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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
All content by Photo by Gurnoor Sodhi
Senior Noah Parker pitches his junior year before his injury. Parker missed a large part of his senior year due to an injury. "I could have prevented the injury from happening with proper load work management," Parker said

[Photo] Pitcher injury epidemic causes trouble for varsity baseball

Eric Mehler, staff writer
May 24, 2024
Junior Goalie Connor Jackson, named second team all-division, makes a save against Richard Montgomery on Apr. 27.

[Photo] All-division, all-county athletes shine in respective sports

Matthew Xu, staff writer
May 24, 2024
Soccer player Sofia Gabrielle played with seniors at the MCPS Senior All-Star Game against BCC on Nov. 20, 2023.

[Photo] Advocating for yourself in athletics: costly or effective?

Inayat Thukral, profiles editor
May 23, 2024
Boys' lacrosse celebrates after their 11-10 senior night win against Rockville on May 1.

[Photo] Lacrosse cradles its way to the end

Cyrus Kaz, staff writer
May 23, 2024
Senior Ellie Mollica (bottom center) celebrates boys' basketball winning the regional championships against Blake on Mar. 5 with the cheerleading team. Mollica reflects on her time with the team as she begins looking toward graduation.

[Photo] Senior reflection: Reading through my past journal entries

Ellie Mollica, online editor in chief
May 22, 2024
Sophomores Maya Bellamy and Megan Lomotan pilot the flag football program. Both students are excited for flag football to come to this school and can't wait to play it next fall.

[Photo] Students are ecstatic for flag football coming soon

Helen Manolis, staff writer
May 21, 2024
Boys' varsity lacrosse celebrates in front of the scoreboard after their 11-10 win against Rockville.

[Photo] Boys’ JV lacrosse comes to close; varsity near playoffs

Matthew Xu, staff writer
May 15, 2024
Sophomore Katherine Yao hits during a match against Richard Montgomery on Apr. 17. Girls' tennis won the match 5-2.

[Photo] Match point: Tennis season comes to an end

Lea Weinstein, sports editor, race & equity editor
May 4, 2024
All 17 student athletes showcase their college merchandise as they officially signed onto their teams moments prior. They celebrated on Apr. 25 during lunch and advisory in the media center with family, friends, staff and coaches present.

[Photo] Student-athletes say yes on spring signing day

Gurnoor Sodhi, staff photographer
May 4, 2024
Junior Miles Sklar (number 16) met with his teammates during the 21-6 loss to Blake. "It was a tough loss but I think we all know we were capable of much more," freshman Caleb Cook said.

[Photo] Boys’ varsity lacrosse slides to 2-8 in tough season

Eric Mehler, staff writer
April 30, 2024
On Apr. 19 at the pep rally, senior Jai Gurewitz, sophomore Theo Gittleson and senior Sebastian Valdivia compete in the cake eating contest to see who can finish a slice first without the use of their hands.

[Photo] Students find joy at spring pep rally

Marley Hoffman, opinion editor
April 26, 2024
Wootton goes up against Churchill for the first divisional meet of the season on Apr. 3. Both the girls' and boys' teams were defeated.

[Photo] Track jumps into championship season hopeful for regional title

Emory Scofield, news editor
April 23, 2024
Sophomore Kai Schmelzer goes in for fly ball during home opener against Quince Orchard.

[Photo] Swing and a miss: Baseball continues with season

Sami Karcz, staff writer
April 19, 2024
Freshman Megan Smith fires a pitch in the varsity softball game against Rockville. Smith allowed zero runs in their 1-0 win.

[Photo] Girls’ softball starts off year with 4-3 record

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
April 17, 2024
Sophomore Yesh Tafa defends an incoming pass during their first JV lacrosse match. "It was good finally getting to play with some new faces and new competition after tryouts," Tafa said. The game ended 2-2.

[Photo] High school athletic participation continues to rise

Jack Weinstein, staff writer
April 3, 2024
Sophomore Zion Allen performs his song "Blast" at TNL.

[Photo] Zion Allen blasts off his music career

Kiana Rahimi, staff writer
April 2, 2024
The girls' lacrosse team lines up for the National Anthem ahead of last year's game against Poolesville, which they won 9-6.

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

AJ Shiflett, staff writer
March 26, 2024
The SGA wrapped up their spring project with the second annual Color Run. Students had a blast running or walking the one-mile loop and getting covered in the colorful neon powder.

[Photo] SGA spring project helps ‘Wootton Give Back’

Noah Friedman, staff writer
March 20, 2024
Freshman Manasa Iyer plays with therapy dogs Cheddar and Brie during advisory on Mar. 14 in room 181, as the opportunity opened up to the students for the first time this year. "They were all very interactive with the dogs and playing with them. Overall, I enjoyed watching them play and it was a really good reaction," SGA member Tati Pacheco said.

[Photo] SGA introduces therapy puppies

Gurnoor Sodhi, staff photographer
March 19, 2024
Statistics teacher Michelle George sings during TNL. George was the masked singer in the pink unicorn costume. "Students often hear her singing in class so she was the first person we asked," music teacher Keith Schwartz said.

[Photo] TNL allows performers to showcase their talent

Eric Mehler, staff writer
March 11, 2024
Senior catcher Malia Schmelzer catches a ball during warmups. Schmelzer has enjoyed playing softball for the last three years and looks forward to a successful season ahead. "This season should be a lot of fun and I encourage people to come watch," Schmelzer said.

[Photo] Softball looks to start season off strong

Arjun Ram, staff writer
March 8, 2024
New English teacher Sidney Wollmuth works at her computer preparing for students in between classes.

[Photo] Welcoming new English teacher Sidney Wollmuth

Gurnoor Sodhi, staff photographer
March 5, 2024
Junior Will Balian, a doubles player, hits a forehand against Walter Johnson on Mar. 29 of the 2023 season, the game ended in a 7-0 win.

[Photo] Tennis builds on prominent history to form bright future

Matthew Xu, staff writer
March 5, 2024
Senior Maya Halpern and social studies teacher Jennifer Bauer switch shoes as they experience each other's 'day in the life'. "It was an eye-opening experience, and it was amazing to see how much she cares for her students," Halpern said.

[Photo] Eyes wide open: teachers care more than I ever expected

Maya Halpern, back page editor
February 29, 2024
Senior Maya Halpern and social studies teacher Jennifer Bauer switch shoes as they experience each other's 'day in the life'. "It was an eye-opening experience, and it was amazing to see how much she cares for her students," Halpern said.

[Photo] My day as a student

Jenn Bauer, guest writer
February 28, 2024
Senior defender Ilhom Abdulaev skates on the ice during the Patriots’ game against WJ. Abdulaev, along with junior Sam Hosier, led the team in scoring during the season, with a combined 84 points. “Wootton hockey will always be with me throughout the rest of my life,” Abdulaev said.

[Photo] Ice hockey team falls to B-CC in second round playoff exit

Arjun Ram, staff writer
February 20, 2024
Boys' varsity basketball player Jaiden Aze shoots in the fourth quarter during a home game.

[Photo] Student-athletes win name-image likeness rights

Sydney Chaikin, staff writer
February 17, 2024
Poms celebrates their first-place victory at the Northwest invitational on Jan. 27.

[Photo] Poms concludes best season in years; place third in county

Ellie Mollica, online editor in chief
February 14, 2024
Junior Khairi Hyde plays in the first of the boys' basketball games vs Churchill on Dec. 20. This game ended in a close Patriot loss, which the team avenged on Feb. 5 with a win.

[Photo] The school we love to hate: a background on the Churchill rivalry

Claire Lenkin, managing editor
February 14, 2024
Senior Matthew Cortes plays in his senior season. The football team at this school does not make any cuts during tryouts.

[Photo] Senior season cut short: ethical or not?

Ellie Mollica, online editor in chief
January 22, 2024
Co-Head Coach Kevin Fisher huddles with the team at the Whitman meet on Jan. 8 where the girls clinched a 98-88 victory and the boys won 107-78.

[Photo] Swim and dive balances winning meets with team spirit

Emory Scofield, news editor
January 18, 2024
The band and orchestra play at the arts assembly on Dec. 1.

[Photo] Celebrate the Arts assembly presents talent, creativity of art students

Naeha Muralikrishnan, arts editor
January 17, 2024
Senior Anika Srinivasan passes the ball off to senior Kaitlin Mariani.

[Photo] Varsity girls’ basketball on roll with playoffs approaching

Peter Stanton-Shepherd, staff writer
February 21, 2023
Varsity cheerleading joins forces with the Magruder cheerleading team before round one of the 4A/3A playoffs.

[Photo] Fall varsity cheerleading ends season on high note

Jake Hoffman, managing editor
November 19, 2022
Freshman Maya Bellamy scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Whitman, including the game-winner in the final minutes of the match.

[Photo] JV girls’ soccer finishes season with 3-4-1 record; seven players pulled up to varsity

Kate Hawley, senior longform editor
October 26, 2022
Junior Kate Hawley leaps for the ball in a game against Paint Branch.

[Photo] Junior Kate Hawley commits to play D1 soccer

Danielle Ram, staff writer
October 4, 2022
Principal Doug Nelson dances with the HLSU (Hispanic-Latino Student Union) at the homecoming pep rally.

[Photo] Principal Nelson speaks on new school policies, mental health

Claire Lenkin, arts editor
September 24, 2022
The JV girls' soccer team started their season with a decisive 6-0 win against Rockville. Sophomore Marissa Cook is a key part of the team's defense.

[Photo] JV girls’ soccer team flattens Rockville 6-0 in season opener

Kate Hawley, long-form editor
September 22, 2022
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