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March Madness is sweeping through McLean as students and teachers prepare brackets, predict upsets and bring the tournament’s competitive spirit into the classroom.

The annual NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament features 68 teams in a seven-round, single-elimination battle for the national championship. Its win-or-go-home format makes even highly seeded teams vulnerable—and makes a perfect bracket extraordinarily difficult to achieve.

Senior Ravi Reddy pointed to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s 2018 victory over the University of Virginia as the biggest upset he has witnessed.

“It was crazy,” Reddy said.

For many in McLean, completing a bracket has become nearly as important as watching the games. Students and teachers make their predictions each year, often competing against relatives or groups of friends.

“It’s really fun to see how you do compared to everyone,” Reddy said.

The tournament’s influence extends beyond basketball. McLean’s Spanish teachers use a bracket competition called “Locura de Marzo” to introduce students to Spanish-language music.

Spanish teacher Amanda Pituch said the activity begins with 16 songs and follows the structure of a basketball bracket. Students encounter different musical styles while advancing their favorites through the competition.

Pituch has run the activity for six years, updating the selections to match students’ interests. This year’s bracket includes popular performers such as Bad Bunny, and she sometimes adds modern artists or viral songs that may appeal to the school’s student population.

Whether they are choosing basketball champions or voting for songs, students are comparing picks and enjoying friendly competition as the tournament approaches.

Reddy is predicting an Arizona championship because of what he described as the team’s strong quality of wins. Still, he acknowledged the uncertainty that makes March Madness compelling.

“March Madness games are so exciting because anything can happen,” Reddy said.