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Geoffrey Franc, Co-Editor in Chief | March 23, 2025
Amelie Giomi, Spread Editor | March 22, 2025
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![History teachers Charles Hanson, Clara Bergander, and Sabahat Adil hosted a discussion of the history and future of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict on Wednesday, March 12 during lunch. The event was the first of three World Events Colloquies, a history department-sponsored series seeking to foster student engagement with current world topics.
The colloquy provided an in-depth look at the conflict’s history and current state, as well as its international implications and the potential outcomes of the war. Teachers and students discussed NATO’s involvement, the role of US leadership, and how the war will shape the future of Ukraine and Russia.
“We try to organize the events [around] providing information, so that people can go off and make their own best judgments on where they feel they land about these things,” Adil said.
However, the idea of engaging students in controversial topics is not new, Adil also pushed for conversations in 2022 when talking about the crisis in Ukraine.
One key talking point from the discussion was about what might happen if Ukraine or Russia were to emerge victorious from the war, and what that would mean for the world.
John Schafer explained the colloquy as a way to navigate controversial topics by sharing ideas, context, and background so that students can form their own opinions. “It’s not so much teachers’ opinions, it’s teachers’ analysis.” Schafer said, “They’re bringing their expertise to present to students an interesting background and perspective on the issue.”
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Captions:
1. Clara Bergander talks about when President Zelensky came to the White House recently
2. Charles Hanson speaks to teachers and students
3. Sabahat Adil points to the slides
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Story and photos by Staff Writer Zoe Hayes
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#menlo #menloschool #menlocoa #menlocoatofarms #menlopaper #menlonews #coa #coatofarms #studentpublication #studentnews #bayarea #siliconvalley #schoolnewspaper](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/484548551_18489780592025789_2826619930092300063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=dcicndG72rQQ7kNvwFu74tA&_nc_oc=AdkBOSRmwKCPf39ggHkwnuZMCB6noYlV_80wN80pfp_Pnz0GAQNrL-yRgOXFGASnYlY&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=DY4pGyI_kGwAkT7eh65WJw&oh=00_AYGVjN8bJJbmN4SsmtBzG9dRIT8q2JpzAgghyLlC5Oym7g&oe=67F4D8F3)
![Menlo’s varsity girls soccer team fell to Maria Carrillo High School in the semifinals of the CIF NorCal Division III playoffs on Thursday, March 5.
Maria Carillo scored first after a Menlo goal kick early in the game. Freshman Amelia Warman tied the game thanks to an assist from senior Alyssa McAdams shortly before the end of the first half. In the second half, the teams were equally matched, with close scoring opportunities from senior Roya Rezaee and junior Julia Axelrod, as well as several saves from junior goalkeeper Bianca Putanec.
A 1-1 score at the end of regulation time forced both teams into a single 15-minute overtime period, in which neither team scored. During the three rounds of penalty kicks, Menlo missed every shot, while Maria Carrilo made theirs, securing their win and spot in the finals of the CIF NorCal DIII playoffs.
Head coach Ross Ireland was saddened by the end to their season but happy to have coached this team this far, the furthest Menlo girls soccer has gone in program history. “I’m very proud of everyone’s efforts […] I couldn’t have wished for more [this season] — I just want a little bit more next year,” Ireland said. “We want to go to the finals of CIF NorCals.”
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Captions:
1. Junior Josie Lee dribbles the ball away from Menlo’s goal.
2. Senior Roya Rezaee plays defense against a Maria Carillo player.
3. Junior midfielder Julia Axelrod controls the ball as a Maria Carillo defender approaches.
4. Freshman Everleigh Porter applies pressure against a Maria Carillo attacker.
5. Senior Alyssa McAdams prepares for a throw-in.
6. Axelrod delivers a pass back towards the center, setting up a potential scoring opportunity.
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Story by A&L Editor Caroline Clack
Photos by Online Editor Jacob Reich
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#menlo #menloschool #menlocoa #menlocoatofarms #menlopaper #menlonews #coa #coatofarms #studentpublication #studentnews #bayarea #siliconvalley #schoolnewspaper #menloknights](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/483212159_18488264428025789_6945467342410858949_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=CpRnOF8gAzgQ7kNvwFUJMkf&_nc_oc=AdmetTgNzaqPuqboC5qkpvZo0ocw1Ow95BgQEL5ruv0da9j9eeR9a9J-lwsEUP0M18Y&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=DY4pGyI_kGwAkT7eh65WJw&oh=00_AYGEvpamLJIcqWZUKEiQlGej6eR7ChqQY4SYxjoZmJkkZw&oe=67F4C9A9)
![Menlo’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Mountain View High School 2-1 in the Central Coast Section Division III final to win their first CCS championship in four years.
Despite a scoreless first half, both teams had several close chances, including shots by the Knights’ junior Julia Axelrod and freshman Everleigh Porter. Menlo junior goalkeeper Bianca Putanec had several saves, including a play where she ran out of the box to clear a ball by a dribbling Spartan. The first half ended with another Putanec save.
Five minutes into the second half, junior Halle Blanchard scored after dribbling down the field with what appeared to be a cross, but the Mountain View goalie tipped into the net, putting Menlo ahead 1-0. “I didn’t even know it went in for the first few seconds, so everyone started screaming at me and I was like ‘Oh my God,’” Blanchard said. “I finally processed it.”
However, with 17 minutes left in the game, a Mountain View player headed the ball into the goal, tying the game. Five minutes later, the Knights did the same. Senior Roya Rezaee headed a corner kick by junior Krista Arreola in the goal, giving Menlo the lead for the rest of the game. “It feels great [to have won] because I have been on the team for four years and we’ve never won a CCS championship or have gone to the [finals],” Rezaee said. “I couldn’t have wished for a better team to do it with.”
Menlo plays Sonoma Academy in Round I of the NorCal DIII playoffs at home on Tuesday, March 4.
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Captions:
1. Freshman Everleigh Porter dribbles the ball up the field.
2. Senior Roya Rezaee takes a free kick in Mountain View’s defensive half.
3. Junior Josie Lee throws the ball in.
4. Junior Krista Arreola passes the ball down the line.
5. Menlo’s captains, seniors Alyssa McAdams, Angelica Chou and Audrey Hochstetler and junior Julia Axelrod (left to right) hold the first place trophy after the match.
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Story and photos by Sports Editor Devon Schaefer
Additional photo by Assistant Sports Editor Noah Levin
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#menlo #menloschool #menlocoa #menlocoatofarms #menlopaper #menlonews #coa #coatofarms #studentpublication #studentnews #bayarea #siliconvalley #schoolnewspaper #menloknights](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/482568445_18487677526025789_4190374830266474085_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=1iQ2s-5yS88Q7kNvwFbV_tI&_nc_oc=AdlVDAuJGQ7n-UPNH8YidHxmvyt3WAZf1T52GlcSDBD04z9KAzGm24yXUtnGFB8b-Ko&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=DY4pGyI_kGwAkT7eh65WJw&oh=00_AYHf8aymGT1wJzDQA5fpnpUM2bKvfi79xzR1lUsNfT42_A&oe=67F4BB8E)
![Menlo’s varsity girls soccer team defeated Menlo-Atherton High School 2-1 in the Central Coast Section Division IV semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
Despite a chaotic scramble in front of Menlo’s goal just before halftime, the Knights managed to clear the ball, keeping the score tied at 0-0 going into the break. However, 17 minutes into the second half, the Knights had two consecutive shot attempts off the goal post. Freshman Everleigh Porter finally found the back of the net after controlling a header by an M-A defender in the Bears’ box. “I just couldn’t believe it. It was kind of surreal,” Porter said. “Everyone was running at me and I was just like, ‘Oh my God, the ball went in the net — we’re up.’”
But 11 minutes later, a foul was called on Menlo senior defender Ellie Knoll in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. M-A converted, tying the game and the two teams were back to looking for a chance to get ahead. With seven minutes left in the game, junior Krista Arreola sidestepped M-A’s goalkeeper, who was attempting to slide tackle Arreola, then quickly finished into an open net, putting Menlo ahead. “I remember turning to [a teammate] on our sideline [after M-A scored], and she said, ‘We need to win because we’re more skillful than them and we’re the better team,’” Porter said. “So I think for those next five minutes we all had the mindset of, like, we’re getting this back.”
While the Bears continued fighting until the final whistle, earning a few more shots on goal, they were unsuccessful, securing Menlo’s spot in the CCS final. The Knights play Mountain View High School in the championship on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Sequoia High School.
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Captions:
1. Junior Josie Lee throws in the ball to junior Krista Arreola as she runs onto the field.
2. Senior Roya Rezaee dribbles the ball through the midfield.
3. Senior Ellie Knoll passes the ball after stealing the ball from Menlo-Atherton.
4. Senior Lily Nye runs in to hug Menlo’s defense after the match.
5. Freshman Everleigh Porter does a no-look pass to a teammate.
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Story and photos by Sports Editor Devon Schaefer
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#menlo #menloschool #menlocoa #menlocoatofarms #menlopaper #menlonews #coa #coatofarms](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/482402169_18486873724025789_7500579600252051533_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=Sa_hetqz7AkQ7kNvwHnNudP&_nc_oc=AdkUjLlD2FIF9I5f_VMjpPzoUaLIjmUROE6U_JOtDLqNTIl8MGQ7YSO50jwjDJ2WbJ0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=DY4pGyI_kGwAkT7eh65WJw&oh=00_AYEVGcTy5xav98FlbjNTqYljARl3eoSNzEYmHYYvyY24AQ&oe=67F4C3C1)
![Menlo’s varsity boys soccer team celebrated a 1-0 Division ll Central Coast Section semifinal win against Carlmont High School on Wednesday, Feb. 26. Senior Carter Techel scored the lone goal by heading the ball in the midst of a scramble in front of the goal after a corner kick late in the first half of the game. After losing to Los Gatos in penalty kicks last year in the Dll CCS semifinals, Techel is excited for the opportunity to go further this year. “Last year we came up short and to be able to [go to the finals] this year is incredible,” Techel said.
The game did not go off without a loss for Menlo, though. In the last five minutes of the game, sophomore Sam Beckerson collided with the Carlmont goalkeeper and broke his leg, delaying the match by twenty minutes.
Menlo will play Hillsdale in the Dll CCS finals on Saturday, March 1 at 10 a.m. at Sequoia High School.
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Captions:
1. Freshman Blake Putanec rushes to obtain possession of the ball and move toward Carlmont’s goal.
2. After a significant delay due to injury, the team gathers before resuming play.
3. Senior Gabriel Gil fends off a Carlmont defender.
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Story and photos by A&L Editor Caroline Clack
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#menlo #menloschool #menlocoa #menlocoatofarms #menlopaper #menlonews #coa #coatofarms #studentpublication #studentnews #bayarea #siliconvalley #schoolnewspaper #menloknights](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/481596784_18486729232025789_8166811324233850482_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=ErScehAMDtEQ7kNvwGJY54z&_nc_oc=AdmiU6DgzsC6Zn-4-hpr6TvdU6iqVlN7fSxWsdMpX-6pBTtkV7qOznkjuIRNyfd-ojI&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=DY4pGyI_kGwAkT7eh65WJw&oh=00_AYHrbjwvVe8liTjzban5tE-oHL7pF79fVGtvGzWQFOST1g&oe=67F4B02C)
![Menlo girls basketball dominated their first Division IV CCS playoff game, winning the quarterfinal against Pacific Grove High School 61-27. Throughout Tuesday’s game, first-seed Menlo maintained a sizable lead against its eighth-seed opponent, finishing each quarter ahead by at least 12 points. “We were confident, but you never know with games like this. [Pacific Grove] had nothing to lose, so to get it done felt good,” sophomore Ava Allen said.
Menlo had an opportunity to get on the board before the game clock even started. As Pacific Grove garnered two technical fouls, one for having dark numbers on dark jerseys and one for having a player not on the roster, senior Karen Xin took two uncontested free throws at the start of each quarter.
As the game went on the team racked up points, with nine players getting on the scoreboard. The team took their time on offense, mostly keeping the ball until the last second of the shot clock to find the perfect shot. In the fourth quarter, head coach Ryan Cooper began to sub in some of the team’s non-starting underclassmen. “When we put younger girls in, we really wanted them to get used to passing the ball,” Allen said.
Even though Xin played on a sprained thumb, she was Menlo’s highest scorer with 24 points. Xin is proud of her and her team’s effort, and she looks forward to their CCS semifinal game against Notre Dame Belmont on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Menlo gym. The team lost their first matchup against the Tigers this season but won the second. “They haven’t seen us fully healthy yet,” Xin said. “I’m so ready to do this.”
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Captions:
1. Senior Karen Xin drives to Pacific Grove’s side of the court.
2. Senior Ruiqi Liu takes a three-point shot.
3. Xin dribbles past a Pacific Grove defender before passing to sophomore Ava Allen.
4. Head coach Ryan Cooper talks game strategy with Liu before the second quarter.
5. Freshman Annika Lecybil shoots and makes a three in her first CCS game.
6. Allen drives past a Pacific Grove defender after stealing the ball in the third quarter.
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Story and Photos by Assistant Sports Editor Bianca Putanec
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#menlo #menloschool #menlocoa #menlocoatofarms #menlopaper #menlonews #coa](https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/481762416_18486633367025789_5133314799338845796_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=NuMySz-YkZ8Q7kNvwEsjEAP&_nc_oc=AdleAMAJMKqLVDBjP5ZE_FVvLSWIIGp5Rw4jKeKLZHbY8Agw5z9kNLXGvk836f3hdmk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=DY4pGyI_kGwAkT7eh65WJw&oh=00_AYFKlfYn1eZJ3eeccbdDt-H_Rj_OgCQI4HufmzGgJ6YAGg&oe=67F4D4AC)
