![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)
![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)
Phoenix Celebrate Homecoming With a Victory
On Oct. 21, the Phoenix won the annual Homecoming game against the John Paul the Great Wolves with a score of 28-20.
During halftime of the homecoming football game, senior Jack Capobianco wins homecoming royalty and is officially crowned by junior Maggie Miller. “I wasn’t expecting [winning homecoming royalty] at all,” Capobianco said. “I was very surprised but very excited.”
November 4, 2022
With suspense building from a successful spirit week week, the Phoenix football team met the John Paul the Great Wolves on the field on Oct 21 in hopes of a homecoming win. After a come-from-behind win and a strong second half, the Phoenix took the game, winning 28-20.
The first half of the game started off with a strong lead for the Wolves. The first quarter ended with a score of 6-0. In the second quarter, despite the strong effort from the Phoenix, the Wolves were able to score twice, bringing the score to 20-0 and leaving the Phoenix to play catch-up going into the second half.
The student section and coaches, who packed the Phoenix Pit with Blackout gear for the spirit theme, encouraged their players from the sidelines with screams and cheers. In the 3rd quarter, the Phoenix gave them something to celebrate as the score jumped from 0 points to 7 with a touchdown, leaving them with a 13 point difference with the Wolves.
In the 4th quarter, the Phoenix pulled through with another touchdown by senior Malachi Tomlin-Younger, leaving them with the win for this game. “It feels great, coming in with my boys to take home the last victory,” Tomlin-Younger said. With a minute left of the fourth quarter, Senior Christopher Young intercepted the ball, allowing the Phoenix to maintain the lead. Students rushed to the football field, congratulating the team on a Homecoming win. The game ended with a Phoenix win of 28-20.
Before the game, SCA hosted a tailgate to get students pumped and ready for the Blackout in the Phoenix Pit. Food trucks served ice cream sandwiches, fried oreos, funnel cakes, and french fries. Students could participate in activities like poster making, face painting, basketball, and an inflatable race course.
This was the last homecoming tailgate for seniors, so many of them tried to make the most out of it. “It’s bittersweet, knowing that it’s the last time I’ll be able to experience this,” senior Namrata Hari Naryanan said.
Freshmen Arjav Iyer and Shaun Sahayadarlin enjoyed the tailgate and game because they were able to hang out with friends. “[My favorite part is] meeting a lot of people and seeing people when it’s been a while since seeing them,” Sahayadarlin said.
At halftime, the senior homecoming court walked out onto the field as students waited eagerly to hear who the first person of homecoming royalty would be. After all nominees were introduced, senior Nina Lal and junior Maggie Miller announced senior Jack Capobianco as a homecoming royal. This was his first time on homecoming court. “It’s a great honor to be voted for by all my classmates,” Capobianco said. “I’m glad because my parents are here and all my friends.”
The next Phoenix football game will be at home on Nov. 4 against Light Ridge Bolts.
![After waiting, planning, and preparing for two years, Rock Ridge Performing Arts (RPPA) finally performed “Frozen,” a musical about two sisters — one human and one with powers –who face adversity together in order to protect each other. The first show was performed on Friday, April 26.
“Frozen” was highly anticipated by students, and for good reason. The “Frozen” movie was one of the most successful animated Disney films and had a lasting impact on younger audiences when it came out.
Due to its sheer popularity, the rights to perform “Frozen” as a musical are extremely difficult to attain, and only one school in each state gets the chance to do so per year. “There was a competition called ‘Fifty States of Frozen,’ and we submitted an application two years ago,” Anthony Cimino-Johnson, the director of RRPA, said. “We were accepted as the only school in Virginia to do the musical. [We had to include] set design, how many students, how many performances, [and] photos from previous productions. It was a competitive process.”
The cast and crew of “Frozen” acknowledged the privilege they had to be able to perform the musical. “It’s actually pretty cool to have permission for ‘Frozen,’” freshman Divitha Mathe, a background actress in the musical, said. “We have [one of] the biggest theater programs and we have been preparing for ‘Frozen’ for a long time. There is a really beautiful set and the costumes are so pretty. The actors and tech crew are doing an amazing job. If I would want to shout out to anyone, it would be Mr. CJ and Mrs. Hess because they are really pulling the show together, and I am glad to have them as my teachers.”
“Frozen” is still being performed today and tomorrow at Rock Ridge!
Click the link in our bio to learn more about RRPA’s “Frozen” production!
✏️ & 📷 by Ria Athreya, Rachel Bhardwaj, and Aline Gonzalez](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
![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-600x411.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_5383-600x449.jpg)
![Freshman Daniela Rojas attempts to steal the ball from the opponent. “This game was kind of an off day, but it happens. [We’ve] definitely had a lot of improvement since our first game.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/DSC_5600-600x400.jpg)
![Throughout the season, senior Dillon Brooks (left) and junior Aiden Patel (right) have been regularly practicing to improve their skills. The rest of the golf team has been doing the same. “Nine times out of ten, [practice] is with all of [the golf team] collectively, “ Brooks said. “And then, some people might go out to the course, and some people might stay back. Its dependent on what our coach has for us to do that day.” This year, golf is coached by physical education teacher Jason Geyer, along with Mark Sheptock, who volunteers to coach the team.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Screen-Shot-2023-09-28-at-1.50.38-PM-600x407.png)
