Riker’s Block

  • Nate’s College Football Playoff Predictions

    2017 college football playoff predictions By Nate Riker The new year is coming up, and that also means that the College football bowls are going on. The bowl season has been recently revolutionized by a new system named the College football playoff. The playoff is determined by a committee of 13. Their job is to…

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  • Year in Review: 2017 a whole lot more than 28-3

    If the sporting year of 2017 is remembered by one moment, it will be the lopsided, otherwise forgettable score of 28-3. That was the score midway through the third quarter of Super Bowl LI, with the red-hot Atlanta Falcons demolishing the powerhouse New England Patriots. It was all for naught, as New England quarterback Tom…

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  • How it feels to root for my favorite teams

    Most sports fans follow traditional, logical patterns when picking their favorite teams. They choose the local teams, or their parents’ favorite teams, or, many times, the best teams. Not me. Across all the different professional and college sports, my favorite teams share no similarities or ties, which makes rooting for each one a unique experience.…

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  • Varsity Letter: Multi sport approach pays off

    Published as a Varsity Letter column in Wootton’s Common Sense newspaper   Prior to the start of the wrestling season, the football roster of the Damascus Swarmin’ Hornets, a school that was the 3A state champion and beat the Patriots 47-9 along the way, was posted in the boys’ locker room. Each of the players…

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  • My School Schedule… As Star Wars Classes

    I’m so hyped for the new Star Wars movie, the Last Jedi! After The Force Awakens left us on a cliffhanger two years ago, many of our questions will finally be answered and we’ll get to see characters like Rey and Kylo Ren back in action. In honor of the best far, far away galaxy…

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  • Varsity Letter: Surviving the Guillotine

    Published as a Varsity Letter column in Wootton’s Common Sense newspaper Call participation awards the downfall of youth sports all you want, but the truth of the matter is that the ability to participate is what allows sports to be so enjoyable. The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat, the brotherhood and sisterhood of…

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  • Eagles, Vikings lead star-studded NFC

    We’re entering the fourth quarter of an NFL season that has been loaded with surprise and excitement. The playoff picture and seeding has been far from settled, meaning that there’s a lot up for grabs and nearly every game for the top teams will have playoff implications. For me, the NFC playoff picture has been…

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  • Coco hits all the right notes

    Note: This is a Spoiler-Free Review Pixar endeavored into uncharted territory with its recent release Coco, a film unique for its focus on Mexican heritage and emphasized music element. Not only was Coco successful on both fronts, but it provided us a cinematic triumph and the best release for Pixar since Toy Story 3 in…

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  • Which sports are the most fun to play?

    As a competitive distance runner, I train year-round, taking off only two two-week breaks the whole year. But amidst all of that training, I haven’t outgrown my love for playing sports like basketball and flag football. Not only are sports a fantastic opportunity to exercise, but they’re also immensely enjoyable to play, whether by yourself…

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  • Why I’m stuffed with gratitude this Thanksgiving

    How could a holiday top Thanksgiving? All you’re asked to do is eat delicious food, meet with relatives, watch football games, and be thankful! I’m grateful for so much this year, and what better way to express my gratitude than a column on my virtual man cave? These are some of the reasons I’m smiling…

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