Nikil Ramanathan

After a successful 2013 season for the baseball team ending in a tough loss to Saint Ignatius in the first round of the CCS playoffs, the Falcons are looking to try and get back this season. While they have strong senior players and a lot of potential from the junior players, the Falcons will have to overcome the loss of several key players.

School and college essays were indeed tough for me, but I placed most of the first semester stress on myself when I made a dreadful mistake on my first college interview.   

Animes, the name for Japanese-animated TV shows, have become wildly popular in the U.S.  

After a year in which new stars emerged, records were broken and multiple coaches missed games for health reasons, the two top teams in the NFL remain with a chance to win Super Bowl XLVIII in New York.

One of the most viable options in terms of lunch at Saratoga High has consistently been buying lunch from the cafeteria. This year, even though there is a greater variety in the cafeteria food, students are paying more money for their lunches.

Going into the game against the powerhouse Wilcox Chargers on Nov. 15, the Falcon players were confident that they could get a win in order to make the CCS playoffs. However, the strength of the Wilcox rushing attack was too much for the Falcons, who lost 47-20, thereby ending their season.  

Ever since Netflix introduced its online streaming feature in 2007, viewers have debated whether traditional TV is still worth watching.

The Oct. 4 Homecoming game vs. Mountain View was supposed to be a chance to grab the year's first home victory in front of alumni. Instead, sloppy play and five turnovers led to a 13-7 defeat.  

After losing to powerhouse Palo Alto 55-21 on Oct. 18, the Falcons went into the game against Los Gatos on Oct. 25 needing a win to turn their season around. Although the team fought hard and was able to move the ball well at times, its effort was not enough to stop the Wildcats, who prevailed 42-14 on their home field.

The Falcons come from behind to win, but they also lose a key defensive player to injury

To kick off the new Red Pride campaign, the Benny Pierce turf field was dismantled during the summer and replaced with a high-tech turf field.

Saratoga High School is well known for its standout academics and excellent extracurriculars. However, there is not nearly enough school spirit, especially for sports.  An example that epitomizes this point: In last year’s CCS football game played vs. Aptos High School on our home turf, they had more of a crowd than we did.

After the inspiring 2012 season for the Falcons, there are great expectations for the team going into the 2013 season. Now going into the second year of the spread offense, the Falcons look to have even more success than they did last year. 

With AP testing finished and the stress of junior year beginning to decrease, students in teacher Kathy Nakamatsu’s AP Chemistry have embarked on a whole new challenge. 

Senior and Indian Cultural Awareness Club president Shauray Agrawal stood in the middle of the McAfee Center stage, playing an average high schooler with a dream of being a Bollywood movie star. He and his fellow actors projected their lines to introduce the next performance, and exited the stage as dancers rushed on to take their places for the start of their act. 

On April 9, students put their various on display at the annual Saratoga’s Got Talent Show. The show was a great success, raising $745 for the senior class through a variety of methods, including songs, dances and even a rant. 

Math teacher P.J. Yim is not your ordinary teacher. From stories about his mountain biking to his “cactus greater than rose” philosophy, Yim’s unusual personality often bubbles over in his lectures. 

Although the landscape for women’s rights has changed drastically since the 1920s, complete equality for women is still a dream in the eyes of many that has yet to be realized.

On Feb. 14, world languages department chair Arnaldo Rodriguex and four other teachers brought 49 students to Cuernavaca, Mexico, for the annual Spanish exchange trip.

On March 1 and 2, senior Henry Wei and junior Graham Grant participated in the CIF Wrestling State Championships,  a huge accomplishment for a program that often struggles to fill weight classes in dual meets.

Principal Paul Robinson and various architects have recently been scanning the school for ways to make better use of facilities and classrooms. 

After losing their first meet on Dec. 20, the wrestling team had its first victory of the season with a forfeit by Cupertino on Jan. 10.

Principal Paul Robinson and various architects have recently been scanning the school for ways to make better use of facilities and classrooms.

Driving into the parking lot in the morning, a subtle divide can be felt.

On Dec. 10, instead of teaching World History and US History classes, teacher Jim Chin fulfilled his civil obligations by serving jury duty.

Actor Cole Sprouse, typically associated with his Disney Channel show “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,” has moved on to bigger and better things.

With a new coach, the wrestling program looks to get back on track.

The Falcons’ Cinderella season came to an end on Nov. 16 with a 28-24 loss to the Aptos Mariners in the first round of CCS.

 On Nov. 9 — the day of the Los Gatos game — the varsity football team served pasta, garlic bread and salad to both cheer teams in the dance room as a thank you for their support during the season through the “Guardian Angels” program.

The Falcons pulled off a miraculous win last Friday, taking down powerhouse Milpitas with an almost unimaginable comeback and earning a spot in the CCS playoffs.

Usually, fall is a season I look forward to. Though it signifies the start of school, it's also the season that marks the beginning of the NFL season.

Next month, 10 students from Cuernavaca, Mexico will be staying in Saratoga for the first time. For 30 years, students from the school have been traveling to Cuernavaca to study, and now the students from Cuernavaca are finally making the trip here.

Many students feel the heavy load of six or seven classes’ worth of binders, notebooks, homework straining their backs on Mondays. 

The Falcons' high-flying offense couldn't keep up perennial powerhouse Wilcox when they lost 51-35 at home on Sept. 30.

After winning their first game 21-17 against Burlingame on Aug. 31, the Falcons had the momentum going into their second non-league game against the Brahnam Bruins on Sept. 7, where they triumphed in an away game 50-22.

The Falcons were plagued by injuries in the 2011 season, resulting in a mere two wins. Injuries to star players Jerrick Lee, Troy Doles, Mitchell Faylor, Henry Wei and Sean Walsh all impacted the team greatly.

For most teachers, teaching a full load of class is extremely tiring. Science teacher Kristen Thomson willingly adds to her burden by also taking on the role of swimming coach each spring. Thomson has been coaching swimming for 13 years and continues to love the sport, but says that it is difficult to balance the two jobs. 

Along with the retirement of longtime assistant principal Karen Hyde, the school saw another one of its longtime staff depart from his teaching position over the summer. 

Throughout the year, the possibility of a transition to a full block schedule in the fall aroused excitement among many teachers and students.

The newly formed History Bowl team’s Cinderella story of a season came to an end at the national competition in late April. In its first year of existence, the team managed to make it all the way to the national competition in Washington, D.C.

Imagine a chocolate cake, but instead of a regular circle it’s in the shape of a robot. Now imagine it lighting up with LED lights. And, if you can, imagine it moving.

Usually NFL free agency isn’t as exciting as NBA free agency, or MLB free agency, but this year, NFL’s free agency season has given me, and many other football fans, something to watch for and talk about until the beginning of the season.  

The new SHS History Bowl team may have been intimidated before the competition, but they walked out of the NorCal regional competition, proud holders of a spot in the national History Bowl competition.    

In general, most if not all students at Saratoga High are perceived to share the beliefs of the Democratic party. However, if one digs a little deeper, republicans can be found among the sea of democrats at SHS.

For most freshmen, the transition from lower level sports to high school sports is drastic and rocky. While many struggle to make the JV team to begin with, starting on the varsity team is a feat that is even more difficult to achieve.

Two years ago, senior Megan Yen and some friends saw an improvisational comedic group called Comedy Sportz during a Media Arts Program trip to Los Angeles.

A common misconception about Internet radio and programs like Pandora: They are sometimes thought to be illegal and similar to programs like Limewire, Frostwire and Bearshare. Not so. They are completely legal and have good value.

The holiday season was a time of giving back to the community, and many clubs on campus were in the holiday spirit. National Honors Society, Red Cross and Interact all did activities to help the needy this holiday season.

With a solid group of freshmen who have had great success filling the roles of last year’s seniors, the boys’ cross country team found success this season along with great results at CCS and a berth in state competition.

Dirt biking doesn’t even resemble a leisurely bike ride in the park. Just ask sophomore Eric Ferguson and his close friend sophomore Eric Ringsrud.

What began as a season full of hopes and spirit for the Falcons’ football team came crashing down with a slew of injuries to key players, contributing to the team’s 1-6 record in league, which was good enough for seventh place in the eight-team De Anza League.

On Oct. 28, the Falcons suffered a 31-17 loss to league rivals Milpitas. With the defeat, the team has fallen to 1-4 in league and seventh place out of the eight teams in the De Anza League.

The Falcon football team suffered a 41-9 loss to Palo Alto (3-1 in league) on Oct. 21, a painful defeat that not only dropped the Falcons to 1-3 in league play, but also resulted in a concussion for sophomore running back Davis Berryhill.

From the first moment that senior Troy Doles stepped onto a Pop Warner football field a decade ago, he knew that football was his sport. Doles, now a star running back and safety for the Falcons, has come along way from the over-sized pads and helmets of the Pop Warner days. As a junior, Doles led the team with 682 rushing yards and 1,467 all-purpose yards. Now with his high school football career almost over, Doles knows what he wants to end with: a CCS title.

The scoreboard may have only said Saratoga lost 42-14 to Mountain View, but the game was much more damaging than just the final score.

History teacher Mike Davey displays an assortment of decorations that tell not only about history but also his personal life. From a mortar shell to The Beatles album, his room brings learning history alive for his students.

Passing time has gone far beyond watching paint dry or watching grass grow. “Planking” has turned into a pop cultural phenomenon.

After an encouraging win against Gilroy on Sept. 9, the Falcons took a step back on Sept. 16, losing 28-14 to Hollister at home.

The Falcons looked to get their season going last Friday as they treked the way to Gilroy for their second game. They were able to take down the Mustangs 31-21 for their first win of the season.

The Falcon football team opened its season under the lights at Benny Pierce Field on Sept. 2 with a 10-0 loss to Burlingame. As painful as the loss was, even more damaging were the injuries sustained during the game.

Coach: Tim Lugo, entering his fourth season as head coach 2010 Record: 5-5 (2-4 in league) 2010 Recap: Despite defeating crosstown rival Los Gatos to snap a 27-year losing streak and playing well against state champion Palo Alto, the Falcons struggled in league, costing them a chance to reach CCS.

The transition from middle school to high school is regularly made by incoming freshmen, but this year, Spanish teacher Andrew Narva has made the switch as well.

Two months ago, freshman Billy Vithanage envisioned himself as a high school dual-sport athlete, transitioning seamlessly from football in the fall to baseball in the spring. While he may still hit the baseball diamond next spring, Vithanage may not see much of the football field this season: Vithanage fractured his growth plate in his right shoulder during a practice over the summer.