The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice
The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice
The Student News Site of Palo Alto High School

The Paly Voice
Andrew Zhao

Andrew Zhao, Managing Editor, Sports

Andrew Zhao (Class of 2026) joined The Voice in his sophomore year and enjoys playing tennis and water polo.

All content by Andrew Zhao
Viking junior Cassie Gracon chases down a ball against a Bear midfielder last season in a tie against the Menlo-Atherton Bears. According to Viking head coach Jeremy Romero, the Vikings are targeting a successful playoff run this season. “I believe our team will compete with the best,” Romero said. “We have nothing but exceptional players and I expect us to make a good run.”

[Photo] Preview: Girls soccer kicks off new season

Kevin O’Brien and Alex Rytokoski
December 3, 2025
Vikings huddle up for a group photo after an intense game against the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs on Saturday morning at Menlo Atherton High School. According to Viking head coach Deke Rowell, the Vikings have been preparing for tough games like this for a long time. “Over the course of their careers, the team has been preparing to put themselves in the highest seed that Paly’s ever received,” Rowell said. “Being the fourth seed in the open division is quite an honor.”

Girls Water polo closes out a strong season

Andrew Zhao and Alex Rytokoski
November 12, 2025
Juniors Justin Fung and Andy Comsa celebrate their victory in Hungry Hippos during the second rally of Palo Alto High School's Spirit Week in the Big Gym during lunch. According to Arabella Guinle, senior spirit commissioner, she likes float building. "My favorite part of spirit week is float building," Guinle said. "It's a chance for me to bond with my classmates and not stress as much. I just love the environment of float building and the awesome food."

Juniors, seniors dominate at second Spirit Week rally

Arjun Jindal and Andrew Zhao
October 14, 2025
Vikings group together for a team photo after securing their second win against the Monta Vista Matadors on Wednesday night at home. According to Viking senior running back Kailia Leming, the Vikings' additional coach, Nancy Nguyen, has helped the team grow. "We added on coach Nancy," Leming said. "She is on the USA flag football team and I honestly think she's helped our team a lot."

Vikings stay undefeated with victory over Matadors

Andrew Zhao and Alex Rytokoski
September 28, 2025
Vikings prepare for the snap in the game between the Vikings and the San Mateo Bearcats Friday night at home. According to Viking senior wide receiver Kacey Washington, the Vikings’ strategy was to restrict the Bearcats’ runs. "We knew they loved to run the ball, so we just focused on being able to stop that run," Washington said.

Bearcats defeat Vikings, losing streak extends

Andrew Zhao, Managing Editor, Sports
September 22, 2025
Viking defender blocks a strike from Titan sophomore outside hitter Jessica Jacobson in the final set of the game between the Vikings and the Gunn High School Titans Tuesday night at home. According to Viking head coach Chris Crader, this game was a good opportunity for the newer players to build confidence. "We had a few kids that have come up from JV, so this is their debut," Crader said. "If they can come out and can play Paly versus Gunn, then hopefully that gives them some confidence going forward."

Girls volleyball sweep Titans, 3-0

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
September 5, 2025
The Palo Alto Vikings line up against the Mountain View Spartans during a key first down on Friday night at home. Viking head coach David DeGeronimo said the Vikings need to work on their defense. “We [Palo Alto] are learning a new defense, and we've got to learn it in a hurry," DeGeronimo said. "The season’s started, so we've got to get guys experience in this and understanding the defense and their roles. Once we get those ironed out, I think we'll be pretty good.”

Vikings fall to Spartans in season opener

Andrew Zhao and Alex Chang
August 31, 2025
Marugame Udon counter server adds tempura crumbs and fresh onions to the Nikutama Udon. According to store manager Audrey Dawson, the Nikutama Udon stands out among customers' favorites. "I'd say our Nikutama Udon is the most popular." Dawson said. "My favorite is the Tonkotsu Udon, but it isn't the most loved."

Review: Marugame Udon delivers fast service to University Ave

Alex Rytokoski and Andrew Zhao
June 4, 2025
Anton SV Patisserie opened in the Stanford Shopping Center on April 25, bringing fresh crepes to Palo Alto. According to manager Nikhil Doppalapudi, Anton is based in San Jose every day. "We are based in San Jose, that's where our main central kitchen is," Doppalapudi said. "We bring all our products over in the morning and sell them throughout the day."

Review: Anton delivers French desserts to Palo Alto

Alex Rytokoski and Andrew Zhao
May 20, 2025
Viking senior Sam Ewen fights for the ball in the game against Hillsdale Knights Tuesday night at home. According to Viking senior Turner McFarland, he appreciated the support from the crowd. "This game was special because it's our last home game, except for the playoffs if you make it," McFarland said. "It's nice to see all our friends and family come out."

Boys lacrosse beats Knights, heads for playoffs

Alex Chang and Andrew Zhao
May 10, 2025
Viking senior Oliver Chancellor defends against Lancer junior Andrew Makris in the final quarter of a home game against the Saint Francis High School Lancers. According to Viking junior Lucas Grodnitzsky, the Vikings need to work on the fundamentals. "We could work on catching and passing, especially on offense," Grodnitzsky said. "The other thing is ground balls. St Francis was a heavy ground ball team, and they took advantage of it and scored a lot."

Boys’ lacrosse defeated by Lancers

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
April 21, 2025
Viking senior Oliver Chancellor defends against Lancer junior Andrew Makris in the final quarter of the non-conference game against the Saint Francis High School Lancers. According to junior Lucas Grodnitzsky, the Vikings need to work on the fundamentals. "We could work on catching and passing, especially on offense," Grodnitzsky said. "The other thing is ground balls. St Francis was a heavy ground ball team, and they took advantage of it and scored a lot."

Cougar senior Cade Memeo jumps over Viking senior Jorell Clarks' block during a Division 3 CIF playoff game Tuesday night at Palo Alto High School. Viking head coach Jeff LaMere said CIF games are always a battle and unpredictable. “Anybody can beat anybody, and that's the exciting part of this tournament, and we're fortunate," LaMere said.

Boys’ basketball defeats Foothill in first round of CIF

Andrew Zhao and Joy Tan
March 7, 2025
Viking senior Jorell Clark rushes past Longhorn defender in the fourth quarter of the Central Coast Section playoff semifinals. According to Clark, he is grateful for his teammates' support. "I'm thankful for my teammates for really stepping up, being there for me every single part of the way," Clark said. "We're all doing this as a team. I'm looking forward to big things."

Boys basketball conquers Longhorns in CCS semifinals

Alex Chang and Andrew Zhao
March 1, 2025
Viking Senior Jorell Clark scores a layup over Wildcat defenders in the second quarter of Friday's Senior home game against the Los Gatos Wildcats. According to Clark, the Vikings still keep their head high for the post-season. "We hope to still win a league title, and we hope to win CCS and have another deep state," Clark said.

Boys’ basketball falls to Wildcats on Senior Night

Andrew Zhao and Alex Rytokoski
February 18, 2025
Viking Junior Khrisar Magna takes control of the ball against a Mustang midfielder Friday night at Palo Alto High School. The hard-fought game ending in a 0-0 tie marked a non ideal result for the Vikings. Viking senior defender Lucas Yuan said the Vikings just couldn’t find the back of the net despite their attempts. “If you look at the stat line, we had way more shots than they did, but the issue was we were just not able to convert it," Yuan said. “At the end of the day, the score line tells the story. It's 0-0.”

Boys’ soccer ties Homestead

Alex Chang and Andrew Zhao
February 3, 2025
Trojan junior Dylan Nguyen shoots the ball.

Boys’ basketball first in league after defeating Trojans

Joy Tan and Andrew Zhao
January 19, 2025
Viking sophomore Justin Fung scores a layup in the final quarter of the game against the Fremont Firebirds at Palo Alto High School on Monday. According to Fung, the Vikings were hyped to play this game. "I think the mindset coming this game was must win game," Fung said. "I think our energy has been a little low throughout practice, but I think coming in this game on pregame, vibes were really high."

Boys basketball blows out Firebirds

Andrew Zhao and Alex Chang
December 19, 2024
Viking freshman Sophia Hill rushes past Lynbrook defender, leading to a mid range hook shot in the first quarter of the game. According to Vikings head coach Kevin Blunt, the team did a good job applying offensive pressure. "What we did well was being aggressive and going to the basket, which got some of them in foul trouble," Blunt said.

Girls’ basketball overpowered by Lynbrook

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
December 18, 2024
Viking junior Cassie Gracon chases down a ball against a Bear midfielder Thursday night at Palo Alto High School. The fast-paced game ending in 2-2 tie marked an improvement from their early season loss for the Vikings. Vikings’ head coach Jeremy Romero said they had much ambition for the season. "Our goals in the league is to win it. To win it."

[Photo] Girl’s soccer ties Bears

Alex Chang and Kevin O’Brien
December 18, 2024
Viking freshman guard Abigail Neumann scores a layup against the James Lick Comets during the first quarter of the game at Palo Alto high school. According to Neumann, offensive consistency was paramount to the Viking's victory. "We ran our plays all the way through, and were really consistent on offense, scoring throughout the entirety of the game," Neumann said.

Girls’ basketball blows out Comets

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
December 12, 2024
In Wicked, Glinda teaches Elphaba how to become popular with a famous song from the original musical.

Wicked: A spellbinding success?

Andrew Zhao and Alex Chang
December 7, 2024
Viking wide receiver Jeremiah Fung prepares to play offense against the Aptos Mariners in the semifinals of the D3 Central Coast Playoffs, 7 p.m. on Friday. According to tight end Malcolm Phillips, despite the season's unfortunate end he looks forward to playing next year. "It's over with this team, but I'm really excited for next year," Phillps said. "A lot of young guys with a lot of promise and I think our coaching staff is going to be able to make us better and improve a lot during the off season."

Vikings end their season with loss to Aptos

Joy Tan and Andrew Zhao
November 27, 2024
Viking sophomore and outside hitter Maura Hambly returns the ball during the second set of the Vikings' 3-1 victory over the Los Altos Eagles. According to Eagles senior setter Sophia Costa, the Eagles focused on never giving up. "Our mindset was probably just to get as many points as possible, and play our hardest no matter how big the point different is," Costa said.

Vikings triumph over Eagles on Senior Night

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
November 1, 2024
Chris Colohan is running for PAUSD school board. According to Colohan, many campaigns for school board are looking for interns. "Many of the campaigns are happy to hire interns," Colohan said. "So if you find a candidate who really resonates with you, just ask them, hey, are you looking for interns?"

Board candidate Colohan connects with students directly

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
October 29, 2024
Juniors struggle to pass the water in the water bucket challenge during a Tuesday rally at Palo Alto High School. According to junior Ginwalla, the juniors had a lot of confidence heading into the lunch rally. "I'm super confident, we got this in the bag," Ginwalla said.

Seniors dominate second lunch rally with water buckets, donuts

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
October 16, 2024
Viking defender Natalie Dymmel chases down Bruins junior Gabriella "Gigi" Gonzalez in the second half of the game at the Earl Hansen Football Stadium, Monday Oct 7th. According to Viking junior wide receiver and defensive back Danica Chew, the team played solid defense but occasionally struggled with making progress on the field. “Our defense was so good today, they were pulling those flags really fast,” Chew said. “I think our offense needs to work on some shorter passes.”

Flag Football falls to Bruins in defensive brawl

Alex Chang and Andrew Zhao
October 11, 2024
Gunn senior Rhea Josyula performs her new song "I'll Be Fine," which debuted just two weeks ago. According to freshman Shaoie Chan Chordia, she enjoyed Josyula's performance. "I loved the original song," Chan Chordia said. "She's a really good singer."

Open Mic Night fosters creativity

Andrew Zhao, Managing Editor, Sports
October 10, 2024
The Cali Gold BBQ sandwich (right), Chicken Nuggets (left), and House-made Iced Tea make a perfect meal at Starbird.

Review: Starbird Chicken: The new go-to spot for Paly students?

Andrew Zhao and Amani Fossati-Moiane
October 7, 2024
Senior middle blocker Naama Green defends against University Devil's outside hitter Lilian Bongiorno in the Vikings' third match of the season at home, where the Vikings won 3-0. According to Green, improving after the first set helped the Vikings win the match. "What I think we did well was not letting the first set affect us for the other sets by bringing that energy, and fighting to get a lead and win the game," Green said.

Girls volleyball sweeps Devils

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
September 10, 2024
Viking junior defender Max Newman pokes at Bear sophomore Attacker Carey Wolf in the Vikings' second match against the Menlo Atherton High School Bears. According to Viking head coach Ed Hattler, the Vikings are working on building up a love for the sport. "We're trying to build the culture, we're trying to build the level of play," Hattler said. "We're trying to get younger guys in and excited about lacrosse."

Vikings suffer second loss to Bears

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
May 8, 2024
Verbatim: Students prepare for Advanced Placement testing

Verbatim: Students prepare for Advanced Placement testing

Andrew Zhao and Alex Chang
May 5, 2024
Student pulls festive float along University Avenue in last year's May Fete Parade. This year, Palo Alto residents are expecting an even more vibrant display as the parade celebrates its centennial milestone. According to LeDrew, there are fun activities planned for people to look forward to. "We're gonna have some special things," LeDrew said. "I don't want to giveaway the surprise so folks can enjoy that, but it's gonna be a great fun day here in Palo Alto."

May Fete Parade century celebration

Allison Ma and Andrew Zhao
May 4, 2024
Viking junior Sam Janik avoids a Panther defender in the third quarter against the Burlingame High School Panthers. According to Viking junior Oliver Chancellor, the Vikings did a good job of supporting each other throughout the game. "We made sure that whether someone makes a mistake, we bring each other up instead of breaking us down," Chancellor said. "Sometimes things can get a little heated, so you need to take that energy into constructive criticism."

Viking offense overpowers Panthers

Andrew Zhao and Alex Chang
April 21, 2024
Audio visual engineer Justin Price tries the apple vision pro for the first time. According to Price, he likes how personalized the Vision Pro is for each individual. "For this particular device, it's as if it's meant just for the person, even in terms of how the setup was after they took my glasses and got my prescription, it's really awesome." Price said. (Photo: Evan Chien)

Apple Vision Pro: More than just a toy?

Evan Chien and Andrew Zhao
April 12, 2024
Zhen attempts to stop Po's sneeze in "Kung Fu Panda 4." According to "Kung Fu Panda 4" director Mike Mitchell, the creation of another two sequels on top of "Kung Fu Panda 4" is very possible. (Photo: DreamWorks)

‘Kung Fu Panda 4’: Made for the wrong audience

Evan Chien and Andrew Zhao
April 12, 2024
Verbatim: Student reactions to 2024 March Madness

Verbatim: Student reactions to 2024 March Madness

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
April 11, 2024
Eagle senior outside hitter Aidan Cuppett hits a deadly serve in the first set between the Vikings and the Los Altos High School Eagles. The Vikings were unable to defend against the Eagles' outside hitters leading to a 3-0 defeat. According to Cuppett, his offense as well as the communication between the Eagles helped them pull off this victory. "I think my attacking was pretty good, but also just like communicating with some of the teammates on like, what they need to do is pretty good," Cuppett said.

Eagles sweep Vikings in boys’ volleyball

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
April 4, 2024
Viking junior Henry Harding throws a pitch Friday in the Vikings’ second game of the year against the Los Altos High School Eagles. Despite a strong finish, the Vikings weren’t able to close the gap, leading to a 3-12 loss to the Los Altos High School Eagles. According to the Eagles head coach Gabriel Stewart, the game against the Vikings the day before helped the Eagles mentally prepare. "I told the guys, you have to be prepared because they're a great team," Stewart said. "They're gonna be fiery, and you have to match their intensity. And luckily today we did."(Photo: Andrew Zhao)

Viking baseball shut down by Eagles

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
March 19, 2024
Viking sophomore Charlotte Barclay defends against Carlmont High School Scots player in the Vikings' fifth game of the season. Despite a rocky start to their season, the Vikings played strong, winning 19-10 over the Carlmont High School Scots. According to Viking sophomore Natalie Dymmel, she loved the intensity and the confident mindset of the Vikings. "I definitely love the drive and the energy. They're also supportive even if we lose the ball,"Dymmel said. "They're cheering you on, even from the sidelines, you can hear them from across the field." (Photo: Andrew Zhao)

Vikings girls’ lacrosse gains first victory of season over Scots

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
March 14, 2024
With the score tied up midway through the fourth quarter, Viking junior point guard Gavin Haase scores a shot over a Ripon High School Indian during a game Tuesday at home. After a tough first half, the Palo Alto Viking boys’ basketball team made a comeback win against Ripion High School to advance to the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation State Boys Basketball Championships. According to Viking Head Coach Jeff LaMere, this team has worked hard to lead up to these moments. “To compete in the state tournament is incredibly gratifying,” LaMere said. “It's a dream come true as a player and a coach. That's what these programs strive for.” (Photo: Andrew Zhao)

Vikings narrowly defeat Indians in first round of CIF State Championships

Andrew Zhao and Kevin O’Brien
February 29, 2024
Palo Alto High School Viking senior Alaap Nair defends against a Carlmont High School Scots player during its first Central Coast Section single elimination game on Tuesday. The Vikings won 59-52 against the Scots in a tight game with a combined total of 20 3-pointers. Vikings coach Jeff LaMere said the Vikings played a consistent game and were able to keep the intensity up through the critical match. “We want to be energy givers, not energy takers,” LaMere said. “Regardless of how many minutes you're playing, whatever you're doing, you're on the bench or in the game, be an energy giver.” (Photo: Andrew Zhao)

Vikings defeat Scots in CCS quarterfinals

Kevin O’Brien and Andrew Zhao
February 21, 2024
Viking freshman shooting guard Eliana Miao prepares to pass to sophomore point guard Camryn Ogawa during the second quarter of the game against the Monta Vista Matadors Friday night at home. The Vikings' defeat by the Matadors marks their 22nd consecutive loss of this season, with no games won. According to Miao, the young Viking team is still learning how to play as a team. "We're all just going to keep practicing together," Miao said. "We're going to begin to come together as a team, talking a lot more on defense, cheering each other on, and just being calmer with the ball." (Photo: Evan Chien)

Vikings growing through epic losing season

Evan Chien and Andrew Zhao
February 12, 2024
Palo Alto High School 9th grader left back Ellie Knott prepares to run after the ball during the girl's varsity soccer game on Tuesday at home. The Vikings won, 2-1, against the Falcons, keeping the Vikings at third in the league. According to Viking sophomore center back Reyes Aronson, the Vikings play solidly as a unified team. "I feel like our team together as a whole played really good," Aronson said. "We were switching it really well, keeping the ball, ... doing things we should be doing." (Photo: Andrew Zhao)

Girls’ soccer edges out Falcons

Nathan Jiang and Andrew Zhao
January 31, 2024
Board of Education members Jennifer DiBrienza and Jesse Ladomirak during a board meeting on Oct. 27. Ladomirak, the former vice president, was appointed as board president during a board meeting on Dec 12th. According to Ladomirak, the district is equipped with the right tools to ensure that all students can achieve academic success. “We have resources, we have a well educated community, and there's a certain level of success,” Ladomirak said. “I continue to believe that in public education, schools should be judged by how well you do educating the students who have the least amount of privilege too.” (Photo: Kensie Pao)

New board president to promote diverse student culture

Celina Lee and Andrew Zhao
January 24, 2024
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