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

Many are aware of the pain that concussions cause on the court, but the arduous process of concussion recovery behind the scenes is less known. Apart from the initial pain of the hit, symptoms of a concussion vary and have the potential to heavily affect day-to-day cognitive function, emotional wellness and physical health. 

Athletes tackle concussion recovery

by Claire Yu, Co-Assistant Sports Editor March 28, 2024

Every year, 11.9% of U.S. high school athletes suffer from concussions. Similarly,  multiple Harker athletes sustain concussions every year. Many are aware of the pain that concussions cause on the court,...

Roma Bhanot (9) leads the varsity girls lacrosse team’s cheer during a huddle after the first quarter. “The culture just seems really relaxed because of the players and the coaches,” Roma said. “A lot of the players are new their freshman year, so I definitely got a lot of help from them, even before the season started.

Clearing challenges and building onwards

by Emma Milner and Tiffany Zhu March 28, 2024

After clinching first place in the WBAL Alpine League last season with an undefeated 12-0 record, the varsity girls lacrosse team boasts a formidable reputation. This season, their hopes soar high as they...

Iris Wang (10) poses with her hockey stick. “I just really love all the ups and downs of hockey,” Iris said. “You win as a team, you lose as a team, and although losing can be hard, I like that its a team experience and everyone lifts each other up.”

Apex: Ice breaking, victory chasing

by Emma Milner and Claire Yu March 28, 2024

Wind whips at Iris Wang’s (10) face as she stickhandles the puck, deftly weaving through defenders. She glances at the scoreboard, realizing that she only needs to keep the puck in her control for a...

Watch out for these watches

Watch out for these watches

by Jonathan Xue March 28, 2024

You’re browsing the market for a sports watch. But which watch? And what separates a sports watch from your standard wristwatch? Well, fear not. With our handy explainer, you’ll be a sports watch expert...

Despite an underwhelming statistical performance with the team so far, onlookers expect Soto to have a big 2024. The young outfielder fits perfectly into the New York lineup, providing much-needed baserunners for a team that took an all-or-nothing approach in the past.

Game Talk with Gabe: Yankees set to contend in 2024

by Gabe Sachse March 18, 2024

New York, New York. Usually, it is a wonderful town for sports. For last year’s Yankees, though? Not so much. Coming off a 99-win season, the 2023 squad underperformed, missing the playoffs by seven...

Varsity boys tennis team triumphs over Sacred Heart Preparatory 6-1

by Jonathan Szeto, Charlie Wang, and Mihir Kotbagi March 17, 2024

The varsity boys tennis team demolished Sacred Heart Preparatory 6-1 at Del Mar High School on Tuesday. The Eagles made a strong start, with their first and second singles players Tanishk Konduri...

Dancer Selina Wang (10) performs in the upper school dance production, with an image of her rehearsing in the background. Despite the intense training required of dancers, many forms of dance strive to hide strain on stage.

Studio grit, stage grace: Dancers debate sport vs. art

by Katerina Matta and Tiffany Zhu March 15, 2024

Competitive dancers can practice at least nine hours every single week, or condition to train endurance for up to an hour each time they’re in the studio. They push the human body to its physical...

Co-captain and outside hitter Zachary Blue (12) receives a serve. Strong passing allowed the Eagles to run a more diverse offense and create more scoring opportunities on Wednesday.

Boys varsity volleyball sweeps Mountain View in 3-0 shutout

by Katerina Matta March 8, 2024

The varsity boys volleyball team bested Mountain View in a 25-17, 25-17, 25-20 sweep at home on Wednesday.  Harker pulled ahead to a 6-2 lead at the start of the first set, capitalizing on a series...

Many young athletes battle body dysmorphia, driven by a variety of social and athletic pressures. From dances strict emphasis on perfect alignment to the double-edged use of weight classes in sports like wrestling, body image issues manifest themselves in across a variety of athletic disciplines.

Body dysmorphia pervades athletics

by Eva Cheng and Katerina Matta March 8, 2024

Trigger warning for discussion of body image and dysmorphia.  “Did you eat a watermelon today?”  An anonymous dancer recalled hearing the insensitive comment from a teacher at her studio,...

Pitcher Raeanne Li (9) lunges in preparation to throw a pitch in the first inning. Raeanne pitched for the first four innings, and Joy Hu (10) pitched for the last inning.

Varsity softball team dominates James Lick 11-3 in season opener

by Tiffany Zhu, Co-Assistant Sports Editor March 4, 2024

The varsity softball team defeated James Lick High School 11-3 at Blackford on Feb. 28.  The first inning commenced with pitcher and shortstop Raeanne Li (9) pitching and catcher Maddie Avila (9) behind...

An Athletics banner hangs on math teacher Jeanette Fernandezs bulletin board. Fernandez has gone to As games for the past thirty years.

Oakland Athletics uproot for income

by Gabe Sachse, Assistant News Editor March 1, 2024

When Oakland Athletics pitcher Trevor May went live on Twitch to announce his retirement, fans expected him to go quietly. As a pitcher with a career earned-run average of 4.24, few noticed his send-off...

The varsity boys basketball team seniors line up for a photo with their parents. The team had an overall record of 6-18.

Varsity boys basketball comes up short 54-56 on senior night

by Gabe Sachse and Brandon Zau February 29, 2024

The varsity boys basketball team suffered a close defeat to Crystal Springs 54-56 on their senior night on Feb. 13 in the Zhang Gymnasium.  To begin, the team honored five seniors: co-captains Om Tandon,...

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