The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
Daisan Jones walks to the start line with his teammate Ohene Akenteng to begin his event. Photo courtesy of Daisan Jones.
10 Questions With Athlete of the Week: Daisan Jones
Freshman Ayan Chethan performs butterfly stroke.
Athlete of the Week: Ayan Chethan
Sophomore Brayden Coleman sets up the Phoenix offense against the Loudoun County Captains on Jan. 23.
Athlete of the Week: Brayden Coleman
Ethan Duval smiles for a photo.
Athlete of the Week: Ethan Duval
Sophomore forward Shawn Makassi goes up strong in an attempt to dunk the ball.
Athlete of the Week: Shawn Makassi
Phoenix gets in position to initiate the beginning of an intense game. “It's coming to the end of the season here, so [our goal] is to just focus on working harder,” senior lineman Ryan Abbondanza said.
Phoenix Freeze at the Hands of the Vikings
Senior Abby Knick prepares to bump the ball.
Phoenix Falter on Senior Night against Panthers
Senior quarterback Xavier Smith clutches the ball as he avoids Tuscarora’s defense.
Phoenix Fall Short Against Huskies
Junior right side hitter Jahnavi Kundoor sets for Junior middle blocker Katelyn Weicker.
Phoenix Volleyball’s Wings Clipped by the Knights
Sophomore Sudhi Gudimettla jumps to hit the ball over the net.
Wolverines Scratch Out a Win Against Phoenix
HRR boys' hockey team gathers together for a group photo. “We were all on the bench, excited. I couldn't wait for the game to end to see the medals,” Freshmen Forward Noah Wilkins said. Photo courtesy of Bhavitha Doma.
Rock Ridge Hockey Wins Big in Provisional Capital Cup Championship
Sophomore Addison Copeland jumps over hurdles during the girls 55m hurdles event.
Sprinting to States: 11 Athletes Qualify for State Meet
Senior Dawson Boupha scores the team’s first 3 points of the game and his last 3 points of the season.
Seniors Put a Lid on the Season and the Patriots
Sophomore small forward Shawn Makassi takes the ball from the tip-off. “We did get some easy buckets, and in the 2nd half, we did do better on defense, so that's what I really like,” sophomore shooting guard Ashwin Rapolu said.
Spartans Storm Past Phoenix
The girls basketball team huddles while Coach Joseph Smith explains the strategy. “Our coach is there for us,” junior Nada Elsayed said. “He definitely knows what he's doing.”
Despite Strong Start, Phoenix Flamed by Pride
Senior David Cheong attempts to stop the Dominion Titans from scoring a goal.
Boys Lacrosse Tumbles to Titans
Number seven, Senior Jackie Malapira attempts to attack the Loudoun County net.
Phoenix Turned to Ashes in 3-15 Loss
Senior Xavier Smith steadies himself before running a relay race.
Phoenix Track Celebrates Seniors at Home Meet
Senior Sreeram Gourineni tosses the ball high in preparation to serve.
Tennis Seniors Take Their Bow Before Playoffs
Junior Aidan Lita steps up on defense.
Huskies Extinguish an Injured Phoenix Squad
Subhashree Munagala puts in diligent efforts to help animals live a better life.
Leader of the Week: 10 Questions with Animal Alliance Leader Subhashree Munagala
Reagan Sutton performs as Rusty in RRTA’s production of “Footloose” this fall.
Leader of the Week: 9 Questions with RRTA President Reagan Sutton
Debate President Parth Jaiswal manages his time with discipline, friends, and a little bit of fingerpicking.
Leader of the Week: Parth Jaiswal
The Mock Trial club hosts an after school meeting on Mondays. Senior Mahika Talaulicar stands at the front of the classroom, going over Mock Trial’s most recent defamation case.
Leader of the Week: 10 Questions With Mock Trial President Mahika Talaulicar
President Laura Adams takes on new challenges and keeps the Rock Ridge Choir Board running effortlessly.
Leader of the Week: 8 Questions with Choir Board President Laura Adams
Writing not just till the end, but for myself and the people I love.
Chang’s Swan Song: Writing My Way Out
Thank you Newspaper for helping me find my words, on and off the website, and thank you for showing me that my full potential is not just in the words I write on paper, or on a website, but also the ones that I speak out loud and the ones that I share with others.
Challa Swan Song: Finding My Words
To newspaper, the people in my life, and fate, thank you for this unexpected yet thrilling life journey. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kalluri’s Swan Song: Right on Time
Through taking photos, I found a way to share how I felt, even when I didn’t know how to say it.
Gerardi Swan Song: Not Just a Class Assignment
Sometimes life will show you so many light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnels, it becomes an overwhelming and blinding light. All you have to do is figure out which path you want to take, and follow that light til’ the end.
Manchala Swan Song: We Ended Up Alright
Do AP’s matter?
Do AP’s matter?
How Was the American Music Awards In 2026?
How Was the American Music Awards In 2026?
Why is TV Getting More Expensive?
Why is TV Getting More Expensive?
Do PJs Affect Productivity?
Do PJs Affect Productivity?
Media by the Minute: The Olympic Hockey Drama
Media by the Minute: The Olympic Hockey Drama
Wrestler Rex Lawless celebrates a successful takedown during the main title fight.
Virginia Championship Wrestling Visits Rock Ridge
Gas prices remain at significantly higher levels amidst months of Iran-U.S. wars.
New Gas Prices, New Issues
Senior Xavier Smith steadies himself before running a relay race.
Phoenix Track Celebrates Seniors at Home Meet
A New Face Behind the Badge: Derek Brown is Rock Ridge's Lead Security Officer
A New Face Behind the Badge: Derek Brown is Rock Ridge’s Lead Security Officer
Daisan Jones walks to the start line with his teammate Ohene Akenteng to begin his event. Photo courtesy of Daisan Jones.
10 Questions With Athlete of the Week: Daisan Jones
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
The Student News Site of Rock Ridge High School

THE BLAZE
With six campuses, affordable tuition, and countless programs and degrees, NOVA stands out from other community colleges, making it a good option for higher education.
Opinion
Why is TV Getting More Expensive?
Why is TV Getting More Expensive?
Josiah Anderson, Staff Writer • May 15, 2026
Do PJs Affect Productivity?
Do PJs Affect Productivity?
Tyla Simpson, Lucinda Eskandar, Sophia Dabre, and Devika Goureddy • May 5, 2026
A constant stream of notifications interrupts not only digital reading but also distracts from reading in the real world, making it harder to stay focused.
Why Physical Books Matter in a Digital World
Divitha Mathe, Opinion Editor • April 12, 2026
The mosque before maghrib time, the prayer that marks the end of fasting for Muslims all across the world.
Ramadan Beyond the Surface
Jasmin Ahmed, Staff Writer • April 8, 2026
Pictures of warfare and flags show the extreme divide in the region.
Rock Ridge Reminds Us Peace is Possible in the Taliban-Pakistan Conflict
Arjun Chand, Staff Writer • March 18, 2026
Media by the Minute: The Olympic Hockey Drama
Media by the Minute: The Olympic Hockey Drama
Samantha Chang, Madelyn Tucker, and Kaushal Kalluri • March 14, 2026
Beginning in Jan. 2025, President Donald Trump has signed three executive orders to prolong the ban of TikTok: Slowly turning the app into his own propaganda machine.
Trump is Trying to Save TikTok: He Shouldn’t
Madelyn Tucker, Staff Writer • March 6, 2026
The benefits of teen social media use outweigh the justifications for banning. Aditi Sridhar via Canva
Protect Teens Online Without Cutting Them Off
Aditi Sridhar • February 24, 2026
A photo of what an AP World study session might look like: cluttered and stressful.
AP World isn’t the Apocalypse
Arjun Chand, Staff Writer • February 3, 2026
LCPS has now implemented Policy 8655, which bans any smart device usage from the morning’s 9:30 bell to the last bell of the day.
Off and Away, All Day: Why Virginia’s Bell-to-Bell Phone Ban Harms Students
Jasmin Ahmed and Kaushal Kalluri • January 31, 2026
Despite showcasing evidence of success, many students in overly competitive environments show self-doubt. Conversely, students who feel inadequate in competitive environments tend to inflate themselves just to fit in with their peers.
Running on Empty: The Subtle Cost of The Overachievement Epidemic
Arnav Mahajan and Saketh Nandam • January 24, 2026
The difficulty of both AP and DE tests are very similar to reflect on how narrow the difference is between the courses in terms of rigor.
APs vs DEs: What’s the Best Option for You?
Arjun Chand, Staff Writer • January 1, 2026
The discontinuation of Celsius highlights growing worries about teen caffeine use and the consequences.
Discontinuing Celsius Isn’t the Problem, Ignoring the Risk Is
Divitha Mathe, Opinion Editor • December 3, 2025
On Oct. 24, "Regretting You” was released in theaters. Instead of being an emotional and heartfelt film, it ends up being predictable and inconsistent, leaving viewers regretting how they spent their time.
Regretting You: A Movie I’m Still Regretting
Lucinda Eskandar and Sophia Dabre • December 1, 2025
Even though students get a 100 on their retake, they are still left with only a 70 in their gradebook. Improvement isn’t being rewarded.
LCPS Changed Its Grading Policy, Here’s Why You Should Be Concerned
Jasmin Ahmed and Sriram Chiripurapu • November 29, 2025
In the midst of all the end of year chaos, state testing can divert focus off of more important exams and activities and lead to an overly stressful time for students and faculty.
Get Rid Of State Testing in Middle and High Schools
Sophia Dabre and Lucinda Eskandar • June 3, 2025
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Why is TV Getting More Expensive?Do PJs Affect Productivity?A constant stream of notifications interrupts not only digital reading but also distracts from reading in the real world, making it harder to stay focused. The mosque before maghrib time, the prayer that marks the end of fasting for Muslims all across the world.
Multimedia
Why is TV Getting More Expensive?

Josiah Anderson, Staff Writer | May 15, 2026

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Opinion
Why Physical Books Matter in a Digital World

Divitha Mathe, Opinion Editor | April 12, 2026

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Opinion
Ramadan Beyond the Surface

Jasmin Ahmed, Staff Writer | April 8, 2026

Read Story
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