News that Stands Out
THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School
November 2023
4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401
Students host grandparents in special Chapel
www.ehshouston.org
Volume 39, Issue 4
EHS community performs at Coffee House Student body, faculty, and staff connect and show off talent
ANGELINA FERTITTA Staff Writer The cherished tradition of Grandparents Day Chapel holds great importance at Episcopal High School, as it is a day where the entire community comes together in celebration of those special to us. Furthermore, it is a great time to express gratitude for the wisdom and love that the students receive from their grandparents. The service continued this year and took place on Friday, November 17, when grandparents and students gathered together in the Alkek Gym. This Chapel serves as a reminder about grandparents, not only for the significant impact they’ve had on their grandchildren but also the entire younger generation. The service was followed up by a special luncheon that consisted of a performance by student musicians. This year was especially memorable as Breylan Thompson, the current student body president, and Mr. John Flanagan were chosen as speakers, and both delivered incredible speeches. Not only does this day honor the important and irreplaceable role EHS grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren, but it also allows for students to spend quality time with their family. This great success of a day would not be the same if the whole school community was not there to get involved. There were helpful students from Student Council who drove golf carts to aid with the traffic and getting families to and from their vehicles. Most importantly, this day would not have been possible without the Parent Association Volunteers - Vanessa Bailey, Michele Carlin, Jennifer Dellinger, and Patricia Rorschach.
Senior crooner Wiley Lippincott entertains a 5B lunch crowd with his rendition of “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy. Photo by Kate Malta. JULIA SHERMAN Production Editor
“Despite a prolonged intermission due to the challenges posed by Covid, Coffee House made a triumphant return in the past couple of years, and the fall edition on November 15 was a resounding success. All proceeds from coffee sales at the event went to fighting human trafficking.” Learn more about Coffee House on Page 2
EHS donates blood to save numerous lives SIMONA KARANI Staff Writer
INSIDE Trends throughout this year Check out 2023s biggest trends!
PAGE 6-7 EHS fall sports dominate in SPC Look at the four sports that won SPC this fall
PAGE 10 Features ........................ 2-3 Arts ....................... 4 Culture ........................ 5 Entertainment ................ 8 Opinions........................... 9 Sports........................... 10-11 Knight Shift...................... 12
Episcopal and Students of Service (SOS). partnered with The Gulf Coast Blood Bank to host a student blood drive on November 7. Two organizations on campus, Students of Service and The American Red Cross, hosted the event together. Students were invited to give back during the time of Thanksgiving and reflect over the year. EHS nurse Tiffany Thoman said, “The donation process can take as little as 45 minutes but can make a lifelong difference for someone else.” Each student, faculty, and parent that donated this past month could save up to three lives. Senior Angelina Fertitta said, “at first, I was scared, but overall it was a really rewarding experience, especially after I learned that I could save up to three lives. All the nurses were so kind and peaceful and made it such a smooth expierence”. The Gulf Coast Blood Bank is one of the largest community blood centers in the United States. Since it is a non-profit organization, it takes joy in the donors and patients who can help. The organization caters to counties across the Texas Gulf Coast, including Brazos Valley and East Texas. In total, it serves 26 counties in Texas. The Blood Bank opened in 1975 and has grown its facility to over 650 employees. To be able to successfully provide for the community, the non-profit needs 1000
donations a day. The EHS community was invited to have the opportunity to be a donor. Donors had to be 17 years old to donate without parental consent but could donate if they were 16 with parental consent. During November, donors were told to look out for a Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center fleece blanket as an appreciation present for do-
nating and having the opportunity to save someone’s life. Mr. Dan Murphy, the head of the Service Achievement Program within SOS, said that “for people willing to volunteer, it’s a small sacrifice of time and temporary discomfort that can actually help save someone’s life.” The blood drive was such a great way to give back this holiday season.
The Episcopal community gave blood in Scurlock Gymnasium in order to save lives. SOS partnered with The American Red Cross and The Gulf Coast Blood Bank to give back during this holiday season. Photo courtesy of Mr. Charles Holt.
Features ∙ Page 2
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Slice of π ETHAN LAHOTI Guest Writer Hi everyone! My name is Ethan Lahoti, and I am so excited to be the internal vice president of the Math Club this year! It has been a very busy month! A big thank you goes to Professor Stanley Chang from Wellesley College who spoke to our community about MATH AND DEMOCRACY on November 9 in Anderson Lecture Hall during both lunches. Now to congratulate all the students who have been competing in the weekly national Math Madness bracket competition. These students have been solving challenging math problems and have lasted seven weeks thus far without being eliminated. Special recognition goes to the 30 students who took the prestigious American Math Competition AMC 10/ AMC 12 on November 14. The AMC is a
25-question, 75-minute, multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. On November 28, the Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta hosted its annual schoolwide post-Fibonacci Day Celebration which included a fundraiser with games and puzzles where you could learn more about the Fibonacci Sequence and even win cool prizes. Thank you to everyone who participated and made it a success! Don’t forget to follow Math Club on both Instagram and Twitter under the user @ehsmathclub for quality memes, updates on meetings/events, and thoughtprovoking puzzles. It is never too late to join the Math Club, so if you want to join, please contact Dr. Papakonstantinou and Marie Knolle to be added to the Math Club canvas page. We hope you had a good Thanksgiving and never forget to be thankful for math!
PATROL MORGAN HEROD Co-Editor-in-Chief During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people got pets, as working from home became a new norm. However, as the world continues to return to normal, some animal owners can no longer take care of those pets. As a result, shelters, usually the last hope for homeless animals, have become overcrowded. The main reason for overcrowding is the overwhelming number of homeless and abandoned animals, caused by irresponsible pet ownership, lack of spaying and neutering, economic hardships, natural disasters, and breeding cycles. The consequences that come with this crisis are alarming; animals are often forced to live in cramped and stressful conditions, leading to physical and behavioral health issues. Often, two or three puppies can end up being housed in the same small kennel. The Austin Animal Center, originally built to accommodate 300 dogs and 160 cats, now has 500 dogs and over 600 cats after the no-kill policy went into effect 10 years ago. Shelters are
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forced to make the hard decision about euthanasia, with these choices weighing heavily on the shoulders of the shelter staff, who genuinely care for the animals. Many of these no-kill shelters in the south are waiving adoption fees and are asking members of the community to volunteer, as some places are struggling with staff shortages. To keep the no-kill status, shelters must save 90% of their animals every year. Many are pushing to increase spay and neuter services, but in some places, there are not enough veterinarians to keep up with the animal demand. One solution, which has brought controversy, is doing away with the no-kill policy. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) even says that policies like the no-kill can do more harm than good. Organizations such as PETA also encourage communities to adopt from shelters rather than purchasing from breeders or stores. We must also educate the community on responsible pet ownership; a pet is a long term responsibility, not something to let go of when it is no longer convenient to take care of.
Student performances entertain EHS community at annual Coffee House CLARA CRENSHAW Managing Editor
Students in Academic Team contests show off their diverse knowledge CAROLINE JOHNSON Staff Writer 2023 has been a year of growth for EHS’s Academic Teams, displaying students’ passion for testing their academic abilities. One branch of the Academic Team, Quiz Bowl, has achieved successes that makes EHS proud. After hosting a competition in October, the program has been invited to participate in two invitational national championships. One of those, the NAQT National Finals, takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, in the spring. With support from the EHS community, four lucky upperclassmen Evan Ringwald, Amelia Novotny, Sarah Yates, and Carson Kotlarz - can fly out and compete for their school. More recently, Episcopal sent two teams to Harmony School of Innovation to test their knowledge against some familiar competitors, including local rivals from Bellaire High School. Every Friday, the team has practice in Innovation Space One, where the kids have an opportunity to spend time together and test their knowledge on trivia questions about an assortment of topics. When asked about the club, junior Benjy David said, “Quiz Bowl is really fun, and Mr. Johnson is the best!” Additionally, the Computer Science Pro-
gram, led by Mr. Alan Duncan, Mr. Robert Barham, and Mr. Johnson, has had significant growth in size this school year, with over 140 students taking the elective at an AP level. Mr. Scotty Johnson’s AP Comp Sci team has taken part in eight schoolwide coding competitions, with a select few students qualifying to compete in additional contests on weekends. Most recently, Taylor Jones, Ben Seaworth, Dylan Quan, Amelia Novotny, and Craig Ringwald placed third in a competition at Pasadena High School. By the end of last year, the Computer Science team was ranked fourth in the state within their division, and they only expect to keep improving. Recently, Episcopal competed in a school wide UIL-type academic competition. Every student was able to take tests for the school, and over 70 participated. Overall, EHS excelled in spelling, computer science, calculator, current events, and literary criticism, earning a ranking within the top ten in their division for every category. Standout student Dylan Quan made the team proud by receiving a fifth-place individual state-wide ranking out of 120 students in his division. To anyone who wishes to participate, Mr. Johnson encourages faculty and students to join in on the Academic Team’s quest for excellence, saying, “It’s never too late to try it out.”
Coffee House, a cherished event that unites the EHS community as members enjoy captivating performances by students and faculty, has become a highly anticipated lunchtime tradition. It took place during 5A and 5B lunches. Featuring a diverse range of acts, coffee House sets the stage for an exhilarating showcase of talent. Despite a prolonged intermission due to the challenges posed by Covid, Coffee House made a triumphant return in the past couple of years, and the fall edition on November 15 was a resounding success. All proceeds from coffee sales at the event went to fighting human trafficking. Freshman Junia Hall started the 5A Coffee House singing an original song, and freshman Lexi Killian sang “The Night We
Met” by Lord Huron. Tennessee Galbreth finished off the performances rapping “Hotline Bling” by Drake. The 5B session stared with Frank MacRory singing “Hey There, Delila” by Plain White T’s, dedicated to Claire Lane. Then, Marco Montoya stepped up to sing “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers. Coach Alan Bradshaw and Chief John Ly made their annual appearance playing “Creep” by Radiohead while Ashlyn Collings sang. Next, senior Wiley Lippincott called out Claire Lane again, singing her “Bad Habit” by Steve Lacy. Shivam Albee sang Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” and Breylan Thompson ended this year’s fall Coffee House singing “Don’t” by Bryson Tiller. The fall Coffee House performances were a testament to the abundant creativity and vibrancy within our community, and the fundraising for fighting against human trafficking was a huge success.
Freshman Junia Hall, accompanied by her uncle Mr. Kyle Sumrow, performs an original song during 5A Coffee House. Photo by Jules Weinstein.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Features ∙ Page 3
Signing Day student-athletes commit to colleges across the nation MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer Committing to be a college athlete takes nothing short of hard work and dedication during high school. Training both in and outside of school is crucial to be able to achieve this level of future success. On Wednesday, November 8, six student-athletes took a big step toward their futures, as they signed their Division 1 college sports commitment offers. The ceremony, held at 3:00 in Alkek Gym, was a testament to the achievements of the athletes. The student-athletes who were celebrated were Allie Williams, who will be playing softball at New Mexico Lobo; Townsen
Thomas, a softball commit to the University of Florida; Blake Olivier-Hodgson, who will play soccer at Texas Christian University; Ally Frailey, a beach volleyball commit to Santa Clara University; Kai Greer, who commited to the University of Oregon to play beach volleyball; and Justin Begg, who will play basketball at George Mason University. This event coincided with the NCAA Early Signing Day, marking the first day when members of the Class of 2024 can officially sign their national letters of intent, ensuring college scholarships. Over the past four years, these studentathletes have shown determination, patience, and hard work.
Lessons in DREW NOBEL Guest Writer What is hope? According to Oxford Languages, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. I have many experiences with hope. For those of you who don’t know, I moved from Dallas to Houston in the summer of 2021, and I was starting at a brand-new school without knowing a soul. I thought that the transition from middle school to high school would be easy and fun, yet I was scared out of my mind. Although I was petrified at first, I pushed myself with an optimistic mindset of hope as I started at Episcopal. I met wonderful people and joined things that made me happy. Another example where hope shined in
Committed athletes Kai Greer, Allie Williams, Justin Begg, Blake Oliver-Hodgson, Townsen Thomas, and Ally Frailey participate in the signing day ceremony. Photo by Charles Holt.
my life was during a tornado that destroyed my old school. As a former student at St. Mark’s School of Texas, a tornado hit in 2019 that demolished the gymnasium, chapel, and other important structures. Our whole community was devastated, yet together we leaned on our hope and faith to come together to clean the mess and start fresh. In these examples where I was struggling, I became closer with God, and placed my faith in him. He provided me with optimism and hope in return, rather than negative thoughts and despair. Hope is a very important virtue and reduces the feeling of helplessness while increasing happiness. Hope gives people the strength to go through hard times and gives people a way to look forward to the future.
Photo courtesy of freepik.com.
HOT TAKES
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ANGELINA FERTITTA Staff Writer On July 16, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon. Or did he? For many decades conspiracy theorists have advanced the notion that NASA’s remarkable achievement was a clever fabrication that never actually happened. The doubters claim that the U.S. government was so desperate to beat the Russians in the space race that they resorted to faking the moon landing footage. One of the most prominent pieces of evidence that these conspiracists argue is how the American flag was waving in the air, which should be impossible considering that the moon has no atmosphere. However, NASA has spoken out on this theory and claims that supposedly there was a hid-
den rod in the flag which would serve as the explanation for its suspension in the airless environment. Other evidence that people have used against the footage is that there are no stars in the sky and that the footprint patterns made in the moon dust don’t match those from the soles of Armstrong’s boots. Both have also been debunked by NASA, but it doesn’t stop people from forming their suspicions. Theorists also have suggested that filmmaker Stanley Kubrick could have potentially helped NASA to create the realistic set of the moon landing because of his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, that proved there was enough technology at the time to create a realistic and spacelike set. Considering this evidence, recent polls show that only 6% of Americans believe the moon landing to be fake.
Student Spotlight: Carson Kotlarz excels in arts, academics, and athletics CAROLINE JOHNSON Staff Writer If you’re looking for a student who radiates positivity and demonstrates what it means to be a well-rounded Knight, look no further than EHS junior Carson Kotlarz. Beloved by all his classmates and teachers, Kotlarz is a dedicated student, involved in academic organizations such as Quiz Bowl and the Math Club. This year, he is competing in the Math Madness competition, as well as completing tests for the Academic Team. After taking Mr. Scotty Johnson’s interim term class as a freshman, Kotlarz began participating in competitions and tournaments with the Quiz Bowl team, even earning a spot in the NAQT nationals after competing in October. This year, he is co-founder of one of the fastest growing new clubs, the Song and Music Appreciation Club, along with senior Sarah Yates. According to Kotlarz, the club is a place for students to share their love of music, saying, “We love every type of song; the club doesn’t discriminate.” Also a dedicated athlete, Kotlarz has played baseball since he was very young. “Baseball is just a big part of my family;
my brothers all play it too. Baseball is also such a great place to make friends,” remarked Kotlarz. His favorite part of the sport is training with his teammates because of the sportsmanship and sense of community it builds. The junior hopes to start this February season on a good foot during his third year as a catcher. At pep rallies and football games, you may see Kotlarz playing the drums, as he’s been a percussionist since the sixth grade. Kotlarz loves the band at Episcopal because of the one-on-one time each instrumentalist receives from their director and all the opportunities the musicians have to bond with each other, like their performances and trips. “It’s just like a family,” says Kotlarz. When asked to describe Kotlarz, band director Mr. Joe Beam said, “He always has a smile on his face. Carson is an incredible person, musician, and student.” As a testament to his passion for music, Kotlarz is the founder and president of the drumline, an opportunity for students and teachers to play percussion together. When asked about why he loves the drumline, Kotlarz said, “We have the opportunity to create some fire beats. It’s really fun.” Later
Junior Carson Kotlarz exhibits his talent on the drums at EHS’ annual Hauntcert. Photo by Charles Holt. this year, the school can look forward to the induction ceremony for the National Music Honor Society, for which Kotlarz is this year’s president. To anyone looking to have a fulfilling high school experience, Kotlarz is a great
role model. His advice to get the most out of Episcopal High School is to remain positive and try to get involved in a variety of activities. Everybody should strive to be just as welcoming and optimistic as Carson Kotlarz.
Entertainment ∙ Page 4
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Visual Arts displays the work of creative students in exhibition JALYNN WOOLEY Co-Editor-in-Chief
On Wednesday, November 29, various students in the EHS community were recognized for their artistic talents at EHS’ annual Visual Art Exhibition. These students have devoted their time at EHS to achievements in the Arts Pillar. Students were awarded for their creativity and original artwork. There are various award categories, including 2D studio art, 3D studio art, and photography. Nominees received various awards across each of these categories. The exhibition is open to students of all grade levels taking all different levels of art classes. Freshmen and sophomores in beginner level arts classes submitted pieces that they worked on this year, as
did advanced class members, juniors and seniors who are currently working on building their college portfolios and chose to display their hard work and dedication. These students are given creative freedom to design their own projects in the mediums of photography, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, painting, and drawing, which encompass many of the different arts classes that are offered at EHS. Art teachers at EHS would like to emphasize the importance of the level of preparation that students dedicate to the production of their pieces. These students can produce high quality levels of artwork while staying heavily involved in the other three Pillars at EHS. It’s important to show support and appreciation to the young artists at EHS by admiring their pieces in the gallery in the USC for as long as their pieces are displayed.
A section of the USC Gallery features paintings, drawings, and photography for the Fall Visual Arts Exhibition. All exhibition photos by Campbell Richardson.
Dancers ready to move to the music in fall concert Kinetic LULU GIBELLINI Staff Wrtier
Somewhere Snorkeling, Annika’s Haug’s advanced ceramics creation, is a high fired stoneware piece featured in the Fall VA Exhibition in the USC Gallery.
Sophomore Leiah Begg’s work State of Mind is an example of using double exposure in design to create a remarkable photograph.
Fireside Treat, a unique creation of junior Kate Kaminsky, uses painted wood, a photo, sticks, and logs in its design.
Senior Eleanor Brown’s Meredith is an advanced ceramics piece featured in the gallery exhibition.
This December, the Episcopal Dance program will be hosting its annual Fall Dance Concert. Kinetic will include dances from a mix of genres focusing on jazz and contemporary. This year’s fall dance concert has over 40 students participating. Ten of these students are seniors who have been part of the Episcopal Dance Program for almost four years. The seniors are Ashley Bloome, Berkeley Deutsch, Asael Dickson, Mali Hogue, Izzy Proler, Emma Schoppa, Jules Weinstein, Libby Scholtes, Lili Shore, and Alex Sonsino. There will be ten dances in this year’s fall dance concert, choreographed by six different dance professionals. Other than Dance Coordinator Ms. Karen Pfeifer and Ms. Lexi Blake,
they welcomed four guest choreographers to help put this concert together. These four are Joe Celej, who is from New York City; Elijah Gibson, a professor at Texas A&M; and two local choreographers: Dawn Dippel and Anika Duncan. The concert’s soundtrack will include popular artists from Drake to Britney Spears. Students in dance classes Repertory and Impact are required to be part of the concert. Repertory and Impact will perform two dances each in Kinetic. The other dance classes are also encouraged to try out. Ms. Pfeifer is so proud of her students’ hard work and can’t wait for the EHS student body to come out to support their fellow dancers. Additionally, Ms. Blake couldn’t be happier to be a new member of the Dance Program and help put out this fabulous event. The program will be December 1 and 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Underwood Theatre.
EHS Onstage sets sail with Stevenson’s Treasure Island Dressed to Impress by senior Lindsey Levin is a magazine collage created in her advanced mixed media class
An advanced ceramics piece from junior Karissa House titled See Through Vase is an example of high fired stoneware.
Recital features variety of performers CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Copy Editor On November 15, Episcopal High School’s Music Program held the Fall Recital. The performance took place at 6:00 p.m. in the Alumni Room. The recital happens each semester, giving an opportunity for the students in the guitar classes and anyone else willing to share their talent with an audience to express their musical skills. Participants can play a solo or duet as a part of the event,
allowing for both unique and collaborative efforts to be put on full display. This year, the performances included vocalists singing with a live band, both the beginning and advanced guitar class students, and a piano and violin soloist. Often, these students are enrolled in the school’s private lesson program. These lessons offer students a place to learn to play the piano, organ, strings, guitar, woodwinds, brass, and all sorts of other instruments alongside vocal lessons, all with expert teachers and performers.
ANYA PANT Editor in Chief This winter season, EHS Onstage put on a performance of Treasure Island. The play is based on the book of the same name written by Robert Lewis Stevenson. The play starts with 14-year-old Jim Hawkins, who lives with her grandmother, and together they work in the family inn. One day, a pirate, Billy Bones, shows up to the inn. He creates trouble by bringing unwanted guests, which leads Jim to find a treasure map. Jim and her newfound friends travel across the sea on a ship named the Hispaniola to find the treasure detailed on the map, but little do they expect they would come across unwanted visitors on the way to the treasure island.
Jim and her crew are forced to face the bloodthirsty pirate, Long John Silver, who will do anything to find the treasure. Sophomore Sofia Kennedy, who plays George Badger, said, “I’m so excited for all the students to see our hard work in bringing these characters to life.” This action packed, adventurous, suspenseful play left all who watched questioning who to trust. It was full of romance, betrayal, death, friendship and love. Treasure Island was directed by Mr. George Brock, and Lindsay Levan was the production stage manager. The assistant stage directors were Garrison Amendola and Catherine Miller. Treasure Island was performed at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, November 10-11, and at 3:00p.m. on Sunday, November 12.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Culture ∙ Page 5
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LULU GIBELLINI Staff Writer El Día de los Muertos es una festividad mexicana con una historia arraigada en las tradiciones indígenas aztecas y con la influencia del catolicismo. La combinación de la creencia de Azetc en la naturaleza cíclica de la vida con la combinación del Día de Todos los Santos ayudó a que esta festividad existiera. El Dia de los Muertos se celebra el uno y dos de noviembre. El día de fiesta honra a los adultos y niños fallecidos. Las familias mexicanas crean altares en honor a sus seres queridos fallecidos decorados con caléndulas y calaveras de azúcar y disfrutan de los alimentos favoritos de los difuntos. Esta fiesta es un momento para que las familias recuerden y celebren a sus seres queridos visitando sus tumbas, compartiendo historias y participando en eventos culturales. Ahora, el Día de los Muertos también se ha vuelto popular no solo en México, sino con personas de todo el mundo que quieren honrar sus costumbres y tradiciones.
Beyonce skillfully performs on stage during one of her past iconic world tours. Photo courtesy of NBC News.
IZZIE SONG Staff Writer Mrs. Evelyn Cambria serves as EHS’ Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations. She has been here since 2008 managing the operational side of EHS, but when she’s not overseeing the inner workings of the school, including finance, food service, and facilities, Mrs. Cambria spends her time in the wonderful, multifaceted world of horseback riding. Growing up in south Texas, Mrs. Cambria has felt a strong connection to horses since a young age. However, the
Mrs. Cambria enjoying horseback riding with her horse, Flirt. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Evelyn Cambria.
cultivation of her skills began in her late twenties when she entered a training program. Today her specific field of focus is dressage, a horse-based art that involves the execution of specific, subtly conveyed, movements. This balletesque sport relies heavily on harmony between horse and rider. Dressage involves several levels which a performer passes after a strict evaluation from several judges. Mrs. Cambria rode her first horse, Bella, through the training level before taking on a new companion, Gigi, who brought her through third-level dressage, a step which resulted in one of Mrs. Cambria’s greatest achievements, her bronze metal. To achieve such, she put in hours of work to both physically and mentally prepare for this challenge. Like any dancing duo, Mrs. Cambria’s emotional bond with Gigi was key to their success. She aims to foster a similar connection with her new horse, Flirt, who will hopefully carry her to a silver medal. Dressage, an incredibly engaging sport that requires this unique relationship alongside skill and strength, has served as Mrs. Cambria’s escape throughout the years. Whether it be competitions, casual rides in her backyard, or a trail, she finds peace of mind among the horses, subjects of her immense gratitude and admiration. “It’s this bond and love that you feel that’s indescribable,” said Mrs. Cambria. “If I’m not at work, and if I’m not at home, I will most likely be found riding a horse.”
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sance,” followed by “Motherboard,” “Opulence,” “Anointed,” and “Anointed- Part 2,” and her last act was “Mind Control.” Beyonce’s eleven-year-old daughter, Blue Ivy, joined on stage alongside the backup dancers and proved to be as talented as her mother. In Houston, Beyonce also brought out Megan Thee Stallion to perform with her, which was a huge surprise hit fans have raved about. Houston celebrated Beyonce’s return home and honored her with a firework and drone show to welcome her back. Beyonce mentioned, “It feels so good to be home.” Beyonce’s concert was exactly what she promised; fans raved about it as everyone sang along with her hits and appreciated her love and gratitude for her fans.
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Beyonce, a fellow Houstonian and a childhood sensation for many of us, just completed her iconic 2023 tour. This was her ninth world tour, her first coming 20 years ago in 2003, the Dangerously in Love tour. Her latest tour was in support of her seventh album, Renaissance. The concert tour started on May 10, 2023, and ended on October 1. The concert was a total of three hours and was split into seven acts, and Beyonce performed the tracks from Renaissance in order. The stage set shocked fans as there was a large portal in the center. Beyonce performed some of her most iconic songs like “Crazy in Love,” “America Has a Problem,” and “I’m that Girl.” Her opening act consisted of five songs, and her second act was “Renais-
quieren honrar sus costumbres y tradiciones. Dia de los Muertos, or “Day of the Dead,” is a Mexican holiday with a history rooted in indigenous Aztec traditions and the influence of Catholicism. The blending of the Azetc belief in the cyclical nature of life with the combination of All Saint’s Day aided this holiday into existence. Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on November 1 and 2. The holiday honors deceased adults and children. Mexican families create altars in honor of their deceased loved ones decorated with marigolds, and sugar skulls and enjoy the favorite foods of the departed. This holiday is a time for families to remember and celebrate their loved ones by visiting their graves, sharing stories, and participating in cultural events. Now, Dia de los Muertos has also become popular not only in Mexico but with people worldwide wanting to honor its customs and traditions.
by Clara Crenshaw The Council of Fashion Designers of America hosted its annual CFDA Awards on November 6 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Anne Hathaway served as the host for this prestigious awards ceremony, celebrating America’s leading figures in fashion and the industry’s most memorable icons. The Council of Fashion Designers of America, a non-profit trade association, is comprised of over 450 of America’s most prominent fashion designers. Membership in the CFDA is exclusive, extended through invitation or election only. This ceremony marked the beginning of Thom Browne’s, founder and head of design for the luxury fashion brand Thom Browne, chairmanship, succeeding Tom Ford, who was chairman for the past three years. Browne expressed his pride saying, “I am so proud to be an American designer… there is so much happening in American
design today that the world needs to really see and recognize and truly appreciate.” It also celebrated and honored many legendary fashion icons, including Maria Cornejo, who received the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award; Sarena Williams, who received this year’s Fashion Icon award; Mara Hoffmann, who received the Sustainability Award; Jonathan Anderson, who received the International Designer of the Year Award; and Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop, who received the Innovation Award. As per usual, the event featured a starstudded guest list. Serena Williams, this year’s Fashion Icon, donned a striking black gown by Thom Browne. Charles Melton, Jenna Lyons, and Chace Stokes chose elegant monochromatic suits complemented by stylish accessories, while Martha Stewart opted for wide-legged pants and an oversized jacket.
The 2023 host for the CFDA Fashion Awards, Anne Hathaway, wears a bold denim look. Photo courtesy of Vogue
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The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
2023 Wrapped JAN 10 Prince Henry Releases His Memoir
FEB 12 Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance
JUL 20-AUG 20 FIFA Women’s World Cup
MAY 6 King Charles’ Coronation
MAR 14 ChatGPT Is Released
MAR 17 The Eras Tour Begins
JUN 18 Titan Submarine Implodes
OCT 16 Disney’s 100th Birthday
SEP 1 Jimmy Buffet’s Death
CHAMPIONS OF 2023
OCT 28 Matthew Perry’s Death
BEST LOOKS OF 2023
World Series: Texas Rangers Masters Tournament: Jon Rahm
March Madness: University of Connecticut
The Super Bowl: Kansas City Cheifs
US Open: Novak Djokovic
THIS YEAR’S TOP 5’s
Conan Gray Dua Lipa
Austin Butler
Kylie Jenner
Anne Hathaway
Entertainment ∙ Page 8
Entertainment
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Taylor Swift releases nostalgic The new A Haunting in Venice film rerecorded 1989 (Taylor’s Version) adaptation left book fans unimpressed ANYA PANT Opinions Editor Taylor Swift released her fourth album, rerecording 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on October 27. This album features 16 songs plus an additional five previously unreleased songs. 1989 (Taylor’s Version) features some of Swift’s most awarded and well-known songs such as “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” and “Bad Blood.” The original 1989 was Swift’s most awarded album, garnering a total of five People’s Choice Awards, three Grammys, and three American Music Awards, along with various other accolades. The name 1989 was inspired by Swift’s year of birth, but also her foray away from country music, which was her main genre at the time the original album came out. When the album came out, it signified a new era of her life and her music. The same themes apply to the rerecording almost 10 years later.
The songs on this album hold a sense of nostalgia. I am a Taylor Swift fan, and hearing the same songs with a more mature Taylor Swift voice takes me back to 10 years ago when I first heard them. For the most part, the songs are very similar in sound to the original 1989 but with a different production. The voice on the songs has matured and sounds slightly different, but the youthfulness and excitement for the future that was featured on the original album is still heavily featured in the rerecording. As for the five previously unreleased songs, they tie into the themes of the original album and add another layer to the story being told through the album. Overall, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is an amazing rerecording that captures the essence of the original album perfectly, but with a more mature tone and production. This album was a good addition to Swift’s discography, and one of her best rerecordings yet.
CAROLINE JOHNSON Staff Writer Agatha Christie’s novel A Haunting in Venice recently made its debut on the big screen, but even Hercule Poirot’s detective skills would be unable to solve the mystery of this movie’s missing wow-factor. Among the sub-par and highly rushed plot, the movie’s special effects fell flat. The only haunting thing about the movie was the price of the tickets. No cost would have been cheap enough to make up for the 103 minutes each viewer wasted. While the film was overall extremely disappointing, the overhyped cast may have been the real source of mediocrity. Tina Fey’s type cast of “humorously quirky female with ulterior motives” just didn’t click this time, causing her to seem annoying. Viewers were begging for other characters to take her spotlight, causing celebrations in the theatre when she moved off-screen. However, the bad acting cannot be completely attributed to her. Kenneth Branagh’s fake French accent for his role as Poirot was almost as cringeworthy as his comically large mustache and bright red pocket square, really tying in the movie’s painfully displaced cliches. As far as the scenes in the movie, the poor quality of production surprised no one. Possibly the most exciting part of the movie, the highly advertised séance scene featuring all the classic Hollywood signs of paranormal activity - spinning chairs, bleeding eyes and eerie noises – was noth-
ing to write home about. The so called “plot-twists” fell flat rather than entertain audiences, causing watchers to question where the budget of $60 million went. However, it was spent, it obviously did not go into making a quality movie. Overall, potential viewers should not waste their money on a ticket to A Haunting in Venice, as simply reading the books or watching paint dry are more effective uses of a prospective movie-goer’s time.
A Haunting in Venice casts poses for the movie cover. Photo courtesy of imdb.com.
New Five Nights at Freddy’s movie proves to be a disapoinment for viewers IZZY SONG Staff Writer Taylor Swift announces 1989 (Taylor’s Version) during her Eras Tour concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Photo courtesy of people.com.
Madeline Miller’s Circe tells the tale of a forgoten Greek mythology character JAYLNN WOOLLEY Co Editor-in-Chief Madeline Miller’s Circe unravels the narrative of a woman long forgotten by mythology, finally giving her a voice that has been silenced for millennia. The Greek goddess Circe, who has been a mere footnote in ancient myths, now steps
Emma Hart as Circe by George Romney depicts housemaid Emma Hart as the goddess Circe. Photo courtesy of nytimes. com.
into the spotlight to tell her side of the story. For countless centuries, Circe’s tales have been inscribed in Greek mythology, but it is only in the twenty-first century that her motivations and innerworkings are unveiled. Miller’s novel revisits one of the most iconic female characters from Homer’s The Odyssey, but this time, the story is narrated from Circe’s perspective. The novel is vastly complex, incredibly enthralling, and is absolutely marvelous. Miller’s prose is exquisitely crafted, as she breathes new life into a narrative that has withstood the test of time. Circe herself is multifaceted and imperfect, and Miller captures her essence beautifully. The story connects humanity and the divine as it depicts Circe’s own internal struggle between these two worlds. She yearns for a profound connection with the mortals who unwittingly step onto her island after centuries of enduring the scorn of immortals. Circe is a story that is both haunting and beautiful, serving as a reminder that even gods are not omnipotent. Madeline Miller’s novel not only reimagines a forgotten character but also delves into themes that resonate with our contemporary understanding of the human experience.
Five Nights at Freddy’s (2023) is a nostalgia trip of a movie that simultaneously disappointed old and new viewers. Based on a video game series under the same name, Five Nights at Freddy’s follows the story of Mike Schmitt, a chronic job drifter looking for stable employment to keep his younger sister, Abby, under his custody. This leads him to accept the position of nightguard at a rundown establishment known as Freddy Fazzbear’s Pizza Place. Although it’s been shut down since the eighties, Mike soon finds that the halls of this eatery are alive with the supernatural. Five Nights at Freddy’s was a lackluster horror film. Its PG-13 rating stopped it from depicting much of the original video game’s violence and dread. The lack of morbid scenes, alongside its already wellknown plot, caused any jump scares or suspenseful moments to fall flat. Unfortunately, the actors’ skills could not save this film from its predictable, sometimes
cheesy, structure. When it comes to an oversaturated genre like horror, a story must subvert cliches so that the feeling of fright stays fresh. Five Nights at Freddy’s had to juggle this and the daunting task of living up to its popular predecessor. Somehow, it managed to drop both and turned a plot renowned for its originality into another Halloween bore. The YouTuber cameos and advertisement strategy made it apparent that this movie’s intended audience was longtime players looking for a good laugh rather than a bone-chilling scream. In this regard, Five Nights at Freddy’s succeeded. Many of the scary moments were unintentionally hilarious if you knew the game lore. Contradictory to this goal though was the movie’s stark detour away from the original plot. Leaving out important events like the bite of ‘87 and Garret Schmitt’s murder, it failed to unearth much of the nostalgia gold mine it sat upon. Diehard fans were left confused by the change in story while casual viewers were denied the true terror of this iconic franchise.
Killer animatronic characters appear in Five Nights at Freddy’s. Photo courtesy of yahoo.com.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Opinions
Explaining Venezuela’s collapse Self driving CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Copy Editor Just last September President Joe Biden granted thousands of Venezuelan migrants legal status to work in the country. Currently, there are over 800,000 people in the U.S. who were either born to or are Venezuelan emigrants. Ignoring the contentious and inflammatory debate over the question of immigration policy, Venezuela in particular has been a topic of discussion for over a decade since their economic collapse in the early 2000s regarding its causes and implications of their history. Venezuela has been unique among its Latin American neighbors. During the Cold War, Venezuela was enjoying friendly relations with the United States during a period of relative stability and prosperity. The nation’s success came from their massive oil reserves, the biggest in the world. Unfortunately, the last decades of profit had been spent mostly in big publics works contracts given to political cronies. By the 80s the Venezuelan government had gotten itself in $30 billion in debt and had to appeal for a loan that required them to massively cut public spending for subsidies and wages. The population, obviously annoyed with the same corrupt politicians who were now enforcing austerity to avoid the disaster they had created, began to riot in response, prompting a bloody crackdown. In this chaos, a young military colonel named Hugo Chavez attempted a coup of the unpopular government. Despite it being unsuccessful, Chavez made his name as the voice of the people against the establishment. His popularity propelled him to a win in the 1998 election. In the onset of his presidency, Chavez did little to actually deliver on his vague revolutionary vision. Instead, his focus was on centralizing power around him, heightened by his paranoia of an American-backed conspiracy and convinced him
to tighten his control. His claims escalated as far as stating that Obama had used a secret weather ray to cause an earthquake in Haiti. By his death in 2013, the country had been left to his successor Nicolás Maduro, who had all the incompetence and authoritarianism of Chavez without his charisma. So that still leaves the question: why is Venezuela in the position it is today? Often the crisis is attributed to socialism as an analogy to left wing policy proposals in the United States. However, this explanation fails to fully encapsulate the leadup to Venezuela’s state today. Firstly, Chavez never established a wide scale, centrally planned economy like in the Soviet Union. The closest thing he did to get to that was nationalizing oil, but that had been the policy as far back as the 70s. Secondly, the social spending policies he enacted were massively beneficial, almost eliminating illiteracy and child mortality. Again, these are policies common across the world in wealthy developed nations that have not seen the same collapse. Ultimately, Venezuela’s collapse came down to Chavez’s intense obsession with power that left only incompetent yes-men. Much like the previous administration, by providing foreign good at lower prices, local industries had little room to compete. When the country’s oil money dried up due to the investors pulling out, they had no solid economy to fall back on. Today, Venezuela remains a struggling economy held together under Maduro only through gesturing to America as a scapegoat. Contrary to its public image, the current government in terms of policy is effectively the same as the one before Chavez’s revolution. Power is determined by loyalty to the government while the popular welfare missions have since ended. What Venezuela’s story demonstrates is the ability for populists to take advantage of discontent with corruption and stagnation and rise to power, only to maintain the same system as before with a new coat of paint.
AI has the potential to serve as an asset for surgeons in near future ANYA PANT Opinions Editor In the evolving landscape of modern medicine, the use of robotics and artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era in the medical field. Advancements in the field of robotics can provide medicine with improved diagnostics, patient care, and precision in treatment. Though technological advancements are not without their disadvantages, the use of robotics and AI in medicine is bettering the field and unleashing a wave of innovation that could permanently transform the way we diagnose and treat illnesses forever. Robotic and AI systems bring an unparalleled level of precision and accuracy to medical procedures. Robotic appendages that were built for surgery enhance a surgeon’s capabilities by offering completely steady hands and removing all tremors. For life-saving surgeries, precision is a crucial skill, and robots eliminate the variable of unsteady hands. Operating with robots also gives surgeons a great deal of control, as most of the surgery robots provide a 3D, high-definition, magnified view of the surgery field. One of the instruments, named the Da Vinci, which was FDA approved in 2000, has already been used in surgery six million times worldwide. Along with being incredibly precise,
robotics and AI are very accurate. AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify diseases, assess risk factors in surgery, and predict patient outcomes. Machine algorithms can detect patterns in anomalies and scans that might be imperceptible to the human eye. This can speed up diagnosis and ensure early detection and treatment of disease. The use of AI in detection of diseases can also reduce the cost of care for the patients as a quicker and more accurate diagnosis, meaning shorter hospital stays and less trial-and-error, leading to an overall cost savings for both the patients and the healthcare institutions. Another upside to the use of robotics is minimally invasive surgery. Using robots, surgeons can make smaller incisions and use minimally invasive techniques that lead to less blood loss and a shorter recovery time, and the use of robots in surgery has no long-term adverse effects. Overall, the marriage of robotics and AI to healthcare is an unchallenged positive introduction to the medical world. It brings enhanced precision, minimally invasive surgery, faster and accurate diagnosis, and advantages in cost savings. The melding of healthcare and technology is undoubtably good for patients, healthcare providers, and the rest of society. It is paving the way for a reliable and cost-efficient healthcare system for individuals around the world.
cars causing controversy SIMONA KARNANI Staff Writer When thinking about the future, people often think about self-driving cars. The future is becoming reality with an innovation by a company called Cruise. Back in 2013, Kyle Vogt fulfilled his childhood dream by founding the company in San Francisco. In 2016, the company expanded when General Motors acquired Cruise. Autonomous vehicles were made legal in Texas in September 2017, and the service has now expanded into Austin, Nashville, and Miami. The overall goal of these cars is to provide a safer alternate to human transportation. With driverless cars, there is no risk of a drunk driver or tired driver, and these cars are manufactured to follow the rules of the road. Currently, Cruise cars only function at night between the hours of 8:00p.m.6:00a.m. and travel at slow speeds with a maximum of 25 miles per hour. According to the company’s founders, their mission is to improve the safety of nighttime transportation. Since night driving involves reduced visibility and is arguably the most dangerous time to be on the road, Cruise seeks to eliminate these risks. However, the company’s reliance on technology has led to major glitches resulting in numerous accidents throughout the test cities. When the car doesn’t know what to do, it is programmed to go to default, which means it pulls over. The cars have also been reported to randomly stop in the middle of the road. On September 18, a passenger car was hit by a Cruise car. Rather than stopping and pulling over, the Cruise car left the site of the accident and proceeded with its trip. There was also a report that a Cruise crashed into a brick wall. The numerous safety concerns have led the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to open an investigation into the company. In San Francisco, the birthplace of the founder and the primary location of these cars, the city has placed a ban on autonomous vehicles. First, after a crash with a fire truck which resulted in a passenger being taken to the hospital, the company was asked to cut its supply of cars in the city to half. However, this did not prove successful, and accidents continued to happen. In September, a Cruise car blocked an ambulance on route to the hospital, causing a delay. After this, the cars were banned as officials said they posed a danger to the public. However, their competitor, Google’s Waymo, was still allowed to test its cars in San Francisco. The vehicles have seen success, though, in their original goal because statistics prove that they have been involved in 65% less collisions compared to human drivers. In theory, they have reduced the chance of an error leading to an accident and lowered the accident rate. In the future, there is the potential for faster travel by reducing stationary time. Currently, there isn’t much variety with the routes, but the company is looking into being able to select the most fuel-efficient routes. A common issue faced when switching to the robot side of the world is a loss of jobs. For people who rely on driving trucks or Uber services, they are put at a loss. Overall, there is a future in autonomous vehicles; however, it will take time since there is risk associated with it.
Opinions ∙ Page 9
The Knight Times Episcopal High School 4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, TX 77450 713-512-3400 Head of School Mr. Ned Smith Associate Heads of School The Rev. Tyler Montgomery Mrs. Evelyn Cambria Principal Mr. Antonio Avalos Dean of Arts Mr. Paul Revaz Visual Arts Chair Mrs. Kate Philbrick Publications Coordinator Mr. David Framel Editors-in-Chief Morgan Herod Jalynn Woolley Managing Editor Clara Crenshaw Production Editor Julia Sherman Copy Editor Campbell Richardson Opinions Editor Anya Pant Sports Editor Thompson White Staff Writers Izzie Song Liz Burke Simona Karnani Angelina Fertitta Caroline Johnson Vanessa Reed Paige Pan Lulu Gibellini Porter Miller Photojournalism Instructor Mr. Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Editors Vivian Turbidy Jules Weinstein Photographers Avalon Bell Libby Davis McKenna Foteh Emma Freeman Kennedy Greene Kate Malta Morgan Maxwell Sophia Shin Sloane Wallace
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.
Sports ∙ Page 10
Sports
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Football defeats rival Kinkaid to capture the SPC championship JULIA SHERMAN Production Editor On November 4 at TDECU Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston, the Episcopal Knights varsity football team used a steady ground game and big defensive stops to defeat rival the Kinkaid Falcons 35-25 and claim the SPC championship title. The boys jumped out to an early lead with senior quarterback and UCLA commit Karson Gordon scoring on a 75-yard touchdown twelve seconds into the game. One possession later junior running back Brandon Thomas found an opening thanks to his offensive line for a 32-yard scamper and a 14-0 lead. By halftime the score was 21-6, and the game looked eerily reminiscent of the
regular season contest between these two perennial 4A giants when EHS jumped on top of the Falcons early and held on to secure the win 42-35. Seniors Ty Blevins, Breylan Thompson, and Cullen Walton came up big defensively, while Cullen Witt, Billy Wheless, Jack McKinnie, and Charlie Allen earned the tough yards for the team’s run game. Numerous underclassmen stepped up to make sure the Knights earned back the SPC title that had eluded them since 2019, specifically Brooks Edwards, Carson Fowler, and junior Zach Kopel, who intercepted a pass and ran the ball 45 yards for a score in the fourth quarter, securing the win for the Knights. At the end of the game, Head Coach Steve Leisz announced his retirement to the team.
Knights football celebrates SPC win with Coach Leisz. Photo by Jules Weinstein.
Boys volleyball earns first title Girls and boys cross country in true heart-stopping fashion both dominate SPC competition THOMPSON WHITE Sports Editor Ranked third in the nation, first in Texas, and SPC championship winners, the Knights boys volleyball team dominated all season, earning an undefeated 19-0 record. The Knights success is attributed to the team’s fantastic players such as team MVP Ethan Romero, Calder Tribble, Alfredo Bolado, and others and their innovative coach, Kerry Hofmeister. After last year’s undefeated season came to an end in the SPC championship as the team fell short of the title, the young team deeply invested themselves into year-round volleyball teams, so they could head in to the 2023 season as a commanding force. This devotion was critical to the team’s success.
As Coach Hofmeister put it, “When you devote yourself to a sport, and it becomes a part of your identity, winning just comes naturally.” And winning is what they did. The team demolished SPC competition, beating both Casady and Greenhill High School 3-0. In the championship, the team faced St. Mark’s, a team they have beaten twice in the regular season and won 3-2. Coach Hofmeister took an innovative and successful approach to coaching the powerhouse. He assembled a team of former EHS alums - Preston Witt, Alexander Haney, Jackson Kelso, and Clayton Butler - to coach and scrimmage against the starting lineup in practices. This tactic improved the team by providing them with daily competition that matches the intensity of opposing teams.
Ethan Lahoti spikes against Awty International. Photo by Emma Freeman.
LIZ BURKE Staff Writer The cross country teams had an outstanding season this year with the girls team completing a remarkable three-peat and successful win of the SPC Championship, while the boys put 2023 on the banner with a title of their own. Under the leadership of Sophomore Class President Palmer Popov, the girls followed a rigorous training routine to prepare for their races, combining easy 30-minute runs with ice baths and early morning practices from 5:45-7:00 a.m. The boys team relied on dedication and
hard work in their daily training regimen, which included running workouts like 200-meter repeats and 1.5-mile repeats, as well as 45-50-minute runs to accumulate abundant mileage. The girls and boys teams demonstrated incredible teamwork and dedication, with everyone working collectively for the teams’ success. For those contemplating joining the cross country team, Popov’s advice remains simple yet vital: “Be prepared to wake up at 5 a.m. every morning, even on weekends.” It was undoubtedly a momentous year for both teams, with each showcasing their prowess on the cross country course.
The team’s seniors were celebrated with a fun 5K. Photo by Kennedy Greene
Runner-up trophy signals a solid Third-place finish for field hockey in the SPC tournament impressive end to girls volleyball season VANESSA REED Staff Writer With the end of a spectacular, undefeated, regular volleyball season, Episcopal girls volleyball made it to the championship in SPC and closed the year with a Runner-Up trophy. As the 2023 Houston Open Tournament champions, and several team members receiving All-tournament team awards, sweeping big teams like St. John’s and Houston Christian, the girls accomplished great things. The hard work paid off, and some of the seniors have decided to further their volleyball careers and play at
the collegiate level. Seniors Ally Frailey and Jenniya Lane will both be playing D1 volleyball at Santa Clara and U Penn respectfully, alongside junior Mackenzie Collins, who committed to Texas A&M. Since August, the girls have been working hard every single day to come out on top. To wrap it up, during varsity awards chapel, Kara Thomas received the leadership award, Mykayla McMillian received the Most Valuable Player award, and Mary Taylor took the most improved award. Coach McMillian would say, the team ended the season with no cracks in their armor.
PORTER MILLER Staff Writer After an amazing end to the season, girls field hockey is a wrap. The girls went through the season with high attitudes and dedication and were rewarded with a thirdplace finish in SPC. At the start of the tournament, the girls beat Dallas Greenhill 3-0. In their semifinal match, the team took a competitive but tough loss to St. John’s. With remarkable resilience and determination, the girls regrouped and dominated St. Stephen’s 3-0 to secure their high finish. To create strong team chemistry, the girls
wrote in their “notebook,” which is when one player writes a positive note to another player, reads it to them, and then the next game that recipient writes a note to another teammate, and it continues. This team is full of talent and success. During the Varsity Awards program, Sela Provenzano was awarded for MVP, Serena Moore was awarded for leadership, and Mary Elizabeth Pennington was awarded most improved. The girls program reached a record of 19-5 and a league record of 7-3. Overall, their performances on the field were impressive as each player contributed their strengths, leading to the team’s success.
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Sports ∙ Page 11
Sports
Repeat is on boys soccer agenda Soccer team preps for SPC run CAROLINE JOHNSON Staff Writer After winning the SPC last season, boys soccer has high expectations for the new year. 2023 marked the sixth SPC the varsity team has won, following victories in 1992, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Coaches Travis Smith, Zach Schwarz, Jose Reyes, and Sarah Saldivar hope to bring home the trophy for a second year in a row. Beginning on November 6, the teams could be seen practicing and doing drills on the football field. Varsity boys soccer kicked off the season on November 10 with a home game against the Village School. Spectators can expect games against schools like Concordia Lutheran, The John Cooper School, Kinkaid, and Awty, among other tough competitors, to follow. Senior Jack Gillet remarked on his years with the program, saying, “My favorite highlight of last season was leading the team.” His goals are to stay healthy, have fun, and make a difference. He is one of seven seniors on the team, joined by four juniors, four sophomores, and also five
talented freshmen. One ninth grader, Bennett Abaza, expressed his hopes for his first season with the team, saying, “I’m really excited to start the season with so many of my friends. Hopefully, we can win the SPC together.”
Aleck Camacho practices at goalie in preparation for the 2024 season. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.
PORTER MILLER Staff Writer The girls soccer team is ready to dominate this season with exciting games ahead. This team is looking extraordinary and strong, two great traits to have while seeking to be an SPC winner. Preseason has been a key factor in the team’s motivation and hard work. The girls are spending time perfecting their skills, and specifically their corners. With hard practice and a cohesive team spirit, they are determined to showcase their capability on the field. During the season, the girls usually practice three days a week with games twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, and at least one film day a week. During practice, they perform highly competitive drills while also working on defending goal kicks and attacking corners. Tryouts took place November 6-7 followed by the first game on November 14.
LIZ BURKE Staff Writer
After losing 81-78 to Houston Christian in last year’s SPC Championship, the Knights boys basketball team has one thing in mind – vengeance - says junior Jake Davis. For the past two years, the Knights were fueled with young talent, specifically Justin Begg, Jakeel Registe, Breylan Thompson, and Cullen Witt. Now as seniors, these leaders will be able to showcase all their hard work over the past four years at EHS and earn an SPC championship. Additionally, two freshmen, Aiden Fyfe and Alim Olajuwon, have shown exceptional skill and will be key players on varsity. The Knights have a deep team with players like Parker Manley, Miles Young, Holman Rorschach, Reid Sasser, Nolan Sanders, Hayden Hawes, Pierce Barineau, Cameron Basra, and Jake Davis. In preseason scrimmages, the Knights have given a preview of the domination yet to come. In these scrimmages, the
The primary aim of the swim team this year is continual improvement through dedicated practice and honing skills. Episcopal’s swim team operates as a supportive community dedicated to constant enhancement. Coach Peraza has motivated countless athletes to give their utmost effort. Coach Peraza’s coaching style demonstrates the potential of sports on a person’s growth. The EHS swim team’s objective isn’t about just winning the SPC Championship but also about skill development and giving a personal best.
Joshua Lynch practices with teammates. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.
Boys basketball looks to make SPC a slam dunk THOMPSON WHITE Sports Editor
Ryan Fox and Blake Oliver return for girls soccer. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.
Swimmers look to make big splash
This year, Episcopal High School’s swim team is under the guidance of new head coach Peraza. Coach Peraza’s philosophy centers on fostering teamwork, maintaining discipline, and facilitating personal growth. He emphasizes that it’s not solely about winning. Drawing from his own high school swimming experience, Coach Peraza comprehends the emotional journey involved.
Abby Ross holds up horns as she announces her commitment to Lipscomb University. Photo courtesy Abby Ross.
Head Coach Rachel Stelter is ready to lead the girls to a successful season. Returning players, Abby Ross, Blake Hodgson, Dayla Henderson, Franny Johnson, Lizzy Randal, Sadie Butler, and Sam Qureshey are ready to take on this season. To show how talented these players are, Abby Ross, a current junior, just committed to Lipscomb University and Blake Hodgson, a current senior, committed to TCU and went through her signing day ceremony on November 8th.
Knights beat 5A La Porte and Nimitz High Schools but lost to Bellaire. The Knights start their season with a competitive match against the Good Vision Academy on November 11. On December 9, the squad will meet Houston Christian High School for the first time since the SPC championship match.
Justin Begg works around his defender. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.
Taylor Morris perfects her stroke during practice. Photo by Mr. Andy Clack.
Girls know hard work is key in 2024 LIZ BURKE Staff Writer Coming back from an amazing last season, Episcopal girls basketball is ready to work hard and come out on top in the district. With new head coach Chelsea Bass, the goal for the varsity team is to win the SPC championship. The varsity returns three starters: seniors Me’Arah O’Neal and Emrie Holt and junior Ivonna Lloyd and will rely on players who saw significant time last year, including seniors Ava Grove and Daphne Melton. Coach Bass stated that preseason turned out to be very successful, and the girls consistently showed up and worked hard. As a group, players rarely missed workouts, which shows the commitment they have this year. The greatest strength on the team this year is depth, according to the new head of the program. She added that with the team’s versatility, the girls will have an advantage over their opponents. Coach Bass added, “The practices are
designed to be intentionally hard at times. They will be put on a ‘grind,’ so the easier the games will be.”
Senior Emrie Holt will be counted on as a floor general this year. Photo by Mr. Charles Holt.
Knight Shift∙ Page 12
The Knight Times ∙ November 2023
Speaks Out “What are you most thankful for?”
Prints Charming
Cartoon by Izzie Song. SEBASTIAN GIBBONS “Art”
JULIE LEVAN “Education”
DURHAM BROWDER “Episcopal”
JOCELYN DAY “My phone”
PhotoJ Photo of the Month
Senior Breylan Thompson and the student body fans celebrate football’s first SPC win since 2019. Photo by Jules Weinstein.
Celebrity Sighting PATRICK WAILES “Health”
AVERY KNUPP “Shelter and food”
JACK GILLET “School and God”
KARA THOMAS “My bed”
MR. HICKEY “Nucleosynthesis”
MS. ADAMS “Couch in my second bedroom”
When he’s not wandering the halls of Nevermore Academy or painting in his secret shed, Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White) can be found in EHS’s innovations spaces competing with the Quiz Bowl team. Junior Aidan Murphy (left) has a striking resemblance to actor Percy White (right), best known for his role in Netflix’s hit TV show Wednesday. The two vary in height and eye color, but their facial features mirror each other closely. Even their hair is a similar light brown with swooping bangs. Their eyebrows are an identical shape set above pensive, deep set eyes. Percy White’s long face and strong chin echo in this EHS student. Not only visual twins, Aidan Murphy also shares White’s character, Xavier Thorpe’s, artistic nature. Such draws an even stronger connection between the boys, even though Murphy lacks the other’s telekenetic talents (that we know of). Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org and by Izzie Song.
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