The month of March is known for many things in the sports world, but by far the most popular is the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament, or March Madness, a thrilling 68-team tournament full of underdog stories and intense games of college basketball. According to the NCAA, the chance of filling out a perfect bracket is one in approximately 9.2 quintillion. Yet, despite these odds, millions of people fill out their brackets every year for fun, prizes, or glory, including PHS’s very own students.

“I love March Madness because of all the uncertainty. It’s [very] fun,” said Octavio Shank ’27. 

Teams are seeded 1–16 in each of the regions. The bracket will play out until the championship is left with 4 region champions and then a grand champion. Every year, millions watch as small school winners from underfunded conferences come out of nowhere and win against much more seasoned teams, shocking the world and ruining bracket predictions. These unexpected wins are what put the madness in March Madness. 

As an example, the Princeton Tigers won the Ivy League tournament in 2022 and were placed into the bracket as a #15 seed. The Tigers stunned everyone by defeating #2 Arizona then #7 Missouri, advancing to the round of 16 and breaking millions of brackets along the way.

“I remember my brother telling my mom, ‘Hey Mom, we might actually win this.’ We’re up by ten points with only two minutes to go ... the emotions at the end and the feeling of ‘oh my goodness we just won this insane, crazy game’ was so much fun,” said John Staples ’27, a fan that attended the Princeton vs Missouri game in Sacramento back in 2022.

March Madness is a thrilling, unpredictable college basketball tournament that, due to its unique structure and format, consistently produces games where smaller, lower-seeded teams defeat larger, higher-seeded powerhouses. Each year, these underdogs create history and ruin millions of brackets that attempt to predict it.   

“The tournament is amazing. I think it’s a very fun tradition to do,” said Staples. 


March Madness: the science behind the brackets

Sports video games, whether you love them or hate
them, have undeniably been entrenched in youth culture
for decades. Announcements of new FIFA games are
met with months of anticipation, even if the new release
is a near replica of the previous version. Professional
athletes play as themselves in their sports games and
livestream to millions of fans. The rise of the sports
video game industry has been rapid and astronomically
lucrative ever since the first late 1950’s. But why?

Part of the answer stems from the wide variety that
sports video games have to offer. Some involve physical
interaction and allow for exercise, while others are
more laid back and oriented around relaxing through
sports. Active games include popular classics such
as Just Dance and Wii Sports, where you have to
physically move to earn points and win. These games
also allow you to play with friends in-person and
compete, promoting exercise and overall health while
also creating friendly competition between peers.

Tarquin Wood ’25 loves this aspect of sports video
games and calls himself a devoted fan. He also knows
the value of video games that promote physical
health, especially during a time where many youth
increasingly spend more time inside or at a chair.

“What makes Wii really successful is that it combines
the good things about video games with the good things
about sports,” said Wood. “It can help you exercise,
burn calories, and stay fit, and that’s really good for
kids who play the games. They’ll be taught that early
and instill it into their lifestyles as they grow up.”

Wood also loves the social aspect of these types
of video games, sharing personal stories about how
the game impacted his connections with others.

“I remember I went to my friend’s house a lot,
and he introduced me to Wii Tennis,” said Wood.
“I grew closer to my friend because he taught me
something that became really important to me
later, so it really solidified my friendship with him.”

The other, more sedentary, type of sports video
games include popular modern games such as
MADDEN, FIFA, NBA2K, and MLB The Show. These
games are licensed by professional sports leagues
and teams, allowing players to have a realistic and
fun experience by involving their favorite teams and
players in real life. This is a more relaxing experience
as there is no real physical activity involved.

For many, watching professional athletes play as
themselves in the video games is a primary source
for the genre’s boost in popularity. Many athletes
grew up playing these video games, and when they
become professional athletes, it only increases the
game’s popularity. Certain game modes put the players
in critical situations where they feel that they are in
more control such, as a career as a player or coach.

Similarly to active games, these types of video
games also allow players to have fun with peers and
compete in person, but also online against other users
of similar skill levels, testing the user’s skills against
people from around the world. Overall, although this
type of sports video game lacks exercise, it is still an
enjoyable experience in its own unique ways.

Max Mazo ’25 has been playing FIFA for the
past four years, and has found that it is a great
way for him to wind down after a long day.

“I started playing FIFA in freshman year because
my friends had it, and because I enjoyed playing
soccer so it seemed like a fun thing to do,” said
Mazo. “Additionally, if I have a friend that lives
in another state, I can still play with them.”

For Mazo, the best part about playing games
like FIFA is that the player can replicate the
feeling of being in control of a team and compete
with friends to see who can make the best teams.

“I play [FIFA] Pro Clubs with my friends. I used to
play by myself but now I play with [my] friends on the
soccer team. It’s fun because we all yell at each other,
which relieves stress when you play together,” said
Mazo. “You can play against the computer, such as in
FIFA ultimate team, but you can also play single player.”

Both types of games have a strong impact on not only
PHS students, but on the rest of the world. Although both
have unrelenting fanbases who claim that their game style
is better, they appeal to different audiences under different
circumstances. As players browse the game shelves, it’s
almost guaranteed they will find the perfect video game to
immerse themselves in both the sport and the game itself.

The impact of sports video games

Running up the field with the ball, Mia Ramirez ’25 sees a defender coming her way.
Rather than taking them on, she finds her teammate with a perfect pass, leading to a goal.
Seeing how her style of play has led others to success is one of her favorite joys of playing
the sport.

Ramirez discovered her passion for field hockey when she was in middle school. With
three siblings who played different sports, she was always encouraged to find a sport that
she liked.

“I wanted to play a sport for middle school, so I kept trying sports until I found one
that stuck,” said Ramirez. “I signed up for field hockey in the fall of middle school, and I
really loved it.”

While some things were different to her, like playing on turf instead of playing on grass,
her desire to improve always remained. This sense of responsibility immediately made an
impression with their coach, Heather
Serverson.

“When she came in as a freshmen,
I knew she was going to be captain,
because she’s always listening,” said
Serverson. “She was always getting
other people [on track] when they got
distracted at practice, she would always
be giving older players tips when they
needed help, so she wasn’t afraid to step
up and lead, even as a young player.”

As a captain, Ramirez wants to return
the same positive energy she recieved
as a freshman. To bring unity to the
squad, Ramirez regularly organizes
team dinners, group studies, and movie
nights.

 “The thing about PHS field hockey is that we’re always super close,” said Ramirez. “I
remember freshman year, everyone was super welcoming to me, and that’s just kind of
the culture that we have, where the older players and younger players just naturally mesh
together.”

Sophie Gono ’25 has been right beside Ramirez for most of their time on the team, and
has seen how Ramirez has grown as a player. As the team’s other co-captain, she feels that
Ramirez has the qualities needed in a leader.

 “We have a similar working style, so we’re always there to support each other, playing
or not playing field hockey,” said Gono. “She’s always willing to listen and help, and when
I want to get extra touches in the off season, she’s always open to going to a field to go
and practice.”

 The desire to improve has had great results; Ramirez currently leads the girls field hockey
team with an astounding 21 goals, and will be looking to add to that tally in the coming
weeks. For her, there’s no need for extra motivation.

“I’m naturally competitive and self-motivated,” said Ramirez. “I think that no matter
what my day was like, or what warm up felt like when I got onto the field, I naturally turn
into my competitive nature. That’s always really helpful, because there’s nothing I really
have to do to tune into that.”

 When it comes to motivating and helping other teammates out on the pitch, Ramirez
can do that as well. Serverson recalls a game against Lawrence High School in the Mercer
County Tournament where, although they eventually lost the game, Ramirez’s captain
qualities really stood out.

 “In the MCT game, the younger players were very, very nervous. I had some freshmen
starting, and these were freshmen who weren’t used to the crowd and the lights, which
can be a lot for a young player,” said Serverson. “They were getting frustrated in the moment because they weren’t performing at the
level that a senior would be expected
to perform at. Ramirez was on the
field, telling them to hang on and
that they were doing well.”

Looking towards the future,
Ramirez is demonstrating that, like
most things she has done so far in her
athletic career, she wants to make sure
that the final decision is right for her.

 “I was going through the recruiting
process for a while, but ultimately
didn’t find a school that was the
right fit, so I decided to not commit
anywhere,” said Ramirez. “If I go
somewhere that has a team, that’s
definitely something I would like to
think about pursuing, either at the club level or at the varsity level in the future.”

For new players considering trying out for the PHS field hockey team, Ramirez has
some words of encouragement.

 “You shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes, and you should always be open to trying
things,” said Ramirez. “Field hockey is a game where there is always something more that
you can learn.

Mia Ramirez '25: field hockey

Travis Petrone ’25 takes the snap and drops back on the defense’s 45-yard line, fakes the handoff to his running back, and scans the field for open receivers. As the defense starts to close in, time is running out. Right as the linebacker rushes in, he spots a teammate in between two defenders, and places a pass that connects for a 41-yard touchdown to give the Tigers the lead.

Starting from flag football in seventh grade, Petrone was a wide receiver on the junior varisty team his freshman year, and became varsity team’s quarterback the next year. When asked about his transition to quarterback, he attributed it to his grit.

“I wanted to be a leader ... As a quarterback, I analyze a lot — reading defenses, seeing what other teams do, and what their strengths and weaknesses are,” Petrone said.

Petrone saw a huge improvement for Princeton’s football team last season, and despite the tough loss against Allentown, the Tigers showed some potential of what this team could achieve. One of the highlights on the team was when Petrone scored a rushing touchdown and a pick-six. An athlete on both sides of the ball, he contributes to the football team as both a quarterback and a strong safety. Petrone has shown steady improvement these last two seasons with the starting quarterback job, and he’s looking to end on a high note this season. He believes the team has what it takes to become division champs this season.

“My goal for this season is to become division champs and to have a good season with my guys and our family that we created,” Petrone said.

As a senior, Petrone is expected to take on a bigger leadership role within the football program. He is hoping to become someone that his teammates can rely on and learn from.

“Travis is a leader by example. He’s shown up every day,” said Sean Wilton ’25, Petrone’s teammate. “He watches the film, puts in the work, he’s there every practice, and he shows everybody the type of work that the team needs to put in. He changes the mindset and shows us what we need to be doing.” Petrone also plays basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring for PHS, so his schedule is often filled with tryouts, practices, and tournaments along with his homework, quizzes, and tests. As a student-athlete, there are days where going home sounds better than going to practice.

“I just buckle down on academics. Academics always come first,” said Petrone. “Three sports can be difficult sometimes, but I’ve made it work over the last couple of years.”

Petrone admits that it’s not an easy lifestyle to juggle, but he feels that he can continue to balance his student athlete life in the future. Following high school, Petrone looks to continue playing sports in college.

“I would love to play football in college at a small school somewhere, but if that’s not in the works, it’s not, but I definitely strive to play college sports,” Petrone said.

Although he looks forward to continuing his football career in college, Petrone is focusing with the current task at hand. The Tigers can still turn this season around, and with Petrone spearheading the offense, you can’t count them out.

Athlete of the Month: Travis Petrone '25

   Every March, basketball fans across the United States switch their television channels from the NBA to college basketball to watch collegiate athletes compete in one of the most highly-anticipated sports competitions of the whole year: March Madness. 
  This National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I tournament began in 1939 with eight teams. As viewership increased, the tournament developed into a 68-team super tournament, with enthusiastic fans tuning in every year to cheer on their local teams.
    Before 2023, Princeton University was ousted from March Madness four times in a row. However, a great run to the Final 16, with wins over both the University of Arizona and the University of Missouri, sparked interest for the tournament in the Princeton community and especially at PHS. 
  Among those invested in the tournament are PHS’s basketball players, who look up to famous collegiate players. Justin McLeod ’25 is a player on PHS’s junior varsity basketball team and a long-time fan of the tournament. 
   “I find it very entertaining,” said McLeod. “I’ve been watching [March Madness] for four years now. I like the intensity.”
   One aspect that sets March Madness apart from other tournaments is its unpredictability. The yearly tournament is based around a seed ranking, in which the teams with the best records play the teams with the worst records. Despite this, lower-ranked colleges frequently beat well-known institutions. Taking into account that one loss results in total elimination from the tournament, even the favorites to win the tournament may not be  guaranteed the title. 
     An avid fan, Jackson Zwick ’27 has been watching March Madness for seven years and dedicates hours to rewatching games and predicting the potential outcomes of the tournament in his own bracket spreadsheet. 
   “There’s always the one blue blood that goes down to a small mid-major school ... I love watching the small teams upset the big teams,” Zwick said.  
 One such big team is Duke University, which has a strong academic and athletic reputation. The Duke Blue Devils have won 17 NCAA titles and have had some of the biggest comebacks in NCAA history. However, Duke has also lost seven times in just the first and second round of the tournament. Even for Duke, all it takes to lose is one bad day. For McLeod, this uncertainty is one of the best parts of the tournament. 
   “There are so many upsets in March Madness because of the pressure on the players, which causes them to fold,” McLeod said. 
  The ups and downs of March Madness may make it entertaining, but another beloved part of the tournament is the game brackets, which viewers fill out with their predictions for how matches will play out. Out of 2.8 billion brackets ever filled out, not one has been perfect. While these odds may seem discouraging, the prospect of being the first to have a perfect bracket is exactly what motivates people to fill out their brackets every year.
    There are plenty of bracket makers at PHS. Owen Kelly ’25 is one of the most passionate, and has dedicated hours to creating the perfect bracket.
   “What makes creating brackets so exciting is the fact that no one has ever had a perfect bracket before,” said Kelly. “It gives you a reason to care about these games even if you are not a fan of [some of the] teams.”
   These brackets and their fame have spawned many copies, with predictions on various themes running alongside the basketball ones. For example, PHS’s biology department sets up an animal-themed bracket every year, something that biology student Marcus Strum ’27 really appreciates.  
  “[March Mammal Madness] adds character to the science wing and lets students continue their education when hanging out in the hallways,” Strum said. 
   PHS’s drama classes have a similar activity: March Monologue Madness, a contest based around four rounds of themed monologue performances. Drama teacher Julianna Krawiecki created this activity to inspire her students to improve their acting through friendly competition.
   “[March Monologue Madness is] a fun way to bring everyone together and work on a variety of acting skills, memorization, collaboration and camaraderie,” Krawiecki said.      
    Although not as popular at PHS as March Madness, the biology and drama departments’ brackets still reflect the widespread excitement and anticipation surrounding the tournament in an academic environment like PHS.

Baskets and Brackets: March Madness at PHS

Standing in the goal at the far edge of the hockey rink, Logan Hollingsworth ’24 watches and waits. As one of the opposing team’s players rushes at her with the puck, Hollingsworth wastes no time, shooting out of the safety of the net to perform a two-pad stack, blocking a shot that almost certainly would have gone in.

When Hollingsworth started playing ice hockey for the first time in her sophomore year, adding it to her schedule alongside softball, she knew starting a new sport so late would be difficult. However, she gladly took on the challenge and became an invaluable part of the team, centering her game around teamwork and friendship.

“I want to get better and better,” said Hollingsworth. “But for me, it’s not all about winning. It’s more [about being there to] help my team improve.”

Hollingsworth was inspired to join the hockey team by her father, who encouraged her to try new things and to sincerely try her best at everything. She was also inspired by the upperclassmen on her team and sought to replicate their attitude and leadership on the ice. Most importantly, she wanted to step out of her comfort zone and learn something she had never tried before.

“It’s [about] commitments, if you start something you have to continue,” Hollingsworth said.

Despite her lack of prior experience, Hollingsworth volunteered to take on the challenge of being the team’s only goalie. Although the habits she retained from playing softball, such as bending down to get a puck instead of using her pads, were an early setback, her ability to take criticism and turn every loss into a learning experience made a strong impression on everyone around her.

Head girls hockey Coach Christian Herzog was particularly impressed.

“My first impression of Logan ... she was willing to put herself in a position which is not very forgiving,” said Herzog. “But with each time she played, she got a bit better, made better saves, made more saves.”

Although it has been a tough season for the girls hockey team, with more losses than wins, Hollingsworth has never lost her spirit, staying optimistic and making sure her team learns a lesson from every loss and celebrates every victory.

“The stress never really seemed to get to her,” said Herzog. “Honestly, whether we win or lose, she has the right attitude.”

As captain and goalie, Hollingsworth’s main mission has been to make the team’s dynamic as friendly and close as possible, organizing team meetups, weight room sessions, and lunches to bring everyone closer together.

“She brings the team together in a way only she can,” said teammate Sophia Lee ’26. “With the effort she puts in at practice and games, we’re really proud of all the shots she’s blocked this season.”

Hockey is a sport that is difficult to adapt to for newcomers: the heavy gear, ice, and fast paced nature strain the limits of the body’s capabilities. Hollingsworth, as a goalie, is one of the team’s central players. If a game is lost, it’s usually blamed on the goalie. Although she’s been through many difficult and stressful games, Hollingsworth has always pushed herself to improve and learn from both wins and losses.

“I was ready to give up ... I was just so tired,” said Hollingsworth. “But I kept pushing through and, in the end, we didn’t win, but it [ended] up being a good game.”

Both her teammates and coaches will miss her when she graduates at the end of this school year. She has been an invaluable part of the team, bringing everyone together as captain and preparing next year’s goalie to take her place.

“I anticipate she’ll be coming back to cheer on the team in future years, even when she’s away at college,” Herzog said.

Hollingsworth will miss the team she has been a part of for three years, and will consider joining a club team in college. She is excited to see both new and old players succeed in the future, and will keep the lessons she has learned from hockey close to heart.

“A win is a win, but a loss is a lesson to learn from to get better next time,” said Hollingsworth. “Even though hockey [is] a team sport, it’s also about personal improvement.

Logan Hollingsworth ’24: ice hockey

It’s down to the last ten seconds of the basketball game. Gabrielle Bannett ’24 races down the court with the ball. Finding her opponent, she throws the ball into the air as her teammate guides it into the basket! Princeton wins!
Growing up, Bannett got her love of basketball from her family. Her father was her basketball coach all throughout elementary and middle school.
“He definitely inspired me to stick with [playing basketball], because he always comes to my games to support me,” Bannett said. 
Along with her father, Bannett has had many other people help her and get her to where she is now. In middle school, her basketball coach, Coach Mike Maguire, helped her grow as well.
 “I really looked up to [Maguire],” said Bannett. “He helped me …develop a [deep] love for the game.”
When transitioning to high school basketball, Bannett had an advantage in that she already knew many of the players on the team, since they had played on an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball team together. 
“It was a little bit of a transition, but everyone was super amazing and welcoming,” Bannett said. “I had so much fun with that team and we made so many great memories together, that [it] really made me want to continue playing basketball in high school.”
Head Coach David Kosaof the PHS girls basketball team noted that when he first saw Bannet play in the seventh grade, Kosa already knew that Bannett was an advanced player in her skillset.
	“Her fundamentals were really strong,” said Kosa. “And you could tell that she had a very strong basketball IQ, and a very strong basketball persona on the court.”
	Luna Bar-Cohen ’25, a teammate alongside Bannett, reaffirms these sentiments. Bar-Cohen has been playing with Bannet since middle school, and she believes that the years they’ve played together has greatly helped their team chemistry.
	“She does so much for our team on and off the court, and [she’s] always willing to go the extra mile for us,” said Bar-Cohen. “In games and practices, Gabby does a great job of seeing everyone on the court and facilitating good ball movement. ... When the team needs [help], we always know we can count on [her].”
	To Bannett, understanding each other and having each other's backs in challenging moments is what really counts. For her, she is grateful that she can trust the rest of her team in big moments, just like they can trust her.
	“We know how to laugh and have fun with each other but we also know when it's time to be serious and work together,” said Bannett. “It’s a good balance that’s important to have in any team environment.”
Now into her last season, Bannet is looking forward to winning something with the PHS team. For her, putting something up on the banner is the team's biggest goal.
	It's my last shot to win something and put something on the banner, So I really hope we can do that this season,” said Bannet. “Coach always says it's banner season, because we have nothing on our banner hanging in the new gym right now. So this is just another opportunity for us to get something new to form.”
	The team's optimism to win a title for PHS is demonstrative of the team's personality and tenacity. For Kosa, this constant belief is not just talk. He notes the work that has been done in the off season.
	“This year has been the most [turnout] that we’ve ever had in the summertime...” said Kosa. “We’ve worked with coach John Torey in strength and conditioning... It's not a surprise where the girls that have improved the most  have been the girls that have been putting in the work during the offseason.”
	While working hard is a must-have mentality for the PHS Girls volleyball team, enjoying yourself is just as important to them. For Bannett, she tries to bring a unified environment to the team, which she knows can help the team further down the road in tough games.
	“Having team lunches on game days and inside jokes are just some of the things that have strengthened our bonds as friends and teammates,” said Bannett. “Over the four years I’ve been on this team, we have always had great chemistry on and off the court.”

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