With a snap of its jaw, the great white shark wins yet another battle as its opponent is consumed whole. In another round, a sea otter is floating itself away from the fight entirely as the wolf lunges towards it with an open paw.

What are these battles for, one might wonder. Well, think none other than March Mammal Madness, the beloved parody of the March Madness basketball games—except this time, with bloodshed.

With four categories selected each year, and sixteen mammals of all different seeds battling in each, the games are tight and cut-throat, as each mammal tries to capture—or escape—the other. 

At the end of the long and tiring battles, only one mammal will remain victorious. Who might this year’s winner be? That question is exactly what the South Windsor High School science department wants to find out.

As we progress into the month of March, the science hallway at South Windsor High School is buzzing with excitement for this year’s game of March Mammal Madness.

Many teachers are choosing to have a hopeful outlook on the games this time around. “I’m hoping I’ll do better this year,” said Ms. Powell, a Chemistry teacher in room 223. 

Other teachers have found themselves to be filled with confidence, namely Mr. Fazzino of room 222. “I plan on winning,” he proclaims for himself. “Everyone else has gotta watch out for my bracket and my class.”

Not only has the fighting spirit been ignited in teachers, there are students out there joining the games with equal passion and enthusiasm.

“It’s fun, it’s about to be my personality for the next month,” said Valli Pendyala, a senior at South Windsor High School. When asked if they would recommend other students to join the games, Pendyala responded quite enthusiastically. “Do it. Do March Mammal Madness. It’s better than basketball.”

Despite the excitement, there has been some sad news about who skipped out on this year’s bracket. To the dismay of many, the tardigrade has not made its reappearance on the battlefield, leaving Itty Bitty Comeback City with an empty seat. “It’s a bummer,” said Mr. Fazzino.

Despite the release of the bracket, some teachers have taken to sharing their top picks as to who they would have wanted to see in other categories. Powell shared that she “Loved to see some sort of small feline.”

Others were hoping to see some pack animals, and maybe even some sharks in the coming weeks. “I [was glad] to see a beaver, and termites,” said Mr. Fazzino. Many seemed to be hoping for some apes, or early humans.

For now, the science department will be preparing their brackets for the thrilling battles to come.