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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

Fourteen faculty and staff members compete for the fantasy football championship golden belt each football season. History teacher Jonathan Rim founded the fantasy league last year.

Drafting teams, drafting friendships

by Gabe Sachse and Tiffany Zhu October 13, 2024

For most people, weekends are a time to recover from busy school days and prepare for the week ahead. But for some avid sports fans, weekends bring more stress in their busy schedule. Why? Their fantasy...

A referee from Bay Area Sports Officials speaks to the varsity football captains from Harker and Anzar before the coin toss of the Homecoming game. BASO supplies most referees for Harker but lost over 50% of their referees after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Referee shortage puts games on hold

by Isabella Lo and Victoria Li October 12, 2024

This season, varsity football only played three home games on Fridays. Without enough referees to supply the demand for Friday Night Lights, the Harker community continues to miss out on an iconic fixture...

Chantell Rodriguez's responsibilities as a part of Harker’s administrative staff include coordinating events like the annual Harker Day. Rodriguez started cheering in middle school and mentored for an elementary school before joining Harker as the team’s head coach.

From academics to athletics: Staff take on dual roles

by Tiffany Zhu and Leah Krupnik October 11, 2024

3:05 p.m.: Students enter math teacher Victor Adler’s room as office hours begins. Dr. Adler scrawls calculus formulas across the whiteboard as he answers his students’ questions. 3:30 p.m.: Without...

Varsity girls volleyball players Eden Kelly (11) and Aline Grinspan (11) throw their hands into the air as they cheer for an ace. Points won off aces frequently garner their own chants.

Chanting like champions

by Jessica Wang, Winged Post Managing Editor October 11, 2024

The final minutes of the game tick away. Rhythmic claps echo throughout the stands as the spectators cry out: “Defense! Defense!” The crowd’s voice surges from the bleachers; members of the Harker...

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...

As tools like the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in soccer have grown in usage over the past decade, the number of fouls and red cards has decreased. Similarly, sports like baseball, volleyball and tennis utilize the Hawk-Eye system, which allows referees and umpires to accurately make out-of-bounds calls.

Technology in sports: To use or not to use?

by Jonathan Szeto, Co-STEM Editor May 3, 2024

The soccer championship game is at its final moments. The score is tied, and there are only 30 seconds left on the clock. Suddenly, the striker shoots the ball, and — it’s in! It seems as if the game...

Caitlin Clark debunks doubt in women’s basketball

Caitlin Clark debunks doubt in women’s basketball

by Eva Cheng and Isabella Lo May 3, 2024

Caitlin Clark lines up to shoot two technical free throws for No. 6 ranked Iowa against No. 2 Ohio State. Stepping into the key, she takes two dribbles and scores the first, with the crowd roaring...

Junior varsity boys soccer goalkeeper Cameron Jones (9), varsity softball player Grace Fu (9) and varsity girls volleyball player Aline Grinspan (10) each utilize unique hairstyles to perform with confidence on game day. Intricate braids and comfortable head bands help control stray hairs, letting athletes play with more focus.

Styling for success

by Eva Cheng, Co-Sports Editor April 26, 2024

Basic ponytails, boring crew cuts — your go-to game day style might just be what is leaving you feeling flat on the field. In a world ruled by triumph and trophies, athletes utilize every tool in their...

Stepping into the world of shoe culture

Stepping into the world of shoe culture

by Kevin Zhang, Co-Managing Editor April 24, 2024

Wander into the back of a Nike store, and you’ll find yourself amidst a labyrinth of shelves filled to the brim with bright orange shoe boxes. Take one step into a Foot Locker, and you’ll see sneakers...

Pitcher and shortstop Raeanne Li (9) follows through with her swing after hitting the softball. “If you only have a few good people, you can’t win games like that." Raeanne said. "The whole team has to support each other.”

Back to the bases

by Tiffany Zhu and Mia Tang April 11, 2024

After a two-year hiatus, the varsity softball team steps onto the diamond again, facing off against their first opponent of the season, James Lick High School. With a roster of almost all new players,...

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