![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)
Phoenix Athletes Rock Winter Championships
Throughout the month of February, several Phoenix athletes from gymnastics, track and field, wrestling, and swimming competed in numerous championship events for the 2023 winter sports season.
As the 2022-2023 winter came to a close, teams across the state of Virginia competed for fame, glory, and titles.
March 24, 2023
Throughout the month of February, various athletic teams representing Rock Ridge competed across the state of Virginia in postseason contests. From the track and field team who traveled to Liberty University for their state meet, to the Phoenix wrestling team who competed at Virginia Beach for their state conference, these athletes made sure to give it their all.
Track and Field
On Feb. 13, the Phoenix track and field team competed at the regional meet at Shenandoah University. Athletes competed in numerous events such as the 4×800 relay race, the 55 meter dash, 4x200m relay race, and the shot put.
Season and personal bests across the board only boosted team morale. A school record was broken by senior Kamaal Reel running the 55 meter dash in 6.66 seconds and placing third overall in the event. The meet opened with a 4×800 relay, and the Phoenix qualifying team consisted of senior Jett Cooper, senior Paul Skeen, senior Iyush Hoyal, and junior Adrian Mata. There are two 4×200 teams, one boys team and one girls team. The boys 4×200 team included junior Teyany Kleiner, sophomore Julian Ogletree, senior Kamaal Reel, and junior Asi Temoka, who were the region runners-up in the event. The other 4×200 team included sophomore Micah Younger, freshman Zoe Fyne-Okorie, freshman Kyra Young, and sophomore Lilia Jones, who placed third in their relay race.
Others who competed at regionals included Alyssa Tucker in the 55m hurdles, freshman Khem Temoka in the 500m dash, senior Paul Skeen in the 1000m dash, freshman Kyra Young in the 300m dash, sophomore Julian Ogletree, junior TeYany Kleiner, and senior Kamaal Reel in the 300m dash.
However, even with the victory at the regional meet, athletes are getting ready for a lot of physical and mental training to be done before spring track. “I think my weakness is getting stuck in my head about stuff before a race,” sophomore Lilia Jones said. “My goal is to set a personal record officially so I can break the school record again.”
The athletes who qualified for the state meet were senior Kammal Reel, junior Asi Temoka, and sophomore Lilia Jones in the 55 meter dash; senior Ainhoa Johnson Diaz in the 1000 meter dash; sophomore Julian Ogletree in the 300m dash; junior Asi Temoka in both the long and high jump; junior Teyany Kleiner, sophomore Julian Ogletree, senior Kamaal Reel, and junior Asi Temoka for the boys 4x200m dash; and sophomore Micah Younger, freshman Zoe Fyne-Okorie, freshman Kyra Young, and sophomore Lilia Jones for the girls 4x200m dash.
During the state meet held on Feb. 28, the girls 4×200 relay team placed ninth at the state championships and set a new personal best. The boys 4×200 relay team placed fourth place overall and earned a medal at the state championships. Sophomore Lilia Jones got sixth overall in the 55m dash and set a new school record of 7.33 seconds. “It was a really energetic meet to be a part of,” senior Johnson Diaz said. “A lot of new records were broken even with the stale air inside, which made it difficult to breathe while running.”
Wrestling
On Feb. 11, select members from the Phoenix wrestling team competed at the regional meet at Independence High School. Athletes who competed at regionals included senior James Lee, senior Illias Cholakis, senior Seth Cougar, freshman Julian Serna, and freshman Nathan Martinez.
There were a multitude of victories, from senior Ilias Cholakis getting his 100th win and becoming the fifth wrestler in Rock Ridge history to perform that feat, to senior Seth Cougar qualifying for the state meet by winning the regional tournament in the “heavyweight” weight class and taking home a first place medal.
Cholakis placed second at the regional meet in his weight class of 215 pounds, and was able to qualify for the state championship. “Regionals was really fun, and it had an energy that no other tournaments throughout the season had,” Lee said. “Post season tournaments are full of heartbreak for seniors who didn’t make it to states, but it is also a place where young wrestlers can make a name for themselves.”
At the wrestling state meet, which was held at Virginia Beach on Feb. 17 through Feb. 18, senior Illias Cholakis competed against dozens of impressive athletes, and ultimately placed fourth in his weight class of 215 pounds.
Swim
On Feb. 18, select members of the swim team competed at states. Participating athletes included sophomore Andrew Takach, senior Morgan Fowle, sophomore Neel Chethan, sophomore Nikhil Midda, freshman Oliver Cabezas, and senior Jeet Metu. They all swam both relays and made it to the final.
Along with swimming both relays, Takach swam the 200m individual medley and the 100m breaststroke, placing 10th in both. Fowle swam the 50m freestyle and made it to the final in the 100m freestyle. Phoenix swimmers swam a multitude of strokes in states, with the most popular event being the 200m freestyle, which was swam by Metu and Chethan. “Making it to states felt amazing and was my biggest achievement,” Takach said.
Gymnastics
On Feb. 17 and 18, the Phoenix gymnastics team traveled to Lightridge High School to compete in the State meet. Junior Thandi Hart represented the Phoenix team by competing in numerous events, such as the Uneven Bars and Floor Exercise. Overall, Hart placed fifth in the uneven bars category, tied for ninth in the floor exercise with a score of 8.950, and placed sixth in the individual all-around category with a score of 36.125.
![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)