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All content by Amoli Agarwal
India is battling to control its recent COVID-19 outbreak that is devastating the nation. Westwood's population of Indian students have reacted to India's current state of crisis.

Westwood Students React to COVID-19 Surge in India

May 3, 2021
A map of how the electoral college voted in the 2016 election. Though the system seems unfair, it gives a chance for citizens in less populated areas to have their voices heard. Photo Courtesy of Business Insider.

The Electoral College Should Not be Abolished

March 25, 2021
The Weeknd highlighted the Super Bowl LV halftime show on Sunday, Feb. 7 with his unique stage presence. However, the performance, while being a major step in The Weeknd's career, was not his best. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

The Weeknd Fails to Deliver at Socially Distanced Super Bowl LV Halftime Show

February 17, 2021
The U.S. has surpassed 400,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the past few weeks, and is slowly edging towards 500,000, despite the current vaccine rollout. Photo courtesy of Jason Hanna.

COVID-19 Death Toll Soars Past 400,000, Nears Half-Million Victims

February 1, 2021
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have taken the two remaining seats in the Senate after being selected in the recent runoff elections in Georgia. The Democratic Party now has control over the entire legislative branch of the government.

Democrats Win Big in Georgia Runoffs

January 13, 2021
Hoisting the newest championship trophy addition upwards, head coach Travis Dalrymple and the varsity team look upwards, celebrating their second state title win. Taking on Plano West High School, the Warriors would surge through the morning in a thrilling matchup, clinching a 10-3 victory.

Varsity Tennis Reclaims State Title 10-3 over Plano West to Conclude Momentous Fall Season

November 19, 2020
Following through on a serve to his opponents, Daniel Antov '21 and his partner Nic Pesoli '21 look onwards, anticipating the ball's trajectory. Antov and Pesoli prevailed with a 6-3, 6-0 win.

Varsity Tennis Topples Lake Travis 10-1 to Advance in State Playoff Run

November 9, 2020
Dr. Mary Bone is running for the RRISD Trustee Place 2 position this year. With her background in systems engineering, she hopes to implement data driven policies and bring accountability front and center to the Board.

Mary Bone Brings Accountability Front and Center During Final Day Before Election

November 2, 2020
Varsity poses with their medals six-feet apart and wearing masks, holding the number one in the air. This is the team’s 11th district title in a row, and it’s their first step towards the goal of winning the state championship. “I was happy with our performance today. We had a few hiccups here and there, but we definitely set the tone for the match. We just have to keep capitalizing on the net and making the most of our chances,” Coach Travis Dalrymple said.

Varsity Tennis Secures 11th District Title in a Row with 11-1 Victory over Vandegrift

October 26, 2020
Simryn Jacob ‘24 lays her racket back for an inside-out forehand return to the other side of the court. She would win this match 6-2, 6-0.

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October 26, 2020
Marko Mesarovic ‘23 sets his feet in preparation for a wide slice return, pulling his opponent off the court and winning the point. He would win his singles match 6-1, 6-0.

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October 26, 2020
Aadhi Raja ‘23 forehands the ball, making a powerful cross-court return towards his opponent, forcing an error. He won his doubles and singles swiftly with a score of 6-1, 6-0. “I feel like I’ve gotten just more consistent in general and I’ve worked on my fitness so I can keep my balls in play,” Raja said.

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October 26, 2020
Sachchit Sivaram ‘21 explodes off the ground to serve an ace towards his opponent. He would easily win his singles match 6-1, 6-0. “I’ve just gotten a lot more mentally strong. I think I’ve had the skills and the physical part of it, but I just needed to trust myself and the mental aspect and I think I’ve gotten there,” Sivaram said.

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October 26, 2020
Dana Kardonik ‘24 tracks the ball moving towards her, stepping up with her racket laid back to brush a heavy topspin shot on her strings. She would take the first set with a score of 6-1, but didn’t complete the match as the Warriors had already won.

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October 26, 2020
Jessica Lu ‘21 runs across the net to catch a volley on her strings, placing it perfectly out of reach. Lu and her teammate Dana Kardonik ‘24 would prevail in this match 6-3, 6-0. “We had kind of a slow start and we missed a couple of unforced shots here and there, but after the first set, we kind of got the confidence boost of having that set under us, so we played a lot more free and a lot more aggressive at the net, which definitely helped,” Lu said.

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October 26, 2020
Nicolas Pesoli ‘21 follows through on his face-paced serve, pronating his racket head to achieve maximum spin. He would win the doubles match with his partner Daniel Antov ‘21 6-0, 6-1.

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October 26, 2020
Kinaa Graham ‘23 jumps forward on her serve, reaching out and following through. Graham and her doubles partner Simryn Jacob ‘24 would go on to win their match 6-1, 6-1.

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October 26, 2020
Zeyad Elchouemi ‘22 crouches in eye-formation, focused on his opponents as his partner Sachchit Sivaram ‘21 serves from the baseline. The classic doubles team would go on to win 6-1, 6-1. “I think it's good that we’re playing team tennis again [because] not every sport is lucky enough to be playing and I think the team has what it takes to get that state title hopefully,” Elchouemi said.

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October 26, 2020
Jun Xiao is running for RRISD Trustee Place 1 this election year. With his background in technology and science, Dr. Xiao hopes to bring a renewed perspective to the RRISD Board

Dr. Jun Xiao Hopes a STEM Background Will Fuel Election Day Win

October 1, 2020
In his stance, center Eric Taylor '21 waits to snap the ball. Players will have to wear masks under helmets during play. Photo courtesy of Ben Ramsey '22.

Fall Sports Start Practice as Seasons Approach

September 12, 2020
Students and Staff Adjust to Virtual Learning

Students and Staff Adjust to Virtual Learning

September 2, 2020
As students are set to return to school in a couple of weeks, teachers have many concerns that have yet to be addressed. Meanwhile, district officials are scrambling to put together a plan that keeps safety a priority while following TEA guidelines.

Here’s What Teachers Are Thinking About School Reopening Amid Global Pandemic

August 7, 2020
Round Rock officials hosted a town hall that covered a litany of issues related to education in the coronavirus age. The panelists also fielded questions from parents and students on how the synchronous system would work.

Virtual Learning and Support Services Town Hall Recap

July 27, 2020
Donald Trump made immigration a central part of the 2016 campaign. Now, with deepening economic woes, many fear that Trump is taking advantage of unemployment numbers to shut down immigration.

Trump Suspends Foreign Work Visas in Effort to Curb Unemployment

June 26, 2020
This statue is a monument to the Confederacy and is situated on the grounds of the Texas Capitol.

A Review of Confederate Imagery in Central Texas

June 19, 2020
A view of Austin's City Hall from the shore of Lady Bird Lake.

City of Austin Begins Redistricting Process

June 12, 2020
Protestors gather to protest the death of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a cop. His death sparked a series of protests against the ongoing issue of police brutality and racism.

George Floyd’s Death Emphasizes the Need for Change in America’s Mindset

June 7, 2020
Matthew Gula '22 hits a single in the third inning against Elgin on March 3. Baseball was one of many spring sports to have their season shuttered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Student-Athletes Adapt to COVID-19 Situation in Different Ways

May 16, 2020
Running to return the ball on the backhand side, Kinjal Khatri '20 gracefully wins the point. Unfortunately, she fell short in her match and lost in two 6-0 sets.

JV Orange Tennis Match Against Georgetown Gets Rained Out

October 9, 2019
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