![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
As the Wildcats gear up for their matchup tonight, the backfield will be without a key aspect from years past. Their star running back, junior Dylan Byrd, transferred to Whitman in the offseason. Although a 2-year starter for WJ in green and black, the explosive playmaker will be pounding the rock in white and baby blue when the Wildcats face the Vikings tonight.
Byrd grew up his whole life in the WJ system, going to Tilden Middle School before attending Walter Johnson starting in 2022. However, the Byrd family moved to the Whitman school zone and Byrd had to say goodbye to the 20852 postal zone.
“I moved but [MCPS] denied my COSA (Change of School Assignment),” Byrd said. “I think the main reason they declined it is because WJ is very overpopulated.”
Byrd was a cornerstone in the Cats’ playoff run last year. His departure from WJ caused a ripple effect across the team.
“He was a key part of our offense and a great player,” junior Daniel Gershon said. “It’s just a very big loss for our team.”
WJ has been trying to negate the loss of Byrd and had a very strong rushing game last week against Richard Montgomery.
“We have two very good running backs in Tauren Sirleaf and Jack Potash,” Gershon said. “We’re adding in some more throwing and Jake’s also running the ball so we’re just making our offense more versatile.”
Instead of running out with the team, Byrd will be filled with emotions as he watches the Cats run out underneath the Den’s lights.
“It’s going to be very weird but also very fun,” Byrd said. “I’m excited to play against some of my old teammates.”
Even without Byrd in the backfield, WJ will try to keep the precedent of the yearly matchup.
“It should be fun,” senior Ryan Gardner said. “We’ll know he will have one or two big breakout runs but we just have to respond on offense. We just need to do our thing. It’s worked the past five, six years, however long it’s been so if we just stay focused we’ll be good to go.”
The team says they are making sure to stay focused as they face a regional rival.
“We’re going to play like any other game, just get after it,” Gershon said. “It’s maybe a little bittersweet but there’s no bad blood.”
The Wildcats are coming off an impressive victory against RM last week, dominating the whole game with a final score of 47-6. The team says they are coming with full confidence into the clash against the Vikings.
This story was originally published on The Pitch Online on September 19, 2024.