News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
February 2019
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 33, Issue 7
Rising to the Top
Plans begin for construction of fine arts center
Multiple teams compete in Winter SPC Finals
CARSON SHERMAN Staff Writer Episcopal High School is in the early stages of its next building project as administrators and arts faculty meet with architects in discussion of design and location. Present plans look to remodel the west end of the Convent Building, extending new construction to the area where the Band Hall now resides, and continuing into unused grounds to the north. The hallmark of the design is an additional
A portion of the new fine arts building will be built where the band hall currently resides. Photo by Lauren Porter. two-level theatre for the performing arts, along with expanded dressing rooms, costume rooms, and vocal and instrumental music areas. The meetings thus far have allowed EHS representatives to discuss their needs and wants while architectural designers have imparted their vast knowledge on construction of this type. At the forefront of conversation is the need for the new building to accommodate the growth of the EHS student body while creating a unified approach so that all performing and visual arts classes are centered around a “quad” like, all-inclusive design. The Visual Arts additions will see new studio areas for ceramics, painting, mixed media, and the like while expanding areas in the media arts and publications. With ongoing conversations about the need for the building’s flexibility for the entire community’s use, leadership is also keeping in mind the future changes that time will bring to the campus so the structure is as strong and effective as possible.
INSIDE Ballers vs. Scholars Teachers continue winning streak
PAGE 2
Fiddler on the Roof Renovated theater to host spring musical
PAGE 7 Features ........................ 2 Culture ......................... 5 Entertainment .............. 6 Arts .............................. 7 Opinion ........................ 10 Sports ........................... 11
The boys soccer team celebrated their fourth consecutive SPC Championship during the 2019 Winter Sports SPC Tournament. Photo by Gigi Gaetti. ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer
The boys soccer team won their fourth consecutive SPC championship and boys basketball and wrestling place runners-up. On the girls side of the winter season, soccer placed fourth, their highest placement in over a dozen years, and the basketball team captured fifth. The swim teams set personal records while paving the way for future success. Learn more about Winter SPC on Sports Page 11
Track replacement, theatre remodel completed NICK HELD Staff Writer While the new Underwood Student Center construction was coming to its completion, other areas of the campus were getting a makeover as part of multiple updates to existing areas. The Simmons Field track on the east end of campus was totally revamped as crews completed a new surface in midJanuary. This surface and its foundation are collegiate level in quality. The track & field teams have already been practicing and are impressed with the change. Something new that most tracks do not have is a team’s ability to run the 100-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles on opposite sides of the track simultaneously. With the addition of extended chutes on the track, EHS offers something rare in competitive surfaces in the Houston area. As for the renovated theatre, the space will surprise veterans of the campus as a new look has emerged. All new seats, a renewed lighting and sound control booth, new flooring, paint on the walls (no more wood paneling), paint on the ceiling, aisle lighting, sound system features throughout, new drapes, and new wiring for A/V and data are some of the notable elements
The renovated Underwood Theatre is complete, as well as the track replacement on Simmons Field. Photo by David Framel. of the remodeled arts space. The Fiddler on the Roof rehearsals began in the Underwood while a few small
items were left to complete. The grand opening will take place the opening night of the spring musical March 1.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Ballers vs. Scholars lives up to the hype in faculty victory DUNCAN LAMME Staff Writer The annual Ballers vs. Scholars basketball game took place on February 20 and true to form, the faculty kept its unbeaten streak alive with another win. Every year, Episcopal seniors face off against faculty members in a basketball game for bragging rights. Varsity basketball players play sporadically for the Ballers squad, and everyone is welcome to watch and enjoy the game. One of Episcopal’s own, Mr. Greg Melius, acted as the referee for the game. Based on last year’s results, the Religion Department’s Mr. Dan Binder said, “[With the] 2019 final score of 44-31, the Scholars claimed another victory, [bringing]
their undefeated streak to a full eleven years - the longest streak in SPC history.” The Scholars team, led by head coach Mr. David Trauba, consisted of some of the best athletes among the faculty and only the most competitive seemingly compose the team every year. The game gave faculty and students a way to connect in ways other than the classroom and also allowed entertainment for the EHS community. The game also created friendly competition and gave everyone something else to look forward to every year. The whole school comes together to make the game happen, allowing everybody to enjoy a friendly competition and interact in an environment different from the normal interaction of a classroom.
Senior Jack Panus on the Ballers plays tough defense against Mr. Alan Bradshaw in the annual game that took place on February 20. Photo by Mimi Wilson.
Senior Lilly Cone takes the ball down court against Scholar defender Coach Steve Leisz. Photo by Mimi Wilson.
Senior Baller Julius Young matches up against girls varsity basketball head coach Mrs. Courtney Arnold. Photo by Mimi Wilson.
A Knight meets Patriot fans ALEXA HENDRICKS Staff Writer This year, the Super Bowl took its annual traditions to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, for a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVI. Senior Episcopal student Mitchell Mostyn, who was rooting for the Patriots, went to the game. Mitchell was very interested in attending the event to support his favorite team and looked for hotels in search of reasonable prices. To his surprise, there were still tickets available, so he flew over to Georgia where he was able to watch the event live. In as little as
48 hours, he successfully crammed in a jam-packed and unforgettable weekend. His favorite part was “being able to cheer for the Patriots with other real Patriots fans around [him].” There aren’t many Patriot fans in Houston, and it was fun to hang out and celebrate with fellow Patriots supporters through the day and night. The experience allowed Mitchell to socialize with diehard fans of the game and the team. He certainly also didn’t mind being on hand to celebrate the second Patriots Super Bowl victory after their 13-3 win during the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history.
Senior Mitchell Mostyn outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, for the 2019 Super Bowl. Photo courtesy of Mitchell Mostyn.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Features ∙ Page 3
So you want to be a Knight? Support for Coach Straub CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer It wasn’t too long ago that I found myself caught up in the high school application frenzy. Which school should I choose? Where do I best fit in? These are the two most prominent concerns that students have, and their parents find themselves asking the same questions about their children’s future home. Episcopal High School is recognized for its athletic prowess, but it has many other strong facets that made this school my number one choice. The founders of Episcopal were not interested in an admission process that would be skewed to one particular type of student. So they created the Four Pillars
concept, a way to promote the “whole” student. The Four Pillars encompass academics, athletics, arts, and religion. In this manner, Episcopal’s admission committee is able to factor in students’ potential beyond grades and focus on its goal for its students: to find their inner passion and nurture it. The school offers many challenging classes in addition to a large number of AP courses, and highly-qualified teachers are determined to help each student reach his or her full academic potential. If a child wants to be an athletic star, actor, or even the head of a band, all of these opportunities are available. I can honestly attest to the fact that at Episcopal High School, students aren’t defined or restricted. They create their own futures.
Apart from grades and extracurriculars, Episcopal’s admissions team truly strives to find those who are ready to create their own futures and stand out. Photo courtesy of EHS.
PRESTON WITT Staff Writer The varsity baseball team is playing for more than just a three-peat as SPC Champions this spring. The team will also be supporting Assistant Coach and EHS alum Andy Straub. Last November, Coach Straub was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He immediately had to start his chemotherapy months after his son Wesley had spinal surgery for a growing lipoma. Coach Straub (‘93) has been coaching baseball for fourteen years, and this will not stop him from coaching in the Knight program. The varsity baseball team, as a sign of support, will wear neon green, the color associated with Coach Straub’s cancer, on sleeves, undershirts, and other clothing items. #StraubStrong
Coach Andy Straub won’t let non-Hodgkins lymphoma stand in the way of what he loves. Photo courtesy of Preston Witt.
Varsity players Colton Rathjen, Mark Nylund, Tanner Witt, Preston Witt, and Jake Tanner lead their team in support of Coach Straub. Photo by Mrs. Lori Witt.
Shane Dawson shocks the internet with his crazy theories OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer Recently on YouTube, popular conspiracy theory producer and vlogger Shane Dawson has been working on his latest series. After keeping his audience on the edge of their seats with nail-biting episodes exposing and explaining other YouTubers lives, on January 30, Dawson released his first episode of a two-part series leaning more toward the theme of conspiracy theories, stretching from matters such as other celebrities and YouTubers to face-swaps and digital voice changing. Following his reach of twenty million subscribers, the video blew up, reaching over thirty-three million views and one million likes. After the mind-boggling video was released, Dawson released Episode Two on February 11. While some viewers expected more conspiracies, they were not disappointed. This video concentrated on a personal issue of one of Dawson’s friends. Subscribers learned the horrors and consequences of online dating and what it can do to a person at home and in public life. Although this was part of the theme of that episode, the video incorporated an astonishing theory about Chuck-E-Cheese Pizza and the technological world of digital voice changing. With a total of 22 Million views, Episode Two left viewers shocked and ready for Dawson’s next masterpiece. Whereas the series may have been different from his old, comedy-filled videos, Dawson has proven that he can change the content of YouTube by grabbing the attention of his viewers.
Shane Dawson addresses everything from mishaped Chuck-E-Cheese Pizza to author and fellow YouTuber Brittani Louise Taylor’s terrifying experience with online dating. Photos courtesy of youtube.com, theindependent.com, and twitter.com.
Features ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Mobile tintype studio delivers a flash from the past PRESTON WITT Staff Writer If you happened to notice a large, wooden wagon parked in Trinity Courtyard recently, with students and faculty gathered around it in keen interest, that wasn’t the Old Crow Medicine Show, and that certainly wasn’t Clark Stanley peddling snake oil liniment. No, it was new photo teacher Mr. Japheth Storlie and his mobile photographic wagon. In a tip-of-the-hat to the early photography of the 1850s, Storlie designed and constructed a mobile wet plate collodion processing studio, which he has taken to numerous locations as a teaching tool for dozens of photo enthusiasts. Tintype photos, as the name implies, are photos with the image on a metal surface, rather than on glass or paper. Tintypes are exposed while sensitized collodion on the metal is still wet and are processed immediately after being exposed - so producing an early version of what is referred to today as an “instant photo.” Storlie’s interest in wet plate collodion led him to construct the one-of-a-kind darkroom on wheels because the process has to be done from start to finish on location. The wagon is functional, with a sink that folds down, and it includes drawers and space for rollouts and equipment storage. “My wet plate collodion demo at EHS was a lot of fun,” reflected Storlie. “Students and faculty alike seemed to really respond to the process.” Using his spare time over a year and a half, Storlie tackled the 600 pound idea with a photographers eye, knowing that he would have to come up with a way to include everything he would need while
making sure it would all fold down into a conveniently packaged box for mobility. The results are images unlike anything else that can be created with modern photographic equipment, even through special digital photo applications and filters. The secret, according to Storlie, is the simple process involved. There is no electricity in Storlie’s mobile darkroom as sunlight is the power source for the imaging. Simply put, Storlie starts with a metal plate, adds a unique blend of chemicals, exposes the subject to the plate for a predetermined number of seconds, and then develop the image. “There is nothing like bringing photographic life to a black piece of metal,” said Storlie. In early photography, it was hard to obtain images and the methods were very dangerous, so new methods were soon developed, but the uniqueness of the wet plate process and the fascination with the resulting images have kept modern-day photographers like Storlie reaching back to the roots of their now technological field.
Students join photo teacher Japheth Storlie in Trinity Courtyard where his mobile tintype studio captured images and interest among members of the EHS community. Photo by Preston Witt.
Bee enhances understanding of national heritage LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief Citizen Bee tests students’ knowledge of the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, court cases, and current events. Regional competitions are held throughout the state of Texas, and students who place high enough are able to compete at the state level in Austin, Texas. This year, several Episcopal students
will compete in the regional competition on March 2. If a student places first, they will be eligible to move forward at the state level. The regional competition in the Houston area will be held at EHS in Anderson Lecture Hall. There are a variety of schools around Houston competing. The test consists of a written exam and four rounds of oral questioning. The first round tests the knowledge of the Constitution. The second round
focuses on important court cases in history. The third round is focused on famous Americans, and the final round tests knowledge of current events. Students are able to view the information required of them in a study guide. Citizen Bee allows students to expand their historical knowledge, compete in an academic environment, and also learn about current events. All students are highly encouraged to participate next year.
We’ve heard fan reaction to the game, but did the Super Bowl commercials measure up to past years? NICK HELD Staff Writer Super Bowl LIII might have been one of the most unentertaining games to watch, and to add insult to injury, the Patriots won another Super Bowl. The commercials matched the game in terms of entertainment, except for a few: Coke – The commercial showed a diverse array of people ranging from boxers to farmers to photographers enjoying a Coke product and celebrating differences and what makes us unique but emphasized that together we are as one. Colgate - A funny commercial (featuring Luke Wilson) that showed a person all of us know, the close talker. Close talkers get way too close to your face, and you can smell exactly what they last ate. But Colgate fixes the problem of bad breath, making close talkers bearable. Amazon - The Alexa brand seems to be included in everything, but every Alexainfused product doesn’t exactly function, or they are just flat out pointless. The commercial humorously put Alexa in a toothbrush, dog collar, hot tub, and even a space station, all resulting in a different failure. Walmart - This nostalgic commercial showed the famous cars seen in movies and TV shows such as Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine, Lightning McQueen, an even the Batmobile, pulling up to the
Walmart parking lot to pick up groceries. This commercial advertised Walmart’s grocery pickup feature and depicts it like a drive-thru. Skechers - As technology advances everyday, tasks seem to get more effortless. The commercial was about the effortlessness of Skechers slipons compared to Roomba or a 10-foot diameter golf hole. Unless they light up, nobody will ever be interested. Pepsi - Steve Carell immediately set an Office tone as he brought out Lil’ Jon and Cardi B to teach a waiter how to serve Pepsi. NFL - An NFL banquet with some of the greatest star players of all time either retired or currently playing addressed the controversy behind the league. The commercial reminded us that the league was created for the appreciation of the sport and its fans, not politics. The commercial ended with all of the players instinctively playing a game after a ball falls on the floor, creating a highly entertaining anarchy.
The Rams vs the Patriots game ended with a totally unexpected outcome. Photo courtesy of sportingnews.com.
Roger Goodell, Peyton Manning, and Bill Belichick during the filming of their commercial. Photo courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com.
Cardi B shows Kylie Jenner how to make a good Pepsi commercial. Photo courtesy of livechatinc.com.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Year of the Pig ushered in at EHS ALEXA HENDRICKS Staff Writer February 5 marks the date of the Lunar New Year, a holiday widely celebrated throughout many Asian countries, such as China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and Singapore, and is the first new moon of the lunar calendar. The holiday represents the turning over of a new leaf, and customs differ according to the country. In China and Japan, money gifts in a red envelope are given to the younger generation to wish them luck and good fortune, while in Korea the holiday begins with a traditional offering to the spirits of ancestors. Family reunion dinners are common, as loved ones share
foods that represent health, longevity, and prosperity. Houston boasts several large New Year festivals, featuring dragon dances, fireworks, and parades. According to the lunar calendar, each year has one of the 12 zodiac animals. Legend says that in ancient times, the gods arranged a race between the animals; originally, there were 13, but the Cat slept and missed the race. During the race, the Rat caught a ride on the Ox’s back, jumping off right before the finishing line, and so the Rat won first place with the Ox taking second. The last to cross was the Pig. Each animal was given a series of years, repeating in a 12-year cycle, and 2019 marks the end of one of these cycles.
Chinese students move to broadcast studio to shoot weather newscasts ALEXA HENDRICKS Staff Writer The Chinese 2 students showed off their proficiency in a weather report project this month, a product of weeks of hard work and dedication, culminating in a 4-minute video describing the climate of a Chinese city of their choice. Filmed in the broadcasting studio on the third floor Convent, the weather unit is one of the more popular final projects. After a few weeks of learning the necessary vocabulary, students are given the opportunity to apply what they learn. The project works to demonstrate both the students’ expertise in speaking and presentation skills. The students use the studio’s camera
equipment, set design, and greenscreen to produce a professional-looking weather report, complete with a PowerPoint behind them and a well-rehearsed script. The cross-curricular project is filmed and edited by Publications Coordinator Mr. David Framel. Chinese teacher Mrs. Kate Liang has assigned this project for three years and believes the project helps develop Chinese speaking skills and further improve the students’ confidence in public speaking. Mrs. Liang’s threats to play the video in front of the entire student body ensure that a decent amount of effort is put into the project. Mary Sickler enjoyed watching everyone’s final project, saying, “We all put a ton of work into our scripts, and it was awesome to see them come to life!”
C C
Culture ∙ Page 5
ARSON’S
LOSET with Carson Sherman
This month I will highlight Fashion Week. This Fashion Week, designers such as Brandon Maxwell, Tory Burch, Tibi, and many more created intricate designs that are unique to the fashion industry. In Brandon Maxwell’s show, his theme revolved around 90s clothing. In the Tom Ford Show, the trend was fur coats, pastel colors, and satins. For the Kate Spade brand, designers showed off a business casual look with bright colors that appealed to the audience. Project Runway winner Christian Siriano had a different idea for his show this year. He wanted his collection to be futuristic and magical. Jackets with colorful fur and cosmic, striped jumpsuits made it onto the runway that day. Longchamp is another brand that most people recognize. Their venue theme was traveling back to the 80s, which is the cur-
rent trend with designers during the past two fashion weeks. Long, printed dresses gave off a bohemian and 80s vibe that caught the eyes of their viewers. Zac Posen is another designer that has made major improvement in the fashion industry. He has created clothing from evening gowns to pantsuits. One of my personal favorite shows so far this FW was the Maison Valentino Haute Couture Show. This collection sported different colored trench coats, oversized clothing, and floral prints. This Fashion Week is not only in New York but all over the world. There is a Milan Fashion Week and another very popular fashion week - Paris Fashion Week. On February 19th, the fashion industry lost one of the most iconic designers, Karl Lagerfeld. His legacy will live on and he will be dearly missed.
Gigi Hadid walking for the Tom Ford show. Photo courtesy of footwearnews.com.
Kaia Gerber walking for the Longchamp Show. Photo courtesy of celebskart.com.
er
rn
Co
Este mes, a la luz de los Oscars en el 24 de febrero, quiero hablar sobre uno de los corredores delanteros para varios premios—Roma. Dirigido por Alfonso Cuarón, Roma es la historia de Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), una trabajadora doméstica joven para una familia que vive en el barrio de clase media de Roma en la Ciudad de México. Cuarón reflexionó sobre su niñez retratar el emocional y asuntos demasiados reales de conflictos domésticos y jerarquía social en medio de agitación política en los años 1970. Este año solo, Roma ha ganado varios premios, incluyendo Mejor Película y Mejor Director a los Golden Globes, también con una nominación por Mejor Guion. Para los Academy Awards, Roma ha sido nominado para DIEZ premios, empatado con The Favourite. Las nomina-
sh ni
a Sp ur Yo
ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer
ciones incluyendo Mejor Película, Mejor Actriz (Yalitza Aparicio), Mejor Actriz de Reparto (Marina de Tavira), Mejor Director, Mejor Película de Lengua Extranjera del Año, Mejor Guion, Mejor Cinematografía, Mejor Mezcla de Sonido, Mejor Diseño de Producción, y Mejor Edición de Sonido. Roma está casi garantizada a ganar por lo menos uno. ¡Asegúrese de ver Roma en Netflix!
Entertainment ∙ Page 6
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Fyre Festival hype burns out Sydney Joe’s Jams hutchins1234 Though he may not be your average rapper, James Blake has erupted on the hip-hop music scene. Evolving from his classic indie and dubstep music to rap vocals and music producer, Blake is definitely on the radar.
Blake’s latest album Assume Form focuses on a more hip-hop, R&B, and electropop sound. With features from Travis Scott, Metro Boomin, André 3000, and Moses Sumney, combined with Blake’s talent for creating music and vocals, is a road to success and possibly mainstream music. My favorite song, which I highly recommend listening to when you are in any R&B mood, is “Mile High,” featuring Scott. This is one of Blake’s hit singles along with “Don’t Miss It” and “Lullaby for My Insomniac.” However, what sticks out about “Mile High” is the mysterious background beat along with some mellow tracks from Scott, not his normal rapping flow as we are used to hearing.
Assume Form, released January 18, topped the Billboard Top Dance chart. Photo courtesy of James Blake.
Sydney Stars: 6/10
James Blake, alongside 21 Savage, is one of America’s favorite hip-hop Brits right now. Blake has received contribution credit for vocals, composing, and artistry on numerous numbers from Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Logic. He not only has been engulfed in the hip-hop industry but is also up for two Grammy Awards in rap categories this year.
Rodeo is finally here! Houston’s favorite event of the year kicked off on February 25 with country artist Kacey Musgraves leading the way. As always, the rodeo portion is divided into two competitions: The Super Series and the Super Shootout. The Super Series, lasting for 19 days, has 300+ athletes competing in seven events, including bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tiedown roping, and team roping. The winners of each event will move on to the Championship on the last night. The Super Shootout on March 9 is an invitation-only event for champions of other renowned rodeos across North America. Forty athletes will compete as an individual and as part of a team in bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and steer racing.
By now most people know at least a little something about the biggest disaster in music festival history. If you haven’t seen one of the hundreds of news stories, posts, or memes bashing the Fyre Festival, then Netflix made an amazing documentary breaking it down for you. Netflix’s Fyre Festival: The Greatest Party That Never Happened explains everything you could possibly ever want to know. The documentary was produced by Danny Gabai at Vice Studios, along with Chris Smith, Library Films, and Mick Purzycki at Jerry Media, and premiered Friday, January 18. The film breaks down everything that led up to the catastrophe. The company responsible was Fyre, a talent-booking agency, and Fyre Fest was supposed to be used to announce the startup of the app. Billy McFarland and JaRule are the
masterminds behind the stunt. Their vision was to create a luxury music festival with all of the top Instagram influencers and models attending. They paid a group of models to shoot the promo which was beautifully shot and gained quite the buzz. When the popularity rose, McFarland saw the opportunity to create a utopia and became obsessed with the idea. He immediately started getting all of these extravagant ideas and started promising people the best of the best. The chaos started with the widespread post of a solid orange background among popular Instagramers. The website promised an extravagant experience marketed toward rich youth. The tickets, going for thousands of dollars, were 95% sold out within two days. The problem was McFarland had nothing that he promised and had an incredibly short amount of time to set his insane project up and running. If you want to see the chaos first hand from all perspectives, the documentary is a must see.
James Blake features Travis Scott on his new R&B single “Mile High.” Photo courtesy of rollingstone.com
Houston Rodeo kicks off three weeks of music, food, and fun ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer
NICK HELD Staff Writer
This year, the teams are Rodeo Austin, Calgary Stampede, San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, Rodeo Houston, National Western Stock Show, SLC, and San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Association. The concert lineup this year has a mix of all different genres of music from country, rock, and pop to hip-hop and EDM. Major country headliners, including Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, and George Strait (accompanied by Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Kean), will return to the Houston stage once again. Cardi B, Panic! At The Disco, Camila Cabello, Zedd, and Santana will join them as well. This year, Brooks and Dunn will be performing on Armed Forces Day (February 27), Cardi B on Black Heritage Day (March 1), Old Dominion on First Responders Day (March 4), and Los Tigres del Norte on the Houston favorite Go Tejano Day (March 10).
The Houston Rodeo kicks off an exciting star studded lineup, including Camila Cabello and Cardi B. Image courtesy of click2houston.com.
The luxury villas promised turned out to be nothing more than hurricane shelters. Image courtesy of thedailybeast.com.
Netflix series You enjoys explosive run after historic failure on Lifetime Elizabeth Lail. Once catching her name, Joe quickly utilizes modern technology to go through her public information on social media. He then becomes engulfed in stalking her, which develops his obsesThe new Netflix Original TV series You sion for Beck. has everyone raving. This psychological After “coincidentally” being at the right thriller, based on the novel of the same name and published in 2014, has been one place at the right time, Joe saves Beck after of the she falls biggest onto the hits tracks starting in a the 2019 subway televistation. sion With year. this (No dramatic spoilers, meethere.) ing, he After finally being gets his released alone sometime where between Penn Badgley and Elizabeth Lail star in the new Netflix series with her, You. Image courtesy of boldlance.com. plantBird ing the Box and seeds for something much greater to Bandersnatch, it was no surprise that the come. Joe goes to the greatest extremes series would be another hit. However, inand eliminates any obstacles standing in stead of a movie, Netflix gave its viewers the way of his obsession, believing that the gift of something that could be binge these actions will demonstrate to Beck the watched all night. lengths he is willing to go for her love. This show is bound to catch viewer With a season finale that had viewers attention with its many plot twists as a on the edge of their seats, followers of lonely and charming bookstore clerk, Joe the series You await Season 2 with high (Penn Badgely), falls head over heels for expectations. a beautiful blonde writer, Beck, played by SYDNEY HUTCHINS Managing Editor
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Arts ∙ Page 7
Knights capture Scholastic Awards OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer According to the EHS website, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is “a nationwide visual arts competition for junior high and high school students spon-
Image courtesy of butlerartscenter.org.
sored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.” Episcopal students have been participating in the competition for many years, and this year’s results were quite noteworthy. The judged event allows students to share pieces of art such as photographs, paintings, videos and short movies, and pieces like poetry and journalism, in a regional competition, and winners will be selected in March for the national competition in New York City. This year, 44 EHS arts and writing students earned a total of 70 awards, and some received multiple awards. Senior Rohan Asthana was awarded 2 Gold Keys, 4 Silver Keys, and 3 Honorable Mentions for Photography. Junior, Amelia Traylor received 1 Gold Key, 2 Silver Keys, and 2 Honorable Mentions for Photography as well. These awards inspire Episcopal students to branch out and thrive in all areas of the Arts Pillar.
Submissions begin for Arts apps LAUREN PORTER Editor in-Chief Most introductory arts courses offered at Episcopal do not require applications to enroll in the course, but there are a few that have an application process. These courses are Portfolio, Newspaper, Yearbook, ETv, Photojournalism, and Chorale. Early this month, the application process began as students applied to courses they are interested in taking next year. The ETv application was due on February 21, and
Arts courses like Mr. Milani’s Advanced Moviemaking (ETV) require student application and instructor approval prior to enrollment. Other courses needing the same prerequisites are Yearbook, Newspaper, PhotoJ, and Chorale. Photo by Chris Bailey, Chris Bailey Photography.
the newspaper and yearbook applications were due on February 22. Chorale applications were due on XXX. Newspaper does not require prior experience, but it does have an application process due to the strict deadlines and responsibility required for the production of The Knight Times. The newspaper only meets one period, so a limited number of spots is a factor as well. Yearbook follows a similar process, and there is only one class period of this publications course as well. These two programs usually have many applicants, so it is a competitive process. ETv is the most advanced moviemaking course offered at Episcopal and requires applicants to have taken either a moviemaking or animation course before taking ETv. The ETv students showcase their talent at movie screenings and events throughout the year. Chorale is one of the choirs at EHS and requires an application to join. The Chorale group sings every day in Chapel and also performs at events such as Advent Chapel and Hauntcert. There is no prior singing experience needed to join Chorale. The application deadlines for these courses may have already passed, but there are plenty of amazing EHS arts courses that are available without applications.
Fiddler on the Roof takes stage
Actors rehearse for the March 1 opening of the spring musical Fiddler on the Roof. Photo by Jasmine Greene. BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer The spring musical Fiddler on the Roof begins performances on March 1 and runs through March 3 in the newly-renovated Underwood Theatre. The auditorium features brand new everything, from seats and stage to sound systems. “Back on campus, we can’t wait for the support of the entire student body,” said Theater Coordinator George Brock. Fiddler on the Roof is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s and leads up to the Jewish diaspora in Russia. The entire story is about familial connections, cultural identity, and most importantly, the strug-
gle of tradition. It describes how tradition fits into Jewish life. The main character is Tevye, a father with five daughters. The musical highlights his struggle to try to hold on to tradition in order to save his family, but he eventually tears his family apart. The cast is a group of talented EHS actors who have been working hard to perfect their characters and performances. The cast features Max Dubose as Tevye, Gwendalyn Diaz as Golde, Caton Murry as Hodel, Will McKinnie as Perchik, Quinn Ogle as Tzeitel, and Ethan McAlpin playing the role of Motel. The work also features Bridget Kearney, who plays Chava, Gabe Kant as Fyedka, and Addie Elmer who performs Yente.
EHS anticipating the studentchoreographed dance concert BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer The Spring Dance Concert will be performed April 12- 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the new Underwood Theatre. Since this will be the first dance event in the newly renovated space, the title “Reconstructed” is fitting. This concert differs from the Fall Dance Concert in that the students are in charge of almost everything, including choreography, costumes, and music. This year there are 16 choreographers who cross all the dance teams, including
Advanced, Repertoire, and Impact. There is a total of 14 dances to be offered, varying from Hip-Hop and Jazz to Contemporary and 80s Throwback. There is even a
Gianni Cavitt, Angelina Ciaravino, Lily Cone, and Avery Edens in preparation for the concert. Photo by Spencer Donley. senior piece that highlights all the seniors in the Dance Program and is a tribute to their commitment and hard work. Creating these pieces helps the students generate great leadership skills and a unique chance to express creativity. Each one of the 14 dances is unique to each choreographer, with each artist having to audition her piece prior to selection to participate. The Spring Dance features a greater variety of EHS students since hopeful artists did not have to be enrolled in dance to audition. Every dance piece requires time and dedication, and the dancers rehearse every day after school and Saturdays, which shows the overall commitment and effort displayed by the entire program. Before the opening show, there will be a Dad’s Club Feast that is open to all members of the audience, including patrons, parents, and students. Come support the Episcopal Dance Program during this annual event.
Knight Shift ∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Knight of the Quill Knight TIMES CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1. Max ______ who plays Tevye 5. The diamonds on your chain. 6. “Speaking Frankly,” in texts 9. Ginger _____ 10. “Ni _____” (Hello, in China) 11. Use a ray gun 12. Common Connector 13. Bridal bio word 14. Character played by Bridget Kearney 19. Baseball great Hank ______ or the punchline in a Key and Peele skit. 20. Will _____ who plays Perchik
HOT
by Alan Bradshaw
DOWN 1. Gwen ____ who plays Golde 2. Where the Wizard of Westwood coached 3. Road Runner’s sound 4. McAlpin who plays Motel 7. Villian in The Dark Night Rises 8. Character played by Caton Murry 14. Quarterback Newton 15. It houses Alkek Gymnasium (abbv) 16. Raiders were after it 17. “_____ che sapete,” (Mozart Aria) 18. Raggedy Redhead
or
NOT
Strawberry lemonade and cookies for break
Not allowed to get seconds
Valentine’s Day dinners
Valentine’s Day dinner with your parents
Writing love letters in Chapel
Not getting one love letter
Tik Toks
Vine 2
Grad Parties
Short breaks
Four-peating in SPC Boys Soccer
Doing all the make up work when you get back
Surviving the Episcoplague
The Flu
ehsknighttimes
(Celebrity Sighting)
Knight Search 101 Welcome to the return of an oldie but goodie to The Knight Times, Knight Search 101, an opportunity for you to display your knowledge of the EHS campus while earning a Cookie Card in the process. Here’s all you have to do to win: Identify the exact location of the photo on the left. The image is of something within the borders of the campus, but it could be anywhere. It’s a spot just about everybody in the community passes on a daily basis. When you think you know the what and where, contact Editor Lauren Porter via email and you could be the monthly winner of a KT Cookie Card. Only one guess per month per contestant.
EpiscoWord Search ACADEMICS
ALKEK ARTS
ATHLETICS
BENITEZ CRUM
EPISCOPAL
KNIGHTS PILLARS
RELIGION TROTTER UNDERWOOD
Every few months a Celebrity Sighting comes along that stops us dead in our tracks. This month’s jewel did just that. Kole Calhoun is an MLB right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels and apparently has done some coaching and history lessons at EHS as well. Mr. Hofmeister will be playing doppleganger this season. Photos courtesy of mlb.com and Preston Witt.
A Complete and Utterly Vacuous Lack of Witt PRESTON WITT Staff Writer
How many random vacation photos are you in?
Good day to my fellow Lack of Witters. I hope everyone is getting back into the swing of things with school work, extracurricular activities, and everyday meaningful questions. With the stress of school starting to pick up again, I know you have many concerns or questions. This is why I am here to boggle your mind and bend it like a pretzel. Enjoy this month’s edition of LOW!
Do crabs think fish can fly?
Are a brain transplant and a body transplant the same thing?
Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin?
How many wild birds have you seen twice? Why does the sun lighten our hair, but darken our skin? If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a song about him?
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Pillars ∙ Page 9
Students recognized during Chapel Healthy relationships is the LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief Honors Chapel is a semi-annual event that recognizes students with high academic achievement each semester at EHS. This month, Honors Chapel was held to recognize students that performed highly in the classroom for the Fall 2018 Semester. To earn highest honors, students must earn all As, with no more than one B+ in an honors or AP course. To earn honors, students must earn all As or Bs with no more than one B- in an honors or AP course. In addition to the these awards, there are awards for exemplary effort (Effort Award) in a course and the Climb Award. The Climb Award recognizes students who may have had a more difficult start to the course but then strived to achieve a
higher grade throughout the course. Along with the awards, Honors Chapel also recognized commended students on the 2017 PSAT and National Hispanic Scholars. The commended students were Daniel Cai, Brett Hauser, Carter Kardesch, Claire Kardesch, Anna Mclauchlin, Ellie Ragiel, James Henry Ray, and Gabrielle Small. The National Hispanic Scholars scored in the top 2.5% of Hispanic/Latino 2017 PSAT test takers in the region. The students recognized as scholars were Alexandra Herrera, Amiri Scrutchin, and Lillyana Stefanakis. Honors Chapel continues to be a celebration of academic achievement for EHS students, and hopefully the number of students with high and highest honors will continue to grow as more students push themselves for high academic performance.
focus for Choices in February DUNCAN LAMME Staff Writer This month’s Choices topic covered healthy relationships and how to avoid abuse and where to get help in volatile situations. Approximately 1 in 10 high school students has been abused in a relationship, and 1.5 million students a year experience physical abuse from a partner. In a healthy relationship, both partners must feel supported and respected but still have a feeling of independence. Mutual respect, trust, honesty, and equality are all important traits in these healthy relationships. Females from ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rate of partner violence and abuse, which is why it is so important
to learn about practicing healthy relationships in high school. Some warning signs of an unhealthy relationship can be isolation from friends or family, extreme jealousy resulting in fits of anger, criticism of appearance in how one dresses, and physical abuse or even the gesture of physical harm. When faced with these problems, it is important for the victim to seek help through a friend, family member, or teacher. Episcopal Choices counselor Mary Secrest is always available to talk with those in need. Unhealthy relationships can also be manipulative, so it is important to reach out to someone if one of your friends seems to be in an abusive relationship, even if they don’t believe they are.
Derby Knight Auction 2019 held for a perfect cause - EHS OLIVIA HOPWOOD Staff Writer
Members of the Senior Class receive recognition of academic excellence during the Spring Honors Chapel. Photo by Maya Basra.
For the last 34 years, Episcopal has held annual auctions, which, according to the newspaper website, “raise necessary revenue for the school’s operating budget.” Like last year, this year the auction was held in the Hildebrand Athletic Center. The auction occurred on February 22, and was a huge hit. Featuring a Kentucky Derby theme, the “Derby Knight” auction welcomed guests who were given the opportunity to enjoy a great dining experience while bidding on a variety of items. The auction “proceeds make it possible for our students to experience
an unparalleled offering of classes and programs throughout the Four Pillars of academics, athletics, arts, and religion; build lasting relationships with a talented and nurturing faculty; and be exposed to enriching opportunities both in and out of the classroom.” As well as the February event, an online auction that began on January 31 and ended on February 7 was open for guests. This year’s auction chairs were Sabrina Espinoza, Patricia Hammond, and Lyria O’Brien. The chairs ensured that the whole process moved smoothly. The 2019 “Derby Knight” provided a great experience for parents and visitors to help benefit the EHS community.
EHS SPEAKS OUT If you could have lunch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
CHRIS LAHOTI Audrey Post Staff Writer “Audrey Hepburn”
Steele Sasnett “Babe Ruth”
Oliver Alvarez “Tupac”
Elisabeth Hunt “John Lennon”
Sam Holden “Randy Savage”
Mrs. Weigand “Taylor Swift”
Jessica Wang “21 Savage”
Elliot Curry “Barack Obama”
Arisa Alei-Afnan “Charles Bukowski”
Mr. Revas “William Shakespeare”
Opinion ∙ Page 10
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Are award shows potentially destructive to artists’ careers? LAUREN PORTER Editor-in-Chief Awards season has begun, and while these shows have always been controversial, there is a new element to awards shows that has caused many celebrities to stray from the events’ purpose. While awards ceremonies are supposed to highlight the greatest talent of the year, it has shifted into a public nightmare for some artists. In particular, the hosts of the awards shows have become the biggest target for award show media coverage. While hosting used to be an honor, it has now become a career death sentence. Most people have made some questionable judgments and mistakes in their life, and when these hosts are brought under the public eye, they have their past mistakes brought with them into the spotlight. The most recent example of this is Kevin Hart. Comedian Hart was chosen to host the Oscars this year, which caused some people to look into his past comedic routines and tweets. Most if not all comedians have jokes land poorly, and the public needs to realize they will make mistakes; it’s the nature of the business. Hart had a comedic error in his past and apologized shortly after the routine in 2010. His 2010 comedic routines and tweets were insensitive, but like most people who have
made mistakes, he evolved and altered his comedic style. However, the media and some angry people on social media would not let him recover from his blunder nine years later. He then was pressured to step down from his role as host, a decision that he followed through with shortly after the controversy. Now that Hart has become an example of the negativity that can surround these events, it becomes potentially dangerous for other artists’ careers. The primary concern for celebrities is “cancel culture.” While it is a relatively new term, it is similar to boycotting a brand or store. If a celebrity is “cancelled” in the public eye, it severely hurts his or her reputation and image for a long period of time, if not permanently. While I do not believe Hart’s career has fallen into a black hole and will never resurface, I think it has caused some temporary setbacks for his acting and comedic roles. Considering Hart’s mistakes could have been much worse, his example gives celebrities with worse secrets an insight into what may lie ahead for them. So, what does this mean for hosts in the future? Hosts do not want to fall victim to “cancel culture,” and I think that more celebrities will begin to think twice before accepting the job in the future. Currently, the Oscars will not have a host and will feature celebrities to speak for each individual category.
Kevin Hart delivered a moving speech about diveersity while hosting the 2016 Oscars. Image courtesy of people.com.
Follow the Herd: Don’t hesitate, just vaccinate CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer The first case of measles was identified in the ninth century. It became an epidemic over time, and an effective vaccine was developed in 1963. The CDC website declares that the measles virus was eradicated in the U.S. by the year 2000. So why are we seeing a resurgence now? Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus that manifests with symptoms that are easily mistaken for the common cold: fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and rash. Unlike the common cold, this disease has deadly complications, including pneumonia, and can progress to respiratory failure and even encephalitis, resulting in permanent brain damage. According to the CDC, measles is so contagious that if even one person has the disease, 90% of unvaccinated people physically near that person will get it as well. This is largely due to the fact that respiratory drops from an infected person may remain airborne for up to two hours. The virus is especially dangerous to those with compromised or immature immune systems. Thankfully, immunization is the cornerstone of public health protection. The Mea-
sles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to children at 12-15 months old and again at 4-6 years old. Anyone who has received both doses of the MMR vaccine is considered protected for life and does need a booster dose. Unvaccinated travelers pose the greatest risk to public health when they contract the disease and bring it into the U.S. The infection is spread to other unvaccinated communities. It’s alarming that we already have five documented cases of measles in Houston. A 2018 study conducted by Hotez showed that Harris County, along with three other Texas counties, was part of the top 15 places for the largest number of kindergartener vaccine exemptions. An increasing number of parents are listening to anti-vaccination groups like Texans for Vaccine Choice (TVC) claiming that immunizations cause autism. Despite the fact that this misconception has been disproved in multiple studies, vaccination exemptions continue to rise. The controversy began in 1998 when British researchers published a study declaring that the MMR vaccine caused autism in young children. The researchers only observed 12 kids, but the study began to receive attention due to a large increase
of children diagnosed with autism that same year. Follow-up studies did not determine vaccines causative of autism, and an investigation done on the original study revealed fraudulent data and misconduct in clinical research. The journal that pub-
lished the study eventually retracted it. Groups like the TVC argue that they are defending their parental right to decide what is best for their children. But when do individual rights trump the ethical responsibility to protect the public?
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
Staff Writers Nick Held Olivia Hopwood Elliott Jones Bailey Junell Chris Lahoti Duncan Lamme Carson Sherman Preston Witt Alexa Hendricks
Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator David Framel Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie
Photo Editors Teagan Ashworth Julia Toups
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
Houston is ranked as the metropolitan area with the lowest percentage of children vaccinated, according to the CDC. Image courtesy of Houston Chronicle.
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.
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
SPC Winter Sports Brief GIRLS SOCCER This year during the SPC Tournament, the girls varsity soccer team travelled with the other teams to Fort Worth to compete in the conference championship. The team went into the weekend seeded second in the South Zone and were excited for the intense tests and games ahead of them. Because of the hard work during the season, the girls were rewarded with a bye on the opening day. The next day the girls started the tournament with Trinity Valley, and with a final score of 2-0, the girls moved to the semifinals later the same day. Dallas Hockaday awaited the Knights, and after a hard fought game and many injuries, the team fell short with a 4-1 loss. Following a tough loss in the third-place game, the girls plan to gradually get better and create new standards for the girls varsity soccer program at Episcopal. GIRLS BASKETBALL The girls varsity basketball team placed earned a fifth place finish in this year’s Winter SPC tournament in Fort Worth, losing only to Greenhill, the #1 seed in the North. On Thursday night at Country Day, EHS Head Coach Courtney Arnold’s former high school, the girls played solid in their first win of the tournament against Hockaday. The game started tight and was tied at the end of the first quarter, but the Knights woke up and finished off the Daisies 53-37. Turning around and playing the following Friday morning against a strong Greenhill team was a major challenge for the Knights, who had a rocky first and fell behind by 15. However, in the fourth quarter, the girls showed some fight and lost SCORE. On Saturday against Trinity Valley in the fifth place game, the girls didn’t come to lose the last contest of the season. Taking a two-point lead into the fourth quarter, they exploded on a 17-point run and never looked back. The girls will miss their senior captains Sydney Hutchins and Hannah Windle. They look forward to coming back and watching the teams.
Sports ∙ Page 11
Soccer hangs on, wins fourth consecutive title ELLIOTT JONES Staff Writer The varsity boys soccer program did it again, winning in double overtime 2-1 over the John Cooper Dragons in what proved to be a nail-biter of a finish and sealing their unprecedented fourth consecutive SPC championship. The boys started the tournament in Fort Worth with two 3-0 shutouts against Dallas Greenhill and Oklahoma City Casady before proceeding to the championship game on Saturday against The Woodlands’ John Cooper. After full regulation play, the teams were tied 0-0, leading to an overtime period. The excitement built as neither team could score in the first extra period, so a second overtime commenced. The Dragons succeeded in getting the first points on the board, but the Knights followed with two consecutive goals by senior forward Victor Velasco. After a tenacious and exhausting match, EHS came away with a 2-1 victory and another title for Head Coach Travis Smith, who led the program to the first of four titles under his leadership and the end of a
24-year championship drought. The three wins brought the Knights’ record to 15-0, with major wins against SPC powerhouses Kinkaid (4-0), St. John’s (5-1), and Houston Christian (8-0). Despite all of the success, the team unanimously agreed that, apart from winning SPC, the most exciting game was their incredible victory against the number one team in the nation, San Antonio Central Catholic. Thanks to a goal from
senior Juan Rodriguez, Episcopal claimed the title of the best team in the nation that night. They even got to celebrate their win with support from a huge student section. Boys soccer is looking forward to a fifth consecutive title next winter. Coaches Smith and Zach Schwarz will miss the talent of seniors Jose Reyes, Carter Kardesch, Victor Velasco, Memo Rodriguez, Humberto Leal, Ivan Bastidas, and Juan Rodriguez next year.
The Knights’ Dani Guandique works the ball to senior Victor Velasco during their double overtime finals win against John Cooper. Photo by Gigi Gaetti.
Knights basketball earns runner-up honors
with his own double double, 11 points and 11 rebounds, in the 65-60 squeaker over the Lions from Dallas (65-60). In the championship game, the boys Despite playing a terrific game, the boys kept it close with a valiant effort, tradvarsity basketball team fell just short of ing the lead with the Mustangs time and the SPC championship in a hard-fought again. Their tenacious defense just wasn’t contest 69-64 to the Houston Christian enough to stop Houston Christian, though Mustangs, adding another Runner-Up fin(64-69). ish for EHS in the DJ Nussabum 2019 winter sports expands on how this season. year has improved him Coming into as a player and his the tournament as thoughts on the finals, the #2 seed in the “With my first year South, the boys had under the coaching of awhile to adjust to Coach Jones and the the travel to Dallas other coaches I learned before playing a lot about the stratetheir first game on gies of the game and a Friday morning, what I can do to better February 15. After the team and myself. I leading Greenhill in think with the experithe quarterfinals by ence we had this year, only four points at next year we will be the end of the first playing with a chip on half, Head Coach our shoulder becuase Wayne Jones and we feel like we have his team came out Junior Adam Kanafani shows off his hops in the SPC tournament in a tough win something to prove strong in the second against St. Mark’s. Photo by Hannah Windle. now.” SYDNEY HUTCHINS Managing Editor
and ran away with a 17-point win (61-44). In the semifinals the boys came from behind in a tough game against the #1 seed in the North, St. Marks. Episcopal realized early on it was in for a tough game, but the team had some clutch play and marched into the finals. Junior Jahari Long led the team in points that night with 23 and 11 assists. DJ Nussbaum finished
Wrestlers earn three SPC titles, three runners-up Sydney Hutchins mentally prepares for a free throw. Photo by Preston Witt.
DUNCAN LAMME Staff Writer
SWIMMING
On February 16 the Episcopal High School wrestling team faced off in the 2019 SPC Wrestling Championship at Fort Worth Country Day High School in Fort Worth, Texas. The team finished the day with a total score of 142 points, placing second overall, just above third place O.C. Casady High School. Wrestlers Lane McCool, Gregory Ross, Duncan Lamme, Paul McGarry, Jack Podsednik, and Patrick Bayouth all made it to the finals, putting the team in good position for the title with six wrestlers in the top two. The results were remarkable as McCool placed first at the 113-weight class along with Lamme at 138 and Podsednik at 195. The three SPC champions all beat St. John’s wrestlers in the finals. Ross at 120, McGarry at 160, and Bayouth at 285 finished as runners-up
The girls and boys varsity swim teams competed this past weekend in Fort Worth at SPC. The teams are limited to a maximum of four swimmers and divers in an event and one relay team for each event. Girls and boys combined ranked ninth in the SPC Conference Championship with a score of 36.5 points. The girls individually ranked eighth with a score of 13.5 points and the boys ninth with a score of 23 points. Three freshmen scored at their first SPC: Sofia Demeo, Sela Sanders, and Sam Randall, and Jake Klucznik also scored as the boys set a school record in every relay event. The teams have a relatively young roster with a bright future and will continue to build on the relays for next season.
in the tournament. Freshman Davis Bell at 106 and junior James Ogunrin at 220 also scored valuable points for the team, placing third in tough weight classes. Bell defeated the Kinkaid 106-pound wrestler after only a few weeks of practice and Ogunrin won against a wrestler from St. Mark’s. Fourth-place finshers for the Knights were Will Adkins at 126, Quinn Charlton at 170, and Christian Husted at 182. The team has improved dramatically over the past two years and has finished behind back-to-back SPC wrestling champions St. John’s in both. Coaches Steve Leisz and Tom Estus have built a strong foundation for the wrestling program and have made the sport a great experience and challenge for Episcopal students. The team will lose seniors Podsednik, Bayouth, Lamme, and Sam Lee next year, but junior captain Lane McCool will be back to work for the SPC championship title.
The seniors gather with their runner-up trophy. Photo Mrs. Molly Lamme.
Sports ∙ Page 12
The Knight Times ∙ February 2019
Spring Sports Preview Fox will count on youth corps NICK HELD Staff Writer The varsity baseball team was beyond ready to hit the field and start the season following weeks of practice under the leadership of Coach Matt Fox, and finished the weekend 2-2 after their first pre-SPC tournament. Their opening game was actually a February 18 matchup with Lutheran South, and the boys came away on the short side of an 8-5 game. The Pearland Tournament followed, and on a rainy Thursday evening, the Knights recorded two wins, a 5-2 victory over Clements and a 17-6 thrashing of Pearland H.S. They then rematched with Pearland on Saturday the 23rd. The first inning Pearland scored two runs then Episcopal
countered with 5 runs in the fifth inning but overall fell short 11-9. The team is young relative to the last few years, but expectations the players have set for themselves and each other is as strong as ever. Several players are facing a learning curve right now and dealing with a lack of experience, but Head Coach Matt Fox believes they will get where they need to be as a team. “Our biggest challenge will be us. We will need to cut down our mistakes and our inexperience that just seems to show right now,” Coach Fox shared. “It will be exciting to watch this team grow over the course of the season. This team knows how to put in the work, and they understand our culture. They are a hungry group, and I look forward to seeing what they can accomplish together.”
Track prepares for familiar results to their highest potential in wake of this spring. In his second year as head coach, Isaiah Coleman is looking to reclaim the The 2019 girls and boys track and field SPC title since Episcopal’s last wins in teams are beginning their preparation for 2015 (Boys) and 2009 (Girls). another incredible season. This year, seniors Sophia Casetta, SydThe athletes have been training since ney Hutchins, Kathleen Johnson, Jamie the fall sports season, pushing themselves Tatum, Sam Anderson, Ivan Bastidas, Daniel Cai, Jaylen Davis, Chase Gray, Kenny Otah, Noah Prophet, Alex Thompson, Jordan Wells, and Julius Young will return to the field to help the younger athletes improve their times and distances. As it is their last season, they are all hoping to beat their personal records and hopefully win their first track and field championship. Even the younger athletes have begun setting goals for themselves. “I am really looking forward to running the 3200 at SPC,” says sophomore Libby McLauchlin. “My goal is to run a mile under six minutes.” The teams had their Junior Charlotte Schaffer competes in the long jump dur- first meet at Strake on ing a track event at Kinkaid. Schaffer and her teammates February 23. Their first will look to improve on last year’s finish, which was second. SPC meet will be on Photo by Photo J. March 1 at St. John’s. ELLIOT JONES Staff Writer
Girls LAX putting focus on effort CARSON SHERMAN Staff Writer The girls varsity lacrosse team kicked off their season on February 4, but most of the girls have been training weeks before the season even started. All of the girls have been putting in a lot of work, time, and commitment thus far and are ready for their season. There is a wide range of players this season, led by eight seniors and eleven returning starters. There are a handful of girls that will be moving up to the varsity level that will make an impact on the team as well. Their rivals this season in SPC play are St. John’s and Kinkaid, but they also compete against public schools such as Cy-Fair High School and The Woodlands, which give the girls good competition in preparation for SPC. Each day, the girls are getting better, and
it looks like the girls will have a great season. The coaches are excited to see how the girls will progress and work together to have a successful campaign.
Sara Mosley avoids her opponent. Photo by Spencer Donnelly.
Varsity tennis looks to qualify CHRIS LAHOTI Staff Writer Tennis aficionados love watching the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open, and French Open. Players like Roger Federer, Djokovic, the Williams Sisters, and Naomi Osaka make tennis look elegant and easy. All fans see is a game that is exciting and dramatically entertaining. However, tennis is far more complex than that. Players need to be able to serve, to volley at the net, to aim shots down or cross-court, and to know what type of spin will land their shot. It requires tremendous physical endurance and mental discipline for strategy.
Tennis has been offered as a sport at Episcopal since 1983, and we have been lucky enough to have Keith Christman as the coach for the last 18 years. Both JV and varsity teams compete in 10 regular meets throughout the season to try and qualify for the Southwest Preparatory Conference championship tournament. Coach Christman knows the girls’ team can place highly during the SPC tournament and believes the boys are ready to qualify this year. He is focusing on technique and match play as well as fostering camaraderie among the players. Episcopal is hosted its nineteenth annual tennis invitational on February 22. Go out and support our Knights during the 2019 Season.
New look boys LAX start with win BAILEY JUNELL Staff Writer
St. Andrews on March 1 and will play Greenhill during Spring Break.
This upcoming season the boy’s lacrosse team is ready for a fresh start, with a set of underclassmen and new head coach in Michael Donnelly. The youth movement has been gradually building skill levels, which could spell positive results in 2019 and beyond. Players to watch will be senior goalie Holt Johnson, sophomores Jack Carpenter and Gannon Amendola, and junior Mason Morris and junior transfer Thomas Minton. This season promises to be an amazing run for the boy’s varsity lacrosse team with matches already underway. On February 19 the team played Stratford and won 9-7, led by Mason Morris’ three goals and two from Gannon Amendola and Carter Bunk. The boys will open SPC play
The boys lacrosse team hopes for a promising season. Photo by Amelia Traylor .
Three-peat in softball for 2019 campaign the goal of seniors PRESTON WITT Staff Writer The varsity softball team is looking to make another SPC title run and three-peat behind the experience of its seniors. The Knights return Amber Hatfield, Hannah Windle, and Rachel Boeker and hope their experience will help guide the girls to another successful season. Although the Knights lost key players like Daryn Grams and Sarah Venker, and even retired Head Coach Kim Randolph, these seniors hope to follow in their foot-
steps with pride. This year is going to be a battle for the SPC with competition rising in rivals Houston Christian and Kinkaid. Since the Knights were so successful last year, numerous big-time schools want to play them, like Angleton, Clear Falls, and Pasadena Memorial. Hatfield spoke highly of this group, saying, “If we can work as a team and play well against the big public schools, I think we will excel during SPC. The outcome of our season will all come down to the performance of the freshmen, but I believe they will rise to the occasion.”
Golf teams eye SPC championship ALEXA HENDRICKS Staff Writer The golf season started February 5 and the varsity girls and boys began preparing for tournaments and a chance to win SPC. The girls’ team features returning players Alisia Cruz, Madelyn Scholtes, Anna Giesler, Makaela Murphy, EA Charbonnet, and Ashley Chandler. Their goal this season is the same as always:, beat St. John’s. Jack Panus, Jack Matthews, Harrison Holmes, Billy Hall, and Will Artzen will be counted on for their experience and leadership on the boys team. Both the boys and girls participated in the first tournament of the season at the Blackhorse Golf course on February 25.
Senior Ashley Chandler putts during a golf tournament last year. Photo by Photo J.