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
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Olivia Ganes, Visual Director

Olivia Ganes is the Visual Director and the Social Media Manager for her third and final year on the Portola Pilot. She’s excited to design new graphics and write sports stories with her best friend Nina. If she isn’t scrambling to finish her math homework, you can probably find her eating a snack and listening to her favorite music.

All content by Olivia Ganes
The girls volleyball team huddles during a game during the 2024-2025 season. “I think our team dynamic has grown so much this year,” captain and senior Paige Ingles said. “We have so many people who play multiple positions, and it makes our whole team able to win the game for us.”

Girls Volleyball is ‘Set’ for Success This Upcoming Season

Nina Krish and Olivia Ganes | September 22, 2025
Screen Shot 2025-06-02 at 7.05.34 PM

Trying The Viral Egg Flight

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | May 27, 2025
Kendrick Lamar and SZA took the stage at SoFi Stadium on May 21, 2025, for their 11th show together.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA deliver mesmerizing performance during their Grand National Tour

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | May 30, 2025
Kali Uchis released her fifth studio album entirely in English on May 9, marking this as her first project recorded solely in one language.

Kali Uchis’ ‘Sincerely,’ Hits All the Right Notes on Love and Life

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | May 15, 2025
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
Nine days before the release of her album, “So Close To What,” Tate McRae put her tracklist out on Instagram, posing next to a Hollywood star. The record is McRae’s first to reach No. 1 on Billboard 200.

Tate McRae’s “So Close To What” Makes Records on Charts

Nina Krish and Olivia Ganes | March 7, 2025
Taste Testing Around The World: Trying International Snacks

Taste Testing Around The World: Trying International Snacks

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | March 5, 2025
New Link Crew advisors, Spanish teacher Emily Czaja and math teacher Jessica Torres, stand together as they prepare to guide and support incoming students in the upcoming school year.

New Link Crew Advisors Jessica Torres and Emily Czaja Bring Fresh Leadership and Support to Incoming Students

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | January 29, 2025
Junior and dual-enrolled student Claire Hsin is able to work on her IVC assignments on her own time, “I could finish my assignments whenever I wanted since they are posted ahead of time,” Hsin said.

Dual Enrollment: Double the Classes, Double the Opportunity

Sruti Allani and Olivia Ganes | January 14, 2025
The Zoology Club visits the Santa Ana Zoo. “We have opportunities to volunteer and get involved in animal rights issues,” Junior and secretary Amy Cho says.

Zoology Club: Animal-Loving Students ‘Paw’sitively Make a Difference

Kailyn Clark and Olivia Ganes | November 15, 2024
Podcast founder and senior Ivan Bascos gathers around the table with his friends, preparing to discuss vital topics. “I want listeners to know that their voice is heard. I want all of them to know that they are able to speak about these things, and whatever they say is valid,” Bascos said.

Tuned In: Senior Ivan Bascos Finds his Voice Behind the Mic

Kailyn Clark and Olivia Ganes | October 16, 2024
Senior Landon Durazo speaks with campus control staff member George Mares during lunch in the parking lot. “Some students get mad at the security guards because they don’t realize it is their job to tell students to get back to class,” Durazo said. “It gets good once you get to know them because they are interesting, and they are interested in stuff I am interested in.”

Safety First: Meet the Campus Control Staff

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | September 26, 2024
Participants play a best-of-three game with a 60-card deck, and the winner moves on to the next round. Erlandsson said that he often uses Charizard in his strategy as a power card, being a well-rounded card that is effective against different Pokémon types.

Who is That Pokémon Pro? Neo Erlandsson Catches the Top Ranks

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | June 6, 2024
Junior Abbey Reichard throws a 4 kilogram ball into the air during the meet. Reichard’s team was very proud of her, according to teammate and junior Chrisma Agbor. “We were really excited, and we all ran up to her,” Agbor said.

Junior Abbey Reichard Breaks Shot Put School Record During PCL Double Dual

Olivia Ganes, Staff Writer | April 19, 2024
Senior Krishna Gade guards a Marina High player against advancing farther. “He was a big presence for us on the court,” head coach Brian Smith said. “More than that he was excited to be playing, he had basketball taken away from him, so he was enjoying being back out there.”

Senior Krishna Gade ‘Slam-dunked’ His Last Year Of High School Basketball With His Teammates After Facing Injury Repercussions

Nina Krish and Olivia Ganes | February 23, 2024
Wingstop’s show stopping fries are one of the highlights of the restaurant: “One of my favorite things is the seasoned fries,” sophomore Lee Gilat said. “Their flavors are addicting and you can always go back for more. They never get bland. It always tastes like something new is in your mouth even though it is the same flavor.”

Tiktok’s Most Popular Restaurant: Wingstop Bursts with Flavor and Excitement

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | February 22, 2024
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” premiered on Dec. 19, releasing weekly episodes until Jan. 30. The series is incredibly faithful to the book, only having subtle changes to accommodate for the pacing of a TV show. To ensure a seamless adaptation, Rick Riordan, the author of the books, was an executive producer and had unique input for how his writing would translate to the screen, according to Disney+.

Disney’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Delivers a Mythical Marvel

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | February 7, 2024
The International Friendship Club hosts meetings every second Tuesday of the month and organizes meetings in accordance with national heritage months and Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV) representative schedules. “It’s important to create these connections because our world is currently so divided,” co-founder, club president and sophomore Chole Grace Chen said. “We want our club as a safe space where everyone from different cultures can be able to freely express themselves.”

Friendship through Food: International Friendship Club Creates Community by Sharing Cultures

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | January 16, 2024
Point guard and junior Brady Kim shoots a 2-pointer during the third quarter against Marina High. The Bulldogs put up a good fight the second half of the game, with the Vikings being a tough competitor.

Boys’ Basketball Faces Challenging Team During Preseason Game

Nina Krish and Olivia Ganes | December 19, 2023
Color Guard is an extreme time commitment, with students giving up mornings for rehearsal, weekends for competitions, and Wednesday afternoons for practice. “Some people say color guard is not a sport, and that it's so easy,” color guard captain and junior Jimin Han said. “I want them to know that I really put my heart and effort into the sport.”

From Practice to Performance: Winter Guard’s Passionate Pursuit of Perfection

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | December 12, 2023
Three holiday items from the most popular fast food chains. These seasonal items are here for a limited time only, and are popular among customers.

These Holiday Treats of 2023 Are Un-brrr-ievably Good

Olivia Ganes, Staff Writer | December 7, 2023
Social Studies teacher Jon Resendez stands with his 2022-2023 cohort of policy fellows. Each teacher was selected from across California based upon their commitment to the classroom, their ability to advocate for their students and their pursuit of innovation in teaching, according to Teach Plus California.

From Classroom to Change-Maker: Jon Resendez Advocates for Students and Teachers in Teach Plus California Fellowship

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | November 16, 2023
Izzy Macasero congratulates teammate and senior Madison Curran after scoring a point. “Mac has incredible energy and positivity that she brings onto the court,” head coach Eric Graham said. “She always has a smile on her face. She's always looking out for her teammates, doing whatever she can to lift them up and have them be successful.”

Junior Izzy Macasero Keeps Up Team Spirit De-‘spike’ the Odds

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | November 2, 2023
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Olivia Ganes