The Pitch: Feb. 25, 2011 by The Pitch

Pitch Walter Johnson High School

the

Obama: Support despite falling approval ratings

Up at Bat: What do you think of the Obama administration thus far?

The Politics Issue

SMOB Candidates: Up Close and Personal

Protest.com: How the Internet is Enacting Social Change

State of Televised News Volume 55 Issue 5

Friday, February 25, 2011

6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD 20814

thepitch@walterjohnson.com

301 803 7302

Pitch

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NEWS

CONTENTS

News

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

LETTER

FROM THE

3 Obama Campaigner’s Current Opinions 4 Progress of Pennies for Patients 5 Profile of SMOB candidates

EDITORS Dear Readers, In many ways, the world is in a period of political unrest. In the United States, Tea Partiers are calling for a big shift from big government, while President Barack Obama promises to make good on his platform of change. Issues of gay marriage, abortion, pot legalization and the wars in the Middle East continue to get attention in various political forums. Across the pond, British activists criticize the presence of CCTV cameras in public places. Middle Eastern countries are experiencing a domino effect of anti-government demonstrations set off by the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Chinese citizens tried to stage a protest of their own, which was put to rest by the government. Almost all of these protests were facilitated by the internet-based outlets, namely YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. As the world awaits the outcome of these political forays, The Pitch chose to look at some of their effects and their relation to students at WJ. We checked in with some students and alumni who were involved in Obama’s presidential campaign and looked at the changing attitudes towards his presidency (pages 3 and 6). SMOB elections loom near and in interviews with the two candidates, we looked at what they hope to accomplish and how they plan to do it (page 5). As a staff, The Pitch welcomed the new changes and jumped at the chance to pass on the news to you.

Editorial

6 Up at Bat: What Do You Think of the Obama Administration? 7 Pitch Opinion: Health Class 7 Liz’s Life 7 State of Televised News 8 Curveball 8 Point/Counterpoint: Music Censorship 9 Fawcett at the Smithsonian 9 Slugger 9 Clashing Programs

Feature 10-11 The Best of WJ 12 Love Advice from the Biggest Flirts 13 Community Cupcakes

Arts and Entertainment 14 15 16 16

Student Band Profiles Music Venue Reviews Out of Left Field Oscar Preview

Sports 17 17 18 19 20

Profile of diver Katie Collins Fielder’s Choice Popular Local Sports Sites Stat Sheet Splitting Time

THE

- Alexandra Sanfuentes and Sasha Tycko

www.wjpitch.com

PITCH ONLINE

Videos of Pennies for Patients events

Video of the Week: “Fireworks Fail”

Amnesty International rallies in support of Egyptian protests Editors-in-Chief Alexandra Sanfuentes Sasha Tycko Katie Levingston* Abby Singley* News Editors Devon Murtha Ali Jawetz* Assistant News Editors Julia Cinquegrani Jemile Safaraliyeva Sports Editors Parker Smith Daniel Fanaroff*

Arts & Entertainment Editors Sophie Meade Ian Green* Assistant Arts & Ent. Editor Eleanor Janhunen Feature Editors Rosie Hammack Lily Sieradzki Sari Amiel* Taliah Dommerholt* Editorial Editors Liz Wasden Jessica Evans*

THE

STAFF

The Pitch is published eight times a year by the students of Walter Johnson High School, 6400 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, Md. 20814. Advertising and subscription rates are available by calling 301-803-7302. Editorial opinions represent those of The Pitch staff and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff, faculty, or student body. We welcome letters, articles, photographs and artwork, to be submitted to room 211 or e-mailed to thepitch@walterjohnson. com. The Pitch is an award-winning paper that works towards providing the student body with accurate, as well as credible, information.

Assistant Sports Editors Hannah Flesch Assistant Editorial Editor Phillip Resnick Ryan Lynch Daniel Gorelik*

Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist 2009

*Online Editors

Maryland HS Journalism Award Best Newspaper Overall Third Place 2009-2010 American Scholastic Press Association First Place Special Merit 2008-2009

Recaps of winter sports as seasons come to a close Staff Writers Josh Benjamin Cameron Keyani Girard Bucello Alex Spinard Danielle Markowitz Jenny Deutsch Photo Editor Stefany Carty

Copy Chief Abby Singley

Videographer Emil Hafeez Photographers Alex Spinard Danielle Markowitz Sasha Tycko

Copy Editors Sari Amiel Ali Jawetz Jemile Safaraliyeva PR Manager Alex Spinard

Advisor Hilary Gates

Business/ Ad Manager Phillip Resnick

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Pitch

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

NEWS

“Yes We Can”: But Did He Deliver?

Despite falling approval ratings, WJ students and alumni still support Obama By Julia Cinquegrani President Barack Obama campaigned his way to victory in 2008 with a slogan of “Yes We Can.” Now, with his first presidential term more than half over, the extreme enthusiasm and excitement that were the hallmarks of and the driving force behind his presidential campaign seem to have waned across the country. Yet, even with significant numbers of Democratic Congressional seats in Congress lost to Republicans and falling approval ratings nationwide, many WJ students who campaigned for Obama approve of his performance as president thus far. Obama’s campaign was characterized by his ability to gather young volunteers. It is therefore no surprise that many WJ students joined the ranks of Obama’s supporters and aided him in his campaign. “I started making phone calls urging people to vote in the election,” said Duane Wilson, a 2009 WJ graduate who campaigned for Obama in the months before the election. “Later I began going door-to-door to houses in my neighborhood to encourage people to vote for Obama.” Other WJ students started their political activity while still in elementary school. Freshman Cameron Ishee became involved with politics at the age of eight when she joined her parents in campaigning for John Kerry when he ran for president in 2004. She contin-

ued her political activism by volunteering for Obama. “My whole family is really politically active,” said Ishee. “My mom was canvassing for Obama in northern Virginia, and I got involved in campaigning with her.” Some WJ alumni chose to volunteer for Obama because they agreed with his vision for the future. “At the time [when I campaigned for Obama] I thought he was going to be very progressive and change the country a lot,” said Gabe Schwartzman, who graduated from WJ in 2009 and worked extensively on Obama’s campaign by canvassing support from voters and going campaigning door-to-door in neighborhoods throughout the metropolitan area. “He was inspiring.” Nationwide, Obama is currently being criticized by people who claim that he has not fulfilled the numerous campaign promises that he made while running for election. According to a Gallup Poll conducted on Feb.16, 48 percent of the country approves of the job that Obama is doing as president, while 43 percent of the country disapproves. Obama’s approval ratings have fallen rather consistently over the course of his presidency since

“

his highest approval ratings, with 69 percent of the country approving of his actions as president, occurred throughout the month of January in 2009. The WJ students who campaigned for Obama, however, take a more understanding viewpoint of Obama’s actions as president. “Obama followed through with his

Photos by Olivier Doullery/Abaca Press/MCT

that he said he would. We have a really divided country right now and making political change is difficult.” Senior Grace Hsu began supporting Obama in 2008 when she researched him while covering the political section in North Bethesda Middle School’s newspaper. “Obama could be doing more to fulfill his campaign promises, but he has to play the political game, so I understand,” said Hsu. “Obama best embodied what I looked for in a leader. As a minority [myself], seeing another ethnic minority gain power was exciting.” Ishee said she supported Obama because she was upset with the state of the country leading up to his presidency and believed that he would be the best candidate for solving the nation’s existing problems. “The Iraq War was a mess that we had gotten into and couldn’t seem to get out of,” said Ishee. “I didn’t think that [John] McCain could get us out as well as Obama could . . . I wouldn’t say that he’s kept all of his campaign promises, but he’s kept enough that he is still worth supporting.” Whatever their opinions of Obama’s presidency, Wilson, Hsu, Ishee and Schwartzman all agree on one thing; they all plan to campaign for Obama again if he runs for reelection in 2012. “Especially because I’ll be able to vote in this election, [campaigning now] is more empowering,” said Hsu.

“It’s a reality check for those who campaigned for him. It was kind of foolish to believe he could do everything that he said he would. -Gabe Schwartzman

”

major campaign promises, like doing a lot to fix the economy,” said Wilson. “He might not have done every single little thing he promised, but the big things he has done. Education is definitely the next big problem for him to tackle for the rest of his presidency . . . but there are not any quick solutions to our nation’s problems, which is what many people are looking for.” Schwartzman is a bit more critical of Obama’s progress at following through with his campaign promises. “I wouldn’t say that he’s followed through with all of his campaign promises, but that’s politics,” said Schwartzman. “It’s a reality check for those who campaigned for him. It was kind of foolish to believe he could do everything

For more opinions about Obama, see Up at Bat responses on page 6.

Promise Tracker

Obama made more than 250 campaign promises while running for office. Now, with his first term more than half over, we highlight some of his promises and the progress that he has made on keeping them.

Promise: Provide insurance to Americans we are uninsured and allow insured Americans to switch providers if they want to. Progress: Passed a health care bill that provided insurance to 32 million Americans and made it illegal for insurance companies to deny funding for preexsisting conditions.

Promise: Reform the No Child Left Behind Act, better fund schools and meet committments to better fund special education programs. Progress: Revising the original Act and raising education funding by $3 billion for the next fiscal year.

Promises Kept

Promise: Repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy with regard to the military, which mandated discharges from service of any openly gay members of the military. Progress: It is now legal for openly gay people to serve in the military.

Promises in Progress Promise: Close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. Progress: Signed an Executive Order to close Guantanamo; progress on its closure and the relocation of detainees to other U.S. prisons or their home countries has been stalled.

Promise: Remove or limit lobbyist involvement under his administration. Progress: Immediately after enacting lobbiest restrictions, Obama made an exception for his new deputy defense secretary, who worked as a lobbyist in a defense firm until last July.

Promises Broken Promise: Sign a “Freedom of Choice Act” that would repeal all national and state regulations of abortions passed in the last 35 years. Progress: This act was never passed by Congress.

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NEWS

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Pennies for Patients

$788

By Jemile Safaraliyeva The month of February represents more than just another month. At WJ, February represents giving back to a cause. Pennies for Patients is a competition-based charity event among elementary, middle and high schools all around the country. The campaign, created in 1995 in the Society’s North Carolina Chapter, benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It’s an initiative which brings schools together and motivates them to create unique events worthy of drawing large crowds. Since 1995, the society has raised millions of dollars from inspired individuals. We documented the prcoeeds from the most succesful events as of Feb. 23.

$307

Paw Prints Feb. 1-25 $1 per print

PPP Feb. 9 $8 per person Junior Lucy Schoemer and Senior Michal Ad win the PPP costume contest

$248

Speed Dating Feb. 14 $3 per person

Photo by Sophie Andes-Gascon

$1,399 Photo by Jennie Zelenko

Seniors Cole Ahnell and Farah Benahmed share a 90 second date.

Family Feud Feb. 23 $5 per person

Stuck for a Buck Feb. 7-14 $1 for piece of tape

$251

Senior Michael New gets stuck to the wall outside the main office. Photo by Dan Kempner-

Bracelet Sales Feb. 1-25 $5 per bracelet

$251 $307

$630

Photo by Stefany Carty

Senior and host Ian Green grills Krasners’ Freaky Crew (Jordan Krasner, Ian Shapiro, Maz Labonski, Justin Frankee and Collin Carroll).

Upcoming Events Masquerage Feb. 25 at 8 p.m. In the WJ Gym $15

The winter dance occurs year-afteryear with an alternating theme. This year the theme is MasqueRage- a twist between a masquerade and a rave. Along with the $15 ticket, students receive their own handmade mask.

Staff Battles Feb. 14-25 Jugs have been placed in the rooms of various WJ staff members. At the end of the week the teacher with the most money will don the dreaded purple teletubby suit.

Video Game Tournament Feb. 18 $5 per person Students compete in the video game tournament.Photo by Stefany Carty

Burrito Mile Feb. 26 at 9 a.m. At Tilden Middle School $5 per burrito Created in 2008, The Burrito Mile instantly raised eyebrows and drew large crowds. All were interested to see who would be able to scarf down a burrito and run a mile. Shirts will be sold for $15.

World Largest Pie Fight Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. On the WJ athletic field

WJ tries to break the record for biggest pie fight.

Dr. Garran gets a pie to the face in the promotional video.

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Pitch

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

By Devon Murtha

Why do you want to be reelected as SMOB?

People always say they want to make a change in the system. I guess that’s what I feel is important, but to be honest with you . . . I mean, I just love what I do. I look forward to showing up at the Board of Education every week or every two weeks, and meeting with my other seven colleagues. I feel like what we do has an effect on the education of all the kids in the school system.

What do you think is the most effective way you communicate with students?

Every year kids always hear the same promise of communication, and one of the interesting things the previous SMOB Tim Hwang did that I continued was to use social media and the Internet along with an advisory council. This year I started the SMOB Council, which is a group of around forty kids from around the county, in high school and middle school, who I work with on stuff like lobbying and outreach.

What did you think you’ve learned from the last time you ran?

Well, I know now that it’s a big commitment, but I’ve managed to cope with it. There are also restrictions to the position that most students aren’t aware of. You can’t just waltz in there and say “Alright, I’m going to do whatever I want or change up everything.”

NEWS

SMOBsters Q&A

Students will vote for the next Student Member of the Board on April 13

How would you sum up your platform? I’m going to be concise– it’s all about communication. Last year, I had all of these idealistic dreams of things I would try to get accomplished. This year, after serving a term on the Board, I realized that what the kids need isn’t just someone who will fight for these issues . . .but someone who’s really committed to the idea of strong communication. You can’t just provide the opportunity for people to come to talk with you; you need to go and talk to them yourself. You need to be the one who initiates the communication.

Alan Xie

Why do you want to be the SMOB?

Hal vs. Zeitlin

I just want to help students. That’s what I’m all about. I think things could be done better. I think we need to find a different aspect of our SMOB. I think that they s h o u l d n ’t always only sit at a table and do good work there. They should work with students to make things happen better at the school.

Photos by Devon Murtha

February 26 April 2 June 18

If elected, how will you communicate with students?

I’ll do 100,000,000 different things to get to them. To begin with, I’ll visit their schools. In addition, I’ll have my blog where students can read about the issue, what’s been done for the past couple years. I’ll be using Facebook and Twitter and all these multimedia accessories. And also one thing I’ll be doing is … setting up times for students to talk to me on the phone, for fifteen or twenty minutes, or for however long they want.

How much influence do you think the SMOB actually has?

It really depends on how much they want to have. In previous years, some SMOBs have done a great job, stirring up problems and putting awareness out and making change. Others have been a little passive. The students, sometimes they know what’s going on, sometimes they don’t. And so if I was elected, I would be one of the higher-affecting SMOBs.

What else would you like students to know about you?

I’m a fun guy and I really do embody the student voice. If your school wants to have me over, we can talk . . .and after we can play some basketball. And that’s the kind of Student Member [of the Board] I’d want to be.

Up Bat

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Pitch

EDITORIAL

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Q: What do you think of the Obama Administration thus far?

For Up-At-Bat video responses, visit WJPitch.com

Charles Zhang

He’s been in office for over two years now, and, like most presidents before him, Obama’s ratings have been falling since he was first elected. With so many strong conflicting opinions about his presidency, are his supporters still standing behind him?

sophomore

A: “I approve of his repealing of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’ I hope he continues making good choices for the American people.”

A poll conducted by McClatchy-Marist Jan. 6-10 compares public approval of Obama now with approval in 2010: Photos by Liz Wasden

Miklos Szebeni junior

A: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job with the economy. He focused too much on health care. I think he should’ve focused more on preventing foreclosures.”

Mr. Steve Miller social studies

Caption Contest Looks like Mr. Merrill (right) is not happy with Dr. Garran (left)... Submit your captions or dialogue online at WJPitch.com. The winning caption will appear in the next issue of The Pitch.

A: “It’s fun to teach government during the administration of the first African American president. Students are more interested and know more about government.”

Claire Martinez senior

A: “Some of his reforms could be more liberal. He hasn’t really done anything to change the structure of government. He has, in a way, been forced to be more conservative, but he could be more liberal in terms of the economy. He has improved a lot for minorities.”

Robert Karlen

freshman

A: “I think they’re doing pretty well...You can’t expect change immediately. He might not be able to do everything he wants to because Republicans have a majority in the House.” Cartoon by Michael Matthes

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FEBRUARY 25, 2011

EDITORIAL

Why Broadcast News has failed Have you found yourself watching the news, trying to figure out what exactly is going on in Egypt? Often we end up simply furrowing our brows and moving on to another TV program, without having learned anything from our news reporters overseas.

By Cameron Keyani The Battle of Tahrir Square. Such was what foreign correspondent Richard Engel called a fight between pro- and anti-Mubarak militants -- that is, when he took a break from assuring us of the danger he was in, three hundred feet above the conflict on his guarded hotel balcony. I was astounded by the level of violence; the sound of heavy gunfire was audible over the reporters’ voices, and they were showing protesters fighting for freedom, or their lives, or: Oh dad! Come quick! That guy got hit by a Molotov cocktail! He’s on fire! I quickly realized I was watching something akin to a WWE match up, not a news report. If someone were to share their knowledge of the conflict in Egypt based entirely on major news channels like Fox, MSNBC and CNN, they could tell you little of worth. Egyptians are throwing rocks at a bus. Egyptians are flipping over a car. That car is now on fire. Mubarak is corrupt. We don’t know who the military is going to support at this point, Jill. What happened to journalism? A picture may be worth a thousand words, but videos of angry Egyptians can only provide so much information. Short of odious talking heads arguing and attacking each other’s political views, there has been little actual analysis of the political situation in Egypt on TV. The Washington Post has, conversely, done an admirable job in dissecting the issue and at least scratching the surface on the “whos,” “whats” and “whys” of the situation, but their readership decline along with all print sources. And now that the bulk of the conflict

in Egypt is ended, and the Egyptians have to do the boring job of rebuilding the infrastructure they destroyed and looted while the world cheered obliviously, the big news networks have moved on to the atrocities in Libya. They haven’t wasted any time in turning this uprising into yet another violent, sensationalized story without reporting on anything of substance about its causes and possible consequences. News channels seem determined to give viewers something to rave about without imparting them with any core information. It seems that dying newspapers are taking actual journalism down with them. News networks couldn’t even take the hint when a renegade news source like WikiLeaks emerged. Rather

Cartoon by Michael Matthes

N E W S B L U E S

than recognize that a ragtag team of hackers and moles were doing a better job than they were, and change themselves, they did the worst thing they could to sidestep it. They made a news story out of it. A website is doing the job they should be doing, investigating and analyzing to give the masses the truth, and rather than adapt, they made a sensationalized news story out of it. When need to stop acting like sheep, oo-ing and ah-ing thoughtlessly at the images of violence news networks give us, and demand news with substance.

Pitch Opinion:Health Class Too Late It’s the first day of health class, and the teacher is going over the curriculum. She explains that she will try to answer our questions, but some topics may be too sensitive for her to go into depth about. For some questions, we will have to look for the answer elsewhere. “Ask an adult,” she says, “Someone 18 or older.” Several seniors snicker, and one especially vocal boy, or supposed man now, reminds the teacher that he is already 18. “Just ask him!” she jokes, eliciting a couple of giggles from the freshmen in the front row. But really, that’s no laughing matter. According to the American Medical Association, the average age an American boy tries alcohol is 11, and for girls it’s 13. Furthermore, according to the Guttermacher Institute, the average age for teenagers to lose their

virginity is 17. And according to the National Drug Intelligence Center, 40 percent of high school students reported to having experimented with marijuana. So by the time high schools students take health, many of them have already been exposed to mature situations, and have had to make decisions about their health. Though the idea of a class developed to help students with real-world problems can be applauded, it seems that it comes too little, too late. Teenagers have been making choices about nutrition, alcohol and drug use, and sexual activity, from a very early age. Informing them about good decision making and educating them on the consequences of their actions is a good idea, but it is of little use to most teenagers, who have already been in situations where they have had to deal with the consequences of their less-than-informed decision. Too many students are getting their health information from schools too late, and there

is an obvious need for reformation of the health education curriculum, how and when it is taught. The dialogue about sex, alcohol, drugs and good nutrition needs to start before students are presented with those situations. A better model to follow would be that of the Dutch. Even in the Netherlands, where prostitution is legal in some counties and sexuality is out in the open, they have a lower rate of teenage pregnancies and STDs than does the U.S. This is due, in part, to their willingness to educate students about health early on, and openly. As early as elementary school, children are taught about the importance of contraception, and in middle and high schools, sex education is incorporated into other subjects, like biology and history. This approach to the health curriculum needs to find a place in the U.S.’s health education system, and be more broadly applied.

Liz’s Life

Switching Out Too Soon

By LizWasden Print Editorial Editor

“I want at least three objects, show me where the light is coming from and try to incorporate a range of values, good shading and cross-hatching, and I would like to see distance as well as a clear background. GO, GO, GO!” Chaos. My art teacher stood in the midst of flying pastels, pencils, paper, paints, charcoal and, of course, high schoolers, shouting and running, while I sat blank-faced in my seat, without the faintest idea what to do, my heart pounding. As a senior in Studio Art 2, having skipped Studio 1 on a friend’s recommendation, I had absolutely no idea what my teacher was talking about. Gathering my wits and trying to recall what I learned in elementary school art class, I attempted a still-life of several glass bottles. Pleased I had created somewhat three-dimensional shapes, I showed my friends, who commented that the objects in the picture more resembled male genitalia. Discouraged and doubting my artistic abilities, I became the constant occupant of my teacher’s desk side chair. Later, I showed my mom my latest piece of art: a portrait of myself, which we had been assigned to make as realistic as possible. “Hey, I really like that!” my mother had said. “It looks like a Picasso with the eyes and mouth disproportional that way!” It was while working on my next project, which involved drawing a board game in such a way as to make the viewers feel as though they were in the game, that I had my artistic epiphany. I had chosen Hungry, Hungry, Hippos, and was determined to make the objects unmistakable. I scribbled with my pencil and furiously drew with pastels. I thought of all the hippos as critics of my art, eating me alive. My creation was complete. My teacher, who was walking around the class checking on everyone’s progress, stopped behind me and said, “Elizabeth, this looks excellent. I love the use of color and the water looks so realistic! And those hippos look very hungry.” Beaming, I began to tear. I was so proud of myself. My determination had paid off and I realized that although the proper technique and the right materials can create a nice piece of art, it is putting your whole heart into something that creates a real work of art. I have never been more inspired to persevere. And that Hungry, Hungry, Hippos drawing? It now hangs prominently on my refrigerator. Although rising students have already registered for next year’s classes, students will likely still take the opportunity to switch out of difficult classes, usually during the first week of school. If you’re considering switching out of AP Calculus, stick it out. Struggling through and overcoming something leaves you stronger and more satisfied with your commitment.

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EDITORIAL

Curveball

Protest. com: How the Internet is Enacting Social Change By Sasha Tycko Print Editor-in-Chief

As you comment on a Facebook photo or tweet about the sandwich you’re eating, someone else might be using the same social mediums to plot the next revolution. The mounting political upheaval in Egypt was mostly organized by the administrator of a Facebook fan page entitled “We Are All Khaled Said.” From this page, Wael Ghonim, who operated under the pseudonym El Shaheed, led a ferocious campaign against the police state, posting videos, photos and emotional pleas. Just as you may have created an event as a cry for phone numbers in wake of a lost cell phone, Ghonim created a protest event that called for political change, to which more than 50,000 people responded “Attending.” In its anonymity, the Internet is perhaps the most democratic of political forums. Anyone can build an influential Facebook page with enough dedication and determination. In his daily life, Ghonim is nothing more than a young father of two who worked as a Head of Marketing at Google. The Internet was such an effective tool because of its laissez-faire domain. The government can censor newspapers and television, bug phones and squash public demonstrations, but it can’t censor the entire Internet. Which is not to say it doesn’t try – the Egyptian government cut phone and Internet access in an attempt to stop the protests from spreading. But the seed was planted and it was too late. The website WikiLeaks demonstrated this censorship-free power to an extreme by releasing official documents and exposing government secrets. The ensuing controversy only solidified the strength of the Internet and its instantaneous proliferation of information. In Egypt, Tunisia, Russia, Zimbabwe, China and Iran, bloggers risk their lives to give truthful accounts of violence and oppressive politics. In Egypt, Dalia Ziada writes a blog in opposition to the Mubarak regime, providing insight into the attitudes of Egyptians during the revolts. In Saudi Arabia, Eman Al Nafjan updates her blog about discrimination against women and the abusive national security. In lieu of a reliable press, they often write what would otherwise go unpublished. Some of the key components of the Internet – the opportunity to be anonymous, the ability to reach thousands of people, its lack of censorship – are credited with the degeneration of society. We constantly hear that the Internet is shortening our attention spans, destroying personal interaction and contributing to America’s obesity. To an extent, this is all correct. But when harnessed correctly, the same key components comprise a very powerful resource. Society, and the way we interact, is certainly shifting. But in many parts of the world, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it might be a really, really good thing.

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Music Censorship:

Hinderance or help?

point By Jenny Deutsch

As of late, it seems that the music industry is encouraging children and teenagers to engage in wrong and often dangerous activities. With this encouragement so accessible via the radio, it is often difficult for even the most sensible teenagers to differentiate between right and wrong. It is agreed by most Americans that censorship on any scale is wrong. However, radio stations are obligated to do their part in order to counter the nation’s current culture crisis. People are engaging in illegal, sexual and violent behavior at a younger age and a higher rate than ever before. Covering up poor language on the radio station won’t reverse this, but taking one of many bad influences out of the equation is a good step. Radio stations not only need to continue to use a keen ear when it comes to what they are willing to put on the air, but also need to create stricter guidelines as to what’s appropriate for the public. This means that some pieces should not make it on to the air. These decisions, although unpopular, are necessary. One can observe the plight of the current culture crisis through today’s

current billboard number one song, “Black and Yellow,” by Wiz Khalifa. This song has crude lyrics throughout, including offensive racial slurs and drug references. For society to support this type of language so fervently proves that there is a crisis afoot and measures must be taken in order to stop the effects of this issue. It should be obvious that children should not be able to access music that contains explicit language. If efforts begin now to create a kid-friendly environment, free of bad influences, then these children will most likely grow up to be more aware of what comprises good behavior. Additionally, if the radio stations omit music of bad taste, television stations and video game manufacturers will follow suit, which will lead to a more appropriate realm of entertainment. This contention puts a lot of pressure on the radio stations to make the correct judgment on what is acceptable for the public’s ears. It is essentially the responsibility of artists, who plan to create music made for the general public, to make it welcoming to all types of listeners, even children.

By Daniel Gorelik Many of you have probably heard 50 Cent’s hit song “P.I.M.P.” Now imagine hearing the lyrics go, “You *beep* with me, you *beep* with a P-I-M-P.” You end up focusing more on the beeps than on the words themselves. Many songs that are censored are just unbearable to listen to because all of the annoying bleeped out words make it impossible to understand what the artist is trying to say. Censorship has ruined music and it doesn’t help to hide the messages in a song. When you’re listening to Dr. Dre’s “Forgot About Dre” and you hear “*beep* you too *beep*, call the cops I’ma kill you and them loud *beep* mother *beep* barking dogs,” it is really annoying. It’s not as though

Photos by Alexandra Sanfuentes and Liz Wasden

counterpoint

the bleeps prevent the audience from being able to understand what is being said. When artists write songs, they specifically target the people who will want to hear the song, no matter what profanity is in it. If a musician writes about something they care about or just wants people to hear their ideas, they should have the right to express how they feel without being restricted by the Federal Communications Commission. The reason they use these harsh words is to convey how strongly they feel what they’re singing about. As mentioned earlier, the rest of the lyrics that don’t contain profanities can still reveal the profane words. The hidden references within the songs aren’t so hidden anymore because the younger generation knows so much more and can figure it out for themselves. Therefore, the censorship is unnecessary. And on that point, it should be mentioned that artists like Soulja Boy have found ways to get around the censorship of their music by creating an endless string of slang terms, such as “shizzle” and “yayo,” which have the same implications as the original swear words. When someone tells you that you can’t do something, it makes you want to do it more. In essence, censorship no longer stops people from creating songs with crude implications; it just ruins the vision that the artists had in mind.

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FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Farrah Forever:

America’s Celebrity Obsession Hits Museums

EDITORIAL

By Danielle Markowitz

Fawcett was the “It Girl” of the 1970s, The cascading mane of a lasting sex symbol, and remains blonde hair, the pearly white as the “male teenager’s dream smile, the bronzed skin and date” from the ‘70s. But so were the cherry-red bathing suit: Clara Bow in the 1920s and Mae the 1976 photograph of FarWest in the 1930s. Even Marilyn rah Fawcett by freelance Monroe’s legacy from the ‘50s is photographer Bruce Mcquickly fading as newer generaBroom was printed more tions are forming a new culture than 12 million times for filled with hundreds of reality fans worldwide and became television stars. In 50 years, who is Fawcett’s claim to fame in going to remember Fawcett? What the late ‘70s. The original history books would ever mention copy of the poster, along her, or even the character Fonzie with Fawcett’s personal from “Happy Days” (whose leather Charlie’s Angels script book, jacket is currently on display)? Her a “Farrah Phenomenon” impact of society was minimal, as 1976 edition of TV Guide, an Photos courtesy of www.si.edu were that of the other stars, but original 1977 Farrah Fawcett doll and a Fawcett’s merchandise from an era “Farrah’s Glamour Center” hairstyling long-gone is still going on display at doll are all being donatPhoto courtesy of Lawthe museum. ed to the Smithsonian rence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times/MCT In the next 20 years, the National National Museum of Museum of American History might American History and have “Free Lindsay” shirts on display, will be on display this right next to Lady Gaga’s globe dress summer. and eccentric headwear. Yes, these Fawcett was a decent people were important icons during actress and truly emutheir time, but consider the greater lated the stereotypical impact they had on the nation, or even Hollywood actress of if they had one. We must take into acthe ‘70s. But to be in a count the ways museum, much less the in which they Smithsonian’s National did, or did not, Museum of Americontribute to the can History, is a little evolving history silly. Perhaps this came Photo courtesy of www.ladygaga.com of our country. about because one of We, as Amerithe museum directors cans, tend to has a Farrah Fawcett fetish, but putfalsely correting Charlie’s Angels paraphernalia and late eras in hismerchandise in the museum is a bit of tory with the a shock. Sure, the poster is iconic, but is it Ameripop culture of Photo courtesy of Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times/MCT can culture? Or even a lasting part of American histhose times, tory? When exploring the Smithsonian’s incredibly along with those detailed exhibits of our nation’s history-changing events, what merit comes from a plain red bathing suit? Flash times’ most successful celebrities. And so, a precautionback to some of the more profound and revolutionary events of ary word to the wise: in 20 years the hope is that we the 1970s, like Apollo 17, the Vietnam War, the Education for All can examine our history and find the events with true, Handicapped Children Act of 1975, the Nixon administration, the historical merit rather than a specious look at who wore invention of MRI technology and the laser printer. what shoes or who the most popular preteen pop star was.

Today

20 Years From Now?

Clashing Programs: There’s Just No Room By Ryan Lynch For Two Main Events I’m going to put this out there right now: there is such a thing as too much television. Before you stop reading this article or cuss me out, bear with me now. What happens whenever a popular sitcom is making its “season premiere” or when a huge sporting event like the Super Bowl is on? Channels like FX and TNT not-so-coincidentally decide to schedule great movies like Iron Man and Titanic for the same time. These tragic societal wrongdoings happen by no accident. These networks do this on purpose, on purpose, I tell you. They are attempting to steal as many viewers as possible, even if it’s just during the commercials of the night’s main event. I have one simple question: is drawing a small number of viewers away for a couple of minutes really worth the indecisive feelings viewers’

experience? Despite struggling to stay on one channel the night of the Super Bowl, the problem really manifested itself on the second to last day of January. I had a typically peaceful Sunday, waking up late, having brunch and then plopping myself on the couch. After scrolling through roughly 200 channels, I almost went into cardiac arrest. At 1 o’clock, the Miami Heat played the Oklahoma City Thunder, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics game at 3:30 p.m. These great regular season NBA games still couldn’t keep my attention during commercials. I stumbled upon The Bourne Supremacy on TNT, Iron Man on FX and Wedding Crashers on Comedy Central. When faced with situations like these, people feel backed into a corner. I did the unthinkable: I turned off the television.

While select channels are notorious for playing popular and well-received movies, this “courtesy” is actually quite deceiving. Whenever movies come on regular cable television channels, they are riddled with commercials, especially when airing during primetime. In order to guarantee that the movie will run in the allotted time slot, scenes are often cut, making the movie-watching experience very different a second time around. Distorting the movie director’s intended message makes the movie not worth watching. Even leisurely things in life can be complicated, television included. Television executives, if your goal is to lose viewers, you’re on the right path. Being considerate of other programs and viewers’ schedules will definitely boost your ratings and thus help you keep your job.

Slugger

Watch the Word Vomit

By Alexandra Sanfuentes Print Editor-in-Chief So, like, um, you know, he, like, um, totes friend requested me. “Totes.” Totes? What is this language we kids are speaking? Because it sure is not English. More and more now I hear these familiar word crutches riddled throughout spoken conversation. But rather than just a minute foible in a manner of speaking, words such as “like,” “um” and “you know” have become a major hindrance on my understanding of what the heck everyone is saying. Instead of actually being able to hear and understand what any of my fellow pre- and post-pubescent teens are trying to say, whether it be in a speech, a presentation or just an everyday conversation, my mind zones in on the word crutches. I find myself subconsciously listening to and paying attention to only the frequency rate of these dummy “nothing” words, this atrocious word vomit. In my own experience with such valley girl talk as this, I have found that people tend to whip out the “likes” and “ums” as a fallback option when trying to give an extended explanation of how to do something they do not entirely have a firm grasp on. The horrid words also come out of their cages when we are nervous. We get so focused on how afraid we are that we do not take care to make sure we are speaking proper English. Unfortunately, high schoolers slip into the limited danger zone of who can actually comprehend what they are saying: 13-year-old Bieber Fever fanatics. But it is not just the notorious “like,” you know? Now people have started creating their own “isms,” their own word crutch terminology. Often times someone might use “all right” while trying to give an explanation as a selfassurance system. It goes into effect regardless of whether or not the person listening actually understands what is going on. Try this out for a week or so: limit the word vomit that spews from your pie hole on a regular basis. It might be difficult to accomplish, but honestly, if a wider range of people will be able to understand you better and will actually pay attention to what you have to say, then I would say it is definitely worth it. Seriously, just, like, try, like, listening to, like, yourself talk. If you find that, like, your mind is scattered and totes all over the place, then your language is not actually a real language at all. By the way, if you have not figured it out yet, “totes” is a shortening of the word “totally,” and is a term that I find ridiculously stupid to hear spoken aloud. Or even written. You can’t bring yourself to say it without feeling like in order to say it properly you have to pop a hip and do the “Bend and Snap.”

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Pitch

the

Pitch

FEATURE

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

FEATURE

11 Upper Level Math and Science 1

Best Outdoor Lunch spot

The back eat lunch. is a nice day. It is pleasantly of WJ.

G86

of the art wing is a great outside spot to Complete with flowers, grass and tables, this refuge in which to hang out during a busy as close to the school as you can get, yet detached from the busy comings and goings

G87

214

223

G82

256

Best Locker Location

This category was judged by centrality, proximity to stairs (for maximum convenience between classes) and view. Based on these factors, the best locker location is in the senior hallway, close to the middle stairwell, but still near the windows facing the courtyard.

Greenhouse

The greenhouse, located above the gym near the forensics and math classrooms, has a wide array of plants underneath hanging sprinklers. The room's earthy aroma and large-windowed view of the tennis courts make it a great place to be.

Ground Floor Art Department

Best Indoor Lunch Spot

This floor-to-ceiling corner window in the science wing takes in an expansive view of WJ's back fields and the roads beyond. The space beneath the window can be used as a bench, letting warm light flood on one's back as he or she sits facing his or her friends. This place is secluded yet central in the school, giving it the ideal characteristics of a perfect lunch space.

Top Spots: The best of WJ And a Look at its Little-known Locations Blurbs and photos by Ali Jawetz, Emil Hafeez, Daniel Gorelik, Sari Amiel; artwork by Alexandra Sanfuentes

KEY:

In Blue: Best of WJ In Green: WJ's Hidden Spots

Counseling and Academic Support

Auditorium and Cafeteria

9 7

5 4

156

choral room

Best Bathrooms

One of the most important aspects of feeling safe and happy in school is hygiene. These bathrooms by the clock, across from the counseling office, are the best for their cleanliness, lack of student traffic and central location.

TV Studio

The TV studio, where all of WJ's morning announcements are filmed, can be found in the back of the Media Center. Inside the studio you can find everything used to create the morning news program and the staging area, located right next to it.

Control Room

The control room, located above the auditorium, is a surprisingly large area, containing a dizzying array of electronics and two enormous projectors. Windows allow the tech-savvy operators to look out over the audience and see the fruits of their labor.

Best View

A hallway of floor-to-ceiling windows in the guidance office overlooks one of WJ's largest and best-looking courtyards. This entire view is even more special because it is completely encircled by the school, invisible to the outside.

Kitchen

Deep behind our cafeteria lies the rarely seen kitchen, where fries, pizza, chicken nuggets and other school foods are prepared. The kitchen, staffed by student volunteers as well as cafeteria workers, is so vast that it looks prepared to feed the school's entire population, plus more.

Best Courtyard

None of the other courtyards are as beautiful and central to WJ as the renovated main courtyard in between the counseling offices and the senior hallway. The new "WJHS" tiles only add to the already picturesque area, perfect for studying or hanging out in nice weather.

Server Room The school server room, found near the cafeteria, is the location of the Internet, cable and phone connections for the school. This big room connects to several hubs throughout the school.

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Pitch

FEATURE

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Dating Advice from the masters WJ’s senior superlative Biggest Flirts have a few choice words of advice to offer the masses.

Interviews conducted and photos by Lily Sieradzki

Donitto Smith “Don’t step on that.” And then she looks and you start laughing. She’ll look back and you smile at her and say “gotcha” and thats how you start talking.

They have to be funny and smart. They have to have a future and they have to know what they want. Doesn’t matter what hair color they have, besides red or pink that’s just scary.

You gotta be funny and confident. I usually say “Hi, beautiful,” or things like that.

Don't be clingy - space is good. [And] be yourself! Act the way you'd act around your friends and don't try to be cool.

What’s your best pickup line? What's attractive in a prospective date? What are some essential flirting techniques? What is the best dating advice you have ever received?

Angenae Wilson I always compliment something that the guy is wearing. I’ll be like, “Oh my God, I love your shirt,” even if I hate it, just so that they’ll notice me.

I like tall, [but] not too tall. Athletic. I love guys that play sports. If you play football or lacrosse or ice hockey, I love that. I don’t really like facial hair unless the guy can pull it off.

I guess I'll compliment them and then find something that we have in common. I like sports so usually I talk about sports and usually the guy likes sports. I'll touch them, on the arm or something.

Be yourself. It’s better to meet someone who’s weird like you’re weird than to build a false relationship ebecause you’re not being yourself.

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Pitch

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

FEATURE

Illustrations by Michael Matthes; Photos courtesy of Val Carter

By Lily Sieradzki

Commemorating a Life and Celebrating the Future

It was a crisp November day – Election Day, to be exact. Val Carter was attempt- foundation sponsors volunteer service events to raise awareness and money for a ing to get her seventh-grade son, Luke, to go with her to volunteer at a local voting variety of organizations, such as the American Red Cross and the Leukemia and precinct. Lymphoma Society. “I’ll volunteer if they have cupcakes,” he said to her. Community Cupcakes created a strong identity as a commemoration of Luke’s Tickled and surprised, Carter wrote down this quote for posterity. Two months life and other community members’ lives. It has become a deeply integrated part of and a heartbreak later, Luke’s words inspired the name of the event she established the WJ community, remaining important and distinct from the Pennies for Patients to remember her son’s life: Community Cupcakes. fundraiser going on throughout February. Luke Carter-Schelp was struck by a car and killed while “It reinforces one of the overall themes that comes from this school, and that is crossing Strathmore Avenue in Garrett Park the idea of support within our community,” said Nico Atencio, sponsor of the WJ on Nov. 13, 2006. A student at Tilden Middle Leadership class, who has overseen the organization of the event since it came to School, he was known and loved among fam- WJ. ily, friends and wider community. A friend and Community Cupcakes will be hosted at WJ for every year Luke would have atschoolmate, senior Nick Regan remembers tended; this year, he would have been a junior. It is an event uniting the entire comhim as outgoing, personable and contagiously munity in the spirit of service to others. Carter hopes this event can be both a place happy. for those who knew Luke to remember his life, and a place of inspiration for all to “He loved to crack a joke and he always had become more involved in helping others. a smile on his face,” said Regan. “He was very “I hope that it reminds people of what is important to them, where they can give inclined to make people laugh [and] their time or their extra resources,” said Carter. “[I hope] that they have a lot of fun, to have a good time.” that they come away from the evening inspired for a few days, weeks or months. “He was a total social butterfly,” said Carter. Maybe it gives them a different direction, for a little while.” “When he came into a room, he attracted a lot of This year, Community Cupcakes will take the form of Cupcakes Got Talent, a good energy and people wanted to be around him.” multifaceted talent show with a variety of performers of all ages drawn from the Luke Carter- Luke was born on Feb. 28, and the year after his entire community. These will include singers, dancers, rappers, WJ’s own “Wild Schelp death, Carter made up her mind to celebrate it. She Ladies” dancers and a “Michael Jackson-esque” performance, according to Regan, at age didn’t want just any birthday party – she wanted a who serves as the talent coordinator from WJ’s Leadership class. 12. service event, where everyone could come together There will be two organizations, or as Carter puts it, “cupcakes” benefiting this and remember Luke while helping those in year: Hope for Henry and the Montgomery Cheetahs. Hope for Henry was need. founded by Laurie Strongin after her son The main purpose [of the event] is “The main purpose [of the event] is Henry died of Fanconi anemia, a genetic disreally to give back to a community really to give back to a commmunity order, at age seven. This organization brings that I think Luke wanted to give back themed birthday parties and gifts such as iPthat I think Luke wanted to give back to, to, and would have if he’d had the chance,” ods and DVD players to seriously ill children said Regan. and would have if he’d had the chance. in the hospital. “Community Cupcakes embodies everything Luke really “Not only do these gifts bring happiness, Nick Regan liked,” said junior Leah Kraft, a friend of Luke’s from Tilden they help the kids deal with the loneliness who has attended the event every year. “It’s all about helpand isolation, reduce stress and distract them ing the community while being with your friends. If he were here, he from painful procedures,” said Strongin. would have had a blast.” In addition, volunteers will arrange fifty birthday gift boxes for Hope for The first Community Cupcakes was held at the Garrett Park Town Henry during the event. Books will also be collected for hospitalized children Hall in 2007. A group of family and friends participated in a variety of in the Hope for Henry Reads service projects under the direction of the Montgomery Volunteer Cenprogram. ter. Community Cupcakes is In 2008, during what would have been Luke’s last year at Tilden, Comalso commemorating the death munity Cupcakes collected used shoes to be recycled through the Nike of Tim Sloate, a family friend of Reuse-a-Shoe program. Carter’s who died at age 41 from In 2009, Luke’s would-be freshman year, Community Cupcakes moved to WJ, a heart attack in August of 2010. where it began its collaboration with the Leadership class and re-emerged as a The event will take place on his Battle of the Bands, raising money to benefit Hungry for Music, an organization birthday, Feb. 26, and in honor of that provides underprivileged children with musical instruments. Since then, the his love of ice hockey, will benefit proceeds have continued to benefit a specific charity of Carter’s choice. the Montgomery Cheetahs, an ice The next year, in 2010, Community Cupcakes became Cupcake Idol, a popu- hockey team for kids with devellar and successful singing competition that raised money for the Stone and Holt opmental disabilities. Weeks Foundation. This organization honors Holt Weeks, a 2007 WJ alum, and And, as Luke would insist, evStone Weeks, a 2003 graduate of St. Andrew’s Episcopal, who were killed in a eryone will get a cupcake. car accident in 2009. In honor of their spirit of service and fun-loving energy, the From left, Laurie Strongin

“

”

and Val Carter bring cupcakes to Leadership class.

Event Information:

Cupcakes Got Talent

when

Saturday, Feb. 26 7 -10 p.m

where

WJ Auditorium

tickets

$10 at the door

the

Pitch 14 [Student Band Interviews] ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Interviews conducted by Danielle Markowitz and Josh Benjamin

[The Professional Freshmen]

[The Casual Jammers]

Keyboard, Vocals Henry Meade Lead Guitar Alex Cruzsetzekorn Rhythm Guitar Kevin Johnson Bass Chris Johnson Drums Jacob Sheppard-Saidel

Guitar, Bass, Drums Conor Brodnick Vocals Helena Klassen Guitar, Bass, Drums Adrian Ortiz

INC.

(pictured from right to left)

All band members are freshmen

When did you first start your group? Photos by Sophie Meade Henry: About September of 2009. Kevin: Henry, Chris and I were thinking about it for awhile and we kind of picked up Alex and found Jacob ...on the streets. Jacob: At first we just practiced at Alex’s house which kind of stunk because he lives in a townhouse so we had to be very quiet and then we started practicing at my house and then we practiced at Henry’s. Why did you pick this name? Henry: Jim Morrison of The Doors, he said, ‘No one cares about the music anymore’. Because it’s a lot about marketing, like record labels are the ones who control distribution of music these days. Our name is kind of referencing that because we don’t work for a record label. We don’t make our music for money. How do you guys record? Alex: Well I personally use this little four-track recorder, but that’s just me. Kevin: As a band, we use a flip video recorder. Henry: We’ve also been to two different recording studios. Is it hard to write a song, or does it just come to you naturally? Chris: It depends on who you’re talking to. But, yeah it’s really hard. Jacob: The hardest part is trying to transpose the songs I write on the drums to the other part. It’s really difficult to do .That was a joke. Henry: You don’t actually write songs on the drums. What bands or singers do you look up to as an inspiration? Alex: The Beatles. Kevin: I think we formed knowing that we all like The Beatles. Jacob: Jimi Hendrix. Alex: Led Zeppelin. Jacob: We all like classic rock. And Henry and I both like jazz. What would you tell other people who are trying to put a band together? Kevin: It’s tough. It’s really hard. Henry: I’d say, ‘Hello, my name is Henry Meade. Who are you?’ Jacob: I’d say practice. Practicing a lot is important especially for us, we have had some trouble with practicing frequently, getting a regular practice time. So we have to practice our parts by ourselves.

[The Broken-Up]

Six Minute Window

Runner

(pictured from left to right)

All band members are juniors.

When did you first start your group? Adrian:We started playing together last summer; it was sort of a perpetual development. How do you guys manage your school work with practice time? Conor: [laughs] We don’t practice that often, it’s also a lot of independent things, it’s not like a chore; you’ll just find yourself playing guitar and you’ll look down and just be like, ‘nice, I just played a half an hour of guitar.’ It goes with your daily routine. Do you write your own music? Conor: We are starting to; we started off doing a few covers. In the summer Adrian and I did some Taio Cruz [laughs] and MGMT songs, that was cool. Does songwriting come easily? Helena: If you make it simple enough. I’ve written a couple of songs; I usually start with the lyrics. What other bands do you guys look to for inspiration? Conor: Vampire Weekend, The Black Keys; I mean, there’s the usuals like The Beatles, Bob Dylan. Helena: Jack Johnson. Conor: [laughs] Yeah, they like Jack Johnson. Have you guys ever aimed for an internet presence, like on Facebook, blogs, Twitter, etc? Conor: Basically we’ll cover a song and post it on Facebook, but nothing actually official. My uncle actually owns a recording studio and we might try to start recording and pass out some songs. How do you see music playing a role in your future, whether five or ten years from now? Conor: I want to have a studio album before I die, that is my goal. So whether or not it’s a failure, I just want to be able to say I published an album. Adrian: I mean, I don’t think I’m gonna be in this huge band, but I’ll be playing for the rest of my life. Conor: Until he gets his hand cut off for stealing in India. Helena: I don’t think I’ll make a studio album but maybe, if I can get on theirs. Music will definitely be a part of my whole life because I love singing.

Special interview with member of a broken band

Guitar, bass, piano, drums Yehudah Abraham

How do you manage school work and practice time? For me it was slightly different. Because I wrote the music I had already practiced it, like, while I was writing it. It was not as bad. We would just do weekends no matter what, no excuses. Those would sometimes be all nighters. It forced us to not procrastinate in school. It helped me actually.

When did you first start your group? We started our group early sophomore year. It was just two guitarists. So we just got together and started playing together and we enjoyed it. As two guitarists, we realized that we needed a drummer. So we got some backyard gig for, like, a graduation party...and we found out one of neighbors knew how to play drums. And, you know, one thing led to another. The next gig we performed, we got a bassist. Where’d you learn to write music? There was this online program, and you can just plug and chug a number from the keyboard on your computer keyboard and it would play it. And I’ll be honest, in the beginning it was pretty bad but after a lot of songs and having a lot of other people What are all your hopes for the future? When I go to college, I want to get a band started listen to it and give their opinions, they got better. It was a big learning process. again. For me its not really about a time period, you’re a musician.You always will be. Our band had to break up going into senior year. Have you ever performed at a WJ event or non school event? Not at WJ, but we have performed at the Austin grill for St. Patrick’s Day in Rockville Town Center. That was a really fun one. We have played at the Pomegranate What would you tell other people who are down in Potomac. We played at the Indian embassy for a lot of things. I’ve also trying to put a band together? Just practice. Don’t ever wing it. hosted a charity event.

the

Pitch

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Venue Menu

By Cameron Keyani, Ali Jawetz, Danielle Markowitz

[Clubs] Not quite the calm coffeehouse, but more intimate than a [Arenas] For truly overblown concert performances, compete with

vast arena. The dancing may get intense, but there's always a crowd of digital displays and super sound.The massive crowd gives a thrilling but quiet observers. impersonal experience.

9:30 Club

Rams Head Live!

The 9:30 Club is, arguably, the music venue of D.C. From mainstream artists to indie bands to European DJs, if a band is touring in the nation’s capital, they come to the 9:30 Club. This, however, doesn’t necessarily make 9:30 a quality music venue. There is a notable lack of seats, which perhaps gives justification to the “Club” in its name, since it is a venue geared towards those who want to dance. As for the venue itself, the speakers are very loud and satisfying, but if you have no prior experience with concerts, they might be a tad overwhelming, especially with the near-blinding lights that play at techno concerts. A word to the wise: come by taxi or metro. Parking around the area is either packed or very scary, and the streets become gridlocked when everyone leaves. For Metro goers, Take the Green/Yellow Line to the U Street/African American Civil War Memorial stop, and 9:30 is about two blocks away. This venue might be flanked by inconveniences, but in terms of music, it has no parallel, catering to all different tastes in music, and it has a reputation for surprise shows. It might not deserve its near-absolute reign, but the king of sun D.C. music venues has a lot going for it. -CK

Rams Head is a small, general admission venue in sharp contrast with the usual large-scale, select seating concert arenas. I went to see Ben Folds there, and even though I didn’t arrive until after the opening act, I still managed to find my way to the main floor and had no trouble seeing Ben and the band. The mosh pit, while seriously crowded, was easy to navigate and served me surprisingly well. But if you’re not into having hundreds of sweaty bodies pushed onto you from all sides, Rams Head also offers an easy-access, multitiered balcony, so mellower concert-goers can easily enjoy the show without being violated by strangers. Rams Head typically headlines lesserknown artists and concert prices vary from as little as $9 for local bands, to as much as $30 for more well-known artists. Located in Baltimore, Rams Head is accessible by metro (stopping at Shot Tower/Market Place). And if you like your space, be prepared to get to get to Rams Head early for a spot on the second floor! -AJ

mon

tues 1

D.A.R. Constitution Wolf Trap Hall

March 2011 wed 2

Marc Broussard (RH)

Scissor Sisters (9:30)

The Pogues w/ Titus Andronicus

(9:30)

fri

Good Charlotte (9:30) Ra Ra Riot (RH) Imani Winds (WT) Lady Gaga vs. Madonna vs. Kylie – a dance party with DJ lil’e (9:30)

Lucinda Williams (9:30)

Streetlight Manifesto (9:30)

thurs 3

The Greencards Tom (WT) Paxton (WT)

Opened in 1971, The Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts has been a long-standing and well-respected site for the arts. Wolf Trap hosts an eclectic mix of cultural experiences that can suit anyone’s taste. From Train to The Backstreet Boys to “Rent” to its very own Opera Company, Wolf Trap is a great place to spend a night with a few close friends. Lawn seats are inexpensive and still make for a great concert, despite their distance from the stage due to the center’s amphitheater design. Bring a picnic blanket and a cooler of food and you’ll be set for an evening of good music and memories. Actual seats are also great, with comfortable padding and adequate spacing. However, since the theater is completely outdoors, one must be wise in choosing concert dates because Virginia weather can be unbearably humid at times in the summer. I would advise against seeing musicals at Wolf Trap unless you get front orchestra seats because, otherwise, the sound from the actors gets lost in the air and it is difficult to see the action. But as a relatively convenient and nationally-recognized performing arts center, Wolf Trap is the perfect sat place to see some of 5 your favorite performers John Eaton on those lazy spring and (WT) summer nights. -DM

Located in the center of downtown D.C., DAR Constitution Hall is a medium-large venue perfect for mainstream artists. Though you will not get an intimate feel from the massive crowds or the huge arena, the lighting and sound systems are sure to give you a great show. However, since the seats are arranged by price, you might have to pay more than you wish for a good view. You can still have an enjoyable time while sitting on the upper balcony, but the best experience comes from sitting in the main floor orchestra section. Another downside of Constitution Hall is the difficulty of getting up and dancing while confined to the theater seats. There are many guards preventing “rambunctious” teenagers from stepping into the aisles, so if you’re expecting a wild time, I would not recommend this venue. Nevertheless, D.A.R. is overall clean, comfortable and safe. You will never have to worry about “sketchy” neighborhoods near or dirty areas inside Constitution Hall, so this is a solid, decent concert setting. -AJ

12 Get the Led Out: The American Led Zeppelin (RH)

Loretta Lynn (9:30)

KEM (DAR)

Pete Yorn (RH)

23 Royksopp (9:30)

Janet Jackson A Tribute to The Byrds(WT) (DAR)

Janet Jackson (DAR)

Cold War Kids w/ Baths

(9:30)

w/ Yellow Card

Dave Mason (WT)

Cut Copy w/ Holy Ghost (9:30)

All Time Low (9:30)

31 Photos courtesy of flikr.com, wolftrap.org, marcbroussard. com, goodcharlotte.com, madonna.com, atlhustlerclub. com, dar.com, janetjackson.com, streetlightmanifesto. com, musicbykem.com, peteyorn.com, lucindawilliams. com, dave-mason.com, bandhousegigs.com, 930.com, ramsheadlive.com

the

Pitch

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Out ofOscar Left Field: Values

By Sophie Meade Print Entertainment Editor

On Sunday, Feb. 27, millions of people will flip on their TVs and enjoy a night of glamour and fame from the comforts of their own couches. For most, the Oscars are simply a cultural custom in which they engage with mild enthusiasm, forming their own opinions on the various topics of controversy and expressing them via blog, Facebook, Twitter and, if absolutely necessaryverbal exchange. But is an attitude of apathy really any way to address the star-studded, diamond-encrusted social event of the year?! So maybe we viewers don’t actually get to participate in the festivities, but spectatorship is a rare and valuable treasure! After all, how often do we get to stop living our lives and watch other, much wealthier and more attractive people live theirs? The highly underrated “pre-show” is, in fact, one of the most crucial points of the night, yet also one of the most susceptible to scrutiny and criticism from awards show non-believers. Many viewers take for granted this opportunity to see the celebrities convene in a cocktail party manner, while perusing the red fabric-laden grounds in their Oscar garb. “What’s the big whoop” you say? They’re not actually cocktail-partying (as it would so cleverly appear)! It’s a performance, a display, a vanity fair. And the best part?! It’s ALL for us! Us, the lowly couch-sitters, bloggers, and tweeters! We don’t need it, you say? Nonsense, it gives us a sense of purpose, as we live vicariously through their beauty and abundant funds. It empowers us, allowing the option to say, “Yes!” or “No!” to this dress or that. The world is in your hands when you can say “Scarlett Johansen looks like a beached whale in that dress!” thereby devaluing anything useful she may have done with herself in the past year. Shortly after some witty banter, they hand out some golden statues as a gesture vaguely related to personal accomplishment. Oh, and the movies. Those play a role somewhere in the program. But the real point of this portion, is to give us viewers the opportunity to discuss who deserved what. Once again, the Oscars’ creators didn’t miss a beat: they found another item on the list of Things We Love to Do From Our Couches: assess the merit of individuals we have never met (after all, that makes it rightly objective). Based on the figure’s recent personal life occurrences, increasing/decreasing level of attractiveness, and maybe some form of “talent” (e.g. “Amy Adams had to cry a lot when she played that role”), we can determine whether or not he or she deserves the award, using only the best of our moral faculties. Shallow, you say? Maybe in the real world, but this has no relevance to our lives…It is merely a symbol of our cultural values—whatever that means.

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

s cars 2011

As followers of the Academy know, the Oscars is often more about politics than pure dramatic quality. Will Christopher Nolan finally get his Oscar nod? Did The Social Network mania peak too soon? Does the emotional drama of The King’s Speech make it Oscar bait? Ian Green reports on the ins and out of the 2011 Oscars.

BEST PICTURE

he Oscar race this year is comparable to a marathon between a young, upstart rookie (The Social Network) and a veteran who’s made his rounds (The King’s Speech). The Social Network was the perceived favorite when it came out last October as it followed the invention of Facebook, the social media giant that now defines how we communicate. It is helmed by acclaimed director David Fincher with witty, fast-paced dialogue written by Aaron Sorkin and a great set of vibrant, young actors. All of these reasons made it the frontrunner and this notion was reinforced when it won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. Then, like with any race, fatigue set in. There was a change in momentum when The King’s Speech won the Producers Guild Award and then proceeded to win the Directors Guild Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award. And now with the Oscars this Sunday the crafty veteran has taken a lead that may be insurmountable, and The King’s Speech will most likely end up being victorious. That being said, neither film truly resonated with me as much as The Fighter. It was not just the typical uplifting boxing drama that has peppered cinemas annually ever since Rocky first took on Apollo Creed – it was a heartwarming story about family.

MALE ACTOR

olin Firth can already clear the spot for the Oscar on his bedside table because this award is as good as his. The only way he could relinquish the award is if he literally loses it in a drunken stupor due to his celebration of winning the Oscar. The momentum for The King’s Speech is due to Firth’s turn as the stammering King George VI and it was a performance worthy of applause. He nailed the look of dread every time he was forced to speak; the stutter and the bursts of angry frustration it created were dead on. I can’t fault the Academy for wanting to honor Firth, a charming actor who has done great work for years, but in my mind it should go to James Franco of 127 Hours. He had a magnifying presence and presented a tour de force of acting. His pleading mixed with optimism helped create a fully formed character that was endlessly endearing. I also give extra kudos to anyone whose co-stars are a boulder and a rock 127 HOURS Illustrations by wall. Michael Matthes

MALE SUPPORTING ACTOR

FEMALE ACTOR

or this category, there are once again only two potential winners. Natalie Portman of Black Swan is the favorite, but Annette Bening of The Kids Are All Right could sweep in and win the sympathy vote for her work as a woman in a struggling relationship. Bening has previously been nominated twice, losing both times to Hilary Swank. Swank was not nominated this year, so Bening can breathe a sigh of relief that someone else will beat her this year, as she will likely lose to Portman. If the voters use their heads and not their sentiments, they’ll give it to Portman, who managed to capture both the fragile soul of a little girl and the dark, sinister side of perfection. Portman’s character was abused, harassed, BLACK SWAN beaten and driven insane. I was with her every step of the way and the emotional journey I and other viewers went through is all credited to her forceful, painfully naïve work as Nina Sayers.

FEMALE SUPPORTING ACTOR

he two supporting acting categories will define whether The King’s Speech will be merely a rehis is the most open-ended catcourtesy of Chuck Zlotnick/Courtesy Fox Searchspectable Best Picture winner, or a GOAT (Great- Photos egory, where there are three light/MCT, Lorey Sebastian/Courtesy Paramount Pictures/ MOMS- STUTTERING/MCT, and Niko Tavernise/ est Of All Time). The frontrunner in this race is the MCT, conceivable winners: Helena Courtesy Fox Searchligh/MCT (deserving) Christian Bale of The Fighter. His preBonham Carter as the King’s cisely played role as boxer-turned-crack-head-trainer wife in The King’s Speech, Hailee Steinfeld as drew attention and finally got Bale award chatter that a young girl looking for her father’s murderer has long eluded him. It was both mesmerizing and in True Grit and Melissa Leo as the matriexhausting to watch him nail the Boston accent as arch of the dysfunctional Eklund-Ward famhe precisely embodied his character and stole the ily in The Fighter. Leo is the favorite among the movie. The only potential usurper of his throne crowded field, winning a Golden Globe and a would be Geoffrey Rush of The King’s Speech who Screen Actors Guild Award, but Bonham Carter could win for his role as the King’s speech therapist. This could benefit from the momentum The King’s win would indicate that The King’s Speech is on its way to Speech has going into the ceremony. Steinfeld win a whole mess of awards throughout the night. Howcould beat both if voters ignore the wrongful TRUE GRIT ever, Bale should and will still win this award as he had categorization, as she should have been nomiTOY STORY the best performance of the year, period. nated for Best Actress. While time tells that voters enjoy nominating young actors but not crowning them the winners, Steinfeld truly deserves it for this role. DIRECTOR Steinfeld’s youthful but mature work was a joy to watch; she t a certain point in the Oscar race, the afore- held her own against this year’s Best Actor nominee and last mentioned moment when The Social Network year’s Best Actor winner Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) and the was reaching frontrunner status, David Fincher talented Matt Damon. I got Leo narrowly winning this, with was considered a near shoe in for the Best Direc- her showier, histrionic role overshadowing the other two. tor Oscar. This would act as a lifetime achievement award for his work on Se7en, Fight Club and Zodiac. The tables have certainly turned since then, with OTHER CATEGORIES Tom Hooper of The King’s Speech at the lead of the Will Win: pack, Directors Guild Award in hand. This is esAnimated Feature Film: Toy Story 3 pecially telling since the Directors Guild Award Costume Design: The King’s Speech recipient has lost the Best Director Oscar only Feature Documentary: Exit through the Gift Shop six times in the 60-plus year history of the awards. However, Foreign Language Film: In a BetterWorld Fincher will win Best Director for his excellent, domineering Music Original Song: “Coming Home” from Country work. Few directors this year put their own, unique creative stamp on the film, but Fincher did just this with his depiction Strong of the Winklevii twins, his dizzying pace and quick cuts and Visual Effects: Inception his ability to make computer coding seem absolutely thrilling.

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

Pitch

the

Q&A

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

SPORTS

Fielder’s Choice

-WITH-

No Pity:

Katie

BIO

Collins

Senior Katie Collins is a diver who competes as a member of the WJ swim and dive team. Collins also competes as part of the Montgomery Dive Club, one of the premier dive club in the country. Collins recently finished third at the Montgomery County championships with a score that puts her in All-American consideration. Collins will attend Denison University next year where she will dive for their team.*

By Parker Smith

was the first time 1 When jumped off a diving board?

you

I still remember the first time I jumped off the diving board- I was seven and it was on a dare. I hadn’t even passed my swim test yet so I wasn’t allowed to, but I just ran off!

did you come to dive 2 How competitively?

I was a gymnast beforehand but I found diving to be easier on the body and a little less intense. I realized and decided to dive competitively when I was in sixth grade, when I experienced my first travel meet and competed in my first Junior Olympic diving event in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

did you first start 3 When diving competitively? I started diving competitively for my club team when I was 11 years old, about seven years ago. My first experiences diving were really exciting, and I was really eager to learn new dives and improve even at a really young age.

What do you like about diving?

*Collins’ Metros performance was too late to cover.

Photo by Bryan Ray

Diving is very exhilarating, and it can be both scary and thrilling at the same time. I’ve always loved flipping, twisting, spinning and bouncing. It’s like gymnastics but it’s in the water, which is a plus, and it’s safer. It’s hard, but also fun. It takes your mind off stuff, and when you really nail a dive, it’s a great feeling.

5 What does it take to be a great diver?

It takes a lot of practice, focus, hard work, and determination.You need to be physically in-shape (strong and flexible), but I don’t think a lot of people realize how mentally strong you need to be too. Half the sport is mental; if you can figure out how to connect an appropriate mindframe with the physical movements, you’re golden. You have to be kind of positive, approach each dive with a clear head.

6 How do you train?

When you’re learning a dive for the first time, you have to break it up into parts. It helps to make it a little easier when you’re thinking about it. I go to my club practices four to five days per week for three hours after school. I usually go through my dive lists and work on certain areas during practices or basics which help you improve your technique on the harder skills. I also do a lot of dryland (leg, ab, arm) work-outs, stretching, tumbling, and trampoline.

7 How has your senior year been going?

It’s been going great so far! Honestly, I couldn’t ask for a better senior year season. The team is especially close this year; we have a really strong dive team which I know will do amazingly in the years to come.

My personal war against the Cleveland Cavaliers By Phillip Resnick Assistant Print Sports Editor As a D.C. sports fan, I empathize with fans of losing teams everywhere. Because every DC team has been a cellar-dweller at some time in my life, I understand the pains that Pirates fans, Timberwolves fans and Bills fans go through, and I hope that eventually their teams will at least become respectable franchises. However, there is one team that I feel no sympathy for. They deserve every bit of their .179 winning percentage, their 10-46 record, their 26 game losing streak. The Cleveland Cavaliers may be the worst run franchise in NBA history. Let’s take a trip back to last summer. LeBron James is a free agent, and everyone wants to know where he is going to play in 2010.While teams like the Knicks, Heat and Bulls stack their teams with superstars in an attempt to lure LeBron, team owner Dan Gilbert and the Cavs assemble a DevelopmentalLeague level team with about as much talent as the Wednesday night pickup game regulars at the YMCA. Then, at the last minute, when Dan Gilbert finally realizes he is about to lose the best basketball player on the planet, he decides to fire Mike Brown, the coach that has led the Cavs to five straight winning seasons and an NBA Finals, and instead hire Byron Scott, owner of a sub-.500 career winning percentage. LeBron showed us on July 8, 2010 in “The Decision” not that he was a jerk, but that he wanted to play with a franchise that actually wanted to win. Don’t get me wrong, he could have been much more professional about the way he left, but he left a team whose second best player is Mo Williams for a Miami team with numerous star players and a chance at making the playoffs without LeBron. After LeBron left, Gilbert and the rest of Cleveland did their best impression of a six-year-old girl at Build-a-Bear who didn’t get to accessorize her bear as much as she wanted to, crying in the streets and burning LeBron jerseys. Then, instead of focusing on signing free-agents, Gilbert decided to predict that the Cavs would win an NBA championship this season. So far, they’ve had so much trouble winning a game that during their NBA record 26-game losing streak, (Dec. 18-Feb. 13), Lindsay Lohan had enough time to be in put rehab, get released, and afterwards steal a $2,500 necklace. So until Gilbert either sells the team or creates a respectable franchise without Lebron, I’ll enjoy watching the Cavs’ win percentage drop. And drop. And drop…

the

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SPORTS

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Photos courtesy of venue websites

A Different Teen Hangout Spot By Hannah Flesch

Southlawn Court in Rockville is a frequently visited place by teenagers around the county, but it’s not your typical hangout spot. Over the years, the area’s popularity has grown and is now a go-to place for indoor sports. The Rockville Ice Arena, Champions Field House and Rockville SportsPlex are athletic facilities where a variety of athletes come to play in season or during the off-season. This is their home away from home. “We have games every weekend, usually at night,” said junior Sarah Bernstein who plays soccer at the Rockville SportsPlex for a local club team. “Space is limited [for practices] because so many teams come to play and the fields are in high demand.” With three indoor fields, the Rockville SportsPlex is known for promoting indoor soccer, but like Champions Field House, it has snap courts where basketball, volleyball, futsal and floor hockey can be played. According to David Muise, a night manager, a group of friends started the Rockville Sportsplex as an organization by building the one in Rockville, and have since added two facilities in Pennsylvania, along with ones in Virginia and New Jersey. A few years ago, Champions Field House was opened while incorporating

Walter Johnson All School Booster Club We are here to support YOU! TEAMS AND CLUBS CAN EARN MONEY FROM BOOSTERS IN THESE WAYS: 1) Sign up to work the concession stand at any of the events posted. All groups who work will receive $100. 2) Sponsor, create and run a fundraising event that is cosponsored with Booster. Take advantage of the events we already use to raise funds, or ask us to help you with your own fundraiser. 3) Direct request for assistance. Request assistance through our Funding Request Form. TO JOIN THE BOOSTER CLUB – Look for our flier ONLINE at www.wjboosterclub.com. GOT BOOSTER?

an emphasis on overall fitness. Along with Philbin’s Athletic Training Center located inside the building, Champions Field House accommodates sports such as lacrosse, baseball and field hockey among others. Meanwhile, a short walk away from Champions Field House is the Rockville Ice Arena, a popular ice hockey venue with three NHL-size skating rinks and is the home of the Montgomery Youth Hockey Association and the Landon School’s hockey team. In addition to ice hockey, the building accommodates the Rockville Fencing Academy, located on the second level to help train competitive fencers. Sports aren’t the only things offered at these three locations. All three buildings offer convenient meals after a hard practice, game or match. Subway, a favorite among athletes, is located in the SportsPlex; the Village Grille, considered as a “throw-back diner” is joined with the Ice Arena, and Champions Field House offers on-thego dinners. In total, the three facilities are a mere 317 feet, creating a hub of athletic activities and events that take place every day. Athletes spend numerous hours in this one small, yet significant location in the heart of Rockville, making it one of the most popular places among teens.

Photo

The Roc facilitie

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FEBRUARY 25, 2011

the

Stat SHEET

SPORTS

-WJ CONQUERS COUNTIES-

-Swim & Dive COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS-

3rd

WJ received a relatively fortunate draw when the brackets were drawn last Sunday. WJ’s home court advantage could play a huge role in their playoff opener against Northwest. The Wildcats split the season series versus the Jaguars, winning at home 56-52 on Jan. 14, and losing on the road 71-73. If WJ comes out with a victory they would face arch-rival Churchill in the second round on Feb. 29.

Wrestling

S&D Girls Basketball

Boys Basketball

When: FRIDAY FEB. 25 @ 5 Where: WJ

FIRST ROUND: WJ vs. Wootton When: FRIDAY FEB. 25 @ 8 Where: Wootton Wootton is one of the better teams in the conference with a 13-8 overall record and an 8-4 record in-conference. The Wildcats struggled in their two regular season meetings with the Patriots, which included a 44-50 loss at Wootton on Dec. 17, and falling at home by a score of 38-53 on Jan. 21.

METROS SWIM MEET

County Champions 400 free relay

junior Fletcher Tollefson

9:33.34

State Champion- 3200m

senior Alex Willett senior Nick Regan senior Nick Fowler junior Josh Ellis

10th

overall finish junior Elad Covaliu at county meet County Champion- 160lbs

junior Max McCleskey sophomore Colin McCoy 4th place- 145lbs

2nd place- 4x800m relay

senior Nick Regan

11:14.04

State Champion- 3200m

junior Laura Dally

8:09.58 4:32.88

5th place- 1600m

-2011-12 outlookAfter graduating a strong senior class, next year the team will look to Josh Ellis to be a strong senior leader of a team full of talented young runners.

3rd place- diving*

-Wrestling COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS-

overall finish at state meet

senior Anna Bosse

senior Katie Collins

*All-American consideration time/score

-individual state performances-

senior Alex Willett

3rd place- 200 free relay 3rd place- 400 free relay

4th place- 100 breast

Boys Girls

senior Sidney Drill 2nd place- 500 free

FINAL STATEMENTS

junior Garrett Powell 3rd place- 200 free sophomore Chris Root senior Elizabeth Pepper senior Jordan Ray sophomore Barry Mangold senior Sidney Drill 2nd place- 200 free relay freshman Elizabeth Straathof freshman Natsumi Horikawa senior Jordan Ray

When: FRIDAY FEB. 25 @ 3PM Where: Sherwood HS SATURDAY FEB. 26 @ 9AM

overall finish at state meet

County Champion- 200 IM* 100 fly*

freshman Natsumi Horikawa junior Garrett Powell County Champion- 100 back freshman Jean Marc Nugent junior Annie Kastler senior Jordan Ray County Champion- diving* sophomore Barry Mangold

REGIONAL WRESTLING TOURNAMENT

Indoor Track

overall finish at county meet

senior Elizabeth Pepper

junior Garrett Powell

5th place- 100 free

When: FRIDAY FEB. 25 @ 5PM, SATURDAY FEB. 26 @ 8AM Where: Germantown Indoor Swim Center 530PM

4th

-individual county performances-

County Champion- 200 free 100 back

FIRST ROUND: WJ vs. Northwest

Boys Girls

overall finish at county meet

By Parker Smith

-THE WEEK AHEAD-

3rd place- 55m hurdles

:08.62

freshman Emma Teal

6th place- high jump

4’ 10”

-2011-12 outlookAfter graduating seniors and star cross country, indoor track and outdoor track runners Anna Bosse and Camille Bouvet, the hopes for the girls team will be put upon the fleet feet of Laura Dally, who will be a senior next year.

5th place- 152lbs

Ice Hockey

-how it ended-

in Montgomery Hockey Conference with 12 pts and a 5-3-2 regular season record

First round playoff exit to first-seeded Wootton, 6-4 on Feb. 16

-offensive stats-

senior Vinnie Peratrovich

Goals Assists Points

11 10 11 4

sophomore Drew Ohlrich sophomore Jessy Gendelman junior Tony Verlich -goalie stats-

freshman Emerson Smith

11 8 5 8

Record

4-2-2

22 18 16 12

GAA

3.72

-2011-12 outlookThe team will miss its trio of graduating seniors but will retain a substantial amount of underclassman talent, including a promising goalie in Emerson Smith, a pair of talented defensemen in Drew Ohlrich and Tony Verlich, and two thirds of this year’s top two forward lines. Pending an influx of incoming freshman talent, head coach Bryan Abraham will return to a team capable of making a run in the playoffs.

5:00 boys takes on Northwest @ WJ 8:00 girls challenge rival Wootton @ Wootton

Stat SHEET

the

TONIGHT

Sports PLAYOFF BASKETBALL

pg.

Katie

Collins pg.

FEBRUARY 25, 2011

Splitting Time

For some WJ athletes, competing for the Wildcats isn't the number one priority By Phillip Resnick Many young kids can’t wait until the day that they play high school sports. They spend years going to older siblings’ high school games, playing on little league teams and preparing to represent their schools’ colors. But for some WJ athletes, playing on the high school team takes the back seat. These athletes, although they enjoy playing for their school, have much more timeconsuming and important athletic commitments. For Kristen Larrick, Elizabeth Pepper and James Lillie, sports dominate their lives. With school, homework, family activities, friends and extracurriculars, high school students have to deal with a lot of stress and large amounts of work. Imagine having to fit all those in while playing 20 or more hours of sports a week. “My sports cut into my social life all the time,” said Larrick, a sophomore who plays both volleyball and basketball for WJ as well as for club teams. “It is impossible for me to just hang out with friends.” Larrick said that she plays sports two to five hours a day, every day of the week, and commits most of her time to club sports. She plays volleyball for Metro American, a club team that sends multiple athletes to Division One colleges every year. The team plays in top level tournaments against nationally ranked teams, and has a chance to qualify for nationals in Orlando this season. “After basketball practices I go straight to volleyball practice till 10 p.m.,” said Larrick. Senior swimmer Pepper deals with the same problems as Larrick. “I train about twenty hours a week, with the majority of it being in the water instead of on dry land or in the weight room,” said Pepper, who will swim at Florida State next year. Pepper has swam year-round with Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club (RMSC) since she was eight, and has practice at least once a day. RMSC is the top swimming club team in the nation, and has numerous swimmers ranked in the top 10 in their events. Pepper holds 12 team records (six individual and six relay) on a team over 30 years old with over 1,500 swimmers. “Club swimming is very different than high school [swimming],” said Pepper. “Rather than swimming twice a week for an hour, like you would for high school, you swim eight to nine times a week for at least an hour and a half, sometimes up to two and a half hours.” Senior golfer James Lillie isn’t able to golf year-round due to the weather, but from early spring to late fall, he practically lives on the golf course. “During the summer I spend four to six hours at the golf course a day. I also play in about two to three tournaments a week,” said Lillie. For all three of these athletes, not only is it hard to maintain a social life, but school becomes difficult to keep up with as well.

WJ Athletics

vs.

Club Teams Many WJ athletes, including sophomore Kristen Larrick, seen left, have multiple athletic commitments year round, including both school and club teams.

“When I have weekend tournaments I study in between matches and in the car,” said Larrick. “OthPhoto illustration by Phillip Resnick erwise I spend the weekends going to practices and doing homework.” Pepper said sometimes it just comes down to where an athlete’s priorities are. “The amount of time and energy that I put into swimming can make it very difficult to be successful in school, and sometimes you have to prioritize which is more important to you, school or sports,” said Pepper. Lillie said that sometimes he just doesn’t have the energy to do homework after a long day on the course. “I get home from some tournaments at around 8 p.m. or 9 p.m., and after spending all day at the course, I just don’t have the energy to do my work,” said Lillie. “I know that a lot of intense high school athletes have

Not only is it hard to maintain a social life, but school becomes difficult to keep up with as well.

this feeling too.” All three plan on playing college sports; Pepper is committed to Florida Photos by Stefany Carty State, Lillie plans on golfing for McDaniel College and Larrick has been approached by numerous Division One colleges. They were all scouted and recruited almost exclusively through their teams outside of school, forcing them to commit to their club teams over their school teams. “Club swimming always comes first, so if I have to miss a high school meet to practice for club, it’s going to happen without a second thought,” said Pepper. Yet even with all the added stress and work, the athletes still love what they’re doing. Despite the hours of grueling workouts, long days at tournaments and filled weekends, the sheer enjoyment of their sports and their success outshine all the hardships. “When you’re playing, you forget everything and all your problems and stress disappears,” said Larrick. “It’s fun to do something you’re good at and to be with your friends you’ve made through the sport every day.”