The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot
These concert-goers at Portola High thrive in the environment of the bright lights, electrifying energy and the pulse of live music.

Meet Portola High’s Avid Concert Goers and their Views of the Stage

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | March 18, 2025

To some, a concert is simply a fun night out, while for others, it is a chance to create memories that stay with them long after the crowd leaves. From the opening to the last encore, frequent concert-goers...

Varsity swimmer and senior Gavin Nicholson executes a backstroke start into the boys’ 200-yard medley relay. This season, the team aims to focus on boosting their overall spirit through bonding activities, such as beach practices and a bonfire, according to head coach Steven Richards. “We have a really good, strong team spirit on our team, Richards said. “I want to see that continue.”

Swim ‘Dives’ to Victory in First League Meet Against Woodbridge High

Annie Xiao, Staff Writer | March 17, 2025

Boys’ swim (1-0) and girls’ swim (1-0) won against Woodbridge High with a point total of 189-149, dominating the Warriors across all levels of competition for the first time in history on March 5....

Students often feel unheard in their school environment, but by taking the Panorama Survey seriously, they can make their voices count and drive meaningful change on campus.

Make Your Mark: Why the Panorama Survey Deserves Student Attention

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | March 17, 2025

Every day, students juggle the challenges of academics, friendships and mental health, yet rarely have the chance to voice their concerns to those who can implement support on a systematic level — school...

S5 Episode 6: Nostalgic Memories: Favorite Childhood Shows

S5 Episode 6: Nostalgic Memories: Favorite Childhood Shows

Stephanie Hwang, Co-News Editor | March 14, 2025

In this episode of the Portola Pioneer, host Stephanie Hwang explores the childhood shows of staff members and students at Portola High.   Music credits: Cookies by Alex-Productions from...

Senior Sanaa Bullock talks strategy on the field with Flag Football coach Julie Primero. Bullock helps the team run more efficiently and keeps spirits up, according to Primero. “[She takes] care of things so that we [can] really focus on practice, getting better, prepping for games, stuff like that,” Primero said. “If they see something that needs to be taken care of, they do it without asking me so that I can focus on coaching. I think it carries over to being an organized leader.”

Team Managers: The Backbone of Team Sports

Kailyn Clark and Zoha Syed | March 13, 2025

When people think of team sports, such as flag football or track, their minds often go to players or coaches. But behind every successful team is a student whose efforts often go unnoticed: the team...

As tension continues to grow, the Bulldogs exchange a few words of encouragement. “During the game we tried to stay together and help each other try to win,” Rockwell said. “I learned that no team is ever out of the fight. Never let up even when winning the game. [You] never know who will do something that will flip the game upside down.”

Baseball Faces Tough Match Against Laguna Hills High

Nicole Ferguson and Tamara Bradley | March 13, 2025

Baseball (3-6) lost 5-7 against Laguna Hills High on Feb. 28 at home. This game was the first of a two-game series with the Hawks, the second of which took place on March 3 and ended in a 4-6 loss....

DECA president Harini Rameshbabu receives her award for collective school-based enterprise. “It's definitely a different environment,” DECA member and freshman Nikita Kulkarni said. “Ms. Dillon usually gives us the guidance we need, but this time, a lot of students just showed up for each other. I think we did pretty solid, even though we missed her presence.”

DECA Students Step Up to State Conference by Leaning on Each Other

Catherine Li, Front Page Editor | March 13, 2025

Through rapid-fire business pitches and whirlwind proposals, students in the Distributive Education Clubs of America sit at ballroom tables, anxiously awaiting their state conference placings. However,...

Team member and sophomore Melody Bao, alternate and junior Sandy Shanmuga-Nathan, co-captain and junior Kayley Winata, co-captain and junior Suhrith Muvvala, team member and junior Rishabh Garg and advisor and physics teacher Leanne Jimenez pose with the JPL sign at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) after the competition. “[Science Bowl] is a really fun way to apply knowledge because you don’t get game-show style application of knowledge in school,” Muvvala said. “So it’s, one, for the fun, and, two, because I already have to study for Science Olympiad or Biology Olympiad.”

Science Bowl ‘Buzzes’ Into Fourth Place at Regional Competition

Jinseo Hong and Suhana Kaur | March 12, 2025

Portola High’s Science Bowl team placed fourth in the JPL High School Regional Science Bowl at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on March 1.  Science Bowl competed in four rounds against other teams...

Doubles player and sophomore Aditya Joshi tosses the ball into the air in preparation to serve during the second set. Joshi and his partner, junior Smaran Mallojula, won the set 6-2. “I think overall the team did pretty good,” singles player and sophomore Anthony Nguyen said. “I’m pretty happy with the outcome.”

Match Point: Boys’ Tennis Secures Victory Over San Marcos High

Suhana Kaur and Annie Xiao | March 12, 2025

Boys’ tennis (1-0) won 14-4 in a home match against San Marcos High on March 1. The Bulldogs’ next match will be away against Irvine High on March 13.  The first two doubles and four singles matches...

When looking for the perfect athletic wear, it is essential to assess not only its comfort, but also its durability and fit. “I feel like athletic wear over the years has gotten a lot better,” Coach Julie Primero said. “Especially for women and the fit. [However], I think some quality, for Nike and those big brand names, could be better because it's so expensive.”

Break a Sweat in Style: Bulldogs’ Favorite Athletic Wear

Tamara Bradley, Staff Writer | March 11, 2025

From leggings to tracksuits, athleisure has now become an essential element for the modern wardrobe to many people. Designed with athletic performance in mind, many enjoy the support these garments...

Pilates has been mainstream since the 90s and on social media since MySpace, becoming a fun source of low-impact exercise for many and helping participants improve their physical strength in an injury-free way while bonding with friends, according to social studies teacher Marisa Wilkerson. “I think it's such a fun workout,” Wilkerson said. “I can tell that I'm getting a lot stronger from it, but …I think that it's really accessible for everybody. And…I have a friend that I went to grad school with. She takes Pilates with me, so it's a way for us to keep in touch. It's our way to check in with each other once a week.”

A ‘Core’-dially Inviting Sport: Pilates Starts ‘Abs’-solutely Trending at Portola High

Kayley Winata, Centerspread Editor | March 11, 2025

From matching workout sets to aesthetic studios, pilates has become widespread across social media platforms, paralleling its boom in the 90s. As a result, younger generations have rediscovered the activity...

Fencer and sophomore Kylie Wynn readies her stance against her opponent, watching for their first action. “There’s different actions and then reactions,” Wynn said. “So you have to figure out what your opponent is. How do they react? How do they fence? How fast are they? And you have to adapt based on that and it's a different strategy, like, ‘am I gonna go fast or slow? Or, what kind of action can I use to counter them?’”

Sophomore Kylie Wynn ‘En Gardes’ to Success in her Fencing Journey

Stephanie Hwang, Co-News Editor | March 10, 2025

When sophomore Kylie Wynn walked into her first fencing class in the third grade, it was love at first sight. Now, after seven years of fencing, Wynn uses her training and dedication to the sport to compete...

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