March is an exciting month for Mercy B, NDB and Serra HS as it marks the start of March Madness, a four-week NCAA college basketball tournament. Over roughly four weeks, countless brackets are made, and students and teachers predict winners, root for teams and track their results.

NDB:
“I’m rooting for Gonzaga because I’ve grown up rooting for the Zags my whole life. My dad grew up in Washington. So I’m a big fan of them,” shared Lizzie Johnson, a member of NDB’s Varsity Basketball team who avidly participates in March Madness with her family.

Here at NDB, each game becomes an exciting part of the school day, generating lively discussions across campus. This event fosters school spirit and brings excitement to campus by sparking friendly competition. March Madness serves as a way to get involved in basketball and bond with friends and family while also bringing a sense of unity and invoking their parents and siblings’ school pride.

Serra HS:
Serra HS teachers and staff broadcast the games in their classrooms and even on projectors in the school cafeteria.

“It brings a collective of ‘madness’ among us, and this year, I’ll be sure to put both Duke and Auburn near the top of my bracket,” shared senior Alex Leonard.

Before the brackets were set for the 2025 tournament, many students were very hesitant to rank their favorite teams and make their predictions. Top programs such as Duke and Auburn have been a topic of interest and have been mentioned as favorites among the students. Students are anxiously tracking their teams and waiting to see if their predictions pan out.

Mercy B:
The Mercy B community anticipates March Madness and its reputation for fierce competition and unexpected upsets.
“It’s madness because there are huge upsets and people fill out brackets, but no one has ever gotten them all right,” explained Xavier University alumnus and XX Mr. McGoron. “I always predict Xavier to win, my school, hopefully! But I think Duke could go really far this year.”
The tournament began on March 18, with schools competing in high-stakes, single-elimination games. March Madness is truly a thrilling and unpredictable time for college basketball fans and serves as a respectful and competitive outlet for students and teachers.