Nidhi Manchala, Staff Writer
Nidhi Manchala is a sophomore here at Rock Ridge and this is her second year on "The Blaze." Although she isn't very into sports, Nidhi plans on rejoining Educators Rising. She enjoyed working with the kids at Rosa Lee Carter and revisiting her old teachers. One of Nidhi's passions is art. She is proficient in different mediums such as, pencils, pens, and color pencils. Even though the year just got started, Nidhi is already dealing with challenges of school work but is pushing through it to have a good school year. She's decently happy with her schedule and is hoping to make the best of it.
![Senior Akanksha Potluri and her little sister paint her designated parking spot, inspired by her graduating year. Potluri enjoyed painting her spot. “I am doing the route 24 sign and then putting ‘the end of the road’ at the bottom,” Potluri said. “I just thought it would be cool because [it is] a little fun and creative.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0059-1200x800.jpg)
![After fighting hard, the Phoenix and Bobcats congratulate each other on a game well played. While the game went on for four sets, ending with a victory for the Bobcats, the Phoenix kept their energy and enthusiasm at a max until the match point was won. “When [the team loses] a point or they start getting down, theyre good at not letting themselves fall into a hole,” assistant coach Whitney Leach said. “They’re really good at staying positive, pulling themselves up, and keeping that energy going during games.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/DSC_0745-1200x800.jpeg)
![During halftime of the homecoming football game, senior Jack Capobianco wins homecoming royalty and is officially crowned by junior Maggie Miller. “I wasn’t expecting [winning homecoming royalty] at all,” Capobianco said. “I was very surprised but very excited.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/DSC_0911-900x600.jpg)
![Leaving the season behind, sophomore Aiden Patel walks along a golf course holding all his golf equipment. Patel, although not yet a senior, is already thinking about his future in golf. “Hopefully, [I’ll continue golf] in college, and if I can go pro, a 100%,” Patel said, “But if I cant, Ill probably just find a job.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Aiden-Patel-900x600.jpg)
![The Phoenix prepare to face the Huskies in a new play. “[We could improve by] focusing on trying to get people healthy, running the ball, and getting people work at different positions just in case [of] injuries,” Qadri said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/DSC_0070-900x630.jpg)
![At Rock Ridge’s home meet on Jan. 4, sophomore Micah Younger, junior Alyssa Tucker, and sophomore Lilia Jones line up at the start line for the Girls 55m Dash. “[The most difficult thing about this season] is that I’m not at my best right now, but I’m going to get there in [outdoor track],” Younger said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/DSC_0524-900x600.jpg)
![Senior Mehma Kathuria keeps the ball away from the Bolt defender. “Our game was together, we were playing with a new play,” Kathuria said. “[The Team’s] chemistry builds and gets better every game.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/use-this-e1676057711919-900x883.jpg)
![Freshman Parth Jaiswal strums his guitar. Because the performance was the last concert of the year, guitar teacher Teresa L. Gordon wanted her students to both enjoy and challenge themselves this time. “That was more of a challenge for the intermediate advanced artists just because there are four different parts in the music,” Gordon said. “But then the bass part, the fourth part, has more octaves and [moves] around like that, and chords in the third time. I think they enjoyed it for the most part.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Copy-of-DSC_0051-e1686414550130-600x900.jpg)
![After the PTSO meeting concluded on Jan. 12, all the in person attendees were invited and encouraged to stay for a Crumbl cookie provided by principal John Duellman, and talk together for a short time. Duellman was excited that the backpacks that were needed for giving students food were supplied. “All of the requests [for the backpacks] have been fulfilled, so we can send the backpacks home with students,” Duellman said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/DSC_0010-900x600.jpg)
