![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)
![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.jpeg)
![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)
The Phoenix Lose a Tight Game Against the Huskies
On Thursday, Dec. 15, the Phoenix varsity boys basketball team went up against the district leading Tuscarora Huskies. The game ended with a Phoenix loss of 51-48.
Sophomore Mekhi Motilewa goes for an underhand reverse layup after facing intense pressure from the Huskies.
January 18, 2023
After a relaxing “snow” day and holiday festivity arising during the winter spirit week, students packed the gym with their festive fits for the last basketball game of the 2022 school year on Thursday, Dec. 15.
The Phoenix started the game off strong, and the first quarter ended with a Phoenix lead of 14-8. The boys continued to uphold their lead through the second and third quarter with effective teamwork and impressive shots. The boys’ strong momentum was seen with a 10 point lead by the Phoenix in the fourth quarter. However, in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter, the Huskies were beginning to pressure the Phoenix. “[The Huskies] are really talented…we played really hard but we need to cut down on silly mistakes and we’ll be good,” sophomore Will Beck said.
The Huskies were able to make three three pointers in a matter of minutes, and after a few free throwers, the Huskies were in the lead. “We had a lead and we lost it,” senior Deric Gomado said. “We could have done a lot of things better. We had to phase guard [a player] the whole time and that didn’t really work.”
Despite a jumpshot by senior Basit Qadri in the last few seconds of the quarter, the Phoenix lost with a score of 51-48. The Phoenix have lost extremely close games, such as the 57-51 loss against the Potomac Falls Panthers on Dec. 1, but this game was especially tough for the boys. “It was a tough loss, I feel like for the first three quarters we played good basketball,” junior Kyle Desai said. “We outplayed them, we made the shots, it’s just in the final four minutes, we got complacent and they took advantage.”
The next boys basketball home game will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 3. against Heritage High School.
![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)