![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)
![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)
Battle of the Birds: Phoenix Triumph in Tennis
On March 22, the Phoenix boys tennis team went up against the Briar Wood Falcons. The Phoenix won with a final score of 6-3.
Senior Arjun Vangala serves the ball during his singles match, with him in the lead at 3-1. “We knew we were playing up, so we were a little scared at the beginning,” Vangala said, “but then when we started hitting the ball and playing our game, we started to really go toe-to-toe with them.”
April 13, 2023
After a win against the Loudoun Valley Vikings a few days before, the Phoenix boys tennis team tested their skills against the Briar Wood Falcons on Tuesday, March 22.
In the first half of the match, the Phoenix took a strong lead in singles, winning 5-1. Despite the win, the boys felt that they could make improvements for future matches. “I definitely think we can be more aggressive from the baseline in singles,” freshman Akash Vangala said.
After their strong performance in singles, three doubles matches took place. During this contest, the Phoenix’s number one ranked player, junior Kaushik Muskari, was not present at the game. Therefore, the boys had to adapt and change their regular teams for doubles. “We kind of had to move up everybody [since our number one player wasn’t there],” senior Arjun Vangala said. “It was a different challenge and it was something we weren’t used to, but I feel like we coped with it well.”
As part of the adjustments, Arjun Vangala played doubles with his brother, Akash Vangala. “I play with him (Akash) normally,” Arjun Vangala said. “When we win, we’re really good to each other, but when we’re losing, we get extremely frustrated with each other and we just have to find a way to channel that toward our opponent instead of fighting amongst ourselves. I’ve known him for his whole life, and I know ways to motivate him and he knows ways to motivate me and we just work together well.”
In the end, the Phoenix lost two doubles matches and won one, bringing the final score to a Phoenix win of 6-3.
As the second home competition of the 2022-2023 spring season, the players feel like they have been adjusting well to the new team. “I’ve known these guys for a long time because of my brother, so I didn’t really have a difficult time adjusting,” Akash Vangala said.
The Phoenix’s next home match was on March 29 against the James Wood Colonels.
![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)