![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)
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.
![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)
