![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Seniors Kick off Spirit Week With a Win Against Juniors in Annual Powder Puff Game
The seniors and juniors played each other at the annual Rock Ridge High School Powder Puff game for charity on October 7th.
October 21, 2019
Sprinting with the ball in her hand, senior Chloe Morro, surrounded by junior opponents Jade Laudermilk (left) and Sophia Clarke (right), successfully carries the ball to the endzone, scoring a touchdown for the senior team.
Pulling with all their might, powder puff seniors Ryan Nguyen, Farley McDaniel, and Jeremy Fulton pretend to play tug o’ war against the other cheerleaders. The jubilant cheerleaders kept the powderpuff spectators’ spirits high with their continuous and creative cheers they performed on the chilly night of October 7th. “I was feeling really energetic,” Nguyen said, “It was a lot of fun being a powderpuff cheerleader because we got to just mess around and build spirit.”
After the junior team makes a great play, juniors Nina Harris and Abi Koroma celebrate by jumping up and hugging. “I was so happy to share that moment with Abi, even though we were losing, I was having so much fun,” Harris said. Although the juniors were losing the game, their spirits were high.
The senior powderpuff players huddle together against the cold October wind to discuss game plans and strategies against the junior opponents. The seniors were already in the lead, but they brainstormed on how to improve their strategies to maintain their lead on the juniors. The energy was contagious, and they broke out into a chant when they departed.
Both blockers from opposing teams, Paige Miller (junior) and Bryanna Hamblin (senior), keep each other from getting the ball. The play ended shortly after.
The juniors come together for one last chant as they shout “go to college” to the celebrating seniors. It was a hard-fought game, and they kept their spirits high throughout the night with several cheers in support of their teammates.
The juniors and seniors line up and give each other high fives after the game comes to an end. The score was 35-7 for the seniors, but everyone showed good sportsmanship and spirit throughout and until the end of the game. Both teams had put in their best effort, and it was definitely a great start to homecoming week; spirit week was a victory for the seniors from the powderpuff game to winning the spirit stick at the pep rally.
The senior team dashes to the end zone to celebrate their big win. They took their senior team pictures while at the end zone.
The victorious seniors pile up and smile at the count of, “1… 2… 3… Cheese!” The seniors had just won 35-7 against the juniors, and this photo was captured shortly after they had ran to the endzone together after the game had finished.
The senior powderpuff cheerleaders rile up the crowd with a display of strength as they drop down and give them ten. “It was super fun being head cheerleader at powderpuff,” said senior Ryan Nguyen. “I knew I had to get the crowd pumped up, so I decided to help Jeremy by putting my foot on his back.” Nguyen continued to cheer the seniors on to victory.
The senior class Powderpuff team won the annual Powderpuff game against the juniors, which started spirit week off with a senior advantage and even a little rivalry between the two classes.
On the chilly Monday evening of Oct. 7, the junior and senior Powderpuff players competed against one another at the annual Powderpuff game that raises money for charity.
The concept of reversed gender roles that Powderpuff is known for—male cheerleaders and female football players—attracted a supportive crowd. The game was the first spirit event of the week of Rock Ridge’s Homecoming. The seniors won with a score of 35-7, giving them a great start to spirit week.
Every year during the week of Homecoming, juniors and seniors tend to get very competitive with one another and try to be the class with the most spirit points. Since Powderpuff kicks off spirit week, the juniors and seniors were eager for a win because they wanted to start off spirit week strong for their classes. The mix of eagerness for a win and excitement for the week built up a small rivalry between the opposing teams/classes during the two weeks leading up to the game. “I did feel like there was a rivalry built up, but it was all in good fun,” junior Evan George said. He was the coach of the junior Powderpuff players.
During the game, both teams chose offensive and defensive plays in order to score points or stop points from being scored. Both the juniors and seniors practiced and reviewed these plays ahead of the game in order to be in the best shape possible to win. Junior player Meghan Groah believed that the juniors had a few tricks up their sleeve when it came to plays. “I think we had more plays. We had some sneak attacks in there,” Groah said. Overall, both teams enjoy the spirit contests and poking harmless fun at each other. The energy of the pep rallies and sports competitions contribute to each grade having fun representing their school. “I think it’s a lot of fun; I’m friends with a lot of the seniors, so I think it’s fun to go against them,” Groah said.
Junior Ryan Leach was only one of a few junior male cheerleaders at the powderpuff game. “It was my first time cheerleading,” Leach said, “I learned a lot of new things from some cheerleaders. It was a fun experience.” The cheerleaders practiced and performed fun and unique dances and cheers to keep the audience’s and players’ spirits high.
However, Leach felt that there was an imbalance in the spirits of the juniors and seniors. “I think the seniors, because it’s their last year, have a lot more spirit,” Leach said, “I think the seniors were way more full of energy compared to the juniors. We only had like four cheerleaders, and the seniors had like 10.” Despite this, Ryan expressed his enthusiasm to participate in Powderpuff cheerleading again next year.
Overall, the Powderpuff game was a great way to raise money for charity. The event ended up raising more than 900 dollars. The game also got the junior and senior classes in spirit for the upcoming Homecoming week. Although there was some tension throughout the game and the weeks leading up to it, the juniors and seniors remained great sports and showed great school spirit throughout the whole event.
![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-600x400.jpg)
![Senior Fatima Qaderi grew into the person she wanted to become when she was younger and continues to work towards growing more confident in using her voice when it matters. “I didnt get treated the way I wanted to be treated, and I realized that it wasnt just them treating me the wrong way, it was me treating me the wrong way,” Qaderi said. “I forced them to like to look at me in a way where Im someone who needs to be respected; they cant just disregard me, they cant just look over me because I have a different opinion, because Im a woman, because Im Afghan, because Im Muslim, or whatever. It just took going through different experiences to figure out how [I wanted to] be heard.” Photo courtesy of Fatima Qaderi.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_3870-600x471.jpeg)
