![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)
On Tuesday, Sept. 26, junior and senior volunteer players faced off in the main gym during the annual Clash of the Classes kickball game. The event was set up by the Student Council Administration (SCA) and its sponsor Michelle Prince, student activities and engagement coordinator Bradley Burzumato, and class sponsors Brittany Thomas, Liz Grainger, and Nicole Spage.
Burzumato, acting as the referee, kicked the game off. The first innings were slow — the seniors scored no points, and the juniors scored four. However, after the second inning, the students seemed to get a grasp of the game and by the third inning, both teams developed strategies that got them more runs by the final inning.
The seventh and final innings marked a turning point in the game. With one kick, the juniors pulled ahead of the seniors and gained a three-point lead from the 7-7 tie. This led to a great boost in team morale, and made the seniors more motivated to win. After a series of successful kicks in the last inning, the seniors were able to get the four runs that took them to a victory of 11-10. “It was very exciting; I thought the juniors were gonna pull it out there,” Burzumato said. “They had a multi-run lead during the fourth inning, but the seniors pulled up clutch.”
The juniors took the loss hard, turning the blame to the referee, claiming that Burzumato’s calls could have been biased and inaccurate.
One junior participant, Aryan Kapoor, was especially vocal about the apparent bias. “I felt excited [because] we were [ahead] in the beginning, but then Burzumato might have given the seniors some leeway, and got them seven runs in one [inning], which I don’t think should be allowed,” Kapoor said.
When the rumors of bias calls were brought to Burzumato’s attention, he was quick to respond. “As a ref, I remained impartial,” Burzumato said. “I am always impartial in my calls. Next year, [the juniors] won’t complain about the calls.”
Regardless of the junior team’s opinion on the referee’s calls, the seniors’ victory was a striking comeback. “I wanted to stay unbiased throughout the game,” Principal John Duellman said. “However, I really enjoyed the end result.”
