![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)
![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 Pounce on the Cougars
On Feb. 9, the boys junior varsity and varsity basketball teams showed out for their last home game of the season against visiting team Manassas Park Cougars. The games ended with the Phoenix junior varsity team winning 38-32 and the varsity team winning 68-42.
Varsity’s junior Nick Canfield (23) looks around to find a teammate to throw the ball to as a Cougar plays tight defense on him. “We did a good job on defense communicating, that was something that we were really trying to work on this past game,” Canfield said.
February 25, 2022
On Feb. 9, the Phoenix boys basketball teams played their last regular-season home games. The contest was non-conference, meaning that the games didn’t count towards the overall record, providing the Phoenix a unique opportunity to test out new team dynamics.
A few junior varsity players, such as Freshman Will Beck, had the opportunity to play up with the varsity squad for the first time, while a few players from the boys freshman team joined the junior varsity players. The game was seen by the program as a way to make some improvements. By switching up rosters, giving different players more opportunities, changing zone formations and rotations on defense, the Phoenix were able to effectively assess their playing, and finished the regular season out with a win for both Phoenix teams. ¨The game was good, we started off super strong and then we brought in our secondaries and they showed up pretty good,¨ said sophomore Austin Fisher on teaming up with a few rookies.
The team started out strong, maintaining a steadfast lead with senior Aditya Kamath scoring, individually, nearly the same his opponents had total. Junior Basit Qadri and Daniel Okoye had noteworthy steals and blocks, proving their defense effective.
![In a historic presidential election, voters nationwide turned out to make their voices heard. Virginia’s 10th congressional district had three key national positions up for election: president, senator, and representative.
In the race for the House of Representatives seat previously held by Democrat Jennifer Wexton, the Republican Party nominated Mike Clancy, while the Democratic Party put forward Suhas Subramanyam, a former Virginia General Assembly Senator. Subramanyam won the seat with a 52% majority.
For one of Virginia’s Senate positions, Democratic incumbent Tim Kaine and Republican challenger Hung Cao faced off. Kaine took the position with a 54% majority.
For the White House, current Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump fought to obtain the 270 electoral votes needed to get the bid. News outlets worldwide tracked the results live, with close attention to seven key battleground states: Michigan, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina. Trump ultimately crossed the 270-vote threshold early on Nov. 6, with the swing states playing a pivotal role in his campaign’s success.
This election was the first presidential race for many Gen-Z voters, who entered a sharply polarized environment. Adela Booth, mother-in-law of Representative-Elect Subramanyam, traveled from Connecticut to support his campaign, encouraging young voters to engage in the political process. “Vote,” Booth said. “Get involved in politics. Even [if] you don’t think it applies to you, it applies to you. You will carry this debt. It will affect your grandchildren and you have to do something about it. You can’t sit back and watch anymore.”
✏️ and 📷 by Shivu Sathe](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)