At the end of a second-round fight, a coach pictured on the left shadowboxes to demonstrate strategy while a second coach readies water for his fighter, who sits sweating at the edge of the mat. The scene unfolded at Eat, Sleep Teep, a Muay Thai event held at Ventura High School (Ventura), where coaching corners lined the competition mats and athletes and spectators packed the gym throughout the warm day.

Two competitors stood awaiting the call as the referee raised the arm of the winning fighter. The decision brought on cheers and clapping from family and friends in the stands. Afterwards, the two fighters embraced each other and the opposing coaches, while praising each other for their hard work and effort.

Downtown is a hub of Ventura culture. Close to the beach as well as the mountains, Main St. is home to a majority of Ventura’s businesses and restaurants. The choice of whether or not to allow cars on Main St. greatly influences the way it operates and how people interact downtown.

Downtown Ventura has been a point of contention for years. Starting during covid, Main St. has been shut down to cars. Now on September 16, 2025, the Ventura City Council is reconsidering their position. This has sparked action in Ventura’s residents to advocate for their preferred position.

A small group of seniors and one of their pet dogs sit on the beach to watch the sunrise, enjoying the company of their classmates and recalling the times that they spent together throughout their previous three years at Foothill Tech.

Noah Griardot ‘26, William Brown ‘26, Luke Huff ‘26 and Luke Sassen ‘26 take the opportunity with friends to make lasting memories of playing Spikeball and spending time together while watching the sunrise over the beach. They mark a great start to their morning and to their senior year as they appreciate the friendships they’ve created since they first met.

Camila26, Sofia Vega ‘26 and Brianna Alvarez ‘26 pose together with custom hand-made shirts to enhance the festivities. Recollecting on how far they have come since their freshman year, they continue to look forward to all of the new memories that they will make throughout the school year.

The class of 2026 gathered on Pierpont beach during the early hours of the morning on Aug. 15, 2025, participating in a long lasting school tradition of watching the sunrise. The sunrise symbolically starts their last year at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) and is a tradition planned by the Associated Student Body (ASB) that most seniors look forward to every year.

Lilac Reyes ‘26 (number 6) confidently rises in the air and spikes the ball over to Buena High School’s (Buena) side of the net. Reyes’ spike was too powerful for Buena’s defense, and she ended up securing a point for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech). As an outside hitter, Reyes had many hits throughout the game, making her a valuable asset to the Dragons, despite their overall loss.

Samantha Jacobson ‘26 (number 1) happily high fives her teammate Emily Turner ‘26 (number 4) after an amazing play by Turner. The Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) girls volleyball team faced off against Buena High School (Buena) on Aug. 14, 2025, and secured a win during the first set. Despite this initial victory, the Dragons ultimately lost to Buena.

After a spike from one of Buena High School’s (Buena) hitters, Samantha Jacobson ‘26 (number 1) passes the ball from the back row to the setter, hoping to set up a successful play. Jacobson’s determination was shown throughout the game as she was running to save the ball no matter where it was hit.

The class of 2029 talked in small groups on the Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) quad during the first day of school, Aug. 13, 2025. With new outfits and school supplies many students take time to connect with new classmates, share summer stories and ease first-day nerves. The relaxed conversations mark the beginning of their high school journey and a new chapter ahead.

A group of Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) seniors, Scarlett Palmieri ’26, Caroline Vanderkooij ’26, Xiomara De La Torres ’26 and Lailah Davis ’26, group together to celebrate the official start of their last year of high school. For many seniors, this day serves as a bittersweet marker in their progression towards finishing high school and moving into adulthood.

Aug. 13, 2025 marked the official beginning of the 2025-2026 school year for Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech) as well as the rest of the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD). Around campus, numerous staff members could be seen showing off their school spirit, wearing astronaut attire to acknowledge the school’s theme of the year, “Chasing the Stars.” Foothill Tech’s Associated Student Body (ASB) went above and beyond with decorations, covering the halls with balloons, streamers and stars with every student’s name written on them, highlighting ASB’s dedication to creating a welcoming environment for new and returning students.