Sports∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ August 2021
Varsity girls volleyball preseason work pays off in early tournaments LEANA GREENE Production Editor Walking onto the courts in the 20212022 fall season are the girls varsity volleyball players. The program has lost ten seniors, including Cimone and Bria Woodard, who now play at Howard University, and Sania Petties, now at Mississippi State; however, the Knights are still working hard and hoping to maintain their Southwest Preparatory CC]onfewrence title. They started the preseason hosting a tritournament against College Station High School and Fulsher High School. Quickly following was the Pearland Tournament, in which EHS went headto-head with some of the best public
programs in Texas. EHS managed to place second in the Bronze Bracket. The season opener was against Second Baptist, where new libero, sophomore Sammy Little, made remarkable saves and proving her dedication to the team. Leading the Knights this year is senior Morgan Perkins and juniors Ava Harrington, Emma Poirot, and Farah Farooq. These four athletes have shown true passion and dedication to the sport and have and will continue to represent Episcopal volleyball with bravery. “Kia Kaha,” meaning stand strong, is the phrase the volleyball program has chosen to follow, and with the exciting season ahead of them, the athletes look forward to showing their strength at this year’s SPC.
Culture of success remains in boys volleyball program
CHRIS LAHOTI Editor-in-Chief The boys volleyball team played several matches against St. John’s, Kinkaid, Awty, Fort Worth Country Day, and Trinity Valley this past month as part of a strong start to the 2021-2022 season. With tournaments and the Southwest Preparatory Conference championship opening up, Head Coach Kerry Hofmeister intends to take advantage of this critical season for both varsity and JV. Practices have been drill-intensive and heavily focused on fundamentals in order
to condition new players and help returning players adjust. The season began with passing, blocking, digging, and hitting, and is now transitioning to other key areas of focus, such as position and rotation knowledge. Each practice concludes with four-versus-four or six-versus-six games, allowing players to implement their new skills in a competition-based environment. Coach Hofmeister has also integrated weight training to improve players’ strength and agility. Upcoming matches include Awty (TBD), St. Andrew’s (9/17, 9/24), and St. Stephen’s (9/18, 9/25).
Junior Henry Kinzel races for the finish line during one of the team’s first meets. Photo by Lauren West.
Boys and girls cross country teams train for race-packed season ahead KATE FREEMAN Staff Writer The cross country team has been practicing all summer long to prepare for a strong season. The team has not had a real season race in quite some time. On the girls’ side, the team is looking forward to its first meet August 21 in Waxahachie, Texas, while the boys will compete at Woodlands Christian. The most challenging meets will be September 25, when the team travels to the McNeil Invitational in Austin to race the best public and private schools in Texas. The most exciting meet will be the Nike South Regional Championships (NXR) on November 20, where the best runners from Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi race. The top ten runners as well as the top three teams in this race will go on to the Nike High
School Nationals in Oregon. SPC will take place November 6 on a hilly course at Norbuck Park in Dallas. Coach Julius Michael recognized on the boys’ side senior John Bruton, who has consistently been the top runner since his freshman year. On the girls’ side he named seniors Ella Newman, Kat Kwiatkowski, and Kate Freeman as leaving a winning legacy for the program. He is also excited about the summer training commitment of incoming freshmen Ben Seaworth, Madison Morgan, and Asher Luengas. The end goal of winning SPC will be achieved through consistency and dedication. If anyone is interested in running, let any of the coaches on campus know (Coach Michael, Coach Lauer, or Coach Sanders). “It’s not when or where you start, but where you finish,” added Coach Michael.
Multiple members of cheer and Field hockey aims for an SPC win pom teams recognized at camps MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer The field hockey program, led by Coach Shelly Edmonds, is excited to start its first full season playing on the new internationally certified turf field. Playing on this field will help the team improve and compete at the highest level. At the end of each season, the varsity team plays in the SPC tournament. During the season, each practice serves as preparation and a time of improvement before it begins. This year’s tournament is in Dallas from November 4-6. The new year brings many great changes. Coach Edmonds and the players are excited to have a season in which masks are no longer required. Additionally, St. Stephen’s is going to be visiting EHS to compete with both varsity and JV and will
return in September for a counter game that will be part of determining varsity’s seed in SPC. Coach Edmonds wants to specifically give thanks to her upperclass players. “We would like to recognize all of our seniors and juniors in the field hockey program. These upperclassmen led the team through a difficult tryout session and have led by example over these three or four years.” Notably, varsity goalie Audrey Post has a verbal commitment with UC-Berkley. “We are excited to have her out on the field with us,” stated Coach Edmonds. As this season continues, Coach Edmonds will strive to cultivate a program that encourages players to keep competing season after season. “To develop these girls into great field hockey players, leaders, and teammates” is her number one goal.
Football games allow 100% capacity
that role. Head Coach Steve Leisz believes that the class as a whole has the potential to lead the team in a positive direction; The Episcopal Knights have been prehe knows the group and its relatively new paring hard for the upcoming, hopefully coaching staff will work hard to protect its COVID-19-free, season. Having started SPC title. preseason during After a Covidthe summer and filled 2020, EHS ramping it up in has opened up the early August, the Simmons Field Knights have alfor maximum fan ready scrimmaged capacity, giving Second Baptist the athletes the and St. Thomas energy they will with commendneed to perform able results. at their best. The first official EHS scrimmages against Second Baptist. Pho- Episcopal will game of the sea- by Lauren West. host what could son was at home be the most excitagainst Episcopal Parish on August 28th. ing home game of the year on October When it comes to leadership on the field, 10th against one of its biggest rivals, the the Senior Class has been asked to assume Kinkaid Falcons.
JALYNN WOOLLEY Staff Writer The cheer and pom teams have been busy all summer, and their hard work seems to have paid off because the girls won an abundance of prestigious awards. At the NCA Speed Camp, Natalie Taylor and Emma Dabney were named All-Americans, and Sophia Neylon was named Top Jumper, with Emily Keenan qualifying as a finalist. The pom team attended UDA Camp in August where they won Superior Team Routine and Superior Overall. Five seniors were also named All-Americans, including Kristen Davis, Frieda Borden, Kendall Aldstadt, Eliza Thompson, and Zoe Meshberger. The cheer team attended the Woodlands Elite Camp where many of the girls were awarded for their excel-
lence, including Tasia Rushing, Sophia Neylon, Jillian Greely, Caterina Cruces, Caylon Mike, Louis Youtt, Mattie Pincu, Angelina Vella, Emily Keenan Audrey Black, Emma Kate Michael, Julia Sherman, Caroline Thomas, Emma Shoppa, Izzy Proler, Hollyn Hansilk, Scarlett DuBose, Porter Miller, Emmi Bailey, Natalie Taylor, and Allie Foutch. At the NCA Camp, Sophia Neylon, Caylon Mike, Emma Kate Michael, Emily Keenan, Jillian Greely, Reagan Gable, and Scarlett DuBose received the title of AllAmerican. In addition, Neylon and Mike were given an invitation to join the NCA staff next spring, which is only offered to the top cheerleaders around the country. The spirit program welcomes back Knight alum Katherine Kuntz to assist with the JV cheer team. All 86 girls are excited to perform at football games as well as girls and boys volleyball this fall.
LEANA GREENE Production Editor
The cheer team utilizes gym space to practice routines. Photo by Lauren West.
