The final buzzer of Michigan defeating UConn 69-63 on Monday, April 6th, didn’t just end March Madness—it capped off a month at Tosa West that sparked friendly rivalries and connected students and staff in entirely new ways.
Throughout March and April, the basketball craze took over the school. During the opening days of the tournament, student supervisors streamed the games on televisions in the cafeteria while students kept a close eye on their Chromebooks to catch the action.
“I think it’s a very good time, especially in school. It gives a little bit of a distraction, being able to watch something while you’re doing stuff,” said Senior Ian Butenhoff.
Beyond the screens, the tournament brought out a fierce competitive edge among peers and families. Busted brackets and unexpected upsets quickly became the primary topic of conversation in the hallways and at the lunch tables. 
“To me, it means time to beat out my family in little competitions and ways to win money if you pick the right teams,” said Junior Riley Bittner. “If you have the competitive spirit and you win, you can use that as bragging rights.”
That competitive spirit wasn’t limited to the student body. Teachers actively joined in on the bracket talk during free time and passing periods. While some staff members found the games to be a distraction during class, others used the tournament as a bridge to relate to their students, occasionally even playing games in the background on their smartboards.
“I try to connect with them throughout the year, but I think it’s fun seeing who they picked, letting them know who I picked, and finding whatever underdog there is so we can cheer them on together,” said Social Studies teacher Patrick Guse. “We definitely talk about the games that happened the night before, the crushing losses, the buzzer-beaters, and all that fun stuff.”
The basketball craze also offered a chance for staff to share their sports knowledge and bond with students they might not normally talk to.
“It brings a kind of camaraderie. Kids are asking me questions or even trying to test my basketball knowledge,” said staff member Grif. “With kids you never even thought watched March Madness, it brings some competitive edge out of them… It brings out those conversations.”
For staff members like Guse, watching Michigan play in the championship brought back a wave of nostalgia from his own childhood brackets, proving that the magic of the tournament spans generations. 
“My favorite team of all time was the Michigan Fab Five,” Guse reminisced. “I was in middle school and actually won the first pool I was ever in with my friends. Even though they didn’t win it all, I had them going pretty far. I was really excited about all the freshmen playing with the baggy shorts, the black socks, and all that.”
Photographs by Roman Long, Micheal Nembhard, and Noah Zollicoffer
