• 2022-2023 CSPA Crown Award Finalist
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense
The Student News Site of Thomas S. Wootton High School

Common Sense

AJ Shiflett, sports editor emeritus

AJ Shiflett is a 2025 graduate.

All content by AJ Shiflett
The Salisbury Club baseball team celebrates in front of the scoreboard after a 5-4 win. Nick Jayner, number 24, played baseball and soccer at Wootton and now plays club baseball and soccer at Salisbury.

Club sports: perfect mix of competitive and fun

AJ Shiflett, sports editor emeritus
May 25, 2025
The softball team holds up W's after their 10-run win against Kennedy on Apr. 9. The Patriots are set to play them again in the first round of playoffs on May 12.

Softball brings winning record into playoffs

AJ Shiflett, sports editor emeritus
May 10, 2025
The intramural cup standings at the end of the winter season display Wootton's struggles to keep up as the year continues.

Wootton in sports cup last place with 9-20 record after winter season

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
April 7, 2025
Junior Vikram Reddy serves in their scrimmage against Landon on Mar. 11.

Tennis looks for another successful season

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
March 17, 2025
"GameTime with Jack and Josh" hosts junior Jack White and senior Josh Oluwaboro talk with seniors Jake Sklias, Will Balian, Max Greenberg, Kian Kaz and junior Cyrus Kaz in their Feb. 20 filming session. Seniors Toby Subiela and Jack Sullivan listen in as a live audience.

Behind the emerging podcast: ‘Game Time with Jack and Josh’

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
February 24, 2025
Students walk alongside buses as they exit the school. Sometimes they walk between the buses to the other side of the street - a main factor in the decision to add a bus loop.

Bus loop subject to change for 2025-26 school year

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
January 21, 2025
The intramural cup standings at the end of the 2024 fall season: This competition continues through the rest of the school year.

Fall athletics season filled with historic success

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
December 11, 2024
Students cheer at the USA-themed football game against Rockville in the home opener. This was the second-highest-voted theme of the season.

Which football theme did students enjoy most?

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
November 20, 2024
Junior Megan Lomotan leaps for this pass in the endzone. Lomotan had a touchdown and interception in this 14-0 victory over Churchill. "It [the win] definitely gave us confidence because now we know what we are capable of both on offense and defense," Lomotan said.

Girls’ flag football continues to ball ahead of playoffs

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
October 29, 2024
The weekly calendar in math teacher David Fantegrossi's class contains each day's notes and homework so that absent students know what they missed.

The key to avoiding falling behind on work when absent

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
October 10, 2024
The varsity football team huddles after defeating Poolesville 43-0 in a shutout. "The team looked great and it's a good momentum boost for the rest of the season," senior Thomas Mehler said.

Football team opens season in dominant fashion

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
September 14, 2024
Senior Malia Schmelzer takes the box in the varsity softball game against Paint Branch on Apr. 20, in a 5-2 victory.

Softball hits hot streak, looks for long playoff run

AJ Shiflett, sports editor
May 27, 2024
Students eat lunch in the hallway above the Commons, one of the most populated hallways in the school.

Where do students like to sit during lunch?

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
May 6, 2024
Freshman Megan Smith fires a pitch in the varsity softball game against Rockville. Smith allowed zero runs in their 1-0 win.

Girls’ softball starts off year with 4-3 record

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
April 17, 2024
The girls' lacrosse team lines up for the National Anthem ahead of last year's game against Poolesville, which they won 9-6.

Girls’ lacrosse dominates scrimmages, looks for even better regular season

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
March 26, 2024
Ole Miss stadium is packed with excited students and fans. "College stadiums are full of energy and the atmosphere is super intriguing," senior Justin Karis said.

College sports are more entertaining than professional leagues

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
March 10, 2024
Junior Thomas Mehler inspects classes offered for the 2024-2025 school year.

What classes are students most excited to take next year?

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
February 19, 2024
Student poll on favorite Fallsgrove eatery.

Which Fallsgrove eatery do students enjoy most?

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
January 18, 2024
Junior Isabel Leibowitz studies for a world history test.

Studying techniques: Backbone to students’ grades

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
December 14, 2023
Websites are unavailable on an MCPS-issued Chromebook after being blocked.

Blocked websites cause confusion and frustration in students, teachers

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
November 20, 2023
Senior Noah Parker interned at Launch Physical Therapy last summer.

Internships offer unrivaled opportunities

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
October 28, 2023
Junior Jack Kerns stresses over a test for an AP class before school.

Are AP classes worth it?

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
October 11, 2023
Junior Raimi Kvedys sleeps through the beginning of first period.

Mornings are back, sleep is gone as school year begins

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
September 18, 2023
Katie Ledecky wears her gold medal after the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Maryland star Katie Ledecky dominates Olympics

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
November 10, 2022
Sophomore Planning decorated a quarter of the courtyard on Sept. 16 as part of the homecoming festivities.

Sophomore planning: The backbone behind the class of ‘25

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
October 20, 2022
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