The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

The Student News Site of Monta Vista High School

El Estoque

Tabitha Mendez

Tabitha Mendez, Sports Editor

Tabitha Mendez is currently a senior and the sports and visuals editor for El Estoque. In her free time, she likes to hang out with friends and family, listen to music, watch movies, and find places to add her travel bucket list.

All content by Tabitha Mendez
Nurses at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center pose for a photo to thank the numerous kids who have sent in a letter via the email forum.

Lending a helping hand

Track & Field team helps boost essential worker morale
Justine Ha and Tabitha Mendez
May 26, 2020
This was on the empty field behind the school where we started a game of soccer together. Photo by Emory Heath

Sports: a love that needs no language

How people are universally able to unite over sports
Tabitha Mendez
April 10, 2020
Hirai and her dance class posing for a photo after their dance session. Photo courtesy of Sydney Hirai.

Dancing through a screen

Dance Academy USA holds classes through video calls while under quarantine
Tabitha Mendez
April 5, 2020
Coach Kirk Flatow fires the starting gun for every heat during the shootout event.

Track & field host its annual 400 meter shootout event

On Feb. 27, the shootout event took place which kickstarted the new 2020 track & field season
Justine Ha and Tabitha Mendez
March 3, 2020
Boys soccer: The Matadors fall to Gunn HS on the team’s senior night

Boys soccer: The Matadors fall to Gunn HS on the team’s senior night

MVHS falters in upholding strong defense after lots of back-and-forth plays, resulting into the teams’ fourth league loss of the season
Justine Ha, Tabitha Mendez, and Kamyar Moradi
February 13, 2020
My dad and I when I was younger, matching in Raider gear often. We took this photo because our numbers were the opposite of each other.

Goodbye Oakland Raiders

My emotions about the Oakland Raiders relocating to Las Vegas and the team’s impact on my life
Tabitha Mendez
February 6, 2020
Soccer referee keeps his eye on the players during the game. Photo by Tabitha Mendez

Callin’ the Shots

Referees share about their experiences outside of the game
Elena Khan and Tabitha Mendez
February 5, 2020
Senior Sanjay Gollapudi passes by a Willow Glenn defender in hopes for a shot opportunity early on into the second period.

Boys basketball: The Matadors lose in an intense matchup against Willow Glen HS

With faltering defensive plays throughout the game, the Matadors fell with a final score of 46-58
Tabitha Mendez and Justine Ha
December 14, 2019
The study session was held from 3:30-6 p.m. , and hosted around 100 students. Photo by Justine Ha

Class of 2021 hosts their first cram session

The junior class holds an after school study session for the junior class
Tabitha Mendez
December 10, 2019
All the seniors apart of the girls varsity volleyball team and coach Colin Anderson pose for a photo after the senior night game.

Girls Volleyball: The Matadors lose to Los Altos HS on their senior night

The Lady Mats defeated with a final score of 3-0
Justine Ha, Tabitha Mendez, and Collin Qian
November 13, 2019
Nordby also played field hockey for four years in high school. Field hockey was Nordbys favorite sport because of how supportive the team was.

Triple threat

Exploring MVHS athletes who play a sport all three seasons and how it impacts their life
Tabitha Mendez and Stuti Upadhyay
October 23, 2019
Junior Carina Johnson hopes to score and take the lead against Gunn HS in the fifth set. Photo by Justine Ha

Girls Volleyball: The Matadors narrowly lose to Gunn HS in a tight five set match

With the final score of 3-2, the Matadors lose their eighth game of the league season
Justine Ha and Tabitha Mendez
October 12, 2019
Junior and quarterback Simon Loeffler heads off the field. Photo by Tabitha Mendez

Out of Action

Football coach and players reflect on the JV football team being cut and the potential long-term effects
Tabitha Mendez, Swara Tewari, and Lance Tong
September 27, 2019
Frehsman Greyson Mobley makes a run against SJHS, trying to keep the Matadors in the lead. Photo by Collin Qian

Football: MVHS wins against San Jose HS for the first home win of the season

Matadors win with a final score of 35-7 with strong offensive plays
Tabitha Mendez, Kamyar Moradi, and Swara Tewari
September 16, 2019
Senior Lauren Lee breaks away from the defender to lead a counter attack against Willow Glen HS. Photo by Kamyar Moradi

Field hockey: Team loses first game against Willow Glen HS

Matadors face a difficult defeat with a final score of 4-0
Tabitha Mendez and Kamyar Moradi
September 2, 2019
Crafting a traditional farewell: The Farewell Rally

Crafting a traditional farewell: The Farewell Rally

MVHS Leadership organizes preparations for the annual end of the year Farewell Rally
Powderpuff: How each grade level prepared for and executed their performances

Powderpuff: How each grade level prepared for and executed their performances

Cheer and football coaches explain their processes for preparing their teams
MVHS baseball take home a 3-2 win on senior night

MVHS baseball take home a 3-2 win on senior night

Baseball plays Fremont HS on their last home game of the season
Senior Itay Rabinovich  commits to the University of California Santa Cruz. Photo courtesy of Rabinovich

A step further in athletics and academics

Student athletes explain their scouting processes and recruitment decisions
Tabitha Mendez
May 5, 2019
My brother and I, at ages  16 and 6.

The unspoken pressures of sibling relationships

The varying expectations between an older and younger sibling.
Tabitha Mendez
April 16, 2019
Street smart shortage

Street smart shortage

MVHS students' lack of street smarts will negatively affect how we navigate in the real world
An overview of Cure Cancer Casino

An overview of Cure Cancer Casino

Octagon officers and attendees reflect on CCC 2019
Tabitha Mendez and Stuti Upadhyay
March 31, 2019
Finding happiness

Finding happiness

Why we should be placing emphasis on our mental well-being
Queen - live show in Houston 1977

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

Who are today’s legends?

Whether Western musicians of our generation will stand the test of time.
Tabitha Mendez
March 4, 2019
Juniors Anna Kolesov, Tarun Sarang, Willy Liou and Wen Jin aim at the seniors while playing in the final round to see who will take first place and who will take second. The juniors ended up beating the freshman in the first round but later lost to the seniors in the final round, taking second place.

Avatar the Last Airbender: Dodgeball Edition

Leadership hosts a dodgeball game to pick winter rally themes.
Tabitha Mendez and Rucha Soman
February 8, 2019
A Love Story: Exploring the obstacles in romantic relationships

A Love Story: Exploring the obstacles in romantic relationships

MVHS students describe the less-publicized aspects of romantic relationships
MV Octagon kicks off Cure Cancer Cafe

MV Octagon kicks off Cure Cancer Cafe

The Octagon officer team’s process for selecting committee chairs
Stuti Upadhyay and Tabitha Mendez
December 17, 2018
Santa Claus comes to town

Santa Claus comes to town

Children and staff attend a holiday celebration with Santa and his elves
Alyssa Hui and Tabitha Mendez
December 16, 2018
A legacy left in the comic books

A legacy left in the comic books

Students speak on Stan Lee’s legacy following his death
Tabitha Mendez, Keshav Taneja, and
November 28, 2018
Adamya Srivastava and Melinda Ximen start off the meeting

Speak Your Mind

MVHS politics club prepares for first debate conference of the year
Tabitha Mendez and Kamyar Moradi
November 21, 2018
Wired together: The implications of living in a technology-based world

Wired together: The implications of living in a technology-based world

Students' opinions on the ever-growing impact of technology on their lives
Teachers react to Rate My Teacher

Teachers react to Rate My Teacher

Teachers read and comment on their reviews
Alyssa Hui and Tabitha Mendez
November 19, 2018
One Last Scare: Seniors create haunted house for seven years in a row

One Last Scare: Seniors create haunted house for seven years in a row

Student-organized haunted house tradition comes to a close
Emily Xia and Tabitha Mendez
November 12, 2018
Upcoming in Octagan

Upcoming in Octagan

Octagon officers discuss popular events and what Octagon offers to members
Stuti Upadhyay and Tabitha Mendez
October 24, 2018
Girls Water Polo: The defeat against Santa Clara HS 15-17

Girls Water Polo: The defeat against Santa Clara HS 15-17

Game against SCHS results in crowd member ejection
Rana Aghababazadeh and Tabitha Mendez
October 17, 2018
Senior Josh Garcia runs after the ball with Gunn players trailing closely behind

Football: Team maintains winning streak after narrowly defeating Gunn HS

MVHS struggles to maintain Cupertino’s running game as they lose the Helmet game a third year in a row
Sreya Kumar, Tabitha Mendez, and Kamyar Moradi
October 6, 2018
A look at Leadership’s Homecoming Preparation

A look at Leadership’s Homecoming Preparation

2018-19 Leadership class prepares for the one of the biggest events of the year
Tabitha Mendez
September 28, 2018
Load More Stories