The Knight Times / October 2021 Issue 3

News that Stands Out

THE KNIGHT TIMES Official Student Newspaper of Episcopal High School

October 2021

4650 Bissonnet, Bellaire, Texas 77401

www.ehshouston.org

Volume 37, Issue 3

Choices Chapel Homecoming Week commences school spirit showcase Knights revel in week of themes culminating in game and dance encourages good Knight decisions MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer Life is all about the choices we make.

This month’s Choices topic is sexual assault. Though the topic can be difficult to talk about at school, it is important to discuss it so that everyone in the EHS community knows how to protect themselves against it.

The EHS Choices Program’s goal is to reduce high-risk behavior like assault through both education and counseling.

The program is still looking for a counselor, but they are hopeful to find someone soon.

Sexual assault is a topic that people tend to stay quiet about, which leaves survivors feeling ashamed of their past.

The Choices Program wants to ensure that victims have trusted adults on campus so that help and support is always available.

The CARE team wants everyone to know that the first step to take after experiencing an assault is to always find someone to talk to whether a family member or a teacher. The team reiterates that survivors often feel ashamed or that

Students display their school spirit during Homecoming Week starting with their favorite athletic attire on Monday’s Jersey Day. Photo by Leana Greene.

JALYNN WOOLLEY Staff Writer

what happened to them was their fault. It is never the survivor’s fault, and we are fortunate to have the CARE team to support any student struggling. Providing a safe space for victims encourages a sense of comfort within the community. Emphasizing the fact that sexual assault is not a “taboo” subject will help train people to become better advocates and bystanders.

The goal is to let people know that talking about it is not a bad thing.

Coversation can be a healthy start. The more normalized this topic, the easier it will become for people to come forward and talk about their experiences.

INSIDE Augustus Klein EHS leathermaking entrepreneur

PAGE 2 Caffeine Learn more about caffeine’s impact on you and the world.

PAGES 6-7 Features ........................ 2-3 Culture ......................... 4 Entertainment ............... 5 Special Feature ............ 6-7 Opinion ........................ 8-9 Sports........................... 10-11

“After weeks of anticipation, the Knights were thrilled to finally be able to come together as an entire school, show off their school pride, and enjoy the exhilarating week that is Homecoming after last year’s unfortunate modification due to Covid. Characterized by an original theme, a new themed outfit every day, a thrilling Friday night football game...”

Learn more about Homecoming on Page 3

School spirit reinforced with pep rallies ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Social Media Coordinator Pep rallies, one of the more enjoyable traditions at Episcopal High School, have returned. With October being a month full of football games, Homecoming, and school spirit, pep rallies are the perfect way to get everyone excited.

The first pep rally of the 2021-2022 school year was held October 1, and was led by Leah Teagarden, Maddie Howenstine, and Christophe Merriam. Varsity cheerleading, Pom Team, and Impact Dance all performed show-stopping routines full of fun and spirit.

A student vs. faculty tug of war competition occurred; sadly, students lost but still enjoyed the fun. Senior Sophia Neylon from Varsity cheerleading said, “It was fun to see the entire EHS community supporting our sports teams and having such a great time together. It really showed me how much I missed being all together at a school event.”

Along with Sophia, Aileen Paredes, a junior on Impact, said, “Pep rallies are always so fun and enjoyable. I love the energy of the crowd and seeing everyone show off their school spirit. I’m looking forward to more in the future.”

After a year of social distancing and an

abnormal school schedule and environment, Episcopal High School’s pep rallies are back, and students are ecstatic to be able to build excitement prior to sports

games with the rest of the study body, faculty, coaches, and staff. Nothing gets everyone more excited than a traditional Episcopal High School pep rally.

EHS students and faculty attended the newly reinstated pep rallies in high spirits.

Photo by Lauren McGinnis.

Features ∙ Page 2

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Episcopal’s Entrepreneurial Students

How knifemaking gave Baking: Once a hobby, Business-savvy Knight one student a business now a thriving business taps numerous markets GABRIEL ODERICH Staff Writer

YANA SHARMA Staff Writer

JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer

Knifemaking is not only a hobby for EHS junior Augustus Klein, but also a business. With some knives retailing for $1400 at Gordy and Sons Outfitters, Maida’s Belts and Buckles, and a website, akknifeco.com, Augustus has obviously found success within this field.

Augustus’ story started with a passion for the outdoors.

For Augustus, hunting and fishing had one glaring constant - knives. Eventually, after sharpening his knowledge on the workings and mechanics of manufactured knives, he gave knifemaking a try. It took him 20 hours to finish his first knife, and “it came out better than expected.”

He was able to cut those 20 hours down to 6-11 hours on average, an impressive feat considering the immense detail put into his knives. These long Augustus crafting his own ex- hours of crafting transotic knifes. Photo courtesy of late into a $400-600 Augustus Klein. price tag for a hunting knife (including a leather case), which may seem a hefty sum for a knife, but the materials used for the knives are just as astounding, usually Damascus steel and other exotic materials.

He also makes chef knives and even custom orders.

His custom orders tend to be his “most extravagant knives” and usually include even more exotic materials than his “average” knife.

Estefania Lopez, an Episcopal High School junior, is a young entrepreneur. She started a business called Stef’s Treats in the summer of 2020 during COVID-19. Most of the work Estefania does is, in fact, completed at home since her business is primarily an at-home business.

At first, she started asking her friends and close family for orders for her business, but soon other people started to find out about Stef’s Treats. Soon, she started taking many orders, especially around holidays, such as Mother’s Day, Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.

Some of her popular items are lemon lavender cupcakes, crème brûlée cookies, and Nutella cheesecake.

At the end of the year, Estefania plans to hold a big bake sale for Christmas. She plans to donate the money she earns to charity. Some of the items in the sale include gingerbread cookies, red velvet cupcakes, and pumpkin cupcakes.

Brian Barletta is a sophomore at Episcopal who has committed his free time to founding and running his own business.

The business-savvy Knight specializes in reselling products such as high value shoes and sealed singles of various sports cards.

His typical customers often access his products through his page on eBay or advertisements posted on Instagram.

He was inspired to begin his own business because he wanted a way to make some extra money while still focusing on school.

Since forming his business, Brian has sold a large quantity Sophomore Brian Barletta finds of sports cards and success by reselling various baseshoes to people all ball cards and high-value shoes. across the country. Photo courtesy of Jake Berlin.

Brian finds motivation to keep the business flourishing with his interest in tracking how the prices of products change over time.

When it comes to the future, he has no plans for the expansion of his business but plans to keep it around as a way to bring in extra income.

Brian recognizes the success of his business and is proud that he was able to create something original and have fun while doing it.

A fresh batch of Estephania’s cookies are ready to be shipped. Photo courtesy of Estephania Lopez-Salas.

The Episcopal community takes EHS Onstage prepares for part in the Young Life experience the winter show, Eurydice MORGAN HEROD Staff Writer

Growing your relationship with God is an important part of life in the Christian community. The Episcopal Young Life program meets weekly to give students the opportunity to get closer to God. Young Life is a non-profit Christian organization that dedicates time and energy to ensure that students can grow in their faith while having fun with friends. Led by area-director Jawaan Ballard, the program is excited to return to normal activities after such an abnormal year.

The EHS Young Life program is open to all Episcopal and St. John’s students.

Those in it can enjoy such activities as

singing, dancing, games, talking, and skits. With things slowly returning to normal, the club has resumed meetings on Mondays from 7:30-8:40 at the West U Student Building. Dinner is provided for those coming from sports practice.

Campaigners is the Bible Study portion of Young Life. It is a small group that meets by gender to discuss life and faith.

Campaigner dates vary throughout the week based on what works for the leader’s schedule. They also offer summer camps and other trips.

Caroline hopes that Young Life serves as a place where people can “be themselves, have fun, and grow in their faith. We want everyone to feel known and that they belong.”

LILY O’GORMAN Staff Writer Students of the EHS Onstage program have been hard at work rehearsing and staging this year’s winter play, Sarah

thought impossible; working on the production thus far has been nothing short of magical. Eurydice is poetical, lyrical, hyperrealistic and takes theatre into a whole other level. Exploring Eurydice’s character has been a great formative experience to grow and learn as an actor.”

Ensemble member Poema Sumrow added, “Taking part in this retelling of such a classic, well-known story is a very unique experience, and I am grateful to be a part of it.”

The play is directed by Mr. George Brock with set design by Mr. Paul Revaz and sound/light design by Mr. Peter Hutchinson. With three performances from November 12-14, Eurydice is sure to be a must-see.

As Josh Horn puts it, “I think that working on the play has been a great experience and everyone should come see it.”

Senior David Andrews (right), who plays Eurydice’s father, rehearses for the Winter EHS Onstage production.

Photo by Connor Smith.

Episcopal students participate in a Young Life field trip to Lonehollow, where they explored their faith through different activities. Photo courtesy of Morgan Herod.

Ruhl’s Eurydice–a modern take on the classical Greek myth Orpheus and Eurydice. The play explores the themes of love, loss, family, and memory, as Eurydice journeys to the underworld and reunites with her father Orpheus, played by sophomore Josh Horn. Divided into three acts, this adaptation shifts the focus to the myth’s heroine, Eurydice, performed by junior Julia Zichy.

On the rehearsal process and the play itself, Zichy commented, “Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice reimagines theatre in a way I

Harrison Goytia (‘24), Meredith Kinzel (‘25), and Ruby Theriot (‘23) rehearse for the student written and directed “Prologue,” which will be performed before Eurydice. Photo by Connor Smith.

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Features ∙ Page 3

Homecoming Week filled with themes and activities JALYNN WOOLLEY Staff Writer After weeks of anticipation, the Knights were thrilled to finally be able to come together as an entire school, show off their school pride, and enjoy the exhilarating week that is Homecoming after last year’s unfortunate modification due to Covid.

Characterized by an original theme, a new themed outfit every day, a thrilling Friday night football game, and of course, the classic Homecoming Dance where all students strive to look their best, Homecoming Week resumed its position as one of the most eventful weeks of the year.

After another riveting game against Houston Christian on Simmons Field on

October 29, the Knights were ready to put away their blue and white spirit wear and trade it for Hollywood worthy attire.

The Hollywood Knights left their troubles behind to experience a welldeserved night of fun and create everlasting high school memories. With freshmen and sophomores experiencing their first homecoming dance at Episcopal High School, and the seniors enjoying their last, everyone was ready to appreciate every minute of the EHS tradition missed out on last year.

While the seniors reflected on their time at Episcopal, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors were excited thinking about the memories they are going to make as they continue their EHS journey.

NSHS accepts newcomers JALYNN WOOLLEY Staff Writer The National Spanish Honor Society (NSHS), one of the most selective honor societies available at EHS, is excited for the beginning of their 2021-2022 chapter.

At the induction ceremony on October 20, new members made a meaningful commitment to studying Spanish language and culture.

Sponsored by Mrs. Alcala and Ms. Berry, NSHS is well-known at EHS fot its high expectations for its members. Open to juniors and seniors, NSHS is a choice that each member must make, and it is not a decision made lightly. Members must be willing to be committed to the society and maintain their grades with no more than one B+ on their Spanish transcript.

As for student leadership, senior Alex

Bruton served as last year’s student representative, but with the coming of a new year and new members, there will be a re-election for those inducted into the society. The position is open to all members, even those who had not previously been in NSHS; the only requirement is a strong passion for the development of their and their fellow students’ Spanish knowledge.

This year’s induction ceremony was held in the newly renovated library, and members and sponsors, specifically Ms. Berry, “were extremely excited that the NSHS induction ceremony was one of the first ceremonies to be held in the new library,” and she especially could not wait to introduce the new members to the coveted society.

“National Spanish Honor Society at EHS is ready so spread our love and the language to the rest of the community.”

Gong Squad: A look into the heart of EHS spirit LEANA GREENE Production Editor The Knight Times would like to give recognition to the 2021-2022 Episcopal Knight’s Gong Squad: seniors Brady Ray, Blake Stanley, Rawley Lueck, and Sam Matthews.

Gong Squad has been a long-standing tradition at EHS with the goals to bring sprit, energy, and pride to the EHS student body section during athletic games, pep rallies, and other major Knight pride events.

For Blake, joining Gong Squad was important to him because “dressing up

and getting hyped for the games” was something he had always admired about the Knight Family.

The purpose of Gong Squad for Sam is to be the instigator of “positive energy.”

Every Thursday evening the EHS community looks forward to receiving an email from one of these four fine gentlemen. The email Rawley is most excited to send is the last home game of the football season, the Homecoming game against Houston Christian, and the theme was retro.

One of the biggest games of the year, EHS vs. Kinkaid, featured a camouflage theme, and according to Brady, “It was a classic theme since Knights hunt Falcons.”

The Gong Squad modeled the red, white, and blue themed spirit dress during a home game. Photo by Isabella Goytia.

Rex Petrulis, Andrew Thornton, and Henry Crain were among many students across campus excited to be celebrating Homecoming Spirit Week with their fellow “twin.”

Photo by Lily O’Gorman.

Slice of π

ZACK DONOVAN Guest Writer Hi, I am Zack Donovan, the Internal Vice President of Mu Alpha Theta. I’m pleased to report that the Math Club has had a strong start to the year.

We had the club’s first in-person meeting in over a year with 197 members. We took our first monthly Texas Math League contest, and for many this was the first time they experienced a math competition.

Forty select mathletes were invited to compete in the national Math Madness bracket competition in which students compete against other schools to earn points for the Episcopal team. The first practice round for this weekly event occurred on October 6, and students returned each Wednesday for competitive rounds until eliminated.

In addition, Mu Alpha Theta (National Math Honor Society) inducted new mem-

bers on October 18.

We are also extremely excited and elated to announce that the Math Club will be resuming the annual celebration of Fibonacci Day on Wednesday, November 10, so mark your calendars!

In addition to our “bake sale” of food and treats with a date yet to be determined, all students are invited to participate in the festivities that include learning more about the Fibonacci Sequence and competing in math contests.

In November, members of the Math Club and Mu Alpha Theta will continue the tradition of taking the National AMC and International HiMCM math modelling competition in which they will apply the foundational concepts they’ve developed in their math classes to real-world problems over the course of two weeks.

Remember to please follow us on Instagram and Twitter @ehsmathclub. Hope to see you at future math club events.

Get a kick out of this month’s puzzle! Although it may be challenging, it’s a great way to refresh your math skills. Photo courtesy of Zack Donovan.

Culture ∙ Page 4

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

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ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Social Media Coordinator El Día de los Muertos es una celebración que comienza el primero de noviembre y termina el segundo de noviembre. Se originó y se ve principalmente en México. Las vacaciones de varios días involucran reuniones llenas de familiares y amigos para recordar a los muertos. Las familias celebran este día de fiesta anual con calaveras y flores aztecas. Dentro de las casas, las familias construyen altares con las comidas y bebidas favoritas que les gustaban a sus seres queridos. Los altares se dejan dentro de las casas como un gesto de bienvenida para los espíritus de los perdidos. La celebración no sólo se centra en la “muerte”; es común regalar a los amigos cráneos de azúcar de caramelo y pan de muerto.

Durante este período de dos días, las personas que celebran visitan los cementerios donde sus queridos están enterrados y decoran sus tumbas. Les traen juguetes para los niños que se han perdido, y alcohol incluyendo tequila, mezcal, y pulque para los adultos. También ha habido muchas celebraciones del Día de los Muertos fuera de México, incluyendo Bolivia, Guatemala, Australia, la República Checa y los Estado Unidos.

The Day of the Dead is a celebration from November 1-2. It originated and is mostly seen in Mexico. The multi-day holiday involves gatherings full of family

F shion Sen¢e with Raigan Clay

and personal look at celebrities and beauty gurus skincare routines and what they use to maintain healthy skin.

Some common misconceptions when it comes to skincare is that SPF is only supposed to be used at the beach. It should be used daily to reap its benefits; using natural and organic products can prevent acne; the more natural a product is the less vulnerable the skin is to the formation of acne. Large amounts of product will not yield better results. Products should be used sparingly and only enough to hydrate

the skin but not saturate it.

Your specific skincare routine relies on the texture of your skin and oil levels in your pores. How oily or dry your skin is affects the kind of products that you should use and which products would most benefit your skin. For example, a person with oily skin should use a cleanser with salicylic acid to reduce the clogging of pores, an exfoliant with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated, and finally any moisturizer that is oil free.

A skincare package I would really like

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The skin is the largest organ of the human body, and somehow, it’s the most neglected. From harmful UV rays hitting the skin to improper upkeep, these things prevent the skin from thriving and staying healthy.

Skincare and its importance is becoming more and more prevalent in the beauty industry as a part of the ongoing movement to embrace flaws and natural beauty.

One of my favorite takes on skincare and beauty routines is Vogue’s “Beauty Secrets” YouTube videos. I get an up-close

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Sophomores Dasean Brodie and Emrie Holt enjoy the second Diversity in Action meeting of the year in Alkek Gymnasium on Sunday, October 26. Photo by Karma Elbadawy.

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her time at Episcopal High School. Along with being present on the Steering Committee for two years, she earned the position of Co-President with alum Cimone Woodard her junior year.

The Mix and Mingle “was an amazing opportunity for parents and teachers to meet and build relationships … while getting the chance to hear about DIA’s core beliefs and plans,” she said.

Chandler has been an active member of DIA since his freshman year, starting on the Steering Committee and continuously showing his potential as a leader in the DIA organization.

Having had the opportunity to speak in front of not the ordinary group of DIA members but faculty and families who support the same cause, he felt it “was an invaluable experience.”

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Diversity in Action (DIA) is an organization that was small in numbers at its start, but over only a few years has grown to nearly ten times its initial membership.

Diversity in Action had the opportunity to invite students, families, and faculty to learn more about the events the studentled organization had planned for the upcoming year during its first Mix and Mingle held on Sunday, October 26. Faculty and staff representatives Mr. Wayne Jones and Mrs. Ayesha Spooner, along with DIA President and senior Karma Elbadawy and Steering Committee member junior Chandler Hollis, had the pleasure of speaking about what DIA means to them and how it has impacted them throughout the years.

Karma has been unquestionably devoted to DIA as a member for all four years of

and friends to remember the dead. Families celebrate this annual holiday with calaveras and Aztec marigold flowers.

Within the homes, families build altars with the favorite foods and beverages their loved ones liked. The altars are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the spirits of those lost. The celebration is not only focused on “death;” it’s common to gift friends candy sugar skulls and traditional pan de muerto. During this two-day period, people who celebrate often visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves.

Toys are brought for the children that have been lost, and alcohol, including tequila, mezcal, and pulque, for adults. There have been many observances of The Day of the Dead outside of Mexico too, including in Bolivia, Guatemala, Australia, the Czech Republic, and even the United States.

to highlight is “Humanrace,” curated by Pharrell Williams. This package is a bit on the pricey side, but it is all natural and the reviews are amazing. Pharrell’s skin is living proof of the success of the products.

Visit humanrace.com to find a perfect skin care routine using his three-step skincare recommendations.

One last tip: when you create your skincare routine - apply your products in the following order: cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, spot treatment, moisturizer, and sunscreen.

Pharrell Williams, creator of “Humanrace” skincare line, uses his Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator to enjoy its benefits. The line offers three products for your routine, including the Rice Powder Cleanser, the Lotus Enzyme Exfoliator, and the Humidifying Cream. Photo courtesy of Instagram.com.

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Entertainment ∙ Page 5

Joe finally found his one genius to the nuances and dimensionality of the characters’ personalities, contrasting Joe’s somewhat predictable behavior in Seasons One and Two. As of October Is Season Three of You “the best yet?”

17, You’s #1 ranking on Netflix in the The Washington Post says so, and here’s U.S. demonstrates how this season has why. masterfully created relationships with the While the psychological thriller series complexity that always has dealt allows for an inwith the quesvolved viewing tion “What you experience. would do for So, is Season love?”, Season Three of You Three reframes worth watchthe focus to ing? Even if Joe Goldberg you have never (played by watched the Penn Badgley) series, this may and his family, be the perfect specifically how time to start; they encounter besides minor obstacles as a callbacks to past team. relationships In Season and events, Three, with his many critics equally violent assert how this wife, Love season can stand Quinn, played by alone because of Victoria Pedretti, its fresh take on Joe Goldberg Joe’s extreme, must abandon fierce love. his violent recklessness and Psychotic Joe has tied the knot with the one, If you have start fresh in the Love Quinn in Season 3 of You. Photo courtesy seen the series before, you suburb of Madre of Collider. too might find Linda for the sake of his child. Nevertheless – and somewhat Season Three worth watching in that it deviates from the overdone former strucpredictably – this shift prompts issues for ture through a new neighborhood, added the new parents as their old habits emerge characters, and an updated emphasis on even while fighting to suppress them. family.

Many viewers attribute this season’s

ISABEL O’GORMAN Staff Writer

Houstonians have a November full of insane concerts they are not going to want to miss.

Starting with one of the hottest female

the Astroworld Festival, is making its way to Houston on the weekend of November 5-6. Artists such as Lil Wayne, Megan Thee Stallion, Don Oliver, and many more can be found on one of the two stages at NRG Park.

After the unfortunate cancellation of the Love On Tour performance by Harry Styles due to the Tropical Storm Nicholas, Styles was quick to reschedule for November 23. Styles will be joined by Jenny Lewis live at 8 pm at the Toyota Center.

Closing out the month on November 24 with some soft Spanish rock is Maná: Uforia Y Amor 106.5 Invita, performing at the 713 Music Hall.

King of ragers, Travis Scott’s Astroworld Festival is approaching Houston, Texas. Photo courtesy of astroworldfest.

R&B artists, SZA is coming to Houston Wednesday, November 3, at the Warehouse Live-Ballroom, performing her top songs “Good Days,” “Drew Barrymore,” and “Hit Different.”

On November 5 will be Spanish singersongwriters Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Sebastian Yatra. Fans can gather on Friday for the Spanish performance at the downtown Toyota Center.

One of the biggest festivals of the year hosted by Hip-Hop Rapper Travis Scott,

Spanish artists Rickey Martin and Enrique Iglesias perform live in Houston.

Photo courtesy of Gila River Areana.

Bond saves the world... again with CONNOR SMITH and CHRIS LAHOTI Nintendo has always been at the forefront of gaming. Whether it’s having six games on the top ten best-selling video games of all time list or creating the first motion-controlled gaming system, Nintendo has dominated the videogame market for quite a while. However, as video games become more advanced and more accessible to gamers across the world, Nintendo may be on the verge of falling behind the rapidly expanding market of gaming.

Now, don’t get us wrong, we are, and will always be, avid lovers of Nintendo products. Whether it be Legend of Zelda or our favorite franchise of all time, Pokémon, we have strong, nostalgic connections to the company. This doesn’t mean we wouldn’t like to see change.

With the release of its newest console,

the Nintendo Switch OLED, occurring earlier this month, many hoped Nintendo would continue its streak of innovation in the gaming world. We couldn’t have been more shocked when we learned the console had the same hardware as the original, with the only addition being a bigger screen. In comparison, the Steam Deck, which comes out later this year, has better hardware and a wider variety of games.

While we want to continue to enjoy the newest Nintendo games, it’s getting harder to justify spending money on below-par consoles and games, when we can buy cheaper games with more value on a PC or Xbox. We hope that in the future, Nintendo will focus on innovation and bringing high-quality games into the hands of nostalgic fans like us.

RAIGAN CLAY Staff Writer Bond. James Bond.

The film of the year, No Time to Die, is here and did not disappoint highly patient fans. Daniel Craig, the 007 of this decade, has done an amazing job taking on such

to see Malek step up in a big franchise film, especially with Craig saying his goodbyes.

Madeline Swann. You may know her from the last film in the series, Spectre.

Played by French actress Léa Seydoux, Bond’s love interest is so captivating to watch, especially with the constant contro-

Daniel Craig has given Ian Fleming fans another James Bond movie, No Time to Die. Photo courtesy of Bollywood Hungama.

Recently released, the video gaming community welcomes the new Nintendo Switch.

Photo courtesy of The Japan Times.

an iconic role, and he has manage to become a household name across the film realm.

Many fans (including myself) were sad to hear that this would be his last time playing the infamous James Bond. While addressing the media, Craig said that “it’s just time for [him] to move on. It’s been a pleasure.”

Emmy award winning Rami Malek plays Safin and takes on the role of the villain, one different from many of the roles he’s inhabited in his career, but he plays the part to a tee. It was invigorating

versy around her loyalty to Bond.

Something to note for the music community is Billie Eilish’s performance of the theme song “No Time to Die.” She released the song months ago, and now she gets to associate her name with Adele and Sam Smith as part of the soundtrack of No Time to Die, with the artistic help of Hans Zimmerman, the famous scorer of Hollywood film.

Overall, the film was amazing, worth watching, and was a great way to pay homage to Daniel Craig for a job well done.

Special Feature ∙ Page 6

Special Feature ∙ Page 7

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Caffeine: The World’s Favorite Drug The science behind caffeine: how the body becomes addicted CHRIS LAHOTI Editor-in-Chief

Cons of caffeine JAZZMIN DUNCAN Opinions Editor

Caffeine is a substance many teens, adults, and other age groups use daily. It helps to raise energy levels and boost productivity. However, caffeine does possess many caveats despite its helpfulness with pulling all-nighters and making it through a school day.

According to Health Line, caffeine triggers the release of adrenaline, a hormone known to boost energy. At high doses, however, adrenaline can become harmful both mentally and physically. In higher doses, anxiety, which plagues many students, can be induced by caffeine.

Caffeine Induced Anxiety Dis-

order is one of four syndromes that can be caused by excessive caffeine usage. Physically, caffeine has been shown to cause rapid breathing and raise stress levels, even in modest doses. Drinking or overeating caffeine can also cause insomnia.

Studies have shown that caffeine increases the time it takes to fall asleep and decreases total sleeping time.

Many people also suffer from indigestion after drinking coffee.

Coffee is a natural laxative; it increases peristalsis, the contractions that move food through the digestive system. Acid reflux is worsened by caffeine intake, especially coffee.

Most notably, however, addiction is also directly associated with caffeine. Although it doesn’t cause addiction like cocaine and amphetamines, it can lead to physical and psychological dependency.

Coffee, and most caffeine for that

matter, has been shown to have many harmful effects on the human body and psyche.

Tea may be a better, healthier alternative for everyone, especially those who need to be weaned off coffee.

Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, chocolate–whether or not you know it, you have probably consumed caffeine in your lifetime. Caffeine is what is known as a stimulant, a group of drugs that, when consumed, provide a boost of energy and alertness. It primarily accomplishes this through two tasks: blocking adenosine receptors and extending the production of dopamine.

Ordinarily, our body provides energy through the decomposition of the adenosine triphosphate molecule. A piece of said molecule, adenosine, is sent throughout the body, binding to specific receptors and consequently slowing down the

rate of transmission of neurons and brain-signaling molecules. Additionally, certain adenosine receptors are actually linked to dopamine receptors, which are responsible for releasing the “feel-good” hormone throughout your body. Upon adenosine’s binding, however, the receptor is prevented from distributing dopamine. In other words, you become sleepy.

Caffeine is somewhat of an adenosine bully (officially known as an Adenosine Receptor Antagonist), instead using its similar molecular structure to bind itself to the adenosine receptors without activating them. This in turn prevents the slowing down of the neural process, keeping you awake, as well as allow said receptors to continue distribut-

ing dopamine throughout the body.

Hence, beginner coffee enthusiasts will experience both wakefulness and a satisfying rush.

Unfortunately, an unmoderated, continued increase in caffeine intake will lead to desensitization of those receptors. Instead of bringing that burst of energy, it will only prevent you from collapsing into the exhaustion of withdrawal.

There are plenty of ways to ameliorate a caffeine dependence without suffering through withdrawal, with the number one tip being to enjoy in moderation. For more information, please check online or consult your doctor.

By all means, go for that coffee or chocolate bar. Just make sure you aren’t doing it too often.

Photo courtesy of Nutrition Advance.

Photo courtesy of kindpng.com.

The political impact of Big Soda CONNOR SMITH Editor-in-Chief

If any of you readers are Parks and Recreation fans, all this talk of caffeine may remind you of one episode called “Soda Tax.” During this episode, the government of Pawnee was voting on a bill that would institute a soda tax on businesses, something that was hated by the Pawnee Restaurant Association and their comically large soda cups.

While this concept may seem humorous and something only found on television, Big Soda corporations and their financial backers have lobbied hard against any government attempt to tax these sugary, caffeinated beverages.

In the past couple hundred years, caffeinated beverages have had an enormous influence on countries around the world, and this remains the same today. Whether it was the Portuguese trading of tea in the 1700s or the rise of coffee plantations in Latin America, caffeine-rich

beverages have been a part of many historical events that shaped the world we live in today. And in the United States, where Statista reports that over 50% of people drink coffee or soda regularly, it’s safe to assume that caffeinated beverages still influence America.

So how has the government combated the increased use of these sugary drinks? To fight the health problems associated with sodas, many states like Oregon and California have issued higher taxes on soft drinks. Many public health officials have applauded these moves, with NPR citing that some soda taxes could prevent up to 134,000 cases of diabetes by 2030. While this may seem like a big step in the fight against unhealthy caffeinated beverages, Big Soda wasn’t going down without a fight.

As many of these “soda tax” measures went to the ballot in states like Oregon and California, Big Soda fought back using the same plays

Survey by Isabel O’Gorman, Kate Freeman, and Lily O’Gorman.

Despite increasingly strong pushes for soft drink taxes, big soda continues to fight back. Photo courtesy of gen.medium.com. used by Big Tobacco. According to OpenSecrets.org, popular soft drink companies like PepsiCo and Coca-Cola spend over $22 million in 2018 lobbying against these new ballot measures. Like Big Tobacco, organizations said that taxing soda and other caffeinated beverages would impact grocery stores and local businesses, something that was proven untrue by a 2017 study in Berkeley, California.

With much of the American population divulging in sugary, caffeinated beverages like soda and coffee, it’s important to understand how much these big corporations lobby our government.

Maybe next time you think about buying a 6-pack of soda from your local grocery store, remember how much-underhanded work Big Soda has done to peddle their product to your doorstep.

Opinions∙ Page 8

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Opinions 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

Photos courtesy of abcnews.go.com.

A partisan playground: The US national park crisis CONNOR SMITH

Editor-in-Chief Who doesn’t like a good vacation?

Whether you are a beach person, a mountain person, or somewhere in between, a vacation allows you to escape the worries of work or school and just relax. Personally, my favorite vacation spots seem to be the natural wonders of the world.

Famous places like Yellowstone National Park or the Grand Canyon come to mind, but I would rather visit smaller national monuments instead of these places which are slowly becoming tourist traps. Sadly, the past five years have been plagued with reductions of protected land around the natural wonders of the United States.

So, if people love traveling through national parks and exploring the wilds of America, why has the government given into lobbyists and stripped protections, and why is it important to prevent this in the future?

You would be surprised to learn that the first protest of federally protected land occurred in 1943 when Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Jackson Hole National Monument outside Yellowstone National Park. A group of Wyoming ranchers that used this land for ranching armed themselves with an arsenal of guns, prepared to fight the government for the land.

This is where the argument for federally protected land finds its first obstacle. Where do you draw the line when deciding whether to protect natural beauty or allow communities to earn a living off the land?

The strongest way to prevent many politicians from doing anything is the economy.

Many lobbyists will state, according to Headwater Economics, that federally owned land will impact the economy negatively, partially because federally owned land limits businesses like oil drilling, logging, or commercial fishing. However, studies have repeatedly shown how national monuments and other federally protected lands barely impact the surrounding economy, and if they do it is almost always positive.

For example, let’s look at a study published in 2020 in Science Advances.

In this study, researchers from the group Researchers for the Future studied 14 monuments created by Presidential proc-

lamations between 1990 and 2015, such as the Canyons of the Ancients and the Upper Missouri River Breaks. Researchers Patrick Lee and Matthew Ashenfarb observed positive changes in employment as well as job growth. In their research, they found that the local economies around the National Monuments never deflated but improved. Jobs went up 8.5% and the number of businesses grew 10%.

You may be wondering why any politi-

“

Where do you draw the line when deciding whether to protect natural beauty or allow communities to earn a living off the land?

”

cian would want to reduce the size of national monuments when confronted with this correlation between monuments and economic growth. Why would the previous Trump Administration shrink the size of the Bears Ears National Monument by 85% or the Grand-Staircase Escalante National Monument by 50%? Two words;

vironmentally important? To answer this question, I look at the recent protections enacted by the Biden Administration over federal land that was reduced by former president Trump. The Liberty Project and Earth Justice report that this land contained over 100,000 Native American archeological and cultural sites, some dating back to 12,000 B.C.E. Under the Trump rollbacks, many tribes reported looting, vandalism, and environmental destruction, saying the government gave in to corporate greed by allowing mining and drilling practices.

Though I just mentioned the differences regarding national monument protections from the Trump and Biden Administrations, it’s important to understand that

Publications Coordinator David Framel Photojournalism Instructor Japheth Storlie Photojournalism Editors Karma Elbadawy Lila Henningsen Photographers Wade Arntzen Syndey Brooks Mya Broughton Olivia Chapman Mckenna Foteh Isabella Goytia Lauren McGinnis Amelia Novotny Jules Weinstein Co-Editors-in-Chief Chris Lahoti Connor Smith Production Editor Leana Greene

“

While this drilling does stimulate the national economy, it also damaged the land beyond repair.

”

this hasn’t always been a partisan issue.

We saw that the Bush Administration repeatedly expanded federally protected land, most notably the 140,000 square miles of land around Hawaii and the National Park Centennial Initiative in 2006. It shouldn’t be a partisan issue when it comes to preserving the environment and protecting culture.

I don’t see any reason why the United States government should be reducing the land federally protected at National Monuments. Not only do we oil drilling. While these areas are rich in improve the local economies of lands natural beauty, they all tend to have enorsurrounding these sites, but we preserve mous amounts of oil. While this drilling the natural wilderness of the United States does stimulate the national economy, it and Native American culture. If anything, also damaged the land beyond repair, dePresident Biden and the rest of the United stroying some of what little natural beauty States government should continue to exthe world has left. pand federally protected land. Our country In all honestly, it feels weird associating should not give in to lobbyists representnational monuments with the economy, ing oil drilling, logging, or commercial when the point of these places is to protect fishing; instead, we should enjoy the nature and preserve culture. So, why is natural beauty surrounding us and protect protecting these areas so culturally and en- the nation for the next generation.

Opinions Editor Jazzmin Duncan Copy Editor Lily O’Gorman Sports Editor Cory Kardesch Social Media Coordinator Estefania Lopez-Salas Staff Writers Gabriel Oderich Morgan Herod Jalynn Woolley Isabel O’Gorman Yana Sharma Jake Berlin Kate Freeman Campbell Richardson Raigan Clay

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 2021

Opinions ∙ Page 9

Opinions The U.S. mishandles the Haitian immigration crisis CAMPBELL RICHARDSON Staff Writer The recent immigration crises have demonstrated the very flawed United States immigration System; namely, the US has broken international standards for processing asylum seekers.

In order to claim asylum status, one must be within the country. One cannot try to claim asylum status at an embassy or other foreign office, so instead of processing these claims through courts, most have been either deported or kept in detention camps with poor treatment. This problem is not new. Haitian refugees are simply the newest case.

This issue in the US immigration system

Haitian migrants are being subjected to questionable treatment at the US border. Photo courtesy of the Texas Tribune.

could be at least partially fixed by spending money to improve asylum courts to be able to process claims faster and in accordance with international standards.

In the case of Haitian immigrants, most have come seeking asylum in the United States, and for good reasons. Over the last decade there have been two major earthquakes that have displaced many Haitians.

More recently this year, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in his home by a group of foreign mercenaries. Taking advantage of the current power vacuum that resulted, many local gangs took over neighborhoods. Haiti has the highest rates of poverty and income inequality; more than half of the Haitian population lives in poverty. Many of the countries they have previously tried to settle in have been less than hospitable. There are still many racial tensions between European Hispanics and Black Haitians that have led to harassment of Haitians in Latin America. For them, the United States is their only real hope.

A study done by the National Bureau found that, on average, American wages rise due to immigration. The only exception to this trend is high school dropouts and former immigrants, whose wages experience a decrease around 1-2%.

This, of course, is a negative; however, the disparity can be accounted for with better welfare programs funded by new economic growth. Immigration has also been shown to lead to a multitude of other positive benefits, including but not limited to a larger government budget, a more educated and skilled workforce, and higher economic productivity.

Another recent case of an immigration crisis has been the influx of Afghan refugees. Following the fall of Kabul and the end of its US occupation, many Afghans have tried to make their way to America.

The US owes the people of Afghanistan, especially those who have risked their lives to help the US against the Taliban.

HOT TAK ES with Jazzmin Duncan

Going test-optional was a decision for money to take. For the ACT, it's $60, or colleges that was long overdue. Because nearly $100 if you sign up late. This isn’t of coronavirus, most colleges and universomething that can fit into the budget sities across America have decided to no of the average lower-class family. The longer require the submission of ACT tests themselves aren’t attainable for or SAT scores. This decision has made many people, let alone the test prep many college admissions much more accessible students need. Wealthier students undergo for lower-income students. While I untutoring and test prep hours, all paid for, derstand that this has made college more while students who can’t afford such luxuselective, I don’t see why that is bad. ries are left to fend for themselves. Also, The number of applications skyrocketed morally, putting a price tag on someone’s last year due in the shift to test-optional. educational future doesn’t seem very cool This means to me. thousands of Taking the tests more applicants out of the equafor a limited tion in admissions number of spots. allows for a more For example, holistic reviewing Harvard Univerof each applicasity’s acceptance tion, which many rate dropped schools are claimfrom 5.8% in ing to do now. the 2017-18 A student who admissions got a low ACT cycle to 3.43% or SAT score but in 2020-21. has impressive For an already extracurriculars selective school, and accomplishthat’s a considments may have erable drop. We missed out on can assume that Thousands of schools across the United Staates, even applying to the decrease in have changed their requirements for test score his or her dream acceptances is reporting. Most schools still require letters of school because partially due recommendation and personal essays, but sub- the student didn’t to an increased mittting test scores in fully optional. Photo cour- want to send in a number of appli- tesy of Galin Education. test score. cants. Although Going testcolleges and universities have become optional somewhat evens the playing field increasingly more competitive over this when it comes to college admissions. It past cycle, this isn’t bad. allows students who can’t afford to take Going test-optional opened the doors the test, and even those who aren’t great of higher education to lower-income test-takers, to be reviewed with only the students. Both the ACT and SAT cost good things highlighted.

The Lily Pad with Lily O’Gorman Between rampant wildfires, deadly mudslides, frequent earthquakes, invasive giant hornets, and consistent drought, it seems like California can’t catch a break from Mother Nature’s unrelenting antics.

But we haven’t necessarily been treating her well either.

With that promising introductory sentence, I bet you’ll never guess where this month’s major environmental headliner took place. Welcome to this issue’s installment of “The Lily Pad,” where I, Lily, fill you in on pressing environmental news stories and offer commentary on ways to address the issues we face. This month I’m highlighting Southern California’s historic October 3 oil spill and give you the details: discussing its causes, explaining its effects, and considering ways to make this oil spill California’s last.

Now down to business. On October 3, a conservatively estimated 3,000 barrels or 126,000 gallons of crude oil spilled from an undersea pipeline off the coast of

Southern California.

“Well, what happened?” you may ask.

Or, to put it plainly, “Whose fault is this?”

That’s a great question, reader! Pat yourself on the back. But don’t get too excited because we don’t really have an answer.

Here’s what we do know: The oil rig itself is owed by Beta Offshore, a regional branch of the larger Houston-based Amplify Energy Corporation. (Yes, I said Houston-based.) But as of the current date (October 8) the direct cause is still up for question. The leading theory presents an anchor as the perpetrator, stating that the snag of said anchor across the pipeline caused a 13-inch crack. Others suggest that the crack is not consistent with an anchor, arguing that internal pressures caused the spill. Both arguments lack substantial evidence, and officials continue investigations to determine whether a change of regulation, civil penalties, or criminal charges are in order.

Regardless of the direct culprit, environ-

mentalists and politicians across the country see this oil spill as yet another casualty in the list of disasters caused by offshore drilling. And I agree. California Democratic Reps. Ted Lieu and Julia Brownley encapsulate the push for a drilling ban, stating, “It’s time to put an end to offshore drilling in California. Our environment and our communities depend on it.”

Some organizations like The Center for Biological Diversity have taken an even stronger position and “filed a notice of intent… to sue the Biden Administration if it does not immediately reexamine the offshore oil industry’s threat to California endangered species and their habitats.”

Although seemingly dramatic, the suit speaks to the failures of past administrations – most notably the Trump Administration ¬– to address the potential risk for disaster.

In 2017, the Trump Administration conducted an Endangered Species Act analysis to determine the risk of drilling

off the California coast. In its analysis it was determined that a California oil spill was highly improbable, and in the event that one occurred, it would likely be limited to 8,400 gallons. This month’s oil spill, as argued in The Center for Biological Diversity’s letter, demonstrates the detrimental inaccuracy of the previous administration’s report as it exceeded the predicted amount of oil by a factor of 17.

In my opinion, this disaster is a call for action. At what cost will we continue to allow offshore drilling to destroy our environment? In a statement, California Coastal Commission Chair Steve Padilla said, “Once again we are seeing a horrifying disaster unfolding off our coast with the heartbreaking images of blackened beaches and wetlands, oil slicked birds and fish floating in a sheen of oil. Sadly, the images of these kinds of environmental tragedies will continue until we get drilling and oil production out of the ocean.”

Sports∙ Page 10

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Sports Your Monthly Nationally-ranked EHS girls cross country team Sports Brief continues to work toward SPC championship Boys Volleyball “After our win against Kinkaid, we are number one in South Zone. No South Zone team has ever won the title, but we think that we have a chance to make a run in the SPC Tournament.”

-Coach Hofmeister

Ranked #1 in SPC Swept Kinkaid 3-0 in sets

RECORD:

8-2

*As of October 22. 2021

Field Hockey

KATE FREEMAN Staff Writer

In what only can be described as a herculean effort this year, the EHS girls cross country team has taken the program to new heights, achieving national recognition as the sport continues to grow in performance. According to Athletic. net and Head Coach Julius Michael, the girls are seventh in the state and fifty-sixth nationally.

Girls varsity cross country represented Episcopal at the Chili Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, Arkansas in early October. It is one of the biggest cross country meets in the country, where over 1,800 high school athletes competed.

The girls varsity team raced in the top girls division and performed remarkably well, finishing fifteenth out of nearly 50 teams. Despite the varsity team not being at full strength, the girls really stepped up.

Freshman Madison Morgan led the team with a fifteenth place finish out of roughly 400 girls in the top division. Her time of 18:42 over the challenging 5K course was the second best among all freshman at the meet. Ella Newman, Lucy Holden, Shepherd Gregg, and Asher Luengas rounded out a stellar team performance.

The team immediately began preparation for South Zone in Austin on Saturday, October 23 following their return to Houston. After that they will set their sights on bringing home an SPC Championship November 6.

The girls team has come far over the past four years. The team has progressed from “only running small SPC meets in and around Houston to running national out of state meets,” said Newman.

Despite only having six girls on the crosscountry team in 2018, the squad surprised the rest of the conference by finishing second at the SPC Championship. The following year, the

state.

girls were again runnerup at SPC. Last year the team was poised to bring EHS their first SPC Championship, but Covid-19 had other ideas, and SPC was cancelled. This season, the girls are united and determined to win a SPC Championship.

Coach Michael and his assistant coaches Andrew Lauer, Kyle Sanders, Lauren Smith, and Bree Shrader have put in countless hours to assist the team, most of those before the sun rises. Both the coaches’ and athletes’ hard work has built EHS into one of the best cross country programs in the

Junior Ella Marino and senior Mac Bechtol race side by side at the Woodlands in an effort to secure a win. Photo courtesy of Mrs. Durand.

“The season is going great! We have worked hard to rebuild our culture and style of play.

COVID interrupted growth but we rebounded and are looking forward to SPC.” -Coach Edmonds

Girls volleyball grows in potential through challenging wins

Chandler Black - 7 goals

Girls varsity volleyball, although a young team, has been competing extremely well in their recent games.

Ten seniors were lost from last year’s team, leaving three returners. On offense, the team is led by middles Farah Farooq and Morgan Perkins.

Farah leads the team in kills with 173 and Morgan is right behind her with 161.

On defense, Emma Poirot leads in digs with 235, and Ally Frailey has done a great job earning 204.

The setters are new to varsity but have done well running the quick tempo offense. Tiara Gordon has earned 325 assists, and Kara Thomas has dished out 234.

Meredith Herod - 6 goals

Jane Thomas - 7 goals

RECORD:

9-7-3 *As of October 25. 2021

Football “Although our record is not what we had hoped it to be and doesn’t reflect on our hard work, it’s been awesome seeing younger guys step up and progress.”

- Jake Lewis (‘22)

Beat St. Mark’s 28-21 Beau Edwards (‘22) committed to Air Force Academy

ESTEFANIA LOPEZ-SALAS Social Media Coordinator

petitive.”

Junior Olivia Chapman added, “I love having the opportunity to play a sport that I love with my friends every single day.

It’s like a break from the outside world.”

It’s safe to stay that this strong and hard-working group of girls has gotten closer because of this sport, and they do a great job in supporting each other through wins and losses, which is why they are so successful.

The varsity girls volleyball squad huddles during a timeout to refocus strategy and rotation. Photo courtesy of Mya Broughton.

What do the players say?

RECORD:

“This season has been challenging, but I think as a team we have handled it very well. This team is very close with each other and we share a lot of trust. We will continue to fight to be successful in SPC. Go Knights!”

2-6

“The season is going well so far! The girls team has been finishing strong and winning meets. We are training right now before we taper for our SPC championship meet.”

*As of October 25. 2021 The Episcopal Monthly Sports Brief by Sports Editor Cory Kardesch.

The Knights battled through a tough preseason to get ready for SPC play. At the beginning of October, the varsity girls were 15-11, and their one long-term goal was to continue to improve their skills and teamwork for the upcoming SPC championship.

Head Coach Amanda Watts said, “This young team has such great chemistry, and it has been so much fun to watch them grow and improve throughout the season. We have been able to scrimmage a lot during practices, which has helped us be even more com-

Tres Organ Football

Katarzyna Kwiatkowski Girls Cross Country

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Sports ∙ Page 11

Sports Why the Big 10 has the SEC beat in this college football season GABRIEL ODERICH Staff Writer The Big 10 is better than the SEC in football. There, I said it. It may seem absurd since the top two ranked teams on the AP Poll are SEC member schools, but when you really think about it, it’s true.

rankings aren’t everything.

The part that truly earns the Big 10 the crown of college football conferences is the fact that no one can truly say who will win the Big 10 Championship. Ohio State’s lackluster season has opened the door for Michigan, Penn State, Iowa, and arguably, Michigan State to be in conten-

The PGA returns to the Houston Open. Photo courtesy of Golf Digest.

The PGA and spectators make a return to the Houston Open at Memorial Park CORY KARDESCH Sports Editor

Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford gets sacked by Iowa defensive end, Zach VanValkenburg. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports.

While the SEC does have the top two teams in the poll, the conference lacks consistency, as those are its only two representatives in the top ten.

Conversely, the Big 10 has twice as many schools in the top 10 as the SEC, with two teams in the top 4. However,

tion.

The SEC only has two teams that have a real chance of winning their conference - Alabama and Georgia. This makes Big 10 football much more exciting to watch, as you really can’t say for sure what will wind up happening.

Memorial Park Municipal Golf Course, home to the annual Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Houston Open Tournament, is scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 11 through Sunday, November 14.

The stroke play tournament has a prize fund of $7 million, which Mexican golfer Carlos Ortiz took home in 2020, the most recent Houston Open. Runners-up that year included golf sensations Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama, the winner of the 2021 Masters Tournament.

This year, the previous winners will make an appearance along with prodigies such as Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson.

The course, which has undergone $18.5 million in renovations for this annual tournament and the Houston public, is a 72-par, 7,432 yard challenge, presenting hilly obstacles and some water hazards.

The tournament will be the first PGA event open to spectators since the pandemic, allowing 2,000 fans per day. With hundreds of players, officials, fans, and media crews expected to attend the tournament, one can expect congestion and closure in the Memorial Park area as PGA golf returns to Houston.

Episcopal Athlete Spotlight JAKE BERLIN Staff Writer John Bruton, a senior on the cross country team this year, has proven himself to be an extremely skilled athlete throughout his four years of competing as a runner at Episcopal.

Since beginning in the program his freshman year, John has received the MVP award two times, showing that he is a crucial member to the team. While

take the sport seriously, John was forced to improve his sleep schedule and adapt to morning practices and recover properly.

When asked how he is able to stay motivated and dedicated, John claimed, “I’m a driven person; when I set my mind on something, I try hard to achieve, and that attitude translates in my running. I know I can get better, so I’m always working to reach my full potential.”

John’s attitude allows him to display a work ethic that carries him to the level of

LEANA GREENE Staff Writer Senior and four-year varsity volleyball athlete Morgan Perkins has committed to the University of Oklahoma to continue her academic and athletic career.

An athlete at heart, Morgan fell in love with volleyball the first year she began playing. Morgan has earned various awards: 2019 All Tournament Player

Morgan is more than an athlete; she aspires to pursue a medical career in biochemistry. After participating in Black Lives Matter, the movement is much more than racial equality for Morgan but equality of every religion, and not only equality but respect for the LGBTQ community.

In her free time, she enjoys anime, American cartoons, makeup, and hanging out with friends.

Two of the main reasons Morgan was

John Bruton, number 370, competes in a Magnolia cross country meet. Photo courtesy of John Bruton. touring at Episcopal as a middle schooler, John recognized Coach Julius Michael as an extremely charismatic and welcoming person, so he was convinced to come out and run with the team as an eighth grader.

He experienced struggles at first and had to push himself to overcome injuries, but he eventually excelled in his running and fell in love with the sport. As he began to

success as a runner that he has achieved.

John has realized a great amount of success as a runner, but he is most proud of his ability to be a role model for the younger cross country runners and provide them with someone to look up to.

As of now, John has no plans to run in college but hopes to continue his passion for running recreationally or in club.

Captain of the EHS varsity girls volleyball team, Morgan Perkins encourages teammates during home action. Photo courtesy of Morgan Perkins.

National team, All American, #1 Team in the Country 2019, EHS All Tournament Houston Open, #1 Hitting Percentage SPC, and 2020 Preseason Middle of the Year, along with many more.

drawn to Oklahoma was for the athletic environment, specifically the volleyball and football programs. Morgan plans to play pro volleyball, possibly for the French team.

Knight Shift ∙ Page 12

The Knight Times ∙ October 2021

Speaks Out

Resident Jester

“What costume will you be wearing for Halloween?”

Cartoon by Lily O’Gorman.

PhotoJ Photo of the Month MCKEE HARMON “Witch”

MADDIE GONZALES “Unicorn”

TIARA GORDON “Kool Aid Man”

ALECK CAMACHO “Batman”

During Challenger Football, the EHS community hosts children with disabilities during a fun-filled evening of football, cheerleading, face painting, and friendship.

Photo by Amelia Novotny.

SPOOKY HALLOWEEN Crossword Puzzle CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1

2 3

4

5

MAKAI WONG “Lifeguard”

Crossword Puzzle

ALYSSA WALL “SpongeBob”

6 9

7

8

1

2 3

10

4

5

11

12

6

7

8

9

13

10

14

CHARLOTTE POND “Butterfly”

ZACH KOPEL “Cinderella”

11

12

13

Down: 1.

2.

3.

6.

14

Where the dead reside October 31st They howl at the moon DOWN: Another word for frightening

1.

Down:

Where the dead reside

7. Lives in a patch October 31 reside 1.2. Where the dead 12. Trick or ______?

They howl at the moon 2.3. October 31st 13. Something a ghost saysat the word for frightening 3.6.

They Another howl moon

Lives in aforpatch 6.7. Another word frightening

AUSTIN UNDERWOOD “Vector”

KIERA ADZGERY “Hannah Montana”

or ________ 7.12. Lives Trick in a patch 13. Trick or Something 12. ______? a ghost says 13. Something a ghost says

Across:

4. Count Dracula 5. How a witch gets around 8. She wears a pointy hat ACROSS: 9.

What do you wear?

4.

Count Across:

Dracula

10.

11.

14.

a web 9.A _______ What dospins you wear?

10. A ______ spins a web 5. a witch gets around 4.How Count Dracula 11. ofwears 213 abones 8. Made pointy hataround 5.SheHow a witch gets 14. kettle 9. A large dowears you wear?

8.What She a pointy hat

Made of 213spins bonesa web 10.

A ______ A large kettle 11.

Made of 213 bones 14. A large kettle