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The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

Opposite Nat Tan (11) blocks Bruin outside Giselle Paedon. The Eagles had trouble stopping the Bruins’ swings in the first two sets, but defensive adjustments slowed the Bruins down later.

Varsity girls volleyball opens season with tight 2-3 loss against Branham

by Alison Yang, Aquila Editor-in-Chief September 8, 2024

Varsity girls volleyball commenced the 2024 season with a 2-3 loss to Branham High School on Aug. 29. The two teams traded sets during the game, 18-25, 25-21, 17-25, 27-25 and 7-15.  “It was intimidating...

Varsity girls volleyball cheers during the scrimmage. They currently hold a 0-1 record.

Varsity girls volleyball warms up for season with Wilcox scrimmage

by Mendy Mao and Vivek Moorjani September 5, 2024

Varsity girls volleyball competed in their second scrimmage of the season against Wilcox High School in the Zhang Athletic Center on August 27. Both teams used this scrimmage as an opportunity to practice...

Stanford’s goal always lay in winning the Pac-12 conference, but strong opponents like Cal and Arizona State University stood as significant obstacles every year. Ethan, from dominating on the high school level to facing notable competition in the college pool, took the team’s losses as lessons for improvement.

Finding balance in changing tides

by Emma Milner, Aquila Editor-in-Chief September 4, 2024

Just outside the Singh Aquatic Center, Harker’s swimming records decorate the cobble walls. With a closer look, you notice the same swimmer mentioned seven times. Three-time state champion and seven-time...

Michael Jin (9) uses TRX during his  workout in the weight room. For high school students, fitness generally comes in the form of weight lifting, cardio exercises and the classic squats, crunches and pushups.

Building bodies, building minds: Students find sanctuary in the gym

by Young Min and Charlize Wang August 31, 2024

In a fast-paced world filled with chaos, there exists a haven where people become the architects of their own bodies, shaping their physique with grit and determination. This is the realm of working out....

Aquila’s guide to 8v8 football

by Eva Cheng and Tiffany Zhu August 30, 2024

Eva: Hi, I’m Eva. Tiffany: And I’m Tiffany. Eva: And we’re sports editors for Harker Aquila. Today we’re going to be explaining the basics of 8v8 football. To set the stage, how is it different...

For the U.S. men’s basketball team, a gold medal comes as the expected outcome. After six consecutive top prizes, any trouble at all on the path to gold appears a near-failure and a blemish on the legacy of all participating athletes.

Game Talk with Gabe: Fool’s gold

by Gabe Sachse, Aquila Managing Editor August 23, 2024

Golden State Warriors point guard and American basketball star Stephen Curry pulls up from deep, sinking a ridiculous three-pointer over a double-team to seal the win. With his shot, the  U.S. men’s...

Friday Five: Niche Olympics sports

Friday Five: Niche Olympics sports

by Young Min, Winged Post Managing Editor August 23, 2024

From the multifaceted nature of the modern pentathlon or the rhythmic battle of breakdancing, the 2024 Paris Olympics showcased 11 niche sports that the mainstream media often overlooks. Although widely-known...

To Dikec, equipment pushes the boundaries of sport in an unnatural way, and he suggests that his talent alone carried his success in the Games. Even in the wake of this success, concerns arise over “technological doping,” an idea first introduced in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Tech or talent?

by Gabe Sachse and Eva Cheng August 21, 2024

The crowd holds their breath in anticipation as a man toes the line that denotes shooting distance from the target. Dressed in a simple T-shirt branded with Turkey’s team logo, he adjusts his glasses...

As the debate over transgender participation in sports persists, athletes like Khelif and Lin Yuting navigate significant challenges posed by ongoing controversies. The evolving discussions about transgender athletes highlight the ongoing search for balance between fair competition and inclusivity.

Boxing away biases

by Charlize Wang, Aquila Co-Managing Editor August 20, 2024

The sharp clang of the boxing bell reverberates through the stadium, signaling the start of the match. Two figures, one clad in red, the other in blue, circle each other with calculated precision. In an...

Powering-up your pre-game

Powering-up your pre-game

by Eva Cheng, Co-Sports Editor August 18, 2024

Sweat trickling down your neck and lungs burning, you dig your cleats into the grass as you sprint down the field in the final seconds of the game. An opponent closes on you, trailing closely behind. You...

Seniors Katelyn Hsu, Emi Fujimura and Metrica Shi smile with their coach Ie-Chen Cheng. The team plays in a lighthearted nine-hole round at Los Lagos golf course every year.

Varsity girls golf send seniors off with gifts and goodbyes

by Ashley Mo, Co-STEM Editor May 17, 2024

Varsity girls golf celebrated seniors Emi Fujimura, Katelyn Hsu and Metrica Shi at Los Lagos golf course on May 11. Per the team’s tradition, the girls commemorated senior night with a lighthearted...

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