Volume 64 Issue 3 || November 2023 ||
Ameena Stringer Staff Writer
Highschool football is such an
Saratoga. Nearing the end of the season, the traditional Battle of the Strip, an annual competition between Mills and Capuchino, takes place. Unlike any other football event of the season, students from both schools put in the extra mile to support their respective teams in taking down their rivals and taking home the win. But this year, out of left field, the Mills Vikings forfeited the Battle of the Strip, causing a stir with Capuchino and other affected students. A decision was made for a purpose none of us, especially being caught up in the moment, would have understood. That is, until now. Ethan Vuong (12), one of Mills’ varsity captains, remembers what prompted the discussion: “[After a rough second to last game against Cupertino] We tallied up all of the remaining “healthy” bodies and we came up with 14.” Vuong emphasized that the term “healthy” was to be taken lightly in this instance. “Many of those 14 had lingering injuries that they could’ve theoretically played through, but not against Capuchino… They [Capuchino] had size and numbers. On their varsity team alone they have around 50 players,” Vuong finished. After a long discussion with the players and coaches, the team voted and decided that varsity would forfeit. Alongside injuries and sickness, numbers have been an overlapping
Noor Abdullah / Mills Thunderbolt
exciting experience: the electric atmosphere with cheering fans, halftime performances by the cheerleaders, and intense matchups between rival schools. It’s a fun way to support your school and create lasting memories. However, the reality of high school football beyond the Friday night lights isn’t as glorious. The annual Battle of the Strip pitting the Mills Vikings against rival Capuchino Mustangs on the field–an event highly anticipated by SMUHSD students alike– was suddenly canceled on November 3rd, 2023. Overall, this year was a better year than the 21-22 and 22-23 seasons for the Mills Vikings, with the previous endings being 0-8 (no wins) or 4-6 (4 wins) respectively. This year the team had a 5-5 score, with 5 games lost and 5 games won, exceling those years. The improvement was attributed to the players’ dedication throughout the season’s practices, as well as the enhanced team spirit and community. Some standout athletes this season included Ghanim Mashni (12) for having three interceptions over two games, as well as Justin Kang (12) for carrying out a touchdown with only four seconds left in a game, resulting in a dramatic win against
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problem with Mills’ football team. The Mills varsity team struggled to field a team against Capuchino, who refused to play a varsity game unless Mills played varsity. Continue reading on millsthunderbolt.com
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Center Spread
Opinions
Learn about the Mills Interact Club
Top 10 books and movies that taught us gratitude
Student thoughts on affirmative action
Sports
Cross country makes it to CCS and State
Entertainment Revival of the Hunger Games