![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)
Aluminum Falcons Take the Stage at VEX Robotics Worlds
The VEX Robotics team, Aluminum Falcons, participated in the VEX Robotics World Championship, lasting until the quarter finals of the tournament.
The Aluminum Falcons built their VEX robot last August, gaining new parts and assembling the robot throughout the year. “We’ve been working, testing several designs,” junior Krish Shah said. “If it doesn’t work, we restart, find a new design, and make sure it works.”
June 11, 2022
On May 3, teams from all over the world attended the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas, Texas. The cut-throat competition, hosted at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, invited over 3,000 teams from 36 countries to showcase their robot and expertise in coding world-class AI technology, as well as their teamwork, communication, and effective problem solving skills.
The Aluminum Falcons consist of 3 members: Rock Ridge juniors Aditiya Kidiyoor, Krish Shah, and Independence junior Aadarsh Justin. Kidiyoor was the robot driver, and Justin and Shah collaborated to code.. They worked outside of school to build their world-class robot and to prepare it for competition. The team has been working together for four years now, and they have qualified for Worlds every year since they were freshmen.
The robots that the Aluminum Falcons have built are based on the different types of matches that the robot will go through in various tournaments. “Our objective was to get mobile goals [shaped as rings], put them on platforms, and make sure the [opposing] team gets the lowest amount of goals,” Shah said.
This year, the Aluminum Falcons attended 3 regional competitions. The team placed first in the qualifier matches, but lost during the semifinals at the Northern Virginia January VEX Tipping Point. The Aluminum Falcons were able to advance to the finals despite placing 10th during the qualifier matches at the Mall VRC Tournament. Their hard work at this tournament was recognized with the Excellence Award, the highest award given to a team.
The Aluminum Falcons earned their spot in the VEX Robotics World Competition as they were awarded 3rd place in the state for skills and made it into the semifinals. “We did well in the first round of 16,” Shah said. “[In the quarterfinals] we lost by 2 points, 127 to 125. It was a pretty good match though; we learned a lot.”
The Aluminum Falcons hope to qualify for VEX Robotics World Competition next year during the 2022-2023 season. During this time, they will have access to new parts and build a new robot designed around upcoming competitions.
![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)