News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
October 2020
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Student Council participates in charity event
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 35, Issue 3
Students prepare for Homecoming with spirit
The Episcopal commmunity participated in Spirit Week activities as part of Homecoming
BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief Each year, Episcopal High School’s Student Council participates in a service project developed by the Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC). This year, the council decided to help under-served people in the Texas Foster Care system. The foster care system has been profoundly hurt by the pandemic since courts are closed, and other important resources have become less available. Similarly, foster families have been impacted financially and emotionally, making basic necessities difficult to acquire. TASC plans to donate at least $100,000 in supplies and money to these foster families. For example, the service project plans to provide funds, basic necessities such as food, clothing, and school supplies, and furniture. The main goal, however, is to educate people on the need of these resources along with an appreciation for the volunteers in the program. Episcopal, along with other student councils around the state, is tasked with raising money to help provide items to the foster care system. EHS Student Body President Quon Marion and Senior Class Vice President Cori McBean designed a shirt, and all of the proceeds will go to the project. The theme of the shirt is to bring awareness to COVID-19. EHS STUCO wants to commemorate the uncertainty of 2020 through its t-shirt design. The long sleeve shirt is black, and the design includes a knight on the top right wearing a mask and “Knights Masking COVID” on the sleeve, as well as 2020-21 on the back. This shirt successfully represents the impact that COVID-19 has had on EHS this school year. “For the theme, we wanted to design something new. We focused on COVID awareness, and with the help of STUCO, Cori and I were able to get the design that we best believe the people at EHS would like,” said Quon. The shirt can be purchased through an online pre-sale at the end of the month. Be on the lookout to support the foster care system through purchasing this unique item.
INSIDE Presidential Election Final round of debates heading into November
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Community Connections New column highlights diversity, community, and inclusion
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Features ........................ 2-4 Culture ......................... 5 Special Feature ............. 6-7 Entertainment ............... 8 Knight Shift.................. 9 Opinion ........................ 10 Sports ........................... 11-12
On the second day of Homecoming Week, Twin Tuesday, students and faculty participated by wearing matching or coordinating outfits. Several students were in costume, like freshmen Blake Olivier-Hodgson, Reagan Johnson, and Emrie Holt, who arrived as Alvin and the Chipmunks. Photo by Mrs. Lauren West. JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer
Episcopal made adjusments to the annual Homecoming tradition. In order to adhere to CDC guidelines and protect members of the community, multiple events were canceled or postponed. In an attempt to retain some form of the annual Homecoming activities, theme days, decoration contests, and the culminating Friday night game were held as usual. Learn more about Homecoming on Pages 6-7
Music programs prepare for Hauntcert LILY O’GORMAN Staff Writer Halloween season’s arrival only means one thing for the EHS music program: Hauntcert. An annual tradition, this fall Halloween concert features music invoking the haunting imagery and concepts of the season from movie themes and pop culture references to classic Halloween songs. Traditionally, this performance is presented in Underwood Theater for a night of festive entertainment, fun, and most importantly, music. Usually held the week of Halloween, the concert has included all facets of the music program: the EHS band, Chorale, Orchestra, and MidKnight Blues. However, this year’s health precautions put a different spin on the way Hauntcert was held for the Halloween season to promote the safety. In the face of this challenge, band director Mr. Grant Gould proposed a creative way in which to share the talents of the music program with the community while adhering to safety guidelines. Instead of one traditional concert, Hauntcert was held virtually with staggered releases of performances published in a way to promote accessibility to viewers as well as encourage student interest in the program. This way, instead of committing to an
hour-long concert, each day only a couple videos were released, which were around one to two minutes long. This virtual ‘concert,’ while different, allows friends, family, and prospective students outside the EHS community access to the amazing talents of our music program without hinder-
ing their normal schedules. The hard work of the members of the EHS music program deserves recognition and credit, and while they could not have a traditional concert this year, their performances were still appreciated and acknowledged.
Music programs at Episcopal High School prepared for the annual Hauntcert by rehearsing routines and perfecting their pitch. Photo courtesy of Mr. Grant Gould.
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The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Episcopal takes next step back to normalcy with hot lunches LILY O’GORMAN Staff Writer Following the return to on-campus school, students and faculty alike found themselves missing one of EHS’s most celebrated features: the lunch food. From pizza, paninis, and burgers to pasta, EHS’s daily selection of lunch items is something students have enjoyed for years. However, this year’s health and safety precautions have limited the possibilities of having lunch as it has been enjoyed in the past and have asked administration to come up with creative solutions. One of these solutions put in place at the beginning of the month has dramati-
cally improved the way lunches are served while adhering to health precautions. At the start of on-campus school, cold pre-made lunches were delivered to fifth period classes. These cold lunches, while effective in promoting safety, were very restrictive and lacked the incredible qualities so loved by EHS students and staff. After hearing feedback from the community, the school proposed a new lunch plan aimed to provide a sense of normalcy to lunch: a return to the hot food line. This new system also provides students with the opportunity to eat their hot lunch outdoors and spend time with other students who are not in their fifth period class. Tents put up outside the USC
Episcopal has set up numerous white tents around school to provide areas for a safer and more enjoyable lunch experience. Photos by Chris Lahoti.
encourage social distancing while providing a space where students’ needs for social interaction can be met. The tents are always available for seniors while other grade levels rotate and are able to sit out-
side two days a week. Students responded to this new lunch system with resounding joy and are appreciating this season’s amazing weather, their delicious lunches, and the company of their friends.
Annual EHS auction to be an on campus, in-person event LEANA GREEN Staff Writer This year’s “Light Up the Knight” auction is scheduled on Friday, February 19. The 2021 version of the annual event will be chaired by Mrs. Caren McKinnie and Mrs. Michelle Juden, who have both had experience organizing not just past Episcopal auctions but similar events as well. Mrs. McKinnie and Mrs. Juden’s love for Episcopal can be seen through the time they have given and will continue to give to this important fundraising happening, which supports Episcopal’s mission and its students.
With social-distance in mind, the event is to be held in person on the Episcopal High School campus. Limited person-to-person contact will be the goal, and a silent auction will be held in advance virtually. The funds generously donated during this event cover financial aid and classroom supplies, and this year, the COVID-19 preparations. The auction committee’s main goal is to bring the Knight community together after the long period apart and celebrate the talented Knights and their achievements thus far. The financial goal of the evening event is to net $1,000,000 for Episcopal High School.
The annual Episcopal auction will be held with health concerns in mind. Image courtesy of Mrs. Debbie Kelley.
Election debates run the gambit in effectiveness CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer This the second in a three-part series on the United States Presidential election. It is safe to say that the first Presidential Debate of the 2020 year was anything less than regular There isn’t much to say only because there wasn’t much said that viewers could actually understand fully. Starting smoothly, it quickly went downhill. Not only could neither candidate get more than two sentences in, VicePresident Joe Biden got so fed up that he told President Donald Trump to “shut up.”
This would be a new type of debate for Americans across the nation. Many people criticized the moderator, Chris Wallace, for his lack of control, and ultimately, nothing worked well. On to Debate Two: Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris. Americans can all agree that this felt more like a real debate, overlooking the fact that many questions went unanswered. With minimal interruptions, the debaters were actually able to speak. Pence was praised for his job that night, and many say that he was the winner, although Harris made history as the first woman of color to run for VP. The last question was, for me, the
most telling. This question was submitted by an eighth-grade student who asked about the political division in the country. Pence showed how Americans, in fact, can agree to disagree in this country, such as the relationship between the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Contrastingly, Harris’s response was turned more into a “go out and vote” approach. She said, “Through their vote, we get engaged in this election [...] and through eventually your vote.” Whoever you may side with, the American people can admit that this debate was more informative than the previous one.
The final Presidential Debate was surprisingly normal. Because each candidate’s microphone was muted for the first two minutes of each topic, President Trump and Biden had to hold back, and it worked well. The main topic that caused the most commotion was COVID. It was the first issue of the night, and it seemed everything went back to the virus. Another fiery topic was immigration. Trump’s stance to let people in from the southern border legally, and Biden’s desire to have border screening and a more open policy was clear because no one talked over his opponent.
Results from The Knight Times Mock Election: FRESHMEN
Trump Biden
SOPHOMORES
JUNIORS
Biden
Trump Trump
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SENIORS
FACULTY AND STAFF
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The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Features ∙ Page 3
Faculty of 30+ years observe community changes CORY KARDESCH Copy Editor EHS has seen major changes throughout the past 30 plus years, but what constant has been a number of faculty and staff who have spent over three decades watching the school evolve. The Knight Times asked a few of these veterans to reflect on the changes they have witnessed. How has EHS as a whole changed over the years? Mrs. Karen Foster, 35 years There are many changes that have happened during the past 35 years I have been teaching at EHS. The two most obvious to me are the size of the school and the widespread use of technology. In the earlier years when the student population was much smaller teachers knew most everyone in the school. Now when the seniors cross the stage at graduation there are several students that I feel like I see for the first time. My first year teaching we had chalk boards in the classrooms. When we shifted to white boards and expo markers that was a real update. We would take our students to the computer lab to use the computers. Now our classrooms are equipped with the latest technology and the students and teachers have laptops, iPhones and iPads. Even with all the changes the call to the teaching profession for me has not changed. Mr. Tom Wright, 33 years EHS has been transformed over the years from a small school inhabiting an
LEANA GREENE Staff Writer Spencer Evans ’05, a Professor of Drawing in the Experimental Foundation Studies Department at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and a working artist in the Texas and African communities, describes his art as an “obsessive attempt at depicting the struggle or relationship between the inner and outer self.” He first sought to find similarities in “Black American culture and that of an
Artist Spencer Evans, Class of 2005, and his work titled “When My Words Fail Me.” Photo courtesy of Spencer Evans.
old Catholic school building, to what you see today. With the exception of the Convent Building, the campus has been rebuilt with state-of-the-art facilities, and even the Convent has had a makeover. The student population has grown from around 350 students when I got here to almost 800 students today. Mrs. Julie Rollins, 31 years Thankfully, what hasn’t changed in my three decades is how amazing it is to work with the EHS students. Each year is different, but each year I feel blessed to work with such wonderful students. Oh, and it was a lot easier to get admitted to college my first ten years even though students actually applied via pen and paper. Yep, they had to write out their essay. I guess that is why they applied to fewer schools, typically four or less. Can you imagine writing out your essay by hand for 10 different college applications? Mr. John Colello, 33 years In the early years we had the Academic Building with one floor (A, B, C Wings), one gym, Alkek, with no air-conditioning, and one football field with no lights. The weight room was a converted small chapel. Now we have Crum, LRC, USC, Trotter, Hildebrand, new field turf fields for baseball and field hockey, and a parking garage. In the old days we had a combination of gravel lot and paved lots. The student body has increased over 475% since our first Opening Day in 1984. We have changed from Trimesters to Semesters. We only had two deans on campus, an Academic Dean and Dean of Students, I was the Dean of Students from
African nation” during his graduate studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, when he completed a residency in Nigeria. After giving lectures and creating art from what he calls a “personal research of self,” Evans held solo exhibitions in Texas of what came of that exploration. A year later, in 2018, Spencer Evans was chosen by “Make Art with Purpose,” a Sudanese organization, for a project about our Civil Rights Movement and the social injustices in Sudan, creating a mural in the main campus square with arts students of the local university. Like many visual artists, Spencer Evans ties his history of culture into his expression. He said, “I was looking for a different kind of outlook because of my upbringing—something I have in common with a lot of Black Americans. Certain things are attached to the culture in order to survive in America: how to speak, how to wear your hair, how to dress. I grapple with how my environment responds to my existence, what history tells you that this skin means.” As a junior transfer student to Episcopal, he remembers EHS as “exciting [and] eye opening” as well as inviting. “There was the table that welcomed me immediately and that was where the Black kids were,” he recalls. He holds a special place in his heart for the women who worked in lunch service and “were like aunties to us and made me feel safe.” The rigor in reading and writing prepared him for college, and he felt free to “break new ground and find new roads” because Mr. Trauba and Mrs. Willcutts didn’t teach as if there was a set standard to follow. They taught art as something that was free formed and begged the question, “Why not me?” Evans realized if given the opportunity he was going to take full advantage of it because “why not him?”
1988-1999. Ms. Nancy Eisenberg, 32 years EHS has grown in numbers of students and faculty and has strengthened its internal systems. Overall, I think we provide a stronger experience for our students in all four pillars. Although the mission of the school has been restated, the mission itself remains the same. The spirit of EHS remains intact. How did lunch look in years past compared to current years? Mrs. Foster - I have always been so grateful to be fed by an amazing food service staff. I have had roughly 6.300 lunches here at EHS. What stands out is chicken tender day. Students used to run to be the first in line for chicken tenders. Mr. Wright - EHS has always had great lunches. That hasn’t changed except that the cafeteria is brand new and again, stateof-the-art. Mrs. Rollins - My metabolism was much higher, so everything at lunch seemed to contain less calories. But seriously, we have always been spoiled with an amazing food service staff. Mr. Colello - 5A/5B lunch has stayed the same since we opened. Seniors still have off campus lunch privileges. We had one lunchroom and an outside eating area (Russell Courtyard). The lunch room was divided by the kitchen, so the faculty/staff ate on one side and the students on the other side. The selection was smaller, and you only received one serving, no going back for seconds. Ms. Eisenberg - In the early years, we ate lunch in two cafeteria spaces plus
the outdoor Russell Courtyard. In my memory, we have always had 5A and 5B lunches. The food has always been good but is even better now with our terrific food services staff and new facilities. What is one major or significant change that has been made? Mrs. Foster - The student population is much more diverse than in the early years. Recognizing other values and traditions continues to unite us as a school of faith. Mr. Wright - The new facilities are the most significant change, although the use of technology in every facet of school life is right up there. Mrs. Rollins - For me, the student body size has almost doubled since my first year here. Keep in mind that when I first started at EHS, we had typewriters at our desk, not computers! There was no world wide web! Students actually used their lockers, and this is how we communicated with them. We would leave notes taped to their lockers so they would know when they needed to drop by our office for a conference. In other words, we had lots more face to face time. Social distancing would have been that much harder since we were not communicating via screens…. at all! Mr. Colello - I think we have had three significant changes over the years – Increase in student population, new buildings/fields, and no debt. Ms. Eisenberg - Standardized, electronic grade reporting is new. In the early years, we entered our grades manually in a gradebook. In fact, all of technology is new!
Betsy’s At Evelyn’s Park near Episcopal is a healthy off-campus lunch alternative. The address is 4400 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX 77401. Outdoor seating is available for a COVID-safe dining experience. Now that Houston weather is beginning to get comfortable, it’s the ideal lunch setting. Photo courtesy of crishandcab.com.
Best spots for senior off-campus EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer With seniors now having the privilege of going “off campus” for lunch periods, it can be stressful finding the best place to eat. Here are the best restaurants that are not only quick and close to campus, but also have good food. Obviously, an Episcopal favorite is Skeeters. It’s right down Bissonnet and offers breakfast all day, so if your craving pancakes, make sure to check it out. You could even go to Buffalo Grille, which is also right down the street and is the perfect restaurant for some good comfort food. If your craving tacos, definitely check out Torchy’s Tacos. It happens to be right next to Skeeters and has the best queso. It’s also super quick, so if you’re in a rush, you can pick up your food quickly. Let’s say you’re in the mood for outdoor seating and want to enjoy a little bit more of a healthier bite to eat. Betsy’s is the
place for you. The restaurant sits on Bellaire Boulevard and is located inside of Evelyn’s Park. Also, in the parking lot of Randall’s, you can find 713 Juicery. The locals call it “713,” and it hits the spot if you’re in the mood for a little taste of summer because it offers anything fruity, from acai bowls to smoothies. For those of you who have a free period and get both lunch periods off, here are some options that have a little bit more of a drive but are worth it. If you take the interstate, you can make your way over to Uptown Park where you can eat at a whole new bubble of restaurants. Flower Child offers a healthy menu and has the best avocado toast. True Foods is also in that same area and has the same kind of palette regarding healthy options. If you want some really good sushi or a mean panini, head over to Whole Foods and put your order in. You can even get some grocery shopping done while you wait for your food to be made.
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The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
A variety of brand new clubs join the Episcopal social sphere CRISTIAN MUNOZ Staff Writer More than ten new clubs are now available to EHS students following the annual Club Fair. EHS clubs are student-originated, led, and orchestrated to provide students with the opportunity to share and explore common interests with others. New clubs EHS has to offer and their student representatives are • Believe Leadership Course, Christophe Merriam and Gloria Ni • Cancer Awareness Club, Elizabeth Cabes • Computer Science Club, Jack Rambo • Connect Kids, Bella Fayad and Amy Williamson • Electronic Music Club, Jackson Chavis and Will Nickerson • Entrepreneurship Club, Courtney Callahan and Stephanie Nelson • Equestrian Club, Coco Martin, Ol-
ive Martin, Isabel O’Gorman, and Lily O’Gorman • Jazz Club, Will Adkins • Jewish Heritage Club, Aaron Deutsch and Colton Deutsch • Mock Trial, Coco Daly-Hill • Project Princess, Eva Del Frate • SEWA International, Shreyus Loyalka • Sewing Club, Leah Teagarden This only includes the new clubs EHS is offering. Overall, EHS offers 40 different clubs that are all unique in their own way. EHS encourages its students to join as many groups as they can as a way to get involved and meet new people. These clubs provide a space for students to gather with others with the same interests. Also, these clubs can serve as hobbies or opportunities to learn new things. Not to mention, clubs are a great thing to put on high school resume and college applications
CONNOR SMITH
CHRIS LAHOTI Minecraft, the top selling video game of all time, has expanded this past month with the announcement of a new major update and the widely popular introduction into the world of Super Smash Bros. For this issue of Plugged In, we talk about the coming update and the impact of Minecraft’s expansion into other genres of gaming. The new update, known as the Caves and Cliffs update, was announced on October 3 during the Minecraft Live 2020 event, which was livestreamed to thousands of players around the world. The update, which has been requested by fans for the last couple of years, intends to add new and improved world generation along with the introduction of new mobs, such as the Watcher and the adorable, yet deadly axolotls. Additionally, players can expect to see several new blocks, structures, and crafting items, as well as another way to organize their inventories. In recent years, Microsoft has expanded Minecraft’s platform and audience reach by creating new games like Minecraft
Earth for mobile devices and Minecraft Dungeons for console and PC players. Microsoft took the next step by getting Steve added to one of the most popular fighting games of all time, Super Smash Brothers. The deal between Microsoft and Nintendo not only surprised the Smash community but also symbolizes a chance for other non-Nintendo characters to join the roster. Smash fans around the world have been asking for Sora, Waluigi, Dante, Heavy, and Goku, among other characters, to be added to the already impressive list of fighters, and Steve’s inclusion has given them hope. Minecraft can be purchased for $26.95 on PC, $19.99 on consoles, and $6.99 on mobile devices. The open-world survival game is enjoyed by players of all ages, and we highly encourage you to check it out. Whether building large structures, engaging in Player vs. Player combat, or simply exploring the world, Minecraft offers an entertaining experience. See you in the mine!
The Democrat Club meets for their weekly meeting following the annual EHS Club Fair. Photo by Kate Teagarden.
Former EHS student reports on her new life across the pond to a new school, or even moving at all, is difficult. Settling in England during the first month, I unpacked more boxes than you could ever imagine, and as hard as it International Knight Times corresponis to admit, it was hard to adapt. dent and former EHS student Olivia After unpacking, I had a week before Hopwood reports on her move to England. school. On my first day, I showed up in Everything that you’ve probably heard my new uniform nervous and homesick. is true. England is a cold, rainy, miserable Once I started meeting new people, I realplace. Until you get there. I moved to Ascot, England, this summer ized I wasn’t the new kid, for there were on July 4. Ascot is a small town just about actually 32 new kids in eleventh grade. Adjusting to the new campus was a bit of an hour and a half from London. Moving a struggle. None of my teachers knew any of my Texas slang, so it was hard to find where my classes were. I learned that I was just as confused as everyone else, so it became a relief to me. Everything here is the opposite of the U.S. I pass a field of horses, a farm that sells fresh eggs, and a place where cotton is picked, and that’s just on my way to school. Some other changes were having to wear rain boots almost every day, buying American food online only, the lack of a Target or Chickfil-A, and distrusting Mexican food restaurants. I’d have to say walking to classes in the pouring rain and freezing weather is drastically different from my life in Houston; however, learning more about a new place, across the globe is something I wouldn’t trade. One thing about my new school that I wish I could change is that there isn’t a newspaper. Even though there are so many positives here, nothing could ever be quite the same as The Knight Times and Olivia Hopwood stops in front of Windsor Castle its staff, and most importantly, Mr. on her way to school. Photo by Olivia Hopwood. Framel.
OLIVIA HOPWOOD Former Staff Writer
Microsoft brings its most popular character into the Smash Brothers universe. Image courtesy of neowin.com.
Students of Service continues to pursue volunteer options LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer
All students should accept the invitation to the SOS Canvas course so they can see all of the announcements for SOS events and see all of the projects on the calendar. Some projects require students to sign up to participate, which is on the Canvas site. All are welcome.
Despite COVID impacting certain volunteering opportunities this year for Students of Service (SOS), the organization is still focusing on supporting its partnerships in a safe, sociallydistanced manner. The four main partnerships are still the Beacon, Gardens of Bellaire, Nehemiah Center, and the Women’s Home. SOS is adding more special events that are outdoors, working with the Bellaire Nature Center and Buffalo Bayou Park. SOS is focusing on writing letters to Photo courtesy of ehs_sos. promote positivity and encouragement to those in need, donation While SOS has always been an orgadrives to support partners, and virtual tunization focused on serving others in a toring. In addition, special events that are personal way that helps create meaningful outdoors are going to take place to make relationships with the people served, since sure that SOS is offering opportunities to COVID, it has been necessary to think of appeal to a variety of students and to supnew and creative ways to serve others to port a variety of causes. ensure the safety of everyone involved.
The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Culture ∙ Page 5
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Atonement by Ian McEwan is simply beautiful, majestic, and honestly perfect. I’ve read it a few times and it just gets better. It takes place during three different time periods, 1935 England, World War II, and present-day England, following the Tallis family. Cecilia’s younger sister, Briony, commits an almost-innocent mistake that turns the family’s life upside down. leaving the lives of Cecilia Tallis and Robbie Turner, the son of the maid, forever changed. Atonement follows Briony Tallis and all the lives she ruins. Robbie’s new life, post-conviction and with limited contact with Cecilia while in war-torn France, is artistically described by the brilliant McEwan. Finally, in present day England, Briony’s new life, with the weight of her mistake on her shoulder, is revealed. This book is perfectly written, and the movie is equally good.
Weekend at Bernie’s is a classic. The film came out in 1989 (evidence that I was l born in the wrong generation) and follows Larry and Richard’s adventure trying to convince everyone their boss, Bernie, isn’t dead. Spending Labor Day in the Hamptons, Richard and Larry have no idea Bernie is a fraud and is plotting with his mob man, Vito, to have them killed. Bernie is actually killed by his own men and his employees attempt to hide his death. I won’t spoil this golden comedy because I highly recommend it, especially as a break from school. This month’s playlist is called “October,” found under my account @sydneykcoward. Last issue I simply forgot one of my favorite bands ever, Kings of Leon, and they have been the artist I’ve been listening to non-stop along with Leon Bridges, Morrissey, and of course, John Mayer.
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with Sydney Coward BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief En el 7 de octubre, el Huracán Delta llegó cerca de Puerto Morelos en la Península de Yucatán en México. Aterrizó como una tormenta de Categoría 2. Tuvo vientos hasta los de 110 mph. Antes de aterrizar en la costa, el Huracán Delta era de la Catagoría 4 y era muy peligroso. Luego fue despreciado a uno de Catagoría 3 y después a la Catagoría 2. Pero todavía tenía ‘marejadas de tormenta’ y fuertes vientos que amenazaban la vida. Tomó tierra en las ciudades como Cancún y Cozumel. Había 160 refugios por los huracánes en Cancún. Más de
40,000 turistas en estas ciudades fueron evacuados. Se cerraron los aeropuertos en Cozumel y Cancún. También los arboles y las líneas eléctricas fueron derribados y los techos fueron arracados de las casas y de los otros edificios. Se murieron seis personas y muchas más se quedaron sin hogar. El 9 de octubre, después de salir de México, el Huracán Delta fue a Louisiana y al este de Tejas. El huracán Delta fue el veintiseis tormenta nombrada en 2020. Y inmediatamente después, la tormenta tropical Gamma llegó al sureste de México.
Ranking Halloween costumes LUCY HOWLEY Social Media Coordinator Since October 31 is approaching, I took it upon myself to create a definitive list of my top ten basic Halloween costumes, ranked from horrible to acceptable. Starting at number 10 (for most unoriginal and boring costume you could wear) is the cat costume. If I could place this costume in a negative ranking, trust me, I would. There is nothing creative or interesting about a cat costume, unless you spice it up with contacts or dress up as Catwoman. Actually, never mind. There’s no way you can make it original. In my
me if I’m wrong (I don’t know how you would do that), but I feel like this is one of the oldest of costumes. Number 6 is the alien girl or boy costume. Put a thumb down if you put on an iridescent skater dress, threw your hair into space buns, and put glitter on your face at any time in middle school. This costume was acceptable in seventh grade, but now it’s overdone and boring. Next. Barely making the top 5 is the nurse/ doctor costume. Although it’s lazy, this costume is a traditional one. Number 4 is any angel or demon/devil costume. These costumes have become very popular over the last few years and
To pick out the perfect Halloween costume, know what has been overused. The cat costume, finished with Sharpied whiskers, is in the overused category, while the pumpkin costume is the epitomy of Halloween. Photo courtesy of partycity.com. opinion, I would rather you dress up as a minion than a cat. Coming in at number 9 is any rendition of a vampire or witch, I’m putting them together because they are basically the same costume. The reason these overused ideas aren’t dead last is because, while this is very rare, if you personalize and add a flare to this costume, then it’s slightly less painful to see. For number 8, I picked the skeleton costume. You’ve seen this at least a thousand times. Enough said. Number 7 is the cliché ghost costume. While this lacks all uniqueness, it is such a classic that I couldn’t put it last. Correct
are starting to reach the overdone category. However, they can be very cute if executed with effort. Number 3 is a bunny. Stop it with this costume, I’m begging you. Do I even need to explain? I have to stay true to my Texan roots, so coming in at number 2 is the timeless cowboy or cowgirl costume. This costume is a common one, but I’m not mad about it. Finally, the number 1 classic Halloween costume I chose is a pumpkin. Take it or leave it, pumpkins are the essence of Halloween, especially if that pumpkin is a jack-o-lantern.
El Huracán Delta aterrizo en Mexico en el 7 de octubre. Fue el veintiseis tormenta normbrada en 2020. Photo courtesy of CNN.com.
Slice of π
ehsmathclub for fun updates, math facts, puzzles, and other math related things. On November 14, December 11, and Hey Knights, I’m Paige Naughton, one January 22, all 45 Mu Alpha Theta memof the sophomore officer shadows of the bers competed in the Log1, Log2 and Math Club, I hope that you are all safe, Log3 Tests respectively, in the Innovation healthy, and happy in these trying times. Space I. These tests consisted of three difDespite being limited in what we can ferent math levels and two different topdo this year, we are working hard to put ics, with a total of six different tests. Tests together some fun math-related activities. for each different level of math are difIf for any reason you missed the sign up, ferent to account for further depth in the never fear, because the Math Club is open subject. Categories at each level included to everyone, and you can still join us. “Equations and Inequalities” and “ApIf you’re interested in more information, plications” from which the student could follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ choose. During the Summer, Mu Alpha Theta announced the results. The performance of the students in the Log 1 contest earned Episcopal High School eighth place in Regional 2. Mu Alpha Theta recognized the following winners receiving plaques: Log 1, Region 2 – Theta Division: Cimone Woodard, eighth place, Bria Woodard, twelfth place, and Camille Hanna, fifteenth place. Mu Alpha Theta recognized the following winners receiving certificates: Log 1, Region 2 – Alpha Division Jake Seigel, seventeen place, Ben Wasden, twenty-second place, Nora Lawless, twenty-seventh place; Log 1, Region 2 – Theta Division: Annelise Miller, twenty-seventh; and Parker Forque, thirtieth.. Congratulations to these Club members hold up awards won during a Mu mathletes. Again, stay safe and Alpha Theta contest. Photo courtesy of Math Club. do math! PAIGE NAUGHTON Guest Writer
Special Feature ∙ Page 6
Special Feature ∙ Page 7
The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Homecoming Week Like You’ve Never Seen Before ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer Homecoming Week is all about coming together as a community and enjoying ourselves, but this year, things looked a little different. Spirit Week is an opportunity to dress up and to help build enthusiasm and happiness before the Homecoming football game which is always on the Friday at the end of Spirit Week. This year Spirit Week started on October 19, 2020, and was full of fun and unique costumes. Monday’s theme was Stay
Class-y. Each grade dressed up in a certain color. For example, seniors dressed in blue, juniors dressed in white, sophomores dressed in pink, and freshmen in red. Tuesday’s theme was Dynamic Duos. Small groups of two or more dressed up as characters from famous movies or television shows. Wednesday’s theme was “Remember the Knights.” Students and faculty virtually wore sports jerseys and merchandise from their favorite athletes and sports teams from across the country. Thursday’s theme was “Back to the Future.” Students dressed in throwback costumes. For example, some
dressed up in 80s and 90s costumes and some even wore uniforms from their previous middle schools. Friday’s theme was “Knights, Camera, Action.” This last day of Spirit Week was all about preparing for the EHS Homecoming football game. Students and faculty wore the new Homecoming shirts. Homecoming shirts were also sold as a fundraiser for the tenth-grade class. Even without a dance until spring but with a football game against St. John’s, EHS welcomed Spirit Week with open arms and didn’t fail to bring their best costumes.
(Above, below, and right) Students participated in “Be Class-y EHS” by repping their class colors. Seniors wore blue, juniors white, sophomores pink, and freshman red. Photos by Mimi Wilson. (Above and below) Students and faculty alike dressed up as characters from famous movies and groups for Twin Day Tuesday. Photo by Mrs. Lauren West.
(Above) Members of the EHS community traveled “Back to the Future” on Throwback Thursday. Students and faculty sported old uniforms along with 80s and 90s inspired outfits. Photos by Mrs. Lila Henningson.
Homecoming modified to fit social distancing guidlines BAILEY JUNELL Editor-in-Chief Like everything else this year, Homecoming has been modified to fit social distancing guidelines and follow all COVID-19 regulations. The new version of Homecoming included the regularly scheduled Spirit Week, which occurred during the week of October 19-24, along with the traditional football game on Friday. The major difference is the absence of a school-wide dance that normally occurs on the Saturday following the football game and Spirit Week. Normally, Student Council plans everything about Homecoming toward the end of the prior school year. The overall theme was
chosen as Hollywood Knights, along with the individual Spirit Week days in collaboration with this theme. Each day was associated with Hollywood. Monday was “Stay Class-y EHS,” whern students sported a class color (seniors, blue; juniors, white; sophomore, pink; and freshmen, red). “Dynamic Duo” Tuesday allowed for students to dress up as their favorite partners. On Wednesday students virtually supported their favorite sports teams during “Remember the Knights.” Thursday allotted throwback costumes during “Back to the Future,” and finally, Friday’s theme “Knights, Camera, Action” allowed for students to dress up in support of the Knights football game.
As normal, the week included multiple sports games versus an SPC opponent, in this case St. John’s, ending with the homecoming and Senior Night game on Friday, played this year at the University of Houston. However, the annual dance on the Saturday following the game was canceled. The tentative plan is to move the Home-
coming Dance to the spring. Since the event is typically after a football game, the current idea is to have some sort of field day or carnival toward the middle of the spring semester. While it is still in the works, the event would include current student families along with alumni.
(Left) On Monday, seniors decked out in blue to support their class during “Be Class-y EHS.” (Above) Students dressed up as characters in Disney Pixar’s film Ratatouille on “Dynamic Duo” Tuesday. Photos by Ms. Lauren West.
Knights beat the Mavericks during Homecoming Game TINLEY KANE Sports Editor The Episcopal Knights took the win during Senior Night in their Homecoming game at TDECU Stadium, beating the St. John’s Mavericks 26-7 in a contest that was closer than expected. The Episcopal fandom made sure to show its love in nerd theme attire as EHS honored its 30 senior football players: Reed Bourlon, Robert Buzbee, Lulu Chavarria, Cooper Corenblith, Colin Crane, Aaron Deutsch, Colton Deutsch, Cooper Deyo, Nick Florescu, Parker Forque, Charles Galtney, Jake Giesler, Billy Hall, Trey Hernandez, Gage Herrold, Donovan Jackson, Miles Jones, Sam Kant, Cooper Kincannon, Quon Marion, Paul McGarry, Jack McGreevy, Will McKinnie, James Mifflin, Cullen Montgomery, Zach Nguyen, Reid Sheppard, Truette Tumey, and Will Turlington. Also recognized were senior cheerleaders Paris Bailey, Elise Branch, Elena Cokinos, Morgan Garrett, Mallette Havens, Randall Holstead, Elizabeth McLauchlin, Lindsey McNear, Annelise Miller, Caroline Miller, Mia Mithoff, Lindsay Rorschach, Payton Smith, Claire Spedale, Victoria Vella, Emma White, and Mckenna Whitney. In the game’s first half, the Knights were
not expecting the intensity that the Mavericks had to offer. With guns blazing, the Mavericks wanted to change the narrative of having lost to Episcopal consecutively
their only one of the game. Halftime’s ceremonies were meaningful to the seniors. Lulu Chavarria, senior lineman, stated, “It was a great experience, and
for the past nine years. The Knights were in need of elevating their play after a first half that was not reminiscent of previous play, scoring only twice in the half while being offensively limited by the Mavericks ball control. Both touchdowns came from sophomore quarterback Chase Jenkins. The Mavericks retaliated with a touchdown of their own before halftime, and this would be
I’m sure it was the same for the rest of the guys.” The seniors had the opportunity to take photos with their parents and the rest of their team. By the second half, the Knights kicked it into full throttle. There was definitely a change in momentum, and the team got back to playing its style of football. By the
fourth quarter, the Knights had scored twice. Jenkins picked up his third touchdown in the half, and Quon Marion, senior running back, also ran in for a score. The result was a meaningful final score of 26-7 over the rival Mavericks.
(Left) Episcopal’s running game was a key to the team’s success in the win against St. John’s. (Above) Senior Cooper Corenblith kicks the football as special teams gets ready for play to begin. Photos by Mrs. Lila Henningson.
Entertainment∙ Page 8
The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Popular documentary explores Millie Bobby Brown stars in the dangers of using social media Netflix movie Enola Holmes
LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer
Would you say you are addicted to your phone? If no, you probably are. If yes, have you ever asked yourself why this happens in the first place? In a newly premiered Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, chilling topics are covered regarding how present tech companies are truly competing for your attention and trying to gain as much of your life on a screen. Tristan Harris, a former design ethicist at Google, was the first person to spark this conversation. He, among highly respected and well-known former founders, engineers, and design experts, break down how the highly complex technological networks of companies they used to work for destructively impact social and human relationships worldwide. Of course, new technology has given
us great things which past societies never would have imagined: connecting to loved ones across the country, finding organs from different states, and many other things. However, the more devasting issues which The Social Dilemma covers are the increase of mental illnesses in young children, deceptive fake news which leads to failing societies and riots, and the overall manipulative control social media has on our opinions. Toward the end of The Social Dilemma, the interviewees are asked if they were hopeful for a change, and all were optimistic, though they said it will definitely take time, energy, and patience. This documentary, although fairly new, has definitely been at the forefront of discussion. With the constant progression of complexity in the technology world, this is something that needs to be addressed among all generations and nations.
SYDNEY COWARD Business and Circulation Manager Millie Bobby Brown, commonly known as Eleven from Stranger Things, stars in and produces the Netflix original Enola Holmes, adapted from the Nancy Springer book series that follows Sherlock’s intelligent younger sister, Enola. With a feminine twist, the classic story shadows Enola solving her own mysteries. Brown has done a perfect job of creating a mature, wise-beyond-her-years presence on screen. Sherlock, played by the perfect Henry Cavill, notices his sister’s wisdom, while Mycroft, played by Sam Claflin, feels Enola is unkept and not a proper lady. The real star of the movie is Louis Partridge, the new teen heartthrob. He plays Viscount Lord Tewksbury who is also an escaped teenager, like Enola, and they immediately click with an apparent on-screen chemistry. Although Enola Holmes is artistically filmed and truly entertaining, it does run quite long. Pushing past two hours, the ending seems different than the rest of the movie because it takes a strange violent turn away from the adventurous plot. There are essentially two plot lines to this movie that could very well be made into two movies, which at times kind of confused me. Enola is trying to find her
Netflix star Millie Bobby Brown stars in Enola Homes. Photo courtesy of Netflix. mother – she finds an intimidating group of women along the way - but she is also dealing with Tewksbury being in danger. She’s trying to find her mother but is also protecting someone extensively. The movie gets a little twisted and confusing to follow, but overall, I highly recommend it. I watched it with my family for movie night, so it is definitely family friendly and perfect for a relaxing weekend.
Shawn Mendes announces release of new documentary The Social Dilemma warns social media users against the dangers of massive media companies and their selfish goals to make money. Photo courtesy of the Verge.
Have a good scare with these Halloween movies CLAIRE FRANKFORT Staff Writer When the weather starts to change and pumpkins show up on doorsteps, you know that Halloween is approaching. Celebrating can look different for so many people. Some go trick-or-treating, dress up with friends, or go to a party. For others, Halloween means watching scary movies and eating candy all night long. Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, you can do just that. My all-time favorites are as follows (not in any order): Ghostbusters, It, and Halloween. It came out only a few years ago, and I think I have been scared of clowns ever since. This horror story is about a bloodthirsty clown, Pennywise, who creeps out of the sewers every 27 years. Just the cover itself is enough to scare me for a couple nights. If you are more interested in a lighthearted but still spooky film, Ghostbusters is your best option. Centered around four men who hunt ghosts in New York City, this movie has some laughs but a few jumps, too. Last and probably the best, Halloween is a group of eleven movies starting as far back as 1978. To narrow it down, though, the best one to watch is from 2007. After being locked in a mental institution for almost 20 years, Michael Meyers breaks out on Halloween night to hunt down his sister. Yikes. If you ask me, this one will be sure to scare for maybe longer than
wanted. This Halloween, be sure to watch a spooky movie with friends, and make sure there are no sketchy clowns in the sewers when you go out.
LEANA GREENE Staff Writer On October 2, 2020, Shawn Mendes’ fans, known as the Mendes Army, fell head over heels for his newly released single “Wonder.” A twenty-two-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter, Mendes teased his fans with only an introductory song and the single, but he plans to release the rest of the album containing fourteen songs later this year on December 4. Full of optimism and hope, “Wonder” is about how Mendes wonders “what it’s like to be loved by” the girl he has fallen for and hopes to be with until he dies. Not only has Mendes announced his final release dates for his latest album, but he
has also announced the release date for the Netflix documentary In Wonder, to be released on November 23. Mendes, with Ben Winston and Andrew Gertler, plans to co-produce the documentary similarly to other musicians’ documentaries, such as Beyoncé’s Homecoming and Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana. In Wonder will talk about Mendes and his journey to fame and success over the past couple of years. The life of a celebrity can be overwhelming and may be hard to handle; this documentary discusses how Mendes was able to handle such drastic changes and how his music career has taken over his life dramatically and its effect on his family, friends, and most importantly, himself.
Ghostbusters is a classic during the Halloween season. Photo courtesy of IBN.
Halloween the movie is a popular option this season. Photo courtesy of Den Geek.
Famous pop singer, Shawn Mendes, recently announced the release of his new documentary on Netflix. Photo courtesy of Forbes
The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Knight Shift ∙ Page 9
Speaks Out
“What are you going to be for Halloween?”
TIARA GORDON “Carebear”
HARRISON GOYTIA “Marty McFly from Back to the Future”
Cartoon by Zack Donovan.
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
OLIVIA CHAPMAN “Spongebob”
CHANDLER HOLLIS “Home”
Episcopal Knight Tatum Moore successfully passes the ball during the varsity girls field hockey match against Duchesne. Photo courtesy of Craig Choi.
SOFIA DEMEO “Space Cowgirl”
JACOB LEWIS “Houston Oiler”
DESTINEE HARRIS “Space Cowgirl”
RAFFI GROSS “The Joker“
ASHLEY SAUNDERS “Dionne from Clueless“
BRAD TELFORD “Asleep”
Opinion ∙ Page 10
The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Big tech companies require government intervention CHRIS LAHOTI Managing Editor Thirty years ago, the U.S. was quickly losing ground to Japan in the realm of technology. Fast forward to present day and America’s biggest tech companies have propelled the U.S. to the forefront of innovation. However, the unparalleled growth and success of companies like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google have led to questions of unfair business practices and monopolies. A Congressional panel recently published a report calling for increased oversight and possible separation of these companies. Amazon has grown into the largest ecommerce platform and has expanded into cloud services, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. However, it has come under fire for using consumer data to help promote their own branded products over third-party sellers. Several third-party sellers have accused Amazon of threatening to close accounts or de-list products in efforts to limit competition. Google is the dominant search engine for internet browsers and has expanded into online advertising, software, and cloud computing. A Google search will routinely present information trolled from websites thereby preventing the need to visit the website itself. This decreases revenue for internet sites that depend on traffic. Google has made several payments to Firefox, Apple, etc. in order to maintain
their dominance on those browsers by unfairly stomping out potential competitors like Bing and Yahoo. Apple not only generates revenue from selling iPhones and iMacs but also from the App Store. App developers are required to give 30% of revenue to Apple, known as the “Apple Tax,” in order to list on the App Store; there isn’t another place to sell their software. This lack of a competing marketplace gives Apple extreme control over third-party companies and makes it challenging for those companies to profit. Apple has also employed numerous methods to undercut its competitors, such as charging fees for rival services. Facebook is the largest social media company with over 2.7 billion active users worldwide. It is criticized for acquiring competitors such as WhatsApp and Instagram in order to maintain a monopoly. Several internal emails between Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his executive staff have been exposed to support the claims. Despite these accusations, these corporations have contributed an enormous amount of benefit. Amazon allows smaller businesses to reach more customers than the traditional brick-and-mortar store. The App Store provides an opportunity to gain exposure to millions of potential consumers. Additionally, the need for a presence in the App Store has led to the creation of thousands of software development jobs. Google has contributed significant financial resources to research and devel-
opment, and its simple design allows millions of users easy access to information. Companies have also found an advertising outlet in Google. In addition, the competitive landscape still exists. How can Facebook and Amazon be monopolies with the success of companies like Twitter and Walmart, respectively?
Big Tech should not be broken up. Rather, the government should impose a series of regulations to ensure healthy market competition and moral economic practices. These companies are the reason America currently leads in technological modernization, and they continue to innovate and spread new ideas.
Multiple big tech companies have been accussed of creating a monopoly for their own benefit. Recently the Surpeme Court has acted on this by filing an antitrust lawsuit against the search engine giant, Google. Photo courtesy of theringer.com.
Voter suppression stifles the voices of Americans CONNOR SMITH Opinions Editor With the upcoming election getting closer every day, we as Americans need to understand one fact: voter suppression still exists. While the United States takes pride in its democracy, the actual truth is unsettling, as many democratic values have been stolen from us by politicians and political
Cartoon shows Texas voter suppression. Photo courtesy of New York Times. parties. What are some forms of voter suppression you should watch out for and how can stop this from happening in the future? Before I talk about recent voter suppression, you must know this isn’t anything new, as our country has been struggling with this major fault for the last 200 years. Ever since the time of the Founding Fathers, the ones in power have sought to disrupt and diminish the voice of the people. The most well-known example occurred in the 20th century in the form of Jim Crow laws, where people of color were unable to vote due to the threat of violence, poll taxes, and the purging of voting rolls. While no laws or events today pose this level of threat to our democracy, there are still many ways the people’s voices are stifled. For modern elections, one could argue
the largest threat to the democratic system comes from gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is a term that gets thrown around a lot in politics, but how does it affect voting. Gerrymandering can affect voting in two main ways. For starters, politicians can intentionally pack the minority into designated areas, or spread the people out to weaken their votes potential. These political schemes affect the majority of the 50 states and have become more abundant after the 2013 decision in Shelby County vs Holder. Led by Chief Justice Roberts, nominated to the court by former President Bush, this ruling made sections of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional, with Time Magazine describing it as “modernizing voter suppression tactics.” But gerrymandering wasn’t the only thing that increases after this momentous Supreme Court Case, as new threats to democracy such as voting purges and ID requirements. The main issue with these “tactics” is not that it limits the voice of all voters, but specifically limits the voices of minorities from the Black and Latino community. For this election, voter suppression came to Texas in the form of decreasing the number of polls, a decision that came from an executive order signed by Republican Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott. This made headlines as one of the most severe events of voter suppression in a state with already strict voting laws. This order limits the number of locations where mailin-ballots can be dropped to 1 per county, meaning Harris county with a population of around 4 million has 1 location, and Loving County with a population of 134 people have the same number of locations. Luckily, after being sued by multiple voting rights groups, a judge struck down this order. Now Gov. Abbott and other Texas republicans will say these restrictions were put in place to stop illegal voting and “ensure greater transparency,” but is this their true intention? With voter fraud concerning mail-in-ballots only occurring in extremely isolated events around the country, there is
no need for this level of voting restrictions. It seems more obvious that Republicans are hoping to suppress voters in hopes of winning Texas, a state that has become a fierce battleground for Republicans and Democrats alike. With the heightened tensions between
both parties, voters need to know about forms of voter suppression so they can make their voices heard in the election. Knowing the problem is the first way to stop it, Americans must vote for politicians who want to expand voting rights instead of shrinking them.
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400
Head of School Ned Smith Associate Head of School Nancy Laufe Eisenberg Principal Kim Randolph Dean of Arts and Innovation Jay Berckley Visual Arts Chair Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator David Framel Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Co-Editors Sophie Martin and Karma Elbadawy Photographers Maya Basra Sophia Black Sydney Brooks Craig Choi Lila Henningsen Sydney Kelso Christophe Merriam Mimi Elizabeth Wilson
Editor-in-Chief Bailey Junell Managing Editor Chris Lahoti Copy Editor Cory Kardesch Sports Editor Tinley Kane Opinions Editor Connor Smith Business and Circulation Manager Sydney Coward Social Media Coordinator Lucy Howley Staff Writers Jazzmin Duncan Claire Frankfort Lara Verstovsek Emma Claire White Leana Green Estefania Lopez-Salas Cristian Munoz Sara Faulconer Lily OGorman
The Knight Times is a product of students in the Episcopal High School newspaper class, who 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 ∙ October 2020
Sports ∙ Page 11
The French Open carries on with regulations pertaining to COVID ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Staff Writer This year’s French Open was held at Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.
The French Open was supposed to be held from May 24 to June 7, but due to COVID-19, it was first moved to September 20 to October 4 then later moved back a week further from September 27
to October 11. This is the first time since the Open Era, which started in 1968 when Grand Slam tournaments agreed to allow major players to play with amateurs, that a major tournament has been postponed and
The 2020 French Open (Roland-Garros) was pushed until September through October. Photo courtesy of Essentially Sports.
not canceled. Even though this tournament was constantly moved back, it didn’t stop the players from doing anything less than their best. Men’s champion Rafael Nadal from Spain is now a four-time champion at the Open and now has 20 Grand Slam titles, but he came in ranked second behind Novak Djokovic from Serbia. All tennis loving fans know that Djokovic is an amazing tennis player, but not too long ago at the US Open, he was disqualified because he accidentally hit a judge in the throat with a ball. He promised that “[he] won’t make the same mistake again.” Ashleigh Barty was the defending champion in women's singles, but she decided to not compete due to this ongoing pandemic. Iga Swiatek defeated American Sofia Kenin to claim the women’s title. There was a total of 23 different courts that were played on, and the main courts were Court Philippe Chatrier, Court Suzanne Lenglen and Court Simonne Mathieu. Overall, the French Open has experienced many changes due to COVID-19, including removable ceilings and limited seating, but it still remains one of the most important tennis tournaments to this day that no one wanted to miss.
Major League Baseball rules change for playoff games and teams CORY KARDESCH Copy Writer This year, the MLB decided to change things up for the playoffs in the American and National Leagues, allowing a total 16 teams, whereas in previous years, only 10 teams were permitted. To determine which teams would qualify, the two teams with the best record in each of a league’s three divisions made the playoffs, totaling six per league. Two additional teams per league that had the best records but did not qualify among the top twelve were then added, leaving a total of eight teams per league. The playoffs are structured with four rounds, the first as a best of three, played at the home field of the top four seeds. The second round, the Division Series, was a best of 5, followed by the League Championship Series, a best of 7, then
finally, the World Series, also a best of 7, all played at a neutral site, not giving any team a home-field advantage. All games that are played at a neutral site are now being held back-to-back, whereas in previous years, there would be travel days, allowing the players to rest. Because of this, it is more crucial for a team to have better pitching and fielding. Due to larger number of teams allowed this year, the Houston Astros were able to clinch the playoffs, moving on to defeat the Minnesota Twins in back-to-back games. They then beat the Oakland A’s 3-1 to meet the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALCS. The Rays took a 3-0 lead on the Astros, in the best of 7 game series, before the Astros were able to get away with a win, staying alive in the ALCS, forcing a game 7, with the outcome of the Rays knocking out the Astros, going on to the World Series to face the Dodgers.
The Houston Astros kick off the playoffs with competitive wins against the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland A’s. Photo courtesy of Forbes.
Recruits suffer from NCAA dead period’s constant date extensions SYDNEY COWARD Business and Circulation Manager Many high school seniors and juniors have found themselves lost during the NCAA recruiting dead period. The NCAA Council had been updating this dead period since April 1, 2020. A dead period prohibits any in-person recruiting, but still allows phone calls and other types of correspondence. Keeping coaches and collegiate athletes safe was the main reason behind limiting the recruitment. Virtual interaction is still encouraged, but official campus visits are not. Normally, prospective students would be allowed to watch a practice, meet with the coaching staff in-person, and were even granted complimentary sports game tickets. All of this has been banned. Potential student-athletes are still welcomed to tour campus, unofficially and if the university allows it, but prohibited from coming in face-to-face contact with the coach. Coaches are not allowed to watch college-bound students compete or visit their high schools. Phone calls are still encouraged. Because of this dead period, many seniors’ plans to play a sport in college have been jostled. Nothing like this pandemic has happened before, so everyone is going
through it together without any knowledge of the outcome. On the other side of the spectrum, though, athletes have gone ahead and verbally committed somewhere
without coming into face-to-face contact with the coach or the team. Everyone is being affected by this legislation differently, but all the athletes
are in the same boat. During this period of uncertainty, a multitue of coaches and athletes are having to deal with this change, and it is presenting problems.
Extended NCAA dead period affects many recruits and coaches nationwide. Photo courtesy of Bear Insider.
Sports∙ Page 12
Sports Brief CROSS COUNTRY JAZZMIN DUNCAN Staff Writer The Episcopal High School cross country team has been excited for the season and is full of team spirit. The team has seen a year full of improvement so far for both the team and individual athletes and have been extremely satisfied with their performances. New members of the team, such as freshman Julia Newman, are excited to be joining the program and participate in team activities. Although the team has had several of their competitions canceled due to the pandemic, the runners continue to persevere through the ups and downs of Episcopal cross country.
FOOTBALL CRISTIAN MUNOZ Staff Writer Coming off a season opening loss, the Knights dominated Legacy Sport Sciences, at Aveva Stadium 27-12. Senior Quon Marion stood out with 27 carries for 233 yards and three touchdowns while senior Zach Nguyen performed well with six solo tackles, one tackle for loss, two passes defended, and two quarterback hurries. Two consecutive losses followed to large public schools: Angleton High School 21-10 and Beaumont Westbrook 56-10, but a Senior Night and Homecoming crowd against rival St. John’s saw........... In the final two games of this shortened season, the Knights will be on the road to face SPC rivals Houston Christian and Kinkaid. Overall, both the offensive and defensive lines continue to make major contributions to the team and have been crucial to the team’s success. In sub-varsity action, the JV Blue squad started the year with a win over Brazoswood but ran into two public school powerhouses in Angleton and Summer Creek and stand at 1-2. The JV White team kicked off the year 2-0 with wins over Brazoswood and Concordia Lutheran but have lost the last two games at home versus big-school opponents.
FIELD HOCKEY LUCY HOWLEY Social Media Coordinator Though there are only four weeks left in the season, the varsity and JV field hockey teams are continuing to increase their skills and their team bond. Captains Mimi Wilson, Lucy Howley, Helen Young, and Bailey Junell were elected this month and continue to lead the team by example. The varsity season started strong with a 9-0 win against Memorial and a 6-0 win against Duchesne; then, the girls won three out of four games against Pride teams in a Saturday scrimmage tournament. Later in the week, the varsity team defeated St. Agnes as well in a tough 1-0 match. Looking ahead, the girls hope to show their strengths and what they’ve been working on in games against St. John’s, Kinkaid, Awty, and Houston Christian. The JV also had an eventful October, competing in games against Memorial, St. Agnes, and St. John’s. Turf field update: The field is being transported through U.S. waters, so it should be completed before this short season comes to a close.
The Knight Times ∙ October 2020
Girls volleyball bounces back from tough start TINLEY KANE Sports Editor It’s a season of firsts for Episcopal’s varsity volleyball team. The team is mostly comprised of seniors, ten to be exact. Four of those seniors are verbally committed to play at the collegiate level at Division One schools such as Mississippi State (Sania Petties), Cal State Fullerton (Hailey Black), and once TA&M now Howard University (Bria and Cimone Woodard). Not to mention one junior, Morgan Perkins, who is also verbally committed to Oklahoma University. Of its six starters on the court, fans witness collegiate-level volleyball from these Knights. With such top-tier talent, the team’s record at one point was a disappointing 0-5. That’s correct. The reigning SPC champions managed to start the season with five losses. “It was bound to catch up to us,” stated Cimone Woodard. “It’s probably been the weakest start we’ve had” said Lara Verstovsek. With Covid-19 affecting practice time and scrimmages throughout the summer, it’s made the 2020 season a difficult one. Scheduling has been quite the challenge
too as the team has faced some top 5A-6A schools with their own future collegians. The team kicked off its season against 5A College Station and were swept 3-0. The team later took a tough loss to Fulshear 3-1. Competing with the greater Houston area’s 6A competition for dual matches at Don Coleman Coliseum, the girls lost 3-2 to Memorial and 3-1 to George Ranch. The unfortunate streak ended with a 3-2 loss to Concordia Lutheran before the girls picked up two wins against Fort Bend Christian Homeschool Athletics and Duchesne. The boost of confidence benefitted the team as they competed in the Houston Open Tournament, getting wins against Houston Homeschool Academy, St. John XXIII, and Fort Bend Christian. Their rematch against Concordia Lutheran and subsequent win allowed them to advance to the gold bracket championship. Unfortunately, the Knights win streak fell short in the championship as they lost to a strong St. Agnes team. All-tournament awards went to seniors Sania Petties and Cimone Woodard for their stellar performance throughout the matches. Recently, the team added another win to its belt against Deer Park (3-1)and also
celebrated Camille Hanna’s 2,000th career assist 2020 has been an uphill battle for the Knights, who have responded well. The girls have managed to get their record to 7-6 and put the early losses behind them.
Lara Verstovsek spiking the volleyball for the kill Photo By: Christophe Merriam
Boys volleyball embraces change with given conditions LARA VERSTOVSEK Staff Writer During their first game of the season against St. John’s at home, the Episcopal Knights put up a good fight throughout three sets. Despite coming out with a loss, the varsity boys volleyball team is ready and excited for its upcoming matches. The boys will be competing in an eightmatch season with four games against SJS, two against Kinkaid, and two against Awty. Due to public schools not offering boys volleyball, it has been a challenge to find opponents this season, and, in the meantime, the Knights have been scrimmaging the Houston Stars Volleyball Club on a weekly basis. This year, the EHS varsity has exceeded expectations after graduating three important seniors from a team what won the SPC South Zone last season. They have lost about 60 hours of gym time, but the Episcopal players have put in a great deal of work during the offseason practices. “We have a really skilled team that is built around of group of guys that play all year and have varsity experience,” said Head Coach Kerry Hofmeister. This year specifically, the boys team carries a versatile lineup. Unlike most years when positions were clearly defined, Episcopal has the blessing of many players that can play multiple positions, including setter. Senior Jacob Dixon (all-SPC 2019) will be competing on the court hitting as well
as setting. Newcomer Ethan Romero is an all-around great player coming off a national runner-up finish on the beach this summer. Zack Donavan is starting
his third year on varsity as one of the best players in the city. He will definitely see time as both a hitter and setter to complement his all-SPC defense on the court.
Zach Donovan, three-year varsity starter, gets ready to pass the volleyball to keep a rally going. Photo by Christophe Merriam.
Cheer gets prepped for upcoming rival games EMMA CLAIRE WHITE Staff Writer While the cheer season has not been somewhat different, the Knights always find a way to make the best of an unfortunate situation and continue to keep working hard. Every other Thursday, the varsity cheerleaders work from 3:30 to 7:30 to learn choreography for a routine on Friday nights. The routine looks great and the team is so excited to preform once it all comes together. Gearing up toward the EHS games versus St. Johns and Kinkaid, the cheerleaders are getting excited and making
sure the team’s stunts and sidelines are perfect. From cheering in Port La Vaca to Beaumont, the Knight cheerleaders and the pom squad are always ready to cheer on the football boys and cannot wait for the rest of the season. Regarding Breast Cancer Awareness Month, things have obviously changed because as of right now, a “Pink Out” game is not scheduled due to COVID-19. However, this does not mean the cheer squad cannot bring awareness to breast cancer this October. The Knight cheerleaders will be showing their support by wearing pink hair bows and cheering with pink pom poms for the rest of the month.
Elena Cokinos encourages fans in the vs. Angelton. Photo by Sophie Martin.