News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
November 2018
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Cheer squads earn top honors
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 33, Issue 4
Grandparents Day Traditional Chapel and luncheon signals Thanksgiving Break
LEIGH ANNE RAYMOND Guest Writer The Episcopal Knights freshmen, JV and varsity cheer teams competed Sunday, Nov. 11, at NRG Arena in the NCA Lone Star Classic. Over 30 schools competed in various divisions, and the Knights teams all took home first places in their performance divisions. Competition involves a two-minute and thirty second routine comprised of tumbling, stunts, dancing, and crowd leading, which they start preparing for in May. Cheer has 65 girls in its program: freshmen (27), JV (16) and varsity (22). The girls prepare for the season by attending summer camps where they compete for All-American, an award to the athletes who score a standard score of excellence in jumps, tumbling, cheer, and motion technique, along with spirit and enthusiasm. All-American this year were freshman Caylon Mike; sophomores Elise Branch, Victoria Vella, Lindsay Rorschach, Elena Cokinos, and Morgan Garrett; and juniors Avery Edens, Annabelle Cokinos, Presley Zylman, Hannah Benstock, and Hayden Hanslik. JV member Elizabeth McLauchlin and varsity member Morgan Garrett won top jumpers at camp. The varsity team has been led by three incredible seniors: Lilly Cone, Sophia Haugh and Ashley Chandler, and the teams were under the direction of Head Coach Leigh Anne Raymond and assistants Catherine Jacobs ‘10, Emily Vidor ‘08, and Shaun McAnulty. The girls are giving, hardworking, kind, and set a standard of excellence in their work ethic that makes the team step up and give their all. A highlight of the year was the philanthropy that the squads perform through the Pink Ribbon Knight. The girls raised over $6K with their annual t-shirt and bake sale. The school and its community are like family, and the effort and support shown by the cheerleaders are part of the traditions that make EHS an incredible school.
INSIDE Via Colori Arts students make magic with sidewalk chalk.
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Fall SPC Programs excel in individual and team performances.
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Features ........................ 2 Art ................................ 6 Culture ......................... 7 Entertainment .............. 8 Opinion ........................ 9 Sports ........................... 10
Junior Avery Harrison enjoys lunch with her grandparents Ralph and Rosalie Buggs in Alkek Gym following a special Chapel on Grandparents Day. Photo by Julia Toups. LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief
Grandparents Day allows students to bring their loved ones to EHS to experience a day in the life of their grandchildren. Grandparents are able to attend an Episcopal Chapel service and enjoy lunch. The day provides an opportunity for families to connect while on the Episcopal campus.
New USC opens doors to grateful campus community DUNCAN LAMME Staff Writer The new Underwood Student Center was opened to students and faculty Monday, November 5, and with its big reveal came the opportunity for lunch to move from Scurlock Gym to a new cafeteria. The offerings feature new items such as pizza every day and a coffee bar called “Forrest Place” named after Forrest Pressler, alum of the Class of 2017, who pushed for the idea during his time as a student. The opening also brought back Episcopal favorites such as French fries and broccoli and diversified sections for entrées, burgers, pizza, salads, and a baked potato and pasta bar. Students can choose from a variety of lunch options, and there is a vegetarian choice in the entrée line every day. Drink dispensers that were in the old cafeteria are back as well, with flavors such as lemonade, iced tea, and strawberry kiwi water. The coffee bar offers students the option to create the ideal cup of coffee with different flavor selections. One potential drawback is that students are not able to use their school account number to purchase their drinks; instead, they will have
The new Underwood Student Center is now open and provides a place for students to socialize and eat in the cafeteria. Photo by Duncan Lamme. to pay using either cash or credit card. The cafeteria features regular seating at tables and cushioned seating for a more comfortable eating experience. The new seating areas allow much more space for students, so everyone will have a place where they can eat and sit with their friends in comfort. The cafeteria can also serve as a staging area with a raised area for speakers and a drop-down projector screen which can
help for announcements and class meetings. Off the main dining area can be found a glassed art gallery where student art will be constantly featured, including the first Visual Arts Exhibition this month. Above the cafeteria space are two innovation spaces where classes will be held across multiple Pillars. Four offices, some holding class deans, are also featured on the second floor.
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The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
On Black Friday, some shoppers inevitably give in to retail rage NICK HELD Staff Writer Black Friday. The lovely patriotic holiday celebrated the day after Thanksgiving is a universal sale when stores sell items at extremely discounted prices. What could go wrong? While the holiday is meant for shoppers to stock up on their Christmas present supply at a bargain, the reality of it is comparable to The Hunger Games. Shoppers go insane and the employees are left to deal with them. Reddit is a chatroom where people can publish stories and advice on just about anything. Who better to give advice on this chaos? A particular Reddit poster summarized everything negative about Black Friday in rapid fire phrasing. This is his or her Black Friday masterpiece: “Cart stealing. Every year. Never put a doorbuster item in your cart and turn your back. Cops arresting someone for stealing a cart with a woman’s purse in it. Layaway lines that stretched almost three-quarters of the perimeter of the store. People would try to sneak into line and nearly get beaten by the people behind them. Customers asking electronics associates if they’ll watch their kids so they can shop. Happened more than once. Multiple workers reduced to tears by customers literally screaming at them, including a poor 18-year-old girl that was called [ignorant] because the store ran out of Game Boys. More than one of these
people were thrown out of the store. A guy bought two Tickle Me Elmo dolls, then waited until the store was sold out. He stood in the parking lot trying to sell them for like $300. His 10- or 11-year-old stood just behind him holding a bat “just in case.” By far the best was three grandmothers getting into a literal fist fight over the last Furby. A full-on brawl, rolling around on the floor, kicking & punching. Nobody knew what to do. It took two women and a manager to pull them apart. It was the [craziest] thing I’ve ever seen.” - @gametemplar via reddit.com.
During 2017 the annual Black Friday sale in stores looked like chaos as customers fought over items. Photo courtesy of bgr.com.
EHS targets gender normalities and consent LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief To continue consent education this year, all students had a special advisory session, and the juniors and seniors heard a guest speaker during Chapel this month to discuss respect and consent. The advisory session first separated each advisory into boys and girls, and students were separated into groups of about thirty and met for the session in separate areas. The discussion focused around situations in which consent is not given or unclear and how students can recognize when consent is not given. The discussion helped clarify confusing situations and every day occurrences that students may have not realized needed consent. To continue the education in Chapel,
Maneesha Patel from The Women’s Home spoke about relationships and the role of The Women’s Home when helping people
The Women’s Home targets strengthening women and supporting families to reclaim stability. Image courtesy of facebook.com.
Juniors and seniors were separated into boy and girl groups to focus on gender norms and sexual consent. Image courtesy of scholarblogsemory.edu. in dangerous relationships and situations. The speech offered statistics and insight
into abusive relationships, as well has how The Women’s Home provides a safe place for women and families to gain stability. Consent education will continue throughout the year with similar meetings and talks about the subject. This new emphasis on consent will further educate students on unclear situations and how to properly respect every individual.
ISAS review will keep EHS running for another decade CARSON SHERMAN Staff Writer The Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS) is a non-profit association of close to 90 independent schools. Founded in 1955 and offering voluntary membership to schools in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Kansas, Louisiana, and Arizona, ISAS offers accreditation, professional development, and a community for independent schools to grow and thrive. According to their website, “ISAS promotes the highest professional and ethical standards of educational excellence.” Episcopal High School is an ISAS member, as are other local schools such as Kinkaid, St. John’s, and Houston Chris-
tian. Compliance with the standards of the association is necessary to remain a member, and schools that fail to comply
can be removed. Every 10 years, the association sends a group of professionals from other member
The ISAS evaluates Episcopal High School to determine if the school meets its high standards of education. Image courtesy of postoakschool.org.
schools to EHS to evaluate and advise the school. Next year is the tenth year of the cycle for EHS, and a group will be coming to visit and assess the school. Prior to an accreditation visit and evaluation, member schools are asked to participate in a self-study. This fall faculty and staff have been working hard on the self-study - a process that allows schools to reflect on current practices, while also acknowledging strengths, challenges, as well as plans and priorities for the future. It is important to realize that Episcopal High School is accountable to a greater organization and is required to meet high standards of education. Students can take pride in knowing that the school is a part of a learning community that strives for excellence.
EHS gathers at the Ellipse for another cup of Coffee House/Culture Fest ISABEL YOUNG Staff Writer This year’s Coffee House/Culture Fest was once again held in the Ellipse and was a big hit. There were several performances during 5A and 5B lunches, while clubs set up tables to encourage interest in their organizations. Jack Rambo led off 5A, singing with his band which included Henry Hafner. They did a rap about Taco Bell…taco ‘bout funny! Next, Abigail Klinkerman sang and played guitar. Double talent right there! Margaret Anne Kreig also rapped. You go, girl! In 5B there was equally some great entertainment, if not more. Mr. Bradshaw gathered some of his students - Margaret Mire, Olivia Mandola, Lilly Cone, and Ashley Chandler - to sing Blink 182 with him. It was “economic”ally awesome! Then, six girls asked some boys to cotil-
lion with a funny rap about each guy. This performance was by Bryce Bagwell, Taylor Hurd, Kate Carter, Isabel Young, Mire, and Cone. The boys were so flattered by this gesture they were ecstatic to accept the invitation. After this, Cole Aaronson and Jack Podsednik performed “Big Time Rush” very enthusiastically. It went so well that listeners thought the band was back together like a previous show. To end the show, Nathan Reichert rapped “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore with Hunter Hernandez accompanying him on the drums. Hey, Nathan, where did you get that coat?! To compliment all the great and entertaining performances, there were two food trucks for students - Kona Ice snow cones and a crape truck. Culture Fest took place at the same time, and clubs set up tables in front of the Convent for students to play their games and see what they were all about. Thanks to everyone who contributed to Coffee House/Culture Fest this year.
Abigail Klinkerman sings “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz during the 5A Coffee House. Photo by Trey Hernandez.
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English teacher’s career path has been an interesting one NICK HELD Staff Writer Mr. Mark Mitchell, English teacher, Debate Advisor, Honor Council member, Boxer... wait, what?!? That’s right. Mr. Mitchell was not only a boxer in his preteaching days, but he has held some other interesting occupations. The Knight Times had to find out more in this exclusive interview. There are a bunch of rumors about a martial arts career. What can you tell us about that? Any interesting stories? I got into boxing my sophomore year of college, and I fought Golden Gloves and amateur rounds until three or four years after college. What job did you have after college and Mr. Mark Mitchell how would you describe that? I was a bouncer. That’s how I paid my way through graduate school. In order to make enough money, I worked clubs at the door. What did you do after college? I taught in North Carolina and then I decided to attend graduate school at UT after previously attending graduate school at Duke. At UT, I worked on a PhD in medieval literature. I got bored out of my mind doing that and decided to get into politics, and that’s when I started working at the
Capitol on the political side of things. Can you elaborate on your political career? The first job I had was chief of staff for a state house member. During the legislative session, we worked 15-20 hour days, slept on the floor most nights, and got up and kept going. After the Civil War, the Texas legislature was created by people who hate government, so they tried to constrain it as much as possible to about six months every other year. How did you feel about this job? Why did you quit? It was really exhausting, but it was also a lot of fun. What you are doing is changing the laws that govern us every day, so it’s really kind of intoxicating. It’s not really healthy, though. I got out of it after five years because a guy came up to me, an older staffer, and he said, “Alright, when I was about your age, and I had been here about as long as you have, somebody told me what I’m going to tell you. If you’re going to stay here, you have to know what you’re getting in for. I’m on my third marriage. I have been to rehab twice. Everyone I know is on their third marriage and has been to rehab twice. That’s the life you’re signing up for. You won’t have a family. You will not be healthy, but you will be in politics. That’s the life.” That’s when I decided, yeah, I’m out. What did you do after politics? That’s when I went back to law school. I practiced law for about five years, doing mostly family law. Once you’ve been through a couple of divorce cases, you’re like, “This is awful.” If I were to do it
over again, I would do business law or administrative law, something that would help people find solutions versus helping people dissolve their marriages. Anything from your time in law that is
noteworthy? My criminal law professor said, “When you work around the criminal courts, you see bad people on their best behavior, but when you work family courts, you see good people on their worst behavior.”
Trilingual student has family ties in France and Russia BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer There are many remarkable and interesting life stories within the Episcopal community, and the noteworthy stories can vary among students and faculty. One of the most interesting stories on campus is that of a student who is trilingual and has lived in France, Russia, and the U.S. sophomore Max Defossez. Max was born in London, England, and lived there for less than a year, later moving to Moscow, Russia, where he lived for five years. He resided in an apartment in the center of Moscow and still visits those places today. He subsequently moved to Lyon, France, where he attended school (Notre Dame) for first and second grade. Already fluent in both French and Russian, Max began to learn English around third grade and transferred to another school in Lyon, Ombrosa Bilingual School. When he was in fifth grade, he travelled to the UK to live with a host family for an entire month. There he perfected his English and calls those weeks some of “the
most memorable experiences of [his] life.” Later that year he and his family made the move across the pond. In August, Max began to attend Awty International School and was there through eighth grade until arriving at EHS. He loves to return to many of his childhood favorite places and loves to go back and visit the many restaurants he grew up around. When Max goes back to France he enjoys visiting a restaurant called L’entrecote. This place is special because it has no menu, the only thing available to order is meat and fries with a special sauce. He continous to visit his grandparents who still live in northern France. While Max goes to visit Russia, he likes to go to Grabli, which is a traditional Russian restaurant with delicious food. He tries to go every single time he visits! Max also loves to compare the difference in the fast food restaurants like McDonald’s whenever he returns to Russia. “It’s always fun to compare” the differences between the original American McDonald’s and the unique mixture of normal and Russian McDonald’s.
Should girls be allowed membership on Gong Squad? ANNA MCLAUCHLIN AND TYLER DONOVAN Guest Writers Recently, more and more people are posing and grappling with the question of whether or not we should encourage or even allow female members as part of the Gong Squad. We believe that a Gong Squad composed of male and female students would more effectively energize the student section and enhance school spirit. When considering this question, two main arguments in favor of excluding female students arise. The first one is a question of effectiveness. How effective would female Gong Squad members be? We would argue that an all-male Gong Squad doesn’t represent our student body any better than an all-female Gong Squad would. The reality is that our student section at football games is fairly evenly split; it’s half male students and half female students. Female students in the student section, especially underclassmen, would benefit from prominent female spirit leaders in the stands. While the cheerleaders do exist in this role, they don’t have the same relationship with students that the Gong Squad does. Cheerleading is a separate sport, which focuses on its own athletics during football games. The Gong Squad is directly located in the student section during games with the sole responsibility of energizing the students, making it the perfect place for an effective female spirit leader. The second argument that arises is the question of tradition, and this is the one about which people seem to feel the most strongly. First of all, we want to point out that the tradition of the Gong Squad
actually isn’t very old. While the gong has been present at football games as early as 2007, the first official, school-sponsored Gong Squad was only formed during the 2014 football season. Because of the brevity of the Gong Squad’s existence, it is possible female students’ never being part of the Gong Squad has occurred out of coincidence rather than tradition. It is more than likely that no one has ever explicitly decided that prohibiting female students would be for the best. This means that if we decide now that allowing female students on the Gong Squad is something our school is against, we would be creating a new tradition based in sexism and exclusivity. What would allowing female students on the Gong Squad look like logistically in terms of the selection process? This EHS tradition and the way its members are chosen is largely unclear. Many students don’t even know how the Gong Squad is chosen. After speaking to Mrs. Toshla Guthrie, the faculty sponsor of the Gong Squad, we can dispel any curiosity regarding the selection process. It hasn’t always been the same, but here is how it works now: At the end of the year, the graduating members of the Gong Squad submit a list of names to the administration. This list of names is the Gong Squad’s recommendation for who the next members should be. The administration then takes that list and uses it in consideration for who the new members of the Gong Squad will be. They can choose all new members from names on the list, all new members from names that aren’t on the list, or any combination of the two. In the past, all names chosen have been on the list. The administration has not always had such a large say in who is on the Gong Squad, and we
believe that the selection process could be improved. Because the members of the Gong Squad so prominently represent our school on such a public display, we believe that they should be elected. It is tradition in this country that we elect those whom we want to represent us and that is what the Gong Squad does they represent our school. Female students deserve equal representation as members on the Gong Squad and all students deserve input on who they want to represent them. ISABEL YOUNG Social Media Coordinator Recently, there has been a question around whether girls should be on the Gong Squad. I believe that if this change were made it would hinder the spirit of the games and the bond formed between the squad and the football team. I do not believe a girl has the given right to be on the Gong Squad just because of her gender, and, as a girl myself, I can confidently say it is fair for us to respect the tradition and selection process of the Gong Squad. It is a common misperception that the Gong Squad is male exclusive. This is false. The squad was not founded to be a “boys club,” and although there has never been a female on the squad, there is not a written rule that it is prohibited. By placing a girl on the squad, it undermines the selection of new members by the former Gong Squad. The selection process begins with a list of names submitted to the administration by the former members, and the administration works with the squad on choosing the students who would be most effective in this role. So far, the squad members and administration have
agreed on new members. The opposing argument also heavily overestimates the demand for a girl on the Gong Squad. Most females looking for spirit opportunities in the EHS community either try out for cheer or become involved by becoming a pep rally MC. Just as very few, if any, males try out for the cheer team, the presumption that a female wants to be on the Gong Squad should not be grounds for mandating a female member. Although cheerleading is in its own athletic category and does not perfectly compare as a female version of the Gong Squad, their skills and abilities are very appreciated at the games and pep rallies. The students recognize the dedication and effort they put in towards the games, and they provide spirit in collaboration with the Gong Squad. Their position on the track may not be the same as being physically in the stands, but their cheers and performance show just as much, if not more, school spirit. In addition, all of the freshman and JV cheerleaders attend the games as students and represent the cheerleaders in the stands for underclassmen. The traditional aspect is another reason girls have not been on the Gong Squad so far. The Gong Squad was not founded in 2014. In fact, it has been around long before. In 2010, there were boys and gongs. It may not have been a school-sponsored group, but it did exist. Boys named themselves the “Gong Squad” and took it upon themselves to get the student section excited, making the games more enjoyable and giving them more school pride. They also hyped up the football players and made them even more excited about playing for their school. Now that this Continued on Page 9
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The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Evolution class takes a journey A Complete and Utter Lack of Witt through time at science museum PRESTON WITT Staff Writer
lus and the large dinosaurs on display. They saw the jaws of the megalodon and observed the later animals found during the Ice Age, such as the mammoth, the glyptodont, and the giant sloth. The exhibit ended with a look at human evolution through the variety of fossils found around the world over the past 3 million years, ranging from the Australopithecus Lucy to
DANIEL DAVIS Staff Writer Mrs. Kalee Blackburn’s first period evolution class recently paid a visit to the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Faculty Mr. John Flanagan and Ms. Erin Russe accompanied the excited class.
Hello, my Children of the Lack. I hope everyone is having a fine morning, afternoon, or night. This month’s Lack of Witt will make you test your knowledge of common sense. These questions not only blew my intelligent mind, but they made me question life choices in general. Enjoy these treats and let’s get this bread! Did you know that firefly is the opposite of waterfall? Isn’t butter just food lotion? Volleyball is just hardcore hot potato.
Why does your nose run and your feet smell? If you get out of the shower clean, then how does your towel get dirty? Who closes the bus door when the bus driver gets off?
Knights commit to next level (Villanova University – Volleyball), and Sophie Thomas (Northwestern University – Field Hockey). Congratulations to these student athletes and we wish them the best at their future colleges.
PRESTON WITT Staff Writer
Members of Mrs. Blackburn’s evolution class took a field trip to the Houton Museum of Natural Sciences where they viewed displays of the Paleolithic Era. Photo by Mr. John Flanagan. Upon their arrival, the students’ tour began in the Paleolithic Era, and it ended in the present day. The museum’s docent first pointed out collections of trilobites that emerged after Snowball Earth during the Cambrian Explosion. The students saw evolution play out as the creatures moved from early ocean life to the boomerang headed amphibians, next to the diplocau-
the almost modern-day Neanderthal. Overall, the field trip was a wonderful experience and proved that learning can also take place outside of the classroom. The students thoroughly enjoyed their “walk-through time” at the Museum of Natural Science and will encourage more classes to take these great field trips.
The Knight Times wants to recognize the outstanding achievements of our student athletes who will be competing at the next level. Their hard work in the classroom and on the field and court has led them to their successes. We want to congratulate Colton Rathjen (University of Texas – BaseSophie Thomas, Colton Rathjen, and Kathleen Johnson sign with ball), Kathleen Johnson colleges at the Varsity Awards Ceremony. Photo by Preston Witt.
EHS SPEAKS OUT
What are some things that you are thankful for?
GRACE MANALAC “My family”
HELEN YOUNG “Friends and family”
FLETCHER MEGARITY
TAYLOR HURD “New Orleans because that’s where I am from and for the Land Sharks”
MR. BRADSHAW “Margaret Mire, Lilly Cone, Isabel Young, and Home Depot”
CHRIS LAHOTI “Mr. Framel and the Newspaper team”
MAX FINKELSTEIN “Taco Bell’s $1 Craving Menu”
ANABELLE COKINOS “Jonathan (Dovie)”
COLE AARONSON “Girls and the ability to take selfies”
MRS. ADAMS “My students and family”
“Isabel’s Young and Hungry articles and for hoodies to hold my hair back”
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Pillars ∙ Page 5
Monitors tune in to Knights past SOS emphasizes service within the EHS community SYDNEY HUTCHINS Managing Editor
ROSILAND COATS Guest Writer Students of Service is a school-wide organization that provides volunteer opportunities for all Episcopal students. It has year-round partnerships with organizations around Houston and also volunteers at special events such as Challenger Football and the ArBOOretum. This year, SOS made two new partnerships. In addition to Nehemiah Center and the Women’s Home, Episcopal students can now volunteer at the Gardens of Bellaire and Cullen Middle School. The Gardens of Bellaire is an assisted living
home near EHS. Volunteers get to play games with the residents and keep them company. The residents have so much fun when students are there and appreciate the time spent with them. Also, the students at Cullen Middle School, located in the Third Ward, do not generally have access to professional tutors. EHS students can help out by coming after school and tutoring the students. Both of these new projects have been very successful and fun for the volunteers. Anyone can sign up for these and all other SOS projects on the website. SOS is a great way to both get involved at EHS and give back to the community, so make sure to come out and volunteer.
Ever walk though the History Hallway by the SPC championship trophies on the north end of the Hildebrand Athletic Center and wonder what those monitors are being used for? Since the start of this 2018 school year, Episcopal has been displaying tributes to EHS alumni and SPC winning teams with these screens. At this moment, the interactive touch monitors feature EHS athletic alumni that played at the collegiate or professional
level and photos of Episcopal SPC championship teams. Athletic Director Coach Grove says, “Episcopal wants to continue to connect our proud athletic history with our current success.” Looking toward the future of these interactive touch monitors, there will be a three-phase process. The first has been simply attaining content for the monitors. Phase Two is adding descriptions to each photo. This includes the name, the year he or she graduated, and the college of each alum. The third phase consists of adding an interactive element for quick searches by name, sport, and graduation year.
The new monitors located on the north end of the Alkek Gym feature a variety of alum athletes. Photo by Duncan Lamme.
Students of Service is a very active student organization on campus, and volunteers often help tutor at the Nehemiah Center. Photo by Madison Stanke.
Students walk to fight cancer BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer The Boot Walk is an annual walk to end cancer, and more than $1.9 million is raised each year for those stricken with this deadly disease. This is the third Boot Walk to find cures for cancer, and the people involved form teams and wear their favorite boots during
the walk. Their mission is to end cancer throughout the world, and these walks get people there one step at a time. Some of the EHS community joined in on the Boot Walk this year. This walk is fairly new but has had a huge impact on the community. The walk is not super long and is around the Texas Medical Center. Everyone is welcome to walk and be a part of the fight to end cancer.
Students of Service advocated for all EHS students to attend the Boot Walk to end cancer this month. Photo courtesy of TMC.edu.
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The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Dance Program kicks off season with “Diversity of Motion” OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer This year the Episcopal Dance Department presented “Diversity of Motion,” its annual Fall Dance concert. Evening performances were Thursday, November 29 and are Friday, November 30, and they will conclude with a matinee finale on Sunday, December 2 at 2:30. The show will last approximately an hour and forty minutes and is a compilation of well thought out dance pieces which the students learned throughout the course of this semester. Some pieces featured in the concert were choreographed by many different dance instructors from all over Houston. An example of a dance performed in the concert was the piece “Españ-Fantasía,” which “built on Spanish fan techniques and contemporary movements to express a Spanish fantasy space, full of visual and rhythmic life,” says EHS Dance Instructor Kristina Burgess.
As well as this dance, Aaron Medina had a hip-hop number that invigorated the audience. While this show did not feature student-choreographed dances, it was a resounding success with Thursday’s audience. Ms. Burgess said she enjoyed “the creative process with the dancers. They have so much passion and creativity.” Freshman dance student Eliza Thompson comments, “My favorite piece is the repertory dance piece because it is something different than what we usually do in class. I enjoy dance because I love the atmosphere and get to dance many different styles.” The anticipation for the first of two dance concerts this year is evident in the halls of EHS, and the Dance Department is now eagerly preparing for its next showcase in the spring. The dancers began preparation before the start of the school year in order to excel in the concert, and they certainly succeeded in thoroughly entertaining students and parents on Thursday.
Visual Arts Exhibition includes work from across the department DUNCAN LAMME Staff Writer On Wednesday, November 28, the Episcopal Arts Pillar held its Visual Arts Exhibition reception in the Underwood Library following weeks of display and judging. The exhibition included all visual arts classes including beginner and advanced classes. During the reception, students from visual arts gathered to receive awards ranging from Best in Show to Honorable Mention, determined by a professional artist and photographer outside of the Episcopal community who acted as judges for the exhibition. Ceramic and 3-D art is displayed in the library display cases, and many of the drawing, painting, and photography works hang in the hallways of the B building. Some of the work can also be seen in the USC. Artwork will be up until Christmas, so take the chance to observe the student work if you could not make the reception.
“Diversity of Motion,” the Fall Dance Concert this year, required much preparation and artistry from the various dance classes at EHS. Photo by Mary Carol Ray.
Art Gallery featured in USC LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief With the completion of the new Underwood Student Center, an exciting new art gallery is now open. The art gallery features exemplary student and alumni artwork, and the space was also used to display some of the best pieces from the Fall Visual Arts Exhibition. The new gallery offers a unique space where art can be showcased at the center of the community. The glass enclosed room is visible to students utilizing the
new student center, and it provides a place of reflection and appreciation of the arts. The art gallery also features a monitor that plays ETv episodes. The new gallery emphasizes the role of art within the EHS community, and highlights the achievements of EHS students within the Arts Pillar. Dean of Arts and Innovation, Mr. Jay Berckley states, “The gallery is wonderful exhibition space, and it is a testimony to the commitment our founders and this community have about our four-pillar approach.”
Via Colori brings sidewalks to life Taking advantage of the new gallery space in the Student Center, the Visual Arts Exhibition displays some of its many pieces.
Some of the art available for viewing in the B building hallway for the Fall Visual Arts Exhibition. Photos by Duncan Lamme.
ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer On November 17-18, Houston celebrated the thirteenth annual Via Colori Street Painting Festival. Featuring over 200 local, national, and international artists (including three from EHS), artists spent the weekend creating the most intricate and beautiful chalk murals all along the streets of downtown based on this year’s theme “Deep in the Art of Texas.” Those who chose not to participate but who still wanted to see the beautiful art were able to walk around while enjoying live music and dining at one of the many food vendors. All of the proceeds from Via Colori were donated to funding health and educational services for children at
The Center for Hearing and Speech. This year, three seniors in NAHS participated at the festival. An Episcopal tradition for many years, this year’s Via Colori artists were Sophia Casetta, Katy Davidson, and Amiri Scrutchin, who created their beautiful rendition of the theme, designed by Davidson, on Saturday. Their 6 x 6 square foot drawing titled “Equality” celebrated diversity and acceptance while also incorporating classic Texas elements, including a Blue Bonnet and Monarch butterflies. They finished their piece in one day; this is only the second time Episcopal has completed their art so quickly, following last year’s group. Dean of Arts Mr. Jay Berckley was quick to comment that “this beautiful art” shows “who we are” as a school and community.
Katy Davidson, Amiri Scrutchin, and Sophia Casetta work on their Via Colori chalk art “Equality” during the annual Houston art event. Photo by Mrs. Sharon Willcutts.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Culture ∙ Page 7
Thomas delivers powerful novel OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer As some of the best films in cinema continue to populate theaters across the country, those more inclined to read may have already found The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas a novel that has blown the minds of readers with its powerful premise. The Hate U Give is a story about Starr Carter, a sixteen-year-old girl who is drawn to speak up for gun violence against African-Americans after she witnesses a police shooting of her childhood friend, Khalil. After being silenced and unable to speak for herself in fear of being revealed to the public, Starr agrees to privately be interviewed by two detectives about the shooting, defending Khalil’s honor. Because Starr has to keep it a secret that she was the witness in this shooting, she struggles with her identity and who she really is. After a court of law fails to charge the officer who shot the innocent Khalil, Starr realizes that if no one is going to speak on his behalf, she would have to be the voice that did it for him. Starr truly shines in a riot following the grand jury results. She stands up to a rival trying to purposely
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stop her from having a voice, finds a voice of her own, and then proceeds to alert not just her community but her whole city about justice for not only Khalil but any other victims in the past. The Hate U Give is a triumphant novel informing its readers about standing, speaking up, and earning justice for the innocent and those unable to advocate for themselves.
YOUNGANDHUNGRY with Isabel Young
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Image courtesy of redconfidential.com.
Well, my fellow Young and Hungarians, you know what time it is. It’s Turkey Month, my favorite holiday. Let’s break down the best foods that are typically on my table. First, TURKEY. Turkey is the main staple of the Thanksgiving meal. It is the backbone of the holiday. People do different things with their turkeys, like fry or bake them. My family usually pops that bird in the oven and lets it sit all day so that it is juicy and perfect by the time dinner is served. Next, we have the sides - stuffing, green beans, mashed potatoes, and rolls. They add extra yumminess to people’s plates.
Each family has different sides, but these are the typical and best ones. My favorite is the stuffing combined with the turkey – mmm mmm. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Along with the sides, we have the sauce. Sauce, as it is important in every meal, is especially important on Thanksgiving. We typically have cranberry sauce and gravy to go perfectly with turkey and potatoes. Last but definitely not least, we must have dessert. Dessert means many different types of pies, like apple, pecan, pumpkin, or chocolate. I hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving meals this year! Stay hungry!!!!
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Este mes, el rincón Español discutirá la mejor comida mexicana en Houston. Hay muchos restaurantes, y hay mucha competencia. Primero, discutiremos el mejor restaurante mexicano auténtico, Hugo’s, que se encuentra en Montrose y ofrece comida tradicional de Oaxaca, como chapulines. Hugo’s es un restaurante único en Houston y no es un restaurante Tex-Mex. Tex-Mex es la categoría más popular de comida mexicana en Houston, y algunos de los restaurantes más populares en esta categoría son Pappasitos, Escalante’s, Lupe Tortilla, El Tiempo, y Guadalajara. Todos ellos ofrecen muchos opciones, y yo personalmente prefiero El Tiempo y Escalante’s para el mejor queso, y Pappasitos tiene mejores tortillas y salsa.
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Model Alannah Walton arriving to the Victoria’s Secret Headquarters for a final fitting. Photo courtesy of marieclaire.com.
Traditional Thanksgiving meals were consumed all over the country this holiday, and every meal includes the well-known staples, like turkey, along with some unique family additions. Image courtesy of mainetoday.com.
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The show is every model’s dream, and getting the show turns a model’s whole career around. Ed Razek, Chief Marketing Officer of Creative Services, actually secured Alannah a spot in the show at a book signing a couple days before the casting. Walton tells Australian Vogue, “I didn’t believe him. I guess leading up to the casting, I prepared myself for a no, but I certainly was not prepared for a yes. It completely caught me off guard!” Walton has been preparing for the past two months for this special moment in her life that she worked so hard to achieve. Clean eating, exercise, and rest are crucial in preparation for the show. The filming for the production is November 8 and it will air on December 2 on ABC.
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The fashion industry is getting ready for one of the biggest shows of the year with over 800 million people watching around the world. The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is one of the most popular shows because of its creativity and detailed outfits featured. This year’s show has many newcomers, including one of my very good friends, Alannah Walton. Walton is an 18-year-old native Australian who was discovered by IMG Models through Instagram at age 14 and signed with the agency a year later. Fast forward three years and she is now living in New York City full time, and four days after moving, she attended her first international casting, which happened to be for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Walton is the youngest person in the show at only 18.
Para las fajitas, yo prefiero El Tiempo, pero cada restaurante mencionado tiene deliciosas fajitas. Te recomiendo que pruebes todos estos restaurants. ¡Disfruta comiendo toda esta comida!
Entertainment ∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Red Dead Redemption 2 hits stores Sydney Joe’s Jams hutchins1234
SYDNEY HUTCHINS Managing Editor
Metro Boomin has done it again to say the least. Early November one of the hiphop beat dominators of the twenty-first century released his first album NOT ALL HEROES WEAR CAPES. Metro allegedly announced his retirement in April, but at the young age of 25 and as one of the leading music producers today, most predicted a return. Surprisingly, he had never produced an album because he has only produced the beats to many top hits by well-known rappers and hip hop artists. These billboard acclaimed hits include “Jumpman,” “Low Life,” “Where Ya At,” “Wicked,” “Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1,” and “Ric Flair Drip.” This high-profile album consists of multiple features from Travis Scott and 21 Savage, which gives Metro the hype it deserves. The album has a variety of sounds from chill vibes to head bangers. My favorite soft beat on the track is “Dreamcatcher” featuring slow rap from Travis Scott and high vocals from Swae Lee. The tenth track on the ablum, “Borrowed Love,” features Swae Lee with WizKid and another easy-going beat.
The classic Metro Boomin sound shows itself in “Up To Something” in which Young Thug raps over most of the song and various echoing of these sentiments come from Travis Scott sporadically throughout the track. Other catchy beats on the album include “No Complaints” (feat. Offset & Drake) and “Space Cadet” (feat. Gunna). A few that didn’t live up to my expectations on the album are “Only You” and “Overdue” as they didn’t seem to have anything special about them. I was looking for that certain Metro Boomin beat in the songs that set them apart from other hip-hop songs, but it wasn’t there for me. However, even with that small set back on the album, I was quickly engulfed into listening to more after hearing the third track. My ultimate favorite song on the album in collaboration with widely known music producer Tay Keither was “Don’t Come Out The House.” The song stood out as particularly unique to me and had that perfect amount of rap and deep bass sound. The song begins with a 21 Savage warning, which sets the tone for the rest of the song, and then suddenly the beat drops with 21 whispering in an almost eerie voice. Then it picks back up with Savage rapping over a dark piano melody. Album rating: 7/10 Sydney Stars.
Marvel does it again with Venom
NICK HELD Staff Writer Fall is known for a number of things: Thanksgiving, cold weather, and leaves, I guess. With the arrival of fall, a new wave of video games enters circulation. Companies release new games in time for them to gain popularity before Christmas when twelve-year-olds will beg their mothers to buy them an M-rated game. This year the most popular game is Red Dead Redemption 2. Probably the most anticipated game of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2 is sure to excite your inner outlaw. The game is a prequel to the first Red Dead Redemption that Rockstar Games released in 2010.
growing and growing. By the time of its actual release on October 26 of this year, fans exploded with enthusiasm. Available on PS4 and Xbox One, the game sold 17 million copies in just two weeks, earning Rockstar Games $725 million. These stats make it the fastest selling game in the world after FIFA. Red Dead Redemption 2 follows Arthur Morgan, a desperado in 1899. Morgan is in a gang of outlaws, led by Dutch der van Linde, who failed a train heist and were forced to flee into hiding. The train belongs to a wealthy oil magnate by the name of Leviticus Cornwall. Cornwall is furious upon the discovery of this attempted heist and sends a caravan of detectives and bounty hunters to apprehend them. Constantly on the move, the outlaws must
The long-anticipated sequel to Rockstar Games’ Red Dead series released on October 26th. Photo courtesy of youtube.com. The original game was a hit because of its intricate story and characters, open world, and breathtaking detail. The October 2016 announcement that a second Red Dead Redemption was in stages of development was met with overwhelming public enthusiasm, and the game was originally planned to hit the shelves in October of 2017. The game was constantly teased with gameplay pictures and bits of storyline, so when the gaming community found out that the release was postponed an entire year, they obviously were not too excited; nevertheless, anticipation kept
perform multiple jobs to keep the gang funded. After constantly moving from one place to another, they realize that they need to complete one last heist to rule them all and escape the world of crime that they are trapped in. Red Dead Redemption 2 gives players a glimpse of what it was like to lead a life of crime in the six shooter days. If you play, you can choose whether you play in first or third person. Online mode, where you can play with your friends, is coming soon, so make sure you stay ahead of the game and buy it as soon as you can.
Tom Hardy stars as the main antihero Venom in Ruben Fleischer’s latest film. Photo courtesy of bbc.com. DANIEL DAVIS Staff Writer Venom hit theaters October 5 with a bang, setting the record for biggest box office opening for a movie in October. This action-packed Marvel film is about journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) who is trying to take down Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), the infamous and brilliant founder of the Life Foundation. Drake is franticly running human trials trying to find the perfect host (human) to pair with Venom. In the process, he is also killing many people. While investigating one of Drake’s experiments after hearing about what he was doing, Brock’s body merges with an unknown alien life form (Venom). When Venom enters Brock’s body, it leaves him with superhuman strength and power.
Twisted, dark and fueled by rage, Venom tries to control the new and dangerous abilities that Brock finds so exhilarating. When Drake discovers that he is able to control another symbiote host named Riot, he wants to retrieve all the other symbiotes from their home planet. Venom/Brock aims to stop this from happening because together they like being the only ones with the power. After an exciting battle between the two, Venom prevails and puts an end to Riot. Oscar Award winning actor Tom Hardy does an outstanding job playing the role of the extraterrestrial symbiote and fills the character with life. Overall, I would give this movie a 10 out of 10. The exciting, humorous, and action-packed film will definitely have you on the edge of your seat the whole time. I encourage everyone to see Venom in theaters today.
Sacko and the Champ with Patrick Bayouth and Daniel Davis
Now is the time when many of you are reading this and worrying about the playoffs. The last stretch is here. You are either in the race for Sacko (and if you are, feel bad, man) or in the race for the trophy, when all bragging rights can be yours. In this issue, we are going to go over underthe-radar pickups that can take your team to the next level, along with a few tips. Dez Bryant – If you are lucky enough to get this guy, he just recently signed
with the Saints. If you ask me, I see him and Drew Brees being an unstoppable duo. This, of course, means points raining down from the fantasy gods for you. Matchups! – I can’t stress this enough. If you have a player you would usually start against Jacksonville’s defense vs. a player of lesser talent playing a trash team such as Buffalo, start him over the better player. Be aware of your players’ opponents.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Opinion ∙ Page 9
Harris County judges feel the effects of straight-party votes LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief The midterm elections were heavily covered in the media this month, and while the focus lies primarily on the results of the Senate and House of Representatives elections, there is an equally important issue that does not receive the attention it deserves. The Houston Chronicle election results page for Harris County displayed the results for all elections, including Harris County judges. Due to straight-ticket voting, all 59 judges listed under the Democratic Party won and every Republican judge lost. The marginal gains of the Democratic judicial candidates were similar in each race, each winning by about 10 percentage points. This is not a new phenomenon for Harris County, and past elections have seen massive sweeps for each party. While this may be the last time straightticket voting will be an issue due to a bill that was passed last year, there are many concerns about the future of Harris County elections. Last year, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that eliminates straight-ticket voting in Texas, starting with the 2020 election. However, there are some states that will still use straight-ticket ballots in their elections. Currently, eight states allow straight-ticket voting, Texas being
the newest state to eliminate this voting method. While every voter has the right to vote for their party, straight-ticket voting causes some voters to blindly vote for candidates that they have not previously researched. In the Texas election, one of the most shocking candidates that was elected was Lina Hidalgo, a twenty-seven-year old NYU law student who did not live full time in Texas and did not attend a single Harris County Commissioner’s Court meeting when she was elected. She beat Judge Ed Emmet, an experienced judge who was also a first responder during Hurricane Harvey last year. Many Houstonians appreciated the work Emmet did for Houston, especially his leadership during the hurricane. It is arguable that Emmet would have won if straight-ticket voting were not allowed in the 2018 election, as the majority of ticketsplitting voters preferred Emmet over Hidalgo, since he received about 85,000 more votes among split-ticket voters. Texas is one of seven states that elects local judges based on partisan affiliation. The states that believe this is not the way to elect judges elect judicial candidates through a nonpartisan election. In this case, the primary elections may not have a party listed for a judge on the ballot. Then, for the general election, the top two candidates from the primaries are voted on. Many within the court system believe this is the way Texas judicial elections should
Self-driving cars: The good, the bad, and the dangerous CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer Interestingly, the first picture of a selfdriving “car” was an illustration by Leonardo Da Vinci of a self-driving cart. In the 1920s and 1930s, Da Vinci’s drawings spurred interest, development, and public demonstrations of driverless cars, but these archetypes required offsite operators and were cumbersome. Soon after, multiple companies began trials on autonomous cars but were unable to complete the expensive experiments due to a lack of finances. The government refused to fund the project even though prospective analysis showed that the car would eventually pay itself off through the reduction in accidents and increase in road capacity. Now, traditional automakers, as well as Google, Uber, Tesla, etc. are developing and testing self-driving cars. So far, these cars have not been perfected to begin mass production. Although there are disadvantages, the significant advantages to continued trials appear to outweigh the risk of possible failure. Every year almost 1.3 million Americans are killed from car crashes. Ninety-four percent of those are due to human error. A widespread embrace of self-driving cars would prevent almost $190 billion in damages and health costs annually, as well as save thousands of lives. Self-driving cars would encourage largescale growth of America’s suburbs. Many Americans choose to live in big cities in order to minimize the time of commuting to and from work. Riding in a self-driving car removes the necessity to maintain as much focus on the road, thereby alleviating the stress of the journey. Also, the concept of platooning, improving the flow of traffic, allows a more efficient and therefore faster commute. Drivers who develop disabilities or have medical conditions limiting their ability to drive would no longer have to rely on
friends, family, or public transportation. Accidents from a medical event, seizure, stroke, or heart attack could be prevented and possibly helped by an autonomous car. Self-driving cars could also have a positive impact on environmental protection. Global CO2 emissions have increased forty-five percent from 1990 to 2007. Automakers are promoting electric engines in all autonomous cars, which would cut down on emissions by 87 to 94 percent per mile by 2030. On the other hand, autonomous cars may pose as much of a threat as an asset. If a driver is occupied while the car is on autopilot and the car malfunctions, the person is forced to take control of the vehicle with no situational awareness. Skepticism about the reliability of the sensors and object recognition of the cars has risen after one of Uber’s self-driving vehicles killed a crossing pedestrian on March 18th. The ability of the driver to override the machine is a concerning question. In addition, the software of the cars is susceptible to hacking. Vehicles may be remotely controlled by another person. This would allow people to install ransomware, demanding money before altering the course of the car or speeding it up past a safe limit. Terrorists could also use these cars as bomb carriers, programming them to arrive to specific locations unmanned, ready to detonate explosives at a moment’s notice. Lastly, if a crash were to happen with an autonomous car, who is to blame? There will always be the risk of crashes, since there is no such thing as a perfect machine. What happens when a self-driving vehicle collides with a human driver? Does the auto company take the blame or does the passive owner of the car assume responsibility? Although the rare fatality during trials is a setback, eventually the autonomous electric car will be our future mode of transportation, displaying long-term benefits on safety, health, and our environment.
be held or else the majority party will always win all of the seats in the future. The most important factor within a courtroom
is not the party affiliation of a judge but rather his or her ability to be an impartial, effective one.
Texas judicial election campaign signs. Photo courtesy of Texas Public Radio.
Gong Squad membership Continued from Page 3 tradition has turned into such a success and is practically considered a student organization, suddenly it must include girls. There is no premise for this change, as females have never been, and are still not, compelled to bring gongs to the games. I believe the majority of female students are not upset about the tradition, and rather support the boys and everything they do to keep the student section spirited. Most of the Gong Squad members each year have previously been on the football team. In the past two years, all four of the members on the Gong Squad played at least one year of football and have a true love for the team they played on and the sport of football itself. This connection to the team and the genuine friendship of the squad and the players is an aspect of the Gong Squad that is crucial to the spirit of
football games. It is not a new phenomenon that boys tend to be closer friends with a majority of boys over girls. It is the same with girls. Boys and girls can be friends, but often times close friends of boys are other boys. The gong squad members are the majority of the football players’ close friends. If there were to be a girl placed in the gong squad, this aspect of close friendship and spirit would be lost. Patrick Bayouth, cocaptain of the football team this year commented, “it means more to look up and see your close friends leading the student section.” Plus, all of the freshman and JV cheerleaders are in the stands representing cheerleaders in the stands for underclassman. This eliminates the intimidation factor because their fellow classmates are representing the school spirit right next to them in the stands.
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400
Head of School Ned Smith
Editor-in-Chief Lauren Porter
Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg
Managing Editor Sydney Hutchins
Principal Kim Randolph
Social Media Coordinator Isabel Young
Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley
Staff Writers Patrick Bayouth Daniel Davis Nick Held Olivia Hopwood Elliott Jones Bailey Junell Chris Lahoti Duncan Lamme Carson Sherman Preston Witt
Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator David Framel Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie
Photographers Lauren Bordelon, Elizabeth Anne Charbonnet, Alex Diaz, Gerard Edwards, Alexandra Herrera, Mary Carol Ray, Amelia Traylor, Teagan Ashworth, Chris Castro Janecki, Julia Toups, Caroline Fertitta, Elliott Jones, Madison Stanke, Spencer Donley, Amber Hatfield, Alexandra Herrera, Sadie Jensen, Chloe Masterson, Isabel Frasier, Elizabeth Anne Charbonnet, Sophia Haugh, Lindsey Little, Amelia Traylor, Lauren Bordelon, Maxine Defossez, Alex Diaz, Gerard Edwards, Amber Hatfield, Trey Hernandez, Beck Hollaway, Sydney Kelso, Sam Lee, Dani Lurie, Sarah Pulaski, Mary Carol Ray, Serena Shannon, Lyda Arnold, Allison Baker, Morgan Garret, Emma White, Maya Basra, Harry Craig, Isabella Fayad, Jamilee Rassy, Gwenyth Rippeto, Lindsay Rorschach, Mimi Wilson The Knight Times is a product of students in the Episcopal High School Newspaper Program, and staff members are solely responsible for its creation and editorial content. The opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent those of the Episcopal Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff. Published ten times a year, The Knight Times is a non-profit educational tool. The staff encourages the submission of letters, editorials, and story ideas from the community but reserves the right to edit and/or use said articles.
Sports ∙ Page 10
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Runners post personal bests as youth lead cross country teams ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer With a wonderful performance in Dallas, Varsity girls cross country used their secret weapons, the freshmen to complete the race and finish second overall, falling just behind Kinkaid for the title. After finishing in fourth place in the SPC south zone race to secure their spot in the championship, the girls knew they were destined for success in Dallas. Coming from behind, the team had an overall strong performance with an all around
placement that was unpredicted by many. The freshmen varsity members also displayed their amazing talent when three finished as All SPC runners. Freshmen Kitkat Kwiatkowski (third place), Ella Newman (eighth place), and Kate Freeman (thirteenth place) were all awarded this honor. Unfortunately, the varsity boys team fell short in Dallas. The boys finished in twelfth place despite getting sixth in the SPC South Zone race. Both teams will miss their seniors Ivan Bastidas and Ethan Knight next season.
Seniors pace SPC field hockey BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer This year’s varsity girls field hockey program improved during their fall season and ended the year with a historic final placing of 6th in SPC. Arriving in Dallas, the team had the determination to win at least one game in the tournament, a feat that had not happened in the program in recent years. The journey to Dallas showed just how much the program had improved in the last six years. Opening the chilly weekend of play, the Knights faced Episcopal School of Dallas in a close Thursday afternoon match. Despite a rough first half that saw ESD lead 1-0, the Knights were unwavering and during the second half pulled through with two goals. Fighting the cold and a solid ESD team, the girls finished the game with a victory of 2-1. Early Friday morning, the girls played Trinity Valley. After an extremely close match, the girls lost 1-0. Following that game, the girls went to support the boys and girls volleyball teams in their matches. On Saturday the girls played for fifth
place against Hockaday. After an extremely challenging and demanding game in the freezing weather, the game went into overtime tied; however, Hockaday finished the game with a 2-1 victory. Throughout the successful season, the entire team has shown their love and dedication to the sport. Many players were recognized November 14 at their Varsity Awards Ceremony. The Leadership Award went to senior Ellie Ragiel, the Most Improved went to Christina Betti, and the MVP went to Northwestern commit Sophie Thomas. Head Coach Shelly Edmonds reflected, “We had six seniors this year: Ellie Ragiel, Sadie Jensen, Sophie Thomas, Lizzie Barringer, Gabby Small, and Izzie Vobbe. Team captains Jensen, Ragiel, and Thomas gave us the leadership we needed.” The seniors clearly had an impact on the team’s spirit and morale, yet the girls cannot wait until next season where they look to once again show off their talents and change history in SPC. Edmonds added, “This was a very special team, and, they worked incredibly hard to build this program. We are looking forward to building on the progress the girls have made.”
Improvement shows in SPC OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer This past month, the boys varsity volleyball team travelled to Dallas to play in the annual SPC Championships. Supplementing the roster for the playoffs were a handful of the top JV and freshman players, who will certainly benefit from having had this experience in future years playing EHS volleyball. Upon arrival at SPC, the varsity team played the Casady School from Oklahoma City in the first round, leading to a first round playoff victory. Working their way up to the semifinals, the Knights played the Trinity School of Dallas. They started with
a 2-0 lead but unfortunately lost in a very challenging match. Even with the loss, Knights varsity boys volleyball finished strong with a fourth-place finish. Despite the final loss, the varsity team played very well and exemplified true individual and team growth. With many spectacular players, the team had a hard time choosing the people who were awarded at the end of the year. The Most Improved award went to Will Arntzen, MVP went to Amiri Scrutchin and Preston Witt received the Leadership award. While the seniors will certainly be missed next year, it is clear good things are in store for future seasons of EHS boys volleyball.
Seniors Preston Witt, Jackson Kelso, Clayton Bulter and Amiri Scrutchin celebrate their incredible victory against OKC Casady in the first round of SPC. Photo courtesy of Preston Witt.
Girls cross country celebrates their second place win with their SPC Runner-Up trophy. Photo Courtesy of Alena Haney.
Girls vball takes pride in finish CARSON SHERMAN Staff Writer The varsity girls volleyball team traveled to Dallas to compete in the SPC tournament against teams from all over Texas. They had a great season and finished with a 39-7 record. At SPC the girls won against Greenhill in five sets and Hockaday in four. Against St. John’s in the finals, the girls faced a tough opponent, and the match resulted in a loss in four sets. The girls volleyball team has always
had a cohesive group of girls who fight each game, and that has really shown throughout their performance in the 2018 campaign. Seniors Tyler Donovan and Kathleen Johnson’s senior leadership helped lead the team to successes and lift their spirits in each game they played. The team has many leaders and each and every one of them played key roles toward success. Two players, Trinity Watts and Johnson, are committed to pursuing this sport in college at the Division I level. Congrats to the girls volleyball team for a great season!
Football team ends year with runner-up trophy in finals PATRICK BAYOUTH Staff Writer The 2018 varsity football team had an incredible season but ultimately placed second in the SPC Championship. The team ended with a 7-2-1 record, with notable wins coming over Christ School in North Carolina and crosstown rival St. John’s.
A total of 11 seniors will be lost (four offense, six defense, and one special teams), but the Knights look to build on their solid group of young athletes. During the Varsity Awards Chapel, senior Jordan Wells took home the Most Valuable Player Award, while Noah Prophet claimed the Most Improved Player honor, and Mitchell Mostyn won the Sportsmanship Award.
Members of the defensive unit are confident they have the ball during the SPC Championship game held Saturday, October 10, at HISD’s Delmar Stadium. The Kinkaid Falcons won 41-21. Photo by Teagan Ashworth.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Sports ∙ Page 11
Winter Sports Preview Replay of strong season in the Boys soccer seeks 4-peat plans for boys basketball team PRESTON WITT Staff Writer The boys basketball team hopes to keep their momentum from last year’s SPC Championship run. The Knights were xx-x with an undefeated record during SPC play with key wins over St. Andrew’s, Kinkaid, and Houston Christian. The Knights received a first round bye for the tournament and beat Trinity Valley to open up SPC play. They would go on to face rival Kinkaid, who they thumped on their way to the SPC Championship against Houston Christian. The Knights and the Mustangs played an outstand-
ing and exciting game but ultimately the Mustangs would come out on top. The Knights are prepared to rebound from that loss and take SPC by storm. The team brings back returning starters in seniors DJ Edgar, Jaylen Davis, Jackson Kelso, and Jordan Wells. With this strong senior group, the Knights hope to bring back the SPC Championship where it belongs. Kinkaid and St. John’s will present good matchups, but the Knights feel confident to overcome both teams. The Knights know they have a target on their back for being one of the best teams in SPC, but the boys will rise to the challenge.
DUNCAN LAMME Staff Writer
The boys soccer program has had a very successful past few years, winning SPC three times in a row and now looking for a fourth in the 2018-2019 season. According to Head Coach Travis Smith, the bulk of the team will be returning this year, and most of the starting lineup will be back as well, but the absence of graduated seniors Chris Short, Pablo Vilas, and Will Powell will be impactual. Kinkaid and St. John’s have proven to always be challenging teams in the SPC and are likely to remain strong competition this season. The team will face games
against both 4A and 5A TAPP’s state champions in Lutheran South and San Antonio Central Catholic and will also play Awty, one of the team’s biggest nonconference rivals. Coach Smith says, “We have plenty of challenges along the way. Whether it’s striving for a zero in the back or trying to send a message against out opponent, every opponent is afforded the respect they deserve, and we always want to prove that we are the stronger team.” The team feels there is no more pressure to win SPC this year compared to previous years and that the idea of being a challenging target to other teams is a good thing.
Kick off nears for girls soccer Grapplers ready for mat time BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer The girls soccer team has many skilled seniors returning this year and is looking forward to a an amazing season. With preseason beginning toward the end of October, the group has been at work improving and practicing for their games throughout the year, which began at the beginning of November. At the start of their season, the team travelled to Beaumont to face off against Beaumont Kelly, a difficult team to play last year. The teams tied in 2017, this year the girls ended up winning with a final score of 4-0. Even though it was below freezing,
the girls powered through and played an outstanding game! Despite being mostly sophomores and freshmen, it is evident that the varsity team has already proven its teamwork and dedication will be key to a productive year. One strong addition to the team is the addition of freshman goalie Lauren Little, who is planning on doing great things. Team captains Izzy Vobbe, Julia Nassar, and Kelsey Barker are excited for a great year and will play as examples for the younger team. Coaches Heinemann, Drexel, and Booker always produce close and devoted teams, and this year the team is well knit and closer than ever.
PATRICK BAYOUTH Staff Writer The 2018 – 2019 wrestling team is looking to build off a spectacular season last year. After finishing second in last year’s SPC Tournament, the team feels that they are in a great position to get the gold.
Returning senior captain Jack Podsednik thinks that the team’s “strong group of veteran wrestlers” combined with Head Coach Steve Leisz’s incredible coaching, will lead to a very powerful team. The Knights have 7 returning wrestlers, including 6 All-SPC wrestlers. The team lost one senior in Matt Melody, but has gained a solid amount of first time wrestlers. The future looks bright for this incredible group of wrestlers, and each team in the SPC is certainly preparing to face off against EHS.
Swimmers look to dive into SPC CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer
Sophomore midfielder Annie Powell gets around a Beaumont Kelly defender. Photo by Teagan Ashworth.
Will Atkins returns this year for another wrestling season. Photo by Mauro Gomez.
Knights hope to court success in 2019 SYDNEY HUTCHINS Staff Writer Knight’s fight! Never outworked, have integrity and gratitude, have fun competing, and practice teamwork. The girls basketball team is focusing the program on these five core values for the rest of the season and are so far off to a great start. With the amount of dedication and hard work these players exhibited during the preseason, they were ready to go for the season. The girls fall league games served as a great learning experience for the team and the coaches to know what needed to be worked on before the season started. Coach Courtney Arnold reflected about the team this year: “I am very excited for this basketball season. We are young but eager in practice, soaking up everything and being competitive in games while working hard and playing aggressively.
With our upperclassmen leading by example, I know that we will continue to grow and mature this season to be playing our best basketball in January and February.” Going into Thanksgiving Break, the girls played Lutheran North, Second Baptist, Village School, and St. Pius. These
Photo by Lori Witt. games helped the girls solidify some offensive plays and defensive positions, so the team can be fully functioning and ready for anything by the time SPC comes around.
Every exercise has its own appeal, but swimming is unlike any other sport. Not every exercise is created equally. Being a good runner does not translate into being a good swimmer. Swimming allows working out both upper and lower body muscles without pressure on the joints. Water resistance is stronger and more consistent than wind resistance, which affects the number of calories burned. In other words, swimming two miles might be considered harder than running two miles. Preseason swim practice began in September to develop stamina and aerobic capacity. This conditioning is necessary to complete the strict regular season schedule. Coach Evan Chastain is hoping for a top five SPC finish for the girls’ team and at least a top six finish for the boys. Although he is concentrating on refining individual mechanics and technique, Chastain is expecting to foster a strong sense of community among the swimmers. He promotes intra-squad competition to enhance daily practice as long as teammates are respectful to each other. In addition to the competitive meets, the swim team will also support the Hour of Power Relay. This is a national charity event in memory of Carleton College swimmer Ted Mullin who died from sarcoma. Episcopal High School has successfully supported Hour of Power for several years. The swim team’s commitment to hard work, strong competition, and good sportsmanship will result in their ultimate success this season. As in the words of our coach, “Swim fast and go Knights!”
THE Back Page ∙ Page 12
The Knight Times ∙ November 2018
Knight Times Tweets
Potatoes: Power Rankings
KnightTimes101: To all those turkeys that got eaten last week, we’re sorry #Not #GrubbedOut #Mom’sHungry KnightTimes101: Patrick Bayouth’s worst nightmare: a Whataburg-er next to a Raisin’ Canes #WhichToChoose
Cut to perfection, with the perfect potato to fry ration, and everyone’s favorite/weakness for sure. French fries are a gift from God.
#ShouldHeGetBoth? #Hungryyy
A breakfast delicacy when you pair these with ketchup they are sure to put a smile on that tum tum.
KnightTimes101: Where we want to be right now: on the couch with a piece of our favorite pie after a hearty Thanksgivng meal watching football #FoodComa #Mom!WhereIsMyFood! KnightTimes101: What do you call a running turkey? A fast food! Potatoes Au Gratin, a underappreciated potato, but nonetheless delicious.
#Comedy #SaveTheBestForLast
Top 10 Reasons to Hop on the Mayflower
Mashed potatoes, the classic Thanksgiving side. Throw some gravy on these bad boys and enjoy.
(Celebrity Sighting)
10. Because it was huge! It was between 90 and 100 feet long! Very large for its time 9. To receive your much-awaited sea legs medal 8. To make the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria look like child’s play, Sorry, Chris 7. To take a rat under your wing and name it Master Splinter 6. To get citizenship 5. To be one of the studs who created the blessed holiday known as Thanksgiving 4. So you can make a fashion statement in that Pilgrim outfit 3. To be the first person to build a crib on the new soil
We at The Knight Times saw a connection between history teacher Mr. Casey Quedenfeld and actor Jason Sudeikis, most known for his comedic gold film Horrible Bosses. Nothing horrible about Coach Q. Photo courtesy of Duncan Lamme.
2. The curiosity of the ~unknown~
ehsknighttimes
1. Because it sounds like “cauliflower,” my favorite fall vegetable
Teacher Trivia
Photos by Isabel Young and Daniel Davis
B) This teacher has an identical twin.
C) This teacher once lived in Wellington, New Zealand while working as a marketing manager and lived in Washington D.C. working as a deputy press secretary.
D) This teacher has nine siblings.
Answers: Mrs. Houle: C; Mr. Heinemann: D; Ms. Tsai: B; Coach Jones: A
A) This teacher loves to cook. His or her favorite type of food to cook is Italian.