon to hear the word “Churchill” without a barrage of expletives immediately before or after. “F*** Churchill” seems to be our school motto. The rivalry between us seems to have escalated over the past few years, to a point where encounters between WJ and Churchill are simply dangerous. On days when we play any Churchill sports team, the whole school is buzzing with anticipation. As a soccer player, the highlight of my season may very well have been crushing Churchill in front of a huge home crowd, but this rivalry isn’t just friendly competition. Three years ago, groups of kids from each of the schools met in the parking lot of Montgomery Mall and proceeded to beat each other with baseball bats. Why? ‘Cause f*** Churchill. This can’t be the real reason; what spawned such a harsh rivalry? Since this event occurred, cops now sit at the mall at lunch to prevent any more violent outbursts, but cops won’t stop the fights; the fights will just appear in a new venue. The tension during sports matches has elevated, and in the last couple of years, some of the encounters have been stunning. Much of the violence began last year in WJ’s boys’ lacrosse game against Churchill. As a junior, Silas Cheo suffered both a concussion and a broken collarbone as a result of foul play from a Churchill player. This was one of the lacrosse team’s most intense and physical games of the season, two traits that describe almost all competitions between WJ and Churchill. The events of this game may have seemed surprising, but it was this year’s homecoming football game that best portrayed the nature of the rivalry and re-ignited the hatred felt in past years. We lost the football game, but players and fans alike were so infuriated by the behavior of some Churchill players that the loss was quickly forgotten. It was a game riddled with injuries. Most notably, senior Andrew Matus suffered a broken leg that required surgical repair. Sure, in a game like football, injuries are bound to happen, but it was the disrespect shown by Churchill football players that enraged WJ students. As Matus lay motionless on the field awaiting an ambulance, Churchill utilized the time to jog and warm up rather than show respect to the injured player. Fans were outraged as they watched the Bulldogs capitalize on the injury. During the game, people were frustrated and mad, but after, instead of expressing any sort of sympathy, Churchill players voiced their pride for causing such injuries via Twitter. A tweet was posted, in response to Matus’s broken leg, that read, “Damn I Broke His Leg:/ OH WE’LL! Lls [sic].” Naturally, our school was furious. This tweet spread like wildfire, and spawned multiple Twitter fights between the tweeter and many WJ students. As the WJ-Churchill soccer game approached, WJ students relished the thought of some sort of revenge. Tension was high at the soccer game, and, not surprisingly, there was one moment when a fight looked probable. After I stole the ball from a Churchill player, he fouled me from behind. I found myself a little caught up in the atmosphere of the game and began talking trash in retaliation to the Churchill player that had fouled me. Once he got up off the ground, he and I had only just begun to push at each other before senior Nabayee Tesfu moved in to separate us. In hindsight, this may not have been the smartest decision, but when you’ve got the crowd egging you on, it’s hard to hold back against your rivals. After all these instances, tensions still run high and WJ students feel as though some sort of “revenge” must be sought out. Regardless of why the rivalry ever began, it has spiked in intensity and resulted in many dangerous outbursts between the two schools. Many may say things have been taken too far, past the point of enjoyment and into a realm of extreme hatred that is unhealthy for any high school environment.
Sports
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What’s Inside
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Photo Courtesy of Eggerton Campbell
All Pitch team and Athletes of the Month
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Field Hockey and Volleyball playoff previews
Photo by Sarah Shecker
NOVEMBER 9, 2012
Soccer looks to jump-start its ride on the road to states
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Meyers
Sophomore Jeremy Ebobisse holds off a Churchill defender.
By JJ Henn
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Meyers
Junior Arik Moe prepares to pass up the field.
With a first round bye in the playoffs, the young WJ Boys’ Soccer team is looking to go far in the playoffs. The team finished the regular season with a near unbeaten record of 12-1. The boys were able to win the division again this year, but are hopeful to finish the job and win states. “I would love to get another chance against Whitman since they beat us during the regular season, just to show them that we are able to beat them,” said senior captain Rodrigo Villordo. Allmetsports.com, The Washington Post’s high school sports website, ranks WJ Boys’ Soccer as sixth in the state, behind only one public school, Severna Park High School. In comparison, rival Wootton is ranked
Photo by Sarah Schecker
Sophomore defender Kyle Madden clears the ball from the back.
seventh, Watkins Mill is ranked eighth and Whitman is unranked. With high rankings come high expectations, and the team does not want to disappoint. Sophomore Tom Stavrou leads the team with eight assists and has also contributed eight goals this season. “I always get nervous [before the games] but the seniors calm the younger players down,” said Stavrou. “I feel pressured to do well for the seniors.” “All [of coach Mike Williams’] speeches are motivational and he gets us pumped up before the games,” Stavrou added. “Practices have increasingly gotten harder and we’ve matured a bit for the playoffs,” said Stavrou. Stavrou and the team have big shoes to fill; last year the boys lost in the state final 2-1 in a heartbreaking overtime loss against Bowie. After graduating many
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Meyers
Senior captain Juan Ortiz dribbles past a Churchill defender.
starters, WJ looks to bounce back with a young team and take a state title home for the first time since 2006. “[Playoffs] mean a lot; it’s my last year and I want to make it count and make another appearance at the state finals,” said Villordo. “[Having a young team] will help us in the long run and this year we can pull it off and win it all,” said Stavrou. “Having fans at the games changes everything,” said Villordo. “They change the atmosphere and they make it feel like the real thing. Having everyone’s support is great.” After beating Blair 3-1 last Thursday, the boys played Northwest on Saturday. This year’s state final is going to be played again at UMBC Stadium in Catonsville.
Boys’ cross country running toward another state title By Phillip Resnick Over the past four years the WJ Boys Cross Country Team has created a dynasty in the state of Maryland, winning four consecutive state titles and producing a number of top 10 individual finishers. However, despite all of their previous success, nothing is guaranteed this season, as the state championship on Nov. 10 nears. The team has continued their success through this year’s regular season, winning the division by going undefeated in dual meets as well as finishing first as a team in three invitational meets. However, the difference between this year’s team and those from years past is that the team has had six top finishers; the team doesn’t have one “superstar,” but instead has a varsity lineup full of consistent runners. Although WJ has won the last four state titles, they haven’t been the only team hanging around the top of the standings. Severna Park, located in Anne Arundel County, has finished second to WJ in two of the past four years and returns all seven of their varsity runners from
state meet]; all that matters is who has more heart.” The team won the county championship on Oct. 20, finishing all of their runners in the top 25 and avenging last year’s loss to Churchill at counties. However, senior captain James Duncan still wasn’t convinced that the team ran well enough. “As a team, we won, but as individuals, we underperformed,” said Duncan, who finished 13th overall and second on the team. “We need to run [much faster] as a pack if we want to win states.” Head coach Tom Martin agrees that if the team does exactly what it’s capable of doing, it will be able to complete its five-peat. “[To beat Severna], it’s going to take a team effort, with all seven guys having a good day and two out of the seven coming up really big and staying with Photo Courtesy of MocoRunning Senior Nathaniel Rees (left) and Junior Dan Kosogof (right) run by, closely followed by senior [Severna’s] top two,” said Martin. Will DeLay. The team continued to “To win states, we need to want it make progress as the state meet apa team that lost the state meet to WJ by more than anything [and] more than proaches, winning the 4A regional meet 31 points last season. Senior captain Ben Crites realizes that anyone else and leave everything on the on Thursday, Nov. 1. Nathaniel Rees the team will need to run a flawless race course,” said Crites. “In the state cham- finished fourth overall with a time of if they want to retain the state champi- pionship, the rest of the season doesn’t 15:47 and the team had an average finmatter. Anything can happen [in the ishing time of 16:08. onship for the fifth year in a row.