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
Portola High alumnus and Calvin University junior Josh Steinberg celebrates with teammate Charlie Trey-Masters after winning gold at the 2023 Pan American Maccabi Games in an open men’s 3v3 basketball tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Portola High Alumnus Josh Steinberg Finds the ‘Key’ to Success Through Basketball

Camille Clement and Maya Tedini | January 29, 2024
After a recent knee injury, junior Samira Khan warms up before her back-day workout with deadlifts at LA Fitness in the Woodbury Town Center. “Because of sports mostly, [weightlifting] helped me develop a lot of my skills, be stronger and do better in everything in that area,” Khan said.

‘Set’ On Success, Portola High Students Take Up Weightlifting

Camille Clement and Nina Krish | January 26, 2024
Team captain and senior Deyanna Hashemi playfully attempts to steal the ball from utility player and sophomore Isabella ‘Bella’ Detloff. “It helps you, knowing what that person is gonna do and being able to trust them,” Hashemi said. “If I pass to Bella, I know she's not going to lose the ball. She's gonna make a good pass or shoot it.”

‘Diving’ into Friendship: How These Girls’ Water Polo Passing Partners Bond In and Out of the Water

Alice Ahn and Kayley Winata | January 23, 2024
Goalie and freshman Chantal Alexander kicks the ball back into the playing field after Northwood High’s soccer team tries to score a goal. “She is a little more aggressive, a little bit more dynamic. Every game she has grown, so she has a bright future at Portola,” head girls soccer coach Joshua Stringer said.

Girls’ Soccer Goalie and Freshman Chantal Alexander Defends Her Way to Success

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | January 18, 2024
Baseball has skyrocketed in popularity to become one of the most popular sports in Japan. Ohtani’s meteoric rise has become a source of national pride for many people, with his remarkable abilities captivating fans worldwide. “I don't think he's a regular human being, and I think he's incredibly remarkable that he could perform at such a high level,” Dodger fan and social studies teacher Jon Resendez said. “What I love about sports in general, though this is just a baseball example, is that sports have the power to break down a lot of these barriers that we create between ourselves and our communities.”

Breaking Bats and Barriers: Shohei Ohtani Redefines America’s Pastime

Mia Jong, Centerspread Editor | January 12, 2024
Junior Giselle Lu performs her last solo piece in her synchronized swimming career in Guangdong’s state competition in August 2020. Lu swims to Two Steps From Hell’s “Archangel,” and it took many months to master the solo routine. After Lu received 0 points in one of her figures, Lu said she was unmotivated to compete in the solo event because she thought she could not make up for the mistake. “I think the story of this piece defines and represents the art of synchronized swimming — the perfect combination of strength and grace,” Lu said. “It shows that women can be both beautiful but still have their own masculine side.”

China’s National Synchronized Swimmer Giselle Lu Makes ‘Figures’ in Irvine

Kayleen Kim and Kelly Yeh | January 10, 2024
The 2023 Cricket World Cup final was the most watched match in the history of the tournament, boasting over 300 million spectators, according to ESPN. “It was fun,” senior Sehaj Sethi said. “Every ball, every run I was just hoping that Team India scores. It was really exciting, really thrilling.”

The ICC Cricket World Cup Ends in Disappointment for Indian Fans

Maitri Allani | December 1, 2023
Freshman Petra Tonkovich smiles enthusiastically during warm-ups, eager to begin practice. Water polo has taught her to display patience as she faces mental blocks in the sport, according to Tonkovich.

Petra Tonkovich: Meet Girls’ Water Polo’s Only Varsity Freshman

Madeline Chung and Elise Ngo | November 30, 2023
Remaining steadfast in their friendship, seniors Jamie Lin and Ashley Tabayoyong are looking forward to completing their last year stunting together with the same bond they created over ten years ago. “When we started cheering, we actually requested if we could be on the same team just so we were comfortable in a new sport,” Tabayoyong said. “We wanted to have some grounding, something that we could hold on to, something that we knew that was familiar.”

Duo Jamie Lin and Ashley Tabayoyong Bond Through Gymnastics and Cheer

Hannah Ko and Stephanie Hwang | November 27, 2023
Wide receiver and senior Kamran Jahromi sprints after catching a punt in a football game against Laguna Hills High on Oct. 27. Wide receiver and senior Rider Cooper defends Jahromi against opposing players as he advances across the field.

No. 1 PCL Wide Receiver Kamran Jahromi ‘Receives’ All the Praise this Football Season

Camille Clement and Elizabeth Gao | November 15, 2023
Zaara Batla and Vianna Pineda are the only two seniors on the flag football team. “It was just being part of a new group, a new team, seeing how far we could get in our first season,” Batla said. “That was really exciting to me.”

Seniors Vianna Pineda and Zaara Batla ‘Snatch’ the Opportunity to Play Flag Football in Their Last Year

Maya Tedini and Parmin Zamani | November 14, 2023
Mountain Biking club president and sophomore Luke Passey presents about mountain biking trails he recommends, which are also potential meeting locations, at his club’s first meeting. Some of these trails are found in Irvine Regional Park, Crystal Cove and Whiting Ranch, with the last being the location he’s considering for the club’s first mountain biking excursion.

‘Paving’ the Way: Mountain Biker Luke Passey Shares His Hobby with School Community

Cindy Mei and Maya Tedini | November 9, 2023
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