![Junior Diya Arun stares out a window. For Arun, the winter season brings out the holiday blues. “ I think [the winter] has a negative effect on my mental health because I feel like the cold weather and people around me are also sadder [and] that affects me,” Arun said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_8047-1200x800.jpg)
![The Phoenix varsity volleyball team lines up for the national anthem. “We were more communicative [with each other] during this game, and I feel like we kept our energy up, especially after the first set,” senior Jessica Valdov said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/DSC_0202-1200x800.jpg)
The Revival of Phoenix Spirit
After 18 months of missing out on school spirit, SCA set out to start the year off with a tailgate followed by a white out football scrimmage against the Washington High School Patriots from Charlestown, West Virginia; the Phoenix fell 26-14.
![Members of the freshmen and junior classes fire up the crowd with a cheer to increase the Phoenix spirit. “I loved [the tailgate], it was awesome. This is my very first high school event with people [and] other highschoolers. Even though this is a practice, it’s my very first football game. It’s been an incredible experience,” freshman Jaden Thomas said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Copy-of-IMG_1717-900x600.jpg)
Members of the freshmen and junior classes fire up the crowd with a cheer to increase the Phoenix spirit. “I loved [the tailgate], it was awesome. This is my very first high school event with people [and] other highschoolers. Even though this is a practice, it’s my very first football game. It’s been an incredible experience,” freshman Jaden Thomas said.
October 3, 2021
Junior Bella Scovel paints junior Olivia Helfen’s face for the game’s white out theme. The tailgate provided several stations for students to participate in school spirit at the scrimmage, including face painting, yard games, music and sign making.
![On Friday, Dec. 20, the varsity Phoenix wrestling team embarked on a two-day tournament against 32 other high schools spanning from Loudoun County to other states. This year, Rock Ridge High School hosted the highly anticipated tournament and decked out the main gym for the occasion, donning six full-sized wrestling mats with the Phoenix logo and clearing out space for coaches, managers, and administrators alike. Every open seat in the stands was filled with family and friends of the players, making a lively environment for the players.
King of the Rock started at 4:00 p.m. and lasted until 9:00 p.m on Friday. Every player on every team had the opportunity to go up against another player for three rounds, with each of them lasting two minutes. The preparation for this has gone on since the beginning of the season in their practices, and their previous meets have been leading up to this specific tournament. “During practices, I’ve been doing a lot of conditioning [and] making sure my body is [as] healthy as it can be,” junior Julian Serna said. “I’ve been doing [all] the moves and techniques our coaches are telling us to do, [too].”
The second day of King of the Rock started at 9:00 a.m on Dec. 21, and ended at 3:00 p.m. South Carroll High School in Sykesville, Md. took the win for the entire tournament. Martinez and junior Elijah Whitfield both placed in their individual weight classes, bringing in a win for the Phoenix.
✏️ and 📷 by Maya Coleman, Bella Gerardi, and Sophie King](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)