The Student News Site of Saratoga High School

The Saratoga Falcon
Allied teams 95071X (right) and 1000A (left) celebrate after advancing to grand finals at the U.S. Open National Championship.
VEX Robotics team makes finalists in U.S. Open National Championship
April 10, 2025
Rally commissioners act out a skit inspired by “Beauty and the Beast.”
‘Beauty and the Beast’ rally builds hype before prom
April 10, 2025
Trustee Shawn Mortensen (far left) listens to a presentation at the district office during the school board’s March 11 meeting.
Meet Shawn Mortensen: LGSUHSD’s newest school board trustee
April 5, 2025
The Philharmonic Strings orchestra combined with the Freshman orchestra to play together in the non-competitive category of the conference.
SHS orchestras travel to Atlanta for National Orchestra Festival
April 4, 2025
During the summer of 2026, the music department will be traveling to perform in Japan.
Music department to tour Japan in summer of 2026
April 3, 2025
Cochrum helps a student during tutorial.
Cochrum reflects on educational journey with learning disability
April 5, 2025
An advertisement poster Leung made for the company.
Senior takes on remote social media job in New York
April 5, 2025
Courtesy of Montalvo Arts Center Often rented for weddings, the beautiful grounds of the Montalvo Arts Center is a popular place for hosting social events.
A nearby gem: the Montalvo Arts Center
April 3, 2025
Combining multiple skill-sets fosters collaboration and growth in ceramics class
April 2, 2025
Kinoshita films a fight scene for her college sophomore-year passion project, “The Veil” — her first time as Director of Photography
Stories that matter: Alumna pursues cinematography to inspire through storytelling
April 2, 2025
Ning launches a three against Sacred Heart as his teammates prepare to celebrate.
From 13th man to 3rd team all league — Steven Ning’s basketball journey
April 3, 2025
The beam training area at Gold Star Gymnastics.
Paying it forward for the next generation of gymnasts
March 31, 2025
Bossow wrestles against Bellarmine at Overfelt High on Dec. 6.
Wrestling team shows significant improvement this season
March 27, 2025
Coach Brian Liao talks game strategy with sophomores Andy Lu and Teegan Seid-Pham.
New head badminton coach brings valued guidance for players
March 27, 2025
President Riley Adler demonstrates yoga moves on the March 20 meeting, focused on the benefits of the practice.
Sports Medicine Club strives to teach athletes to be more aware of their body
March 26, 2025
Mangione’s alleged actions were wrong, but the diagnosis of America’s failing health-care system wasn’t
Mangione’s alleged actions were wrong, but the diagnosis of America’s failing health-care system wasn’t
March 31, 2025
Stay safe.
In a dark time, it’s time to know your rights
March 27, 2025
Starting next school year, more students are able to study at MIT without worrying about tuition.
Educational institutions are wise to offer free tuition to low-income families
March 26, 2025
Nationwide voter turnout since 2002, blue is presidential, yellow is midterm
Sagging voter participation puts democracy at risk
March 22, 2025
Cutting the tree of the Department of Education in half.
DOGE’s cuts for educational programs cause instability and loss of research confidence
March 19, 2025
Students gather to eat and talk on the upper deck.
Prom 2025: A grape evening at the Mountain Winery
April 6, 2025
Courtesy of Imgflip If you’re going to stop reading this story right here, this meme sums up my entire high school experience (I been chilling with boba but it’s close enough). Seriously, though, John Cena’s Chinese is elite.
My high school life in memes
April 5, 2025
Courtesy of Neha Sharan Students compete in a co-ed tournament held at the India Community Center in Milpitas.
A sophomore’s gambit: encouraging more girls to take up chess
April 4, 2025
Top 10 celebrity baby names over the years
April 3, 2025
Students take a test in Mrs. Marks’ Spanish 3 class.
Spanish teacher Stephanie Marks connects language learning to current events
April 2, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 10
Volume 48, Issue 10
April 15, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 12
Volume 48, Issue 12
April 15, 2025
Volume 48, Issue 13
Volume 48, Issue 13
April 15, 2025
Volume 49, Issue 1
Volume 49, Issue 1
April 15, 2025
Volume 49, Issue 2
Volume 49, Issue 2
April 15, 2025

The Saratoga Falcon

The Saratoga Falcon
All content by Mitchell Chen
Swimmers practice?

As swimming numbers dip, team struggles in meets

Mitchell Chen and Florence Hu
Senior Cooper Call lowers his shoulder into Pacific grove defender

Fresh boys’ lacrosse team faces rebuilding season

Nika Svizhenko and Mitchell Chen
Senior Diego Rocabado playing against Cupertino at an away game on Jan. 24.

Boys’ soccer struggles to adapt after rough start to season

Mitchell Chen and Christina Labban
Senior Zinnerah Ahmed rushes forward to score a layout against Mountain View on Jan. 24.

Girls’ basketball shows improvement in rebuilding year

Mitchell Chen and Ariel Zhou
Junior Angie Chen tells her story of body dysmorphia at the Speak Up for Change assembly on Jan. 26. 

Speak Up for Change assembly: Students and staff discuss healing by seeking help, body dysmorphia, pursuing passions

Mitchell Chen, Andrew Lin, and Emily Wu
Senior Mitchell Chen got a dub playing OG fortnite after playing for three hours straight.

Another day, another win for the ‘OG’ Fortnite

Mitchell Chen
Calling a timeout, the team decides to run a new play to try  to score on possession.

Despite defensive improvements later in the season, boys’ water polo finishes last in league

Mitchell Chen
Seniors Mitchell Chen and George Hu finally finished their Chipotle bowls before heading to class.

1 mile, 2 runners, 4 Chipotle Bowls, many regrets.

George Hu and Mitchell Chen

Boys’ water polo struggles to find traction in first few weeks

Mitchell Chen
Senior Emma Green fights for the ball in a game against Presentation on Sept. 27.

Field hockey adjusts to new coach as the season progresses

Mitchell Chen and Saachi Jain & Ariel Zhou
Senior wing Victoria Le shotblocks against Monta Vista on Sept. 7.

Girls’ water polo season off to a hot start with an undefeated record

Mitchell Chen
Timothy Leung outlasted 49 other competitors to win his category at the state speech tournament.

Sophomore wins speech state championship for Programmed Oral Interpretation

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
Swimmers warm up at the Baylor Aquatics Center at the CCS championships.

Swim team participates in CCS, girls’ team makes States

Mitchell Chen, Victoria Lin, and Aiden Ye
Collage of prom photos

Beach Boardwalk praised as ideal prom location

Mitchell Chen and Neal Malhotra
Lisa Fung and Anushka Sankaran are the Class of `23 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively.

Class of ‘23 valedictorian and salutatorian announced

Mitchell Chen
Junior Neal Malhotra catches some Z’s after a long night of playing brawl stars — he forgot to complete his history homework due that day.

Call it a case of Junioritis-’24

Mitchell Chen and Neal Malhotra
Sharkie, the mascot of the San Jose Sharks, came to give senior Kayla Steele her scholarship on March 1.

Senior wins scholarship from San Jose Sharks

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
Senior Keon Nikfar competes in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Swim team struggles with low participation, hurting their ability to win meets

Mitchell Chen and Kevin Yang
Freshman Ishir Gupta dives towards the bird in a doubles practice match on March 28.

Badminton team looks to new freshman talent for team expansion

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
Senior wins New York Times award for 2022 personal narrative contest

Senior wins New York Times award for 2022 personal narrative contest

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
A junior’s Tesla was totaled after a crash into a house’s yard on Herriman Avenue in late January.

Recent student driving accidents, speeding reports raise safety concerns

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
I hope Santa won’t realize his missing elf!

Top 10: Things that happened when Santa came down the chimney

Mitchell Chen
Eric Miao and Jayden Ham play a Mozart duet arrangement for flute and clarinet.

Tri-M concert raises money for Hurricane Ian relief

Mitchell Chen and Zachary Zinman
Chang received the NSPA honorable mention award for her impactful journalism portfolio.

Falcon editor wins honorable mention for NSPA Writer of the Year award

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
Posing in an upward dog position, I take in deep breaths to clear my mind.

Yoga has a cult following of millions; I won’t be joining them

Mitchell Chen
While leg day might not be my favorite, I never skip it.

The many ways people make fools out of themselves in the gym

Mitchell Chen
The cheer team walks together along the track before the football game.

Cheer team prepares for competitions as sideline season comes to an end

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
Senior Keon Nikfar looks to shoot during the game against Wilcox on Oct. 3.

Boys’ water polo makes late-season turnaround, looks forward toward next year

Mitchell Chen and Anthony Wang
Head coach Kendal Jarvis smiles as the team creates a plank centipede.

Boys’ water polo looks to repeat success despite losing key seniors

Mitchell Chen
Before beginning cheering for a varsity football game, the team takes a photo together

Cheer team focuses on conditioning hoping to qualify for nationals

Mitchell Chen and Derek Liang
Senior Merriam Labban walks down her runway.

Senior takes design and fashion passion to next level at modeling show

Mitchell Chen and Skyler Mao
New health clerk and campus supervisor Tammy Parris gets ready for lunch duty.

New health clerk and supervisor aims to be positive presence on campus

Mitchell Chen and George Hu
The team poses for a photo during their end-of-year banquet at Lazy Dog on May 15th.

Boys’ golf placed second in league finals, junior qualified for CCS finals

Mitchell Chen and Nilay Mishra

Newly formed clubs cultivate multitude of opportunities

Mitchell Chen and Jonathan Li
Uncrustable from lunch line

The one sandwich you can never stop eating

Mitchell Chen
Irene Frazier (far left), Solbee Lee (middle left), Meher Haider (middle right), Rebecca Boscow (far right) pose before going to CCS.

4 girls on wrestling team take their skills to CCS

Mitchell Chen
Wrestling welcomes new athletes following numerous graduations

Wrestling welcomes new athletes following numerous graduations

Mitchell Chen
Intro to Engineering and Intro to CS to be merged next year

Intro to Engineering and Intro to CS to be merged next year

Mitchell Chen and Daniel Wu
Wrestling team hopes to improve in face of rising COVID-19 cases

Wrestling team hopes to improve in face of rising COVID-19 cases

Mitchell Chen
Winter workouts: a refreshing alternative

Winter workouts: a refreshing alternative

Mitchell Chen
I can't go to the bathroom without disturbance

Finding a good bathroom: a rant

Mitchell Chen
Sophomore Minh Do plays "Christmas Festival" by Leroy Anderson on a violin at the Thankful Hearts concert at the Villa of Saratoga senior center on Nov. 28

In-person concerts become more common for service clubs

Mitchell Chen and Jonathan Li

Inspired by events and trends, students found new clubs

Jonathan Li and Mitchell Chen

Eating like The Rock for a day leads to stomach aches and regret

Mitchell Chen
How to sell your sibling 

How to sell your sibling 

Mitchell Chen

Girls’ water polo upbeat as they face a challenging season

Mitchell Chen
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