What happens when a high school newspaper joins March Madness? We decided to find out! March Madness is the NCAA’s annual basketball tournament, a competition where the top collegiate basketball teams compete against each other to win the championship title. Inspired by the tournament, The Buzz of Damascus High School turned into a basketball team. Each member of our team was voted a role and superlative that shows off their hard work and skills in the newspaper.
Point Guard – Mia Dove
As The Buzz Point Guard, Mia Dove leads the team and keeps the team running smoothly. She thrives on collaboration and has enjoyed forming friendships with her teammates. Dove was named The Maryland Student Journalist of the Year for 2026. Her teammates recognized her as most likely to win a 1v1 writing battle, able to tackle any article or challenge independently and excel. When selecting topics, she prioritizes relevance, timeliness and the importance of the story to Damascus students. Ambitious and dedicated, Dove consistently completes her work on time while going above and beyond to ensure excellence. Her walk-on song is “My Own Worst Enemy” by Lit. Outside The Buzz, she plays softball for Damascus High School.
Shooting Guard – Mara Kuroda
Mara Kuroda takes bold shots for The Buzz as Shooting Guard, bringing creativity and energy to every headline and story. Her teammates recognized her as most likely to hit a three-pointer with her headlines, reflecting on her ability to write hooks that capture readers immediately. Kuroda draws inspiration from theater, history and heavy metal music, which pays off in her adventurous writing style. She selects article topics by staying current with events trending online and in social media, ensuring her work is both timely and engaging. Her walk-on song is “Painkiller” by Judas Priest, a song she uses to focus and center her mind.
Center – Isabelle Strouble
As Center, Isabelle Strouble anchors The Buzz with reliability and consistency. Recognized as most likely to get drafted into the league, she brings both creativity and precision to every story she writes, particularly in sports coverage. Strouble thrives in a collaborative environment and values the support and community of the team. Her walk-on song is “Where Have You Been” by Rihanna. Outside of journalism, she enjoys traveling, watching sports and spending time outside. Strouble will be attending Penn State for journalism.
Playmaker – Sophia Simoni
Sophia Simoni fuels the team as Playmaker, consistently generating original article ideas and helping her peers succeed. She was voted most likely to hustle on every story, a reflection of her commitment and thoroughness in both writing and editing. Simoni enjoys creating articles in a style that balances readability with depth. Her main inspirations are from books, movies and online content. Beyond the team, Simoni loves reading, writing and painting with watercolors. Her walk-on song is “I Think She’s Majesty” by The Beatles.
Power Forward – Sarah DeStefano
Sarah DeStefano serves as Power Forward, bringing hard work and consistency to The Buzz. She was named most likely to get all the rebounds, turning challenging topics into well crafted stories. DeStefano values the creativity and community of the team and consistently applies herself from start to finish on every assignment. She selects topics that pique her interest or are closely connected to her surroundings, with a focus on basketball content. Her walk-on song is “Alive” by Empire Of The Sun. She enjoys reading, painting and spending time outdoors with animals.
Defensive Specialist – Sarah Nachbar
Sarah Nachbar protects The Buzz as a Defensive Specialist, ensuring that every article is accurate and polished. Her teammates recognize her as most likely to block mistakes, because of her meticulous editing skills. She enjoys outlining articles and refining them to their best form, making her an essential part of maintaining quality across the team. Outside of journalism, Nachbar explores music, baking and fashion. Her dream pet is a jellyfish, a small reflection of her creative personality.
Sixth Man – Aaron Koch
Aaron Koch brings energy and versatility to the team as Sixth Man. He is most likely to slam dunk his stories, tackling a wide range of topics with calm, confident and polished writing. Koch’s approach blends originality with careful thought, keeping the momentum alive for both his work and his teammates. He selects articles by asking, “What is happening in the world today?” and delivers thoughtful reporting across sports, entertainment and news. Walk-on songs include” American Werewolf in Calgary” by The Browns or “Time To Go” by Dropkick Murphys. Outside of The Buzz, Koch enjoys hockey, baseball, skateboarding and traveling, and he began sports broadcasting in 8th grade.
MVP – Ethan Nguyen
Ethan Nguyen serves as MVP, consistently producing articles that capture readers attention. Recognized as most likely to make a highlight reel article, he focuses primarily on sports and entertainment, creating stories that are both engaging and informative. Nguyen chooses topics that interest him and are timely. He writes with clarity and insight. Outside the team, he plays guitar and enjoys music. His walk-on song is “Pluto to Mars” by Uzi.
Small Forward – Collin Hy
Collin Hy brings versatility as Small Forward, contributing across multiple sections. He is recognized as most likely to double as the team mascot, supporting teammates along with writing articles. Hy selects topics and approaches his writing with a focus on trending topics. Outside of journalism, he enjoys listening to music and his walk-on song is “Barbie Girl” by Aqua.
All-Star – Jack Farmer
Jack Farmer rounds out the team as All-Star, demonstrating skill in every aspect of journalism from research to storytelling. He is most likely to take the long shot, embracing creative, experimental ideas that push the boundaries of traditional reporting. Farmer writes stories that take in depth research and engage readers. Aside from writing articles, Farmer films, edits and posts The Buzz fast five videos.
With the team’s roles and superlatives in place, The Buzz basketball team is ready to take on the court for March Madness. Will they take the championship title? Read some of the players’ articles, and decide for yourself.
