![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)
“A cocky attitude is all you need [to win],” science teacher Michael Clear said before the Student vs. Staff Volleyball Game on Nov. 11. Unfortunately for Clear, the game did not play out in the teachers’ favor.
Students took the win with a final score of 37-31, strengthening their streak of success against the teachers.
The annual student vs staff volleyball game was much anticipated, as it was the teachers’ fighting chance to re-tie with the students after last year’s student victory broke the 3-3 tie. However, the students pulled through once again, setting the score to 5-3.
In contrast to the teachers’ competitive attitude, the students went into the game looking to have a good time. “[Our game plan is to] just go out there and have fun,” junior Mihir Peta said. “Just be confident and have fun. We’re pretty confident.”
The students’ confidence and nonchalant attitude coupled with their strong technique and communication paid off.
The teachers took a slightly different approach. After working on their communication and cohesiveness, English teacher Shelby Whittington was confident that the teachers would win. “[Our strategy is] to remind them that we have the power to fail them and keep them from graduating,” Whittington said. “So it’s all about the mind games this year!”
The first quarter started off strong for the students when they almost immediately got the first point following a powerful spike. The students continued to gain momentum in the first eight-minute set, with a streak of nine points before the teachers scored, until they ended in the lead 17-4.
After the student streak in the first set, the teachers slowly, but surely, caught up. They ended the set with the students still in the lead 23-19, with the teachers only falling behind by four points.
The third, and final, set was tense: the most points were scored in this set. The students stayed in the lead for the majority of the quarter, but the teachers did not lag far behind. They kept neck and neck with the students ahead by a small margin, until the final minutes of the game in which the students were able to create a six-point gap in the score. The game ended in a final score of 37-31, the student team securing a win for the second year in a row.
