![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)
Phoenix Reach for the Rim
On Monday Jan. 10, the Phoenix junior varsity and varsity boys basketball teams faced the Loudoun County Captains at home. The junior varsity team won 46-43 and varsity lost 65-56.
Senior Brett Suazo (11) shoots a free throw seconds before halftime. Suazo made both free throws to tie the game.
February 8, 2022
On Jan. 10, the Phoenix faced off against the Loudoun County Captains at their tenth game of the season. The junior varsity team won 46-43 while the varsity team lost 65-56.
The junior varsity team was neck to neck against the Captains with the Phoenix narrowly leading in each quarter. The varsity team battled the Captains in the first half and were tied 28-28 at the end of the first half, with Senior Brett Suazo making two free throws to get the score tied seconds before halftime. However, the Phoenix fell behind in the second half, losing to the Captains by nine points. “We still don’t think that we’ve played our best basketball yet,” senior Brett Suazo said. “We think we’re going in the right direction, so we think we’re going to keep improving.”
Coach Jason Geyer heads the boys varsity basketball team and believes that regardless of the abundant new players this year, they have a fighting chance of making it to the regionals. “I think [the season] is going well,” he said. “It started out with losses playing a hard schedule with new guys and since then we’ve really played a lot better.”
This season also brought multiple challenges, including COVID-19 and the number of snow days, inhibiting the team from being able to play or practice as scheduled. “When you miss time, you miss practices, and that kind of hurts you a little bit, but we’re going to overcome it,” Geyer said.
The teams watch films as well as investigate the opposing team’s strategies to prepare for the games; however, it “doesn’t mean we do something different every time, we still want to be the best version of us that we can be, but we know their tendencies,” Geyer said. The teams are able to predict their opponents and are more prepared.
![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_0154-600x400.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_0057-600x331.jpg)