Kingwood Park Times, February 2025

Kingwood Park TIMES

Brown tackles safety, success in new role

In January, Dr. Roger Brown officially became the district’s superintendent.

FAST FACTS

High school: Norman HS in Norman, Okla.

College: University of Oklahoma (bachelors and masters); Nova Southeastern University (doctorate).

Favorite high school memory: Hanging out at drive-ins with friends.

Favorite food: Salmon

Favorite book: Anything history related. Currently reading a book on Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Johnson.

Favorite college team: Oklahoma Sooners

Favorite TV show: Anything on the History Channel.

Favorite movie:

Blue Hawaii (a 1961 movie starring Elvis Presley)

Dream vacation: Anywhere with a beach and no snow.

Fallon Head Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Roger Brown was named superintendent of Humble

ISD on Jan. 8 after eight months serving as the district’s interim superintendent. Previously, he served the district as associate superintendent over special services from 2014 through 2017, before being named deputy superintendent in 2017.

“I’m just very blessed to be part of Humble ISD and to serve in the district that has strong student and staff dedication to excellence,” Brown said. “I love this community and the way we’re engaged and supportive.”

Brown replaces Elizabeth Fagen, whose contract was terminated on Nov. 26. Fagen had been superintendent since 2016.

With Brown in charge, his priorities as superintendent of Humble ISD include increasing safety of campuses and improving the district’s state ratings by increasing the number of students who become “College, Career and Military Readiness certified,” a distinction set up by the TEA.

At the beginning of this school year, EVOLVE weapon detectors were installed at Turner Stadium. Every fan had to walk through the detectors before entering the stadium. Kingwood Park, like all high schools in the district, will soon require students to walk through EVOLVE weapon detectors to get into the building each day.

“Well, you know, safety is always at the top of the list,” Brown said. “We are moving to enhance our facilities as well like [Turner Stadium] at our

high schools. And so, that’s always a top priority.”

In addition, improving state ratings will involve trying to get every student to graduate CCMR certified. Some factors taken into consideration for becoming CCMR certified are results on AP tests, EOC scores and industry-based certifications.

“We get our scores and we look at our data that comes in every summer,” Brown said. “And so based on that we plan a district improvement plan and campus improvement plans focused on making sure that we’re providing students the best opportunity to be successful.”

That initiative has already begun. During the first week of the semester, all Kingwood Park students were given a checklist during advisory on what is required to become CCMR certified.

“It’s always been something we’ve done, something the district’s done, but now we’re just looking at it a little more targeted into making sure all those things

line up to make our students successful,” principal Wes Solomon said.

Another initiative that Brown is already seeing improvement from is improved attendance numbers.

Last year, the district averaged 92% daily attendance. Since attendance was tied back to final exam exemptions this year, the average daily attendance is up to 94%. The new rules stated students couldn’t miss more than four days of a class and still exempt that final.

Part of the funding from the state is tied to attendance.

“If this trend continues, this semester, we expect to receive about an additional $3.5 million due to attendance, so that’s really good,” Brown said.

Brown is the president of Lake Houston Rotary, a board member of the Lake Houston Chamber and Northeast Hospital Authority. He attends and speaks at retired teacher meetings, school foundation meetings and more. He also attended the school musical “Bar-

num” opening night.

“He’s very personable. He wants to get to know you, he’s very accessible,” Solomon said. “I think the biggest impact he’s had so far, as a superintendent, is just providing direction, which direction we’re moving.”

Brown has a clear vision for the district. He has spent years as an active member of the community, and he has four current grandchildren attending school in Humble ISD.

With political debates about public education making headlines in Texas and nationwide, Brown encourages people to reach out if there are concerns or questions about what experiences their child will get in Humble ISD.

“Give me a call,” Brown said. “Let’s go visit a school or attend a school activity and see firsthand the great work of our students and staff, and the proof is actually witnessing the performance of our kids and our teachers.”

Dr. Roger Brown begins his new role as Humble ISD superintendent with a focus on safety and improving the district’s state ratings. Photo courtesy of Humble ISD.

GOLDEN SPIRIT

The varsity cheer team wins the program’s first state title in the UIL Spirit COED competition.

By Paisley Thomas Staff Writer

Brittni Sharp, head varsity cheer coach, didn’t expect her team to win the UIL Spirit COED State Championship on Jan. 16.

“I by no means thought that we would be first, not because I didn’t think they deserved it, but because there’s always something in the cheer world,” said Sharp, who is in only her second year as cheer coach but cheered for six years prior to teaching. “You can put out an amazing routine and kill it, put your all on that mat and the judges still might not like your routine as much as another team.”

Sharp said the tensions were high as the rankings were announced. Once Sharp realized that the announcers had reached the Top 5 and Kingwood Park wasn’t called, she worried they hadn’t placed at all.

“I was so nervous,” she said. “I was like, it’s either we’re 11th and we don’t place or we’re first place and we are state champions of the

UIL competition. In my mind, I’m like, ‘This just doesn’t happen,’ you know? I mean, obviously it does for people, but there’s always something that’s going to get in the way.”

So when Kingwood Park was called for first place, Sharp could not believe it.

“I don’t even remember it,” she said. “It was just insane. So many emotions. I was so proud of them, because they just wanted it. They went out there and they took it.

“Cheer is really subjective. The other teams were amazing too. So the fact that we put it out there, we hit a great routine. The judges liked the routine. Everything came together. The stars aligned, and this team just earned that first place. And I don’t know, it’s such an overwhelming feeling.”

Throughout the past year, Sharp had been trying to grow the team and their experience as much as possible.

“Last year, we had several girls who had never even competed in cheer before ever,” Sharp said. “So

Cheerleaders Riley Dougherty, Maddy Miranda, Haley Tappen and Haylee Palomarez pose with their first place trophy after winning the UIL Spirit COED State Championship. Photo courtesy of Brittni Sharp.

Riley Dougherty sits on Mark Gonzalez’s shoulder as they celebrate their first place cheer win. Photo courtesy of Brittni Sharp.

it was like we were just building from the ground up.”

Sharp said the reason she thinks they were able to win the way they did was because of the extra addition of the six boys on the team and how well they worked with the 26 girls.

cheer.”

Like Sharp, Kee also thought during the award ceremony that the team might have not even placed.

“So I think the boys have done a ton,” Sharp said. “It’s awesome having them bring up the vibes. They really make a more positive environment, so the boys made a big difference.”

Junior Carson Kee started cheering after he was invited to the cheer event “Bring a boy to practice.” Kee liked cheering more than he expected and officially joined the team. He has most loved the friendships he has gained.

“I had known a lot of the girls that were in cheer, but I became better friends with them,” Kee said. “And I also became better friends with the guys that were also in

“It got down to second place and they still didn’t call us,” Kee said. “So it was like, ‘Did we even place?’”

The team defeated Burleson by .67 to win the first school cheer state title and the first Humble ISD school to win a UIL State Spirit Championship.

Kee then will never forget the reaction of the guys and girls when Kingwood Park’s name was called as State Champions.

“I thought it was really funny how all the guys were really really excited and super hyped, and then the girls just started bawling,” Kee said. “It was a great experience.”

Course selection highlights changes coming next fall

Fallon Head Editor-in-Chief

Course selection

happens every January, with freshmen through juniors getting their first opportunity to select what classes they want to take during the next school year. On Jan. 13, teachers spent each class period advising students on what their options were for courses.

During course selection, students heard about changes in the course offerings for next year, including updates to advanced biology, government and economics, as well as senior-year AVID.

AP Biology is switching to OnRamps Biology for the 2025-26 school year.

“Last year was an eyeopening experience for me with AP because I had a handful of kids, I would say five or six who worked authentically, genuinely hard in AP Bio and earned an A or B in this class,” said Kristen Lynam, who has taught AP Bio for 11 years.

“And had I been an actual college professor, they would have earned college credit hands down and made an A or B, and they didn’t [due to the AP test].”

Biology was the last advanced science class that was still offered on campus as an AP course. For students to earn college credit for AP classes, they typically need to score at least a 3 on the exam. Some schools require a 4 or 5.

Lynam said switching to OnRamps Biology will help more students earn college credit. While she is not completely sure what the course will look like, she said retests will be allowed in some form, and she will organize the course’s format and plan over the summer after a training from UT.

“I’m going to do my best to make sure that the content is presented, and I can help guide them through the course so that they can master this basic fundamental biology course that would allow them to skip it in college and move on,” Lynam said.

The switch to OnRamps excites and worries students.

“I think it is a positive change because I was leaning more towards the Dual Credit/OnRamps classes,”

junior Emily Le said. “And I noticed a lot of complaints from other people [about

AP Bio]. They said they felt like that class was really difficult. I am worried about [OnRamps] because it’s new. I don’t really know what to expect, but we’ll see.”

Other changes coming include senior year AVID will now be dual credit through San Jacinto College. The first semester will be focused on college applications, essays and scholarships, and the second semester will be an education course.

Dual Credit Government is also switching to OnRamps Civics to accompany OnRamps Microeconomics. Each will remain one semester classes.

For the past two years, students who took Dual Credit Government and Econ would take an OnRamps class through UT one semester and take a dual credit course through San Jac the other semester. Now, both semester courses will be through UT.

“The district has done dual credit with San Jacinto, and it’s been a positive relationship. However, in an effort to get some more continuity, we’re switching to OnRamps Civics,”

Government teacher Jess White said. If students take Government or Economics over the summer, it will still be through San Jac. If students wish to take Gov and Econ over the school year, they still have the choice between AP and OnRamps. The main change will be the role of the teacher. In dual credit, the course is designed and controlled by the high school teacher. In OnRamps, it’s led by a college professor with the high

school teacher serving as a facilitator.

“Honestly either way, AP or OnRamps, especially with knowing who the two teachers are as of now, both are outstanding courses and I think all kids are going to learn something,” said Eric Coovert, who teaches US History and AP European History. “It’s just going to be one of those things where it’s not dual credit anymore, so it’s going to be a little bit interesting to see how students react.”

Biology teacher Kristen Lynam talks with students on course selection day about their options for next fall. Lynam announced AP Biology will no longer be taught. The class will now be OnRamps Biology. Photo by Jordan Hutchinson.

Debottis wins Teacher of the Year

By Paisley Thomas Staff Writer

Cassandra Debottis, who teaches Advanced Biology and Pathophysiology, was named the campus Teacher of the Year. In 13 years of teaching, Debottis has been a finalist for Teacher of the Year four times.

“My previous school at Klein Oak, I made it to the top two,” said Debottis, who is in her fourth year at Kingwood Park. “And then here, I think this is the only time I knew I was in the top two.”

Debottis got the news that she had officially won Teacher of the Year on Thursday morning. Her husband Sean Debottis received the news on Wednesday so that he and their two little girls Evelyn and Bella Debottis could surprise their mom at school on the day of the announcement. Cassandra Debottis said it was perfect to have her family at the celebration because they always support her and what she does for the school.

“It was very exciting,” Debottis said. “I think it’s important, because as a teacher we work outside of school a lot to prepare.”

The drum line and Silver Stars led the celebration throughout the halls while students and faculty cheered for Debottis.

“My husband thought it was great,” Debottis said. “He loved the drums. He loved the energy that our school brought. The little girls are very shy, so for them it was a little bit intimidating. But I think they thought it was really cool.”

Sean Debottis said it was amazing to see his wife be voted by her colleagues for Teacher of the Year.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Sean Debottis said. “Mrs. Debottis brings it every single day and she works really, really hard. She knows that she is a good teacher and when everybody put that vote in, it made her feel really special.”

Debottis said she loves the way her students grasp information and how they’re always excited to learn and try new things.

“My teaching style is pretty unique,” she said. “I would say that

I enjoy giving my students visual and more hands-on experiences, especially in Biology.”

Sophomore Cali Collins was excited when she heard the announcement. Collins nominated Debottis after being in her class for Advanced Biology last year.

Debottis remains Collins’ favorite teacher.

“She’s very kind and under-

standing, and she will help you,” Collins said. “As long as you ask for help, she will help you with anything. I go to her for everything.”

Collins also said she loves the energy Debottis brings to her classes each day.

“She’s always encouraging,” Collins said. “She was never upset about anything.”

Teacher of the Year finalists

Marissa Manfred, English Kristen Lynam, science Tonya Smith, CTE Evan Farmer, orchestra Sydney Caldwell, history/AVID

Watch a video to meet Debottis and all of the finalists.

Debottis credits much of her success to the atmosphere at Kingwood Park High School.

“You know, no matter what crazy ideas we come up with, our admin and our instructional coaches and other teachers, everybody’s so supportive of whatever’s going to be awesome for the kids,” Debottis said. “So I love that.”

* Tricia Darcy contributed to this story.

Standing alongside the Silver Stars, science teacher Cassandra Debottis cheers for the band as they perform for her in the Commons after she was named Teacher of the Year. Photo by Tricia Darcy.

Prior to the celebration parade, science teacher Cassandra Debottis smiles to students as her husband and daughters look at all the students gathering for the march through the halls. Photo by Tricia Darcy.

SNAKE

NAKE

Google game offers cure for senioritis

By Zachary Ford Staff Writer

Learning can be difficult and it can be hard to stay focused on one thing for an extended period of time.

This is what seniors Blake Lawson and Richard Beal felt last year in their chemistry class, and they needed something else to help alleviate their attention for just a little bit. They ended up discovering a game called Snake on Google.

After finding this game, they were not only able to focus better but they were also able to find a fun way to pass the time.

“[Richard and I] decided that if we play the game while we listen, we’d be able to concentrate and do better on our chemistry assignments,” Lawson said. “So we found the game Snake. I began playing Snake while listening, and it helped me out during chemistry.”

This was fun for a little bit, but Lawson felt like the original version was too easy and he wanted to challenge himself more by adjusting the settings. He ended up changing the map to the smallest size and also made it so walls start to appear after every two apples your snake eats. If your snake runs into any of the walls, the snake dies. Since Lawson added these restrictions in the game and shared the idea with classmates, it grew in popularity. In a matter of time, so many players were playing and joining the Snake community that Lawson and Beal decided

a leaderboard was needed.

“It really has just become this whole community,” Lawson said. “Anyone can join and anyone can compete. Everyone enjoys it and it’s fun. I think the competition aspect really motivates people and drives the scores up on the leaderboard.”

Lawson and Beal realized that this could be a competition and they decided to add different levels to the leaderboard they made on English teacher Kimberly Villegas’ whiteboard.

between 0-9) and the highest level is “Hall of Fame” (which is any score over 45).

The top competitors on the board remain Lawson and Beal.

“Everyone has their own starting point, but every single person has the potential to get that Hall of Fame point.”

- Richard Beal,

senior

Villegas first saw the leaderboard and thought it may be just a distraction, but after trying it out for herself she understood what all the hype was about.

their work turned into me, I mean, I find it kind of funny.”

This game has become a staple of the English classroom. It helps keep students engaged and looking forward to going to class. One of the founders has his own two-hour routine he does everyday when he gets home. This routine is intended to help him learn the secrets within the game. These “secrets” are things such as different algorithms, the speed on which you click the buttons and many other aspects.

“Every day after school before I even do my homework or anything like that, I set a timer for two hours and I practice,” Beal said. “I practice (Snake) maneuvers. I watch videos. Sometimes I’ll even record myself so I can watch my film back. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point, but usually a solid two hours a night is enough for me to improve my skills and just be able to achieve those little milestones.”

Whether students are using this game for a source of entertainment, a distraction, or for a way to help them pay attention, it has become a signature part of dual credit English class.

Beal said if you try out the game for yourself, don’t be discouraged by a slow and frustrating start.

Each level is considered a sport level. The lowest level is “Cut” (which is a score

“At first I was pretty judgmental of [the game],” Villegas recalls. “But then I gave it a go and found out that it is really obsessive. I spent about 30 minutes on it. Couldn’t get past 13, which is embarrassing. But as long as my students are still getting

“This isn’t a game where it just clicks automatically and you just get it,” Beal said. “It really is a slow progression. So don’t get discouraged if you have days that are off, you can learn through those mistakes. Everyone has their own starting point, but every single person has the potential to get to that Hall of Fame point.”

Seniors Richard Beal and Blake Lawson showcase the Snake leaderboard during one of its early days of competition. Photo by Zachary Ford.

Amadi shines on stage

Jack Coffey Staff Writer

Acting and the art of theater – whether as a hobby or a profession – serves as a productive outlet for creativity and a way to make meaningful connections with like-minded individuals. The same could not be truer for junior and star of the “Barnum” musical Amara Amadi.

“Amara is really lovely,” said Brandi Perkins, theater teacher. “She’s super talented, she takes notes, she takes directions, she’s grown so much over the course of this production. She really commands the stage when she enters, all the attention shifts her way as it should. I’m so very glad she’s a junior and we have a whole ‘nother year to work with her.”

Amadi has been a performer her whole life, with the arts being involved in some of her most formative memories.

“One of my earliest memories was being cast as Ms. Hannigan in ‘Annie’ in third grade and going to Goodwill with my mom to pick out costumes and just having so much fun,” Amadi said. “I truly love being on stage.”

Amadi joined Kingwood Park’s Black Cat Theatre in her freshman year, performing as the “Sour Kangaroo” in “Seussical.” Since then, Amadi has found community and opportunity within the department no matter what “drama” may be involved.

“It’s just so cool seeing everyone come together, and we’re all just so close even if we have tension between us,” she said. “We can put that aside for one show. And it really helped me grow professionally and build empathy and compassion and prepared me for the real world.”

Since she started singing and acting at such a young age, the two skills seem to have become interchangeable for her. But if she was forced to continue with one over the other, Amadi said she prefers music.

“They go hand in hand,”

Amadi said. “I mean, they’re both equally challenging. But I would probably say I prefer singing just because of the music aspect, like I love learning about music theory and, you know, really dissecting the music; but I feel like truly I love them equally.”

That is why Amadi is unsure about in which direction her future will unfold, going forward with a white collar career or chasing the performer’s life.

“I’m leaning toward Trinity University in San Antonio,”

Amadi said. “ I really enjoy the liberal arts education and it’s a prestigious school,” Amadi said.

“I really think I could grow there and maybe become a lawyer going into family law or continuing my passion of becoming, you know, something on stage.”

Getting on stage and acting in front of hundreds of people can be a tough task for anyone, even those with immense talent and experience. Amadi said the most challenging moment of being on stage is just finding the confidence when the curtain rises.

“I think a lot of performers, even the great ones, really struggle with what their mind tells

Barnum Cast Barnum Cast

Viktor Cruz - P.T Barnum

Amara Amadi - Chairy Barnum

Sarah Orth - Joice Heth, ensemble

Eliza McCrary - Tom Thumb, middle school ensemble

Jake Eitreim - Julius Goldschmidt, ensemble

Madelyn Haynes - Jenny Lind

Grace Potter - Blue Singer, ensemble

Charles Meaux - James A. Bailey, ensemble

Emerson Harris, Charlotte TerellRingmasters

Samantha Requena - Chester Lyman, ensemble

Olivia Brenner - Amos Scudder, ensemble

Amy Helton - Sherwood Stratton, ensemble

Olivia Futerfas - Mrs. Stratton, ensemble

Valentina Garibay-Arroyo Wilton, ensemble

Mackenzie Wilkey - Edgar Templeton, ensemble

A.J Smith - Humbert Morrisey, ensemble

them and having the conviction to be there and be who you are and do what you can,” Amadi said. “Because you can rehearse as many times as you want in your room, but it’s really about just going on stage and shining.”

For 10 weeks, Amadi focused her energy on bringing Chairy Barnum to life in the theater department’s musical “Barnum.”

Chairy is the wife of the titular PT Barnum and deuteragonist.

“I just like how strong she is, like she is not afraid to speak her mind,” Amadi said. “She’s not one of those ingenues (French theatre lingo for damsel) that are like, ‘Oh, I’m waiting for my man to come get me.’ No, she does it herself and that’s what I really love about her.”

Amadi’s favorite moment of the show was the song “I Like Your Style,” a duet performed with fellow junior Viktor Cruz, who stars as P.T. Barnum.

“She’s a good actress,” Cruz said. “She has a great singing voice, which helps for the musical. She’s friends with everyone and is a very calming presence.”

The musical ran from Jan. 2326, with the theater department

Michelle Klanke - Second Woman, ensemble

Alexa Grubb - Concertmaster, ensemble

Maggie Spara - Barker, ensemble

Hallie Holden - Amy Beecher, ensemble

Cailey Castaneda - Lecturer, ensemble

Emmie Range - ensemble

Jesse Ramirez IV - ensemble

Liam Shynett - ensemble

Natalia Mena - middle school ensemble

Noble Terell - middle school ensemble

Melanie Perez - middle school ensemble

Val Diaz-Worley - middle school ensemble

working with the orchestra, band, choir and dance departments.

Throughout the weeks of rehearsal, Amadi loved perfoming and she embraced the characters as she learned more about them.

“Honestly, I used to be a Barnum hater, and now I think it’s just a wonderful story,” Amadi said. “Even though P.T. Barnum wasn’t the best person, it’s a story about showmanship and making the best of what you can. I think the story of Barnum resonates with a lot of people. It’s kind of fake it ‘til you make it, and I think that’s what you really need to do in life.”

Junior Amara Amadi performs a song with junior Viktor Cruz from “Barnum” during lunch on Jan. 23. Photo by Shelby Townsend.

Mascots bring smiles, school spirit

By Olivia Brenner Staff Writer

At a cheer clinic in August 2024 for kids ages 5-14, the KPark mascots Parker, Paws, and Katie got a chance to have fun with the kids and bring school spirit. The clinic is a favorite memory of the students in the mascot costumes; the little kids went crazy for the panther mascots and had a lot of fun. These students, freshman Bennie Sweet, sophomore Jeremiah Head, and junior Ella Yarbrough, have a goal of making people happy and spreading school spirit.

“I like to talk to people and just interact with people in general,” Head said about being a mascot. “It’s just a fun way to get to support the Kingwood Park culture.”

In addition to cheer and Silver Star clinics, the mascots make appearances at games, pep rallies and other school events. However, being a mascot isn’t always easy. Mascotting can be stressful and difficult, but it’s worth it to the students who get to bring smiles to games and events.

“It was a little stressful,” Yarbrough said about her first event as mascot. “It was still fun, but it was just a bit nerve-wracking.”

Yarbrough and Head also sometimes have difficulty finding people to interact with at games. Students and parents are often hesitant to wave hello or give a high five to the mascots at events, which presents a challenge for the students trying to spread school spirit.

“It’s difficult to find people to do anything with,” said Head. “You just have to stay focused and keep being consistent and persistent, and eventually you succeed.”

Hot temperatures in the costumes can be another difficult obstacle to overcome. The mascots have to wear ice vests inside the costume, use fans, and take regular breaks to avoid overheating.

“I wish people knew that,”

Sweet said. “I wouldn’t say it’s a sport, but it is an athletic credit for a reason. I feel like people don’t give it enough credit, it still is extremely tiring.”

Ultimately, the students just enjoy interacting with students and making other people happy by mascoting. They regularly attend

sports games, especially in the fall, and other events throughout the year.

Sweet, Head, and Yarbrough are all continuing to improve themselves as mascots. Some of their goals are to attend more events, be more in character, interact with more students and get better at

dances and skits. They continue in their shared goal of bolstering school spirit and bringing a positive attitude to events and the school.

“It’s fun to just get to express myself in a unique way,” Head said.

*Heather Horace contributed to this story.

Paws, played by Jeremiah Head, and Parker, played by Bennie Sweet, welcome students to a pep rally with high fives. Photo by Fallon Head.

Katie the Panther, played by Ella Yarbrough, welcomes students as they get breakfast at Senior Sunrise. Photo by Ella Hickman.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER

BFFs

By Soleil Cavallo Staff Writer

As

years pass, friendships remain intact

RONAN FLAHERTY WILL HARRIS

Juniors Will Harris and Ronan Flaherty have been friends since kindergarten. They met at Woodland Hills Elementary and realized how much they had in common.

“I think it was kinda just a coincidence,” Flaherty said. “We were in the same kindergarten

JEREMIAH HEAD COLE ANDERSON

Sophomores Jeremiah Head and Cole Anderson met when they were only 2 years old. They went to Pines Montessori up until 8th grade and then both chose to attend Kingwood Park.

“We both liked puzzles and sports, so we bonded over that,” Head said. “We did puzzles in class, and then sports during recess.”

Even though their interests have changed over the years, they manage to stay close and remember all their similarities.

“We don’t give up on each other,” Anderson said.

class, and on the first day we got sat together.”

They have always had a lot of similarities, but soccer is a big part of what’s kept them together. Flaherty taught Harris a lot about soccer during their middle school season to-

CHARLOTTE SWANSON CATE FOWLER

Sophomores Cate Fowler and Charlotte Swanson were practically born friends.

“Both our parents were pregnant, and her parents had just moved here from California,” Fowler said. “A tree had fallen on her house, and my parents took their chainsaw and went to fix it.”

Once Fowler and Swanson were born, they became inseparable. They went to the same elementary, middle and high school, which helped them remain so close for the past 16 years. There have been many highs and lows, but they always find a way to get around the problems.

“We never take anything too serious,” Swanson said.

gether, and it led them both to join soccer in high school and grow their bond.

“He’s very caring,” Harris said. “If I’m ever having a bad day, he’ll make sure to try to brighten it up.”

JUDE MARTINEZ ALEX HARTNETT

Seniors Alex Hartnett and Jude Martinez met at Elm Grove Elementary after bonding over being the new kids at school.

“Fifth grade was when I first moved here from Ohio; and about halfway through the school year, Jude moved from his old school to Elm Grove,” Hartnett said. “We were both the new kids, so we just kind of became friends.”

Their friendship has only grown and strengthened since then.

“He’s always there for a homie, he never dips on someone,” Martinez said. “He’s just a really caring guy.”

JILL BARKER LANEY MEDLIN

PEYTON BELCHER

Freshmen Jill Barker, Laney Medlin and Peyton Belcher have been an unbreakable trio since first grade. Barker and Medlin had gone to the same preschool, but their friendships really formed when Belcher moved from Oklahoma.

“We like most of the same things, and we agree on mostly everything,” Barker said.

They keep their friendship strong by lots of sleepovers and hanging out whenever possible.

“We don’t fight, and we’ve kinda made each other family,” Belcher said.

Lifelong medical challenges bond mother, daughter

Amy and Rachel Hamilton each deal with Osteogenesis

Imperfecta (OI), commonly called the brittle bone disease.

9-10-10: Right leg

11-03-10: Right leg

1-07-11: Left arm

10-06-14: Left leg (growth plate)

By Marie Wakefield Special Contributor

Amy Hamilton wasn’t with her newborn daughter

Rachel in the five days after she was born. Instead, Amy was recovering in the ICU at Kingwood Hospital, and her baby had been Life Flighted to Memorial Hermann after a “one-in-abillion” complication with the birth.

Both mother and child almost died, with Amy losing 40% of her blood and Rachel not breathing for the first 10 minutes of her life.

Amy Hamilton, who now oversees technology at Kingwood Park, had to rely on anecdotes and updates about her daughter from her husband and family who visited both hospitals.

One day during that time, she got an update that added to the stress.

“She has your eyes,” Amy Hamilton’s mother told her.

“What do you mean? Her eyes are bigger than mine.”

“No, she has your eyes.”

It was then that Amy Hamilton realized her daughter likely had Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), commonly called the brittle bone disease.

When diagnosing OI, discoloration in the sclerae (the white part of the eye) is a common sign of the condition. Amy was also born with the condition.

“If you look at our eyes, they’re not white,” Amy Hamilton said. “They’re like a grayish blue.”

OI is based on genetics, in which there is a 50/50 chance of passing it to offspring. For example,

7 months – right leg

8 months – right leg

10 months – left arm

4 years, 7 months – left leg (growth plate)

6 years, 1 month – left arm

6 years, 9 months – right leg/foot (stress fractures)

6 years, 11 months – right ankle/sprain

8 years, 6 months – left wrist (growth plate)

9 years, 4 months – left lower tibia

10 years, 10 months – right elbow dislocation(surgery)

11 years, 7 months – right pinky finger dislocated

Rachel’s mom Amy has it, but Rachel’s older sister does not. Amy inherited it from her father.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta causes imperfect or insufficient collagen, a material essential for bone health, to be formed. As a result, afflicted people have extremely brittle and breakable bones. There are several types of OI, the mildest being Type 1, which is what the Hamiltons have, and the most severe being Type 2. In most cases of the latter, the child dies soon after birth. Type 1 might be the mildest, but that doesn’t

mean affected people don’t face their own challenges.

“I’ve broken 12 bones,” said Rachel Hamilton, now a freshman at Kingwood Park. “I’ve broken my elbow, my pinkie finger, some places in my ankles, some places in my wrist. I think I broke behind my kneecap once.”

It didn’t help that Rachel was, as her mother described, “an Energizer baby.” Rachel was always climbing and getting into things. It was especially difficult at school, where Amy couldn’t keep an eye on her. As a result,

Amy Hamilton and OI

Through the years, Amy Hamilton has broken seven bones, suffered countless sprains and undergone two surgeries for dislocations.

Rachel’s preschool teachers were very cautious around her — sometimes too cautious.

“I was telling the teachers, don’t worry about it,” Amy said. “If she breaks, just call me. We’re okay… You can’t keep up with her. Just let her go. She falls and she breaks. It’s okay. This is part of who she is.”

Rachel remembers breaking her arm in kindergarten when she fell off the monkey bars. Her classmates were initially appalled, but they soon got used to Rachel breaking bones.

Amy and Rachel Hamilton enjoy being on the same campus this year with Amy Hamilton in charge of IT at Kingwood Park and Rachel being a freshman. Photo by Tricia Darcy.

Rachel Hamilton’s first four breaks

All of Rachel Hamilton’s broken bones

Amy Hamilton at 2 years old with a broken left arm. Photo submitted by Amy Hamilton.

“Everybody is low-key shocked at first; but like once it happens twice a year, nobody’s shocked anymore,” Rachel said. “It’s a normal thing to see me broken.”

When it came to sports, Rachel was limited in which ones she could pursue. She had to quit gymnastics because the extensive jumping required was giving her stress fractures in her feet as well as wrist pain. When it got to the point where she had to wear a brace, Rachel’s mother decided to make a change to more low-impact sports. She is currently on the golf team.

As for the possibility of the symptoms worsening or improving with age, Rachel’s seem to be stagnant. The last time Rachel broke a bone was Oct. 19, 2021.

“When I was younger, I broke a lot more bones; but that could be because I was younger then,” Rachel said. “Now, I’m a lot more careful with what I do. But I think it stays the same, because it’s in my bones. It’s not really changing.”

When one poor choice can lead to six months in a cast, Rachel has had to learn to make decisions while being conscious of her condition, even at the expense of things she’d like to do.

“I think it’s changed my outlook…I have to be really careful in doing stuff; and I have to make the right decisions, or I could end up hurt,” Rachel said. “I would also like to go adventure, and I really want to do fun stuff. [But] it’s not like I can always do it.”

Rodeo art students earn honors

By Preston Carpenter Staff Writer

It’s 7th period in Sarah Wyatt’s art class, and sophomore Piper

Robert sits with a paintbrush in hand. With every stroke of her brush, her art comes closer to completion. She’s in the zone and nothing can stop her from finishing her piece for the Humble ISD Rodeo Art Show.

“To me, art is an expression of my creativity,” Robert said. “It allows me to show who I am through a piece of work.”

Robert’s hard work and other students’ work was showcased during the Humble ISD Rodeo Art Show, which is an annual competition for Western-themed pieces. The art pieces submitted were displayed at the Humble Civic Center Jan. 28-29.

Thirty-four Kingwood Park students had their pieces on display.

Artwork that was submitted had the chance to receive awards such as Best of Show or be put up for auction. One piece that was chosen for the auction was freshman Cynthia Vital’s work titled “Mi Rancho.”

Vital’s art showed a cow standing on a ranch beside a little barn. Her piece was inspired by her visits to her father’s ranch in Mexico and the beauty it showed.

“I go to Mexico every year. Sometimes we would go to my dad’s ranch,

which doesn’t have any internet service or anything. So it’s really like you get to see life in El Rancho,” said Vital.

Vital’s piece was crafted using different types of coffee to create unique shades of brown. This was Vital’s first time using coffee in her artwork and was something she enjoyed while creating her piece.

With her piece going to auction, Vital felt determined to continue pursuing art in the future.

“I’m very grateful for this, It’s never happened to me before, it gives me more motivation to do art,” said Vital.

“I’ve always liked the idea of alien abductions specifically for cows because I think it’s really cute and silly,” said Robert.” I wanted to paint something that was lighthearted and fun.”

Another student whose work earned a major award was Robert. For Robert, this competition was special as it gave her a chance to express herself and her artwork.

Robert’s rodeo art piece was titled “Quick Vacay” and featured cows in a field becoming bathed in light as they are abducted by aliens. After being displayed, Robert’s piece was selected as a Finalist for Best in Show. For her piece, Robert used gouache, a highly pigmented and opaque paint, to create a contrast of dark and light colors. Robert’s piece was made to symbolize escape for both the cows getting taken to another world and for herself.

Sophomore Adriana Snider has created art since she was 10 years old. For her piece, titled “The Ant’s Boot,” Snider drew an ant farm inside of a cowboy boot with interior design details like bedrooms and restrooms. Snider used watercolor and acrylic paint to create her piece for the rodeo. Snider worked on her piece for two months with her efforts rewarding her with a Second Place ribbon.

“It was really cool to be patient and work on the little details of it,” said Snider.

Sophomore Precious Rohr’s piece titled “Just Buzzin’ Along” shows a bee hovering around a set of pastel flowers. Rohr took two months to create her piece using watercolor as her primary method of painting. Having an art piece displayed last year, Rohr was excited to find out that her piece was selected to go up for auction this year.

“I was actually very excited, It felt unreal like I was in a dream,” said Rohr.

Sophomore Precious Rhor works on a new art piece in class. Her Rodeo Art piece she painted was selected for auction in the Humble Education Foundation. Photo by Bishop Scott.

Artwork by Precious Rhor Artwork by Piper Robert

Artwork by Cynthia Vital

Artwork by Adriana Snider

Pushing through pain

Kendall and Courtney Daniel form unbreakable bond after near-fatal car crash.

By Sydney Ortiz Sports Editor

Courtney Daniel sat in third place at the 2023 Region

Meet with one throw left. She needed to throw a personal record to qualify in the shot put for the UIL State Championships as a sophomore.

Everything Courtney had worked for was one throw away. Her older sister Kendall knew the pressure mounting.

“You got this. Don’t care about anything else in this moment,” Kendall told Courtney. “You just work on you and don’t worry about anything else.”

Courtney did exactly what her sister told her. When her distance was announced and her ticket to State was punched, Kendall jumped up from her lawn chair.

Courtney screamed, “Let’s go!”

Kendall shouted, “Yes, ma’am!”

Courtney turned and stared at Kendall. They each walked toward the rope separating the fans from the throwing sector and embraced.

“I told you, you could do this,” Kendall told Courtney. “This is who you are.” * * *

That moment was huge for Courtney, but it was also big for Kendall. A year earlier, Courtney and Kendall’s relationship was completely different. Courtney was a freshman at Kingwood Park and Kendall was a senior at Liberty High School.

Starting in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, the sisters had a strained relationship. Everything for the Daniel family changed on April 11, 2022.

It was the day after Courtney’s 15th birthday, and she was staying up

late studying for an AP Human exam. Late into her studying, Courtney heard her mom call her name. Courtney ignored it, assuming her mom was mad at her for being up so late. But after her name was called again, Courtney detected an unfamiliar tone.

Still unsure of the true issue, Courtney walked slowly downstairs and acted as if she had just woken up. She wanted to avoid a lecture about sleep. When she spotted her mom, she immediately knew something was wrong. Her mom’s face was drained of color, and she was on the phone.

Her mother, Tracy Daniel, asked Courtney to check if she had Kendall’s phone location. Courtney didn’t think she did, but immediately checked anyway.

Courtney could hear her sister pleading to her mom over the phone to come

find her. Courtney had no idea what was going on as she searched for Kendall’s location. When she found it, she sent it to her parents via text.

“I knew that something was really wrong because you don’t just see your parents running out of the house just because,” Courtney said.

Courtney and her younger brother Cason were left home for the night with no clue as to what had happened to their older sister Kendall. Courtney had trouble sleeping that night. To pass time she Facetimed her oldest sister Kaylyn Daniel, who attended Texas A&M at the time, and made lunch for her younger brother for the next day.

In the middle of the night, Courtney received a call from her mom. Kendall had gotten into a near-fatal car crash after a truck with its lights off

Kendall Daniel cheers her younger sister Courtney on in the shot put at the 2023 UIL State Track & Field Championships. Photo courtesy of Courtney Daniel.

Kendall Daniel’s car sits in the middle of FM 1960 after she was in a near-fatal car accident on April 11, 2022. A truck with its headlights off drove into her lane and hit her. The truck fled the scene. Photo courtesy of Kendall Daniel.

crossed into Kendall’s path hitting her head on FM 1960. The truck fled the scene. First responders had to use the jaws of life to remove her from her crumpled vehicle. She was taken by LifeFlight to Memorial Hermann trauma center downtown.

After midnight that night, Courtney received a call from Kendall, who was about to go into surgery. Doctors gave her a few minutes to call loved ones. Neither Courtney nor Kendall knew if this would be the last time they ever talked.

“Having to have that phone call with my sister was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Courtney said. “It was such a light bulb moment for me in realizing what she truly meant to me.”

* * *

Kendall, who had been driving home from a softball game when the accident happened, survived surgery. She found out she had a compound fracture in her right ankle and femur, the strongest bone in the body. She also had a broken wrist and many other injuries.

The reality then started to set in for Kendall, and her mind focused on only one thing.

“Whatever I have to do, I am going back [to softball],” Kendall told her parents.

Kendall was hospitalized for a little less than a week. Immediately after she was released by the hospital, she arrived at her high school softball team’s game in her wheelchair. Kendall found a new purpose in softball by watching her teammates play.

“Sports have become, for her, a reason to live,”

Courtney said.

Kendall needed a wheelchair for about a month, and Courtney wheeled her everywhere. They formed an unbreakable bond that only strengthened over time.

The crash and rehab “really showed all of us, especially me, the importance of family and how fast everything can get taken away from you,” Courtney said. “We’re practically inseparable, and so, in a weird way, I’m thankful that it happened. Not because I like the pain that it caused my sister and everyone else, but because now we all have such a deep understanding of each other.”

* * *

Kendall had a hope of being able to walk

across the stage at her high school graduation. She worked hard through her rehab, allowing her to walk unassisted at her graduation for the first time.

She continued rehabbing in hopes of fulfilling her original plans to pitch at Tarleton State University, a Division I school in Stephenville. Kendall loved the weight room, and Courtney often tagged along. While Kendall worked on regaining strength and rehabbing, her enthusiasm for the weight room was contagious.

Courtney started to throw shot put and discus in seventh grade. Before she went on to set the seventh and eighth grade shot put records for Kingwood Middle School, Courtney

QUICK HITS WITH COURTNEY

Favorite Athlete: Olympic gold medalist in rugby Ilona Maher

If you could play a different sport what would it be: Wrestling

Favorite video game: Block blast or Watermelon

Favorite TV show: The Chosen

Favorite phone app: Instagram

Favorite food: Chicken

was known in her family for being good at everything she did.

Courtney joined the orchestra and became first chair cello.

Courtney started cooking and perfected the cinnamon roll, which she’d often sell to classmates and teachers.

She was a straight-A student in middle school, and she was Kingwood Middle School’s eighth grade Girls Athlete of the Year.

By the time Courtney started throwing shot put, Kendall believed Courtney was starting a new sport too late in life. Kendall and their older sister Kaylyn, who is now a mechanical engineer for

DANIEL continued on page 15

Favorite music artist: Zach Bryan and Lana del Ray

Favorite holiday: Christmas

Favorite sports team: Tennessee Volunteers

Go-to snack: Yoggies or flavored Cheez-It

Favorite book: Bible

Junior Courtney Daniel throws the shot put at the Area Meet. She won 1st place with a throw of 44-05. Photo by James Pham.

BRAD GARCIA

By Jordan Hutchinson Staff Photographer

Q: How would you describe the basketball season so far?

A: “I would say it’s arguably our best season in a couple years. I’m having a lot of fun and I’m trying to just like live the moment cause it’s my last year playing basketball as a senior.”

Q: What is it like with your team currently sitting first in the district?

A: “I mean we thought that everything was good and then we ended up losing at Dayton a couple nights ago, so we’re currently tied for first place and we just can’t let up from there.”

Q: Did you know that you were going to break the team’s 3-point record?

A: “Yes, I did because my coach informed me how close I was at the start of the year and I knew that I could hit it before districts.”

Q: Can you describe the game and/or how the team celebrated?

A: “I ended up breaking it during a tournament so like the only people who knew about it were the people there, like my parents and like the other parents there and my teammates, but we didn’t celebrate until after we won the game.”

Q: How long has shooting 3s been one of your specialties?

A: “Probably like ever since I’ve touched a basketball, I’ve always had a specialty of shooting the ball instead of like making plays. I was always just a spot up shooter since like third grade.”

Q: Where do you think you’ve shot the most of your three-pointers, like at your house, or the gym, or like someone else’s house?

A: “Definitely at my house because that’s just where it started, definitely in my driveway.”

Q: What was the best advice or tips you’ve gotten when it comes to shooting 3’s?

A: “Just look at the hooks of the net. ‘Aim small, miss small’ is what I was told.”

Q: Who is one of your favorite 3-point shooters?

A: “I would probably say Stephen Curry because he currently has the record in the NBA and I studied his jump shot whenever I was a young kid just to shoot like him.”

Q: What have you done maybe differently this season in basketball than in your past seasons?

A: “Definitely to drive more and create for my teammates.”

Q: What are your plans for next year and is basketball in the plans?

A: “I plan on going to college. I plan on doing intramural sports with like my friends at the university I will be attending.”

Martin sisters create special connection

By Pilar Retamales Staff Writer

Sophomore Rionna Martin and Senior Asia Martin have always had a strong bond on and off the court. Whether it’s trying to come up with game strategy together or figuring out where they are going to go eat after practice, they always have stuck together

The Martin sisters have played basketball on the same team their whole lives. They used to play against other kids at the basketball court at their church in their hometown of St. Louis, Mo.

“We grew up together, we are literally only 18 months apart,” Rionna said. “My mom treats us like we are twins. She dressed us alike growing up. We just always have been close, always have, and did everything together.”

Their grandfather used to coach them, and he played a big part in getting them both into playing together. Their parents have always pushed them to be the best they can be on the court. They have supported them

by finding training sessions for them, bought their equipment throughout the years and cheered them on from the bleachers.

“I feel [basketball] makes us closer, but it also does start arguments and friendly competitions,” Rionna said. “But we are always close even outside of playing basketball, and it does bring us joy playing together.”

Rionna and Asia also run track together, adding another element to the sibling competition they have always had. Every time they do something better than each other in track or basketball, they always try to outperform the other. When they first moved to Texas, one of the first things their parents bought for them was a basketball hoop. They played together for hours on end.

“I honestly don’t remember our relationship before basketball, but it has always been really great,” Asia said.

When Rionna first came to Kingwood Park as a freshman last year, she was grateful to have Asia by her side to guide her through high school. Rionna

Photo by Zachary Ford

Senior Asia Martin dishes the ball out to her sister Rionna Martin on the perimeter in a game against Dayton on Jan. 28. Photo by Leonardo Peña.

and Asia have been in the starting lineup the past two years, helping the team reach the playoffs.

“When they are both on the court it’s really fun to watch,” coach Andrew Cross said. “They are just so fast and athletic, you can just tell they enjoy playing together.”

Cross has seen their relationship grow the past two seasons. He said their communication has grown the most in the way they learned how to talk and communicate with each other on the court and put their arguments aside. He wants them to have fun in their last season together.

“You always want those kinds of kids in your program, they are so passionate about winning,” Cross said.“I can depend on them and their maturity on the court.”

When they are off the court, they always hang out – oftentimes going to the mall to spend time together. Rionna said Asia helps her with her classes and gives her advice, which has made things easier for Rionna. With the basketball season winding down and Asia graduating in May, Rionna is going to miss being with her sister on and off the court.

“I feel like I’m gonna have to depend on myself a lot and for the next two years when she’s not in high school with me,” Rionna said.

The Martin sisters are cherishing this last basketball season they are playing together. They are determined to make it their best yet.

“I’m gonna miss both of them,” Cross said. “Asia is the same age as my daughter, so it’s like she’s one of my kids as well. I’m gonna miss seeing Asia and Rionna’s connection. It’s tough. You get attached to a certain group. It’s gonna be a really special group to lose.”

Dedication, focus helps lift Daniels to sign with Tennessee Volunteers

DANIEL continued from page 13

Frito-Lay, both went on to receive softball scholarships. Courtney was already a strong third baseman by middle school. Her parents never doubted what she might do in track. By the end of middle school, Craig and Tracy Daniel knew anything was possible for Courtney as a thrower.

“She is extremely dedicated and extremely focused,” father Craig Daniel said. “No matter what it takes, even if she lacks sleep, she’s going to outwork everyone. She will not stop until she is the best of the best.”

The initial doubt from Kendall didn’t discourage Courtney. And as the two worked out together after Kendall’s accident, Courtney continued to make big strides her freshman and sophomore years. Kendall was awed.

“The biggest surprise for me is how fast she grew in her sport,” Kendall said.

That was why it was so significant when Kendall and Courtney embraced after she qualified for the State Meet as a sophomore.

The two had spent so much time together the previous year that Kendall no longer doubted Courtney in anything she set her mind to.

She saw Courtney practice through heat waves, rainstorms and freezes. She saw Courtney stay disciplined as she trained with a virtual trainer for her throwing events. The work ethic of Courtney became inspirational to Kendall.

“She’s taught me that the grind is always worth it,” Kendall said.

Kendall was no longer surprised when Courtney became nationally ranked for the shot put and discus or when she returned to the State Meet her junior year. Kendall celebrated with the entire family when Courtney reached her dream to throw at an SEC school after she signed with the University of Tennessee.

While Courtney was reaching her dreams, so was Kendall. Doctors had originally warned her that she may not walk again. She feared she may never run again. Just like Courtney, she put in the work and set a goal though. Even though she has needed multiple surgeries since the

accident, Kendall found her way back onto the field.

On Feb. 10, 2024, she pitched seven innings for Tarleton State. She threw a no-hitter eight days later and went on to pitch in 26 games as a redshirt freshman. Courtney cheered her on as often as she could, and the two still talk daily.

“Whenever you’re so close to someone like that, when you see their drive to get better, it makes you want to get better,” Courtney said. “What her getting better showed me was that your dreams are possible. Even when all of the odds are stacked against you, even when it almost literally seems impossible, you can succeed.”

Kendall, who transferred to pitch at Sam Houston State this year, will be an 11hour drive away from Courtney when she throws in Knoxville, Tenn., next year. The two remain adamant the distance will not break their bond. Courtney said Kendall is her rock.

“She’s kind of mine too,” Kendall said. “That’s kind of how we roll. We built a bond, we probably would have never had.

“We are each other’s hype women.”

Senior Courtney Daniel took her official visit to Tennessee this fall and committed soon after. Her dream was to compete in the SEC in college. Photo courtesy of Courtney Daniel.

Sophomore Rionna Martin and sister Asia wait for an inbounds pass against Dayton on Jan. 28. Photo by Leonardo Peña.

KICKIN’ IT

FORWARD

What is the best part of being a forward?

“The best part about being a forward is being involved in the goals, either scoring or assisting, and being able to play defense too while in a forward position.”

- Grant Jimerson, 12

“A lot of people think the best part of being a forward is scoring goals. I love scoring goals, but it’s nothing like the feeling of giving someone else an assist and assisting the goal they are scoring.”

- Madi Moffitt, 10

MIDFIELD

What is your pregame ritual?

“Before a game I always watch Barcelona highlights. I mostly watch Gavi and Pedri since they’re midfielders and I like their playing style. I learn from their moves, calmness, vision and IQ. Then I picture myself doing it during the game. I have

a specific playlist I use to get hyped and focused. After that, I pray and tell myself that I’m there for a reason, to play my game and try 110%.”

- Flavia Salima-Marcano, 12

“My pregame ritual is eating Chipotle the day before every game, because we have been doing that since freshman year.”

- Andre Palomera de Leon, 12

Players on the boys and girls soccer teams give a glimpse into their mindset midseason. Interviews by Soleil Cavallo. Page by Sydney Ortiz.

FRESHMEN

DEFENSE

What soccer rule would you most like to change?

“I would probably change the rule on jewelry. I would allow us to wear hair ties on our wrist during the games, because mine often snap and I have to have a replacement. I don’t want to get sent off the field for having one.”

- Riley O’Donnell, 11

“I would eliminate, for sure, just any contact fouls because that would make being a center back a lot easier. I could just make any contact I want with players without having to worry about getting a dumb foul.”

- Mason Sagendorph, 12

GOALIE

What is the biggest challenge as goalie?

“The whole team relies on you because after the attacker beats the whole team you’re the last line of defense. The whole game depends on you.”

- Noah Laughlin, 11

What is an advantage of being the only freshman on varsity?

“When I play, it brings my confidence up, so I know I can play at that level.”

- Luca Onut, 9

“The positives of [being a freshman on varsity] is playing full games.”

- Liani Villegas, 9

“The hardest part about being a goalie is when you get scored on. I feel like it’s my fault a lot of the times, and it brings my confidence down. I have to be mentally prepared before the games or else I’ll get in my head and it will affect my playing ”

- Peyton Smithson, 10

Grant Jimerson dribbles the ball in the box against Texas City on Jan. 9.

Photo by Peyton Smithson.

Senior Flavia Salima-Marcano takes a free kick against North Shore on Dec. 20. Photo by Leonardo Peña.

The Panthers surround goalkeeper Noah Laughlin after he scored on a penalty kick on Jan. 14. Photo by Rocco Huerta.

Riley O’Donnell prepares to throw in the ball on Jan. 27. Photo by Tricia Darcy.

Photo by Jordan Hutchinson

Stone stays focused as competitions heat up

By Tricia Darcy Visuals Editor

From waking up early for morning swim practices to staying late for Silver Stars practices, junior Marisa Stone quickly learned how to manage her time.

Stone, who was once unsure if she would compete in both swim and dance during high school, often spends close to 18 hours a week at sports practices. Because of the overlap in the competition seasons, she has found that making her own schedule benefits her the most.

“I just keep going with my schedule,” Stone said. “I don’t let it bother me and I try to stay super focused on my goals. So every morning when I wake up, I think about my goals for the future. That’s what keeps me going.”

Some of Stone’s goals going forward include qualifying for State in the 50m freestyle and placing high at Nationals with Silver Stars.

Because practice for swim is in the morning and Silver Stars practice is in the afternoon, coming up with a practice plan was not difficult for the coaches.

However, during the spring semester both Silver Stars and swim have their busiest seasons, so communicating with coaches becomes a necessity.

Junior

part in the pregame activities with the Silver Stars prior to a home football game in the fall. Photo by Tricia Darcy.

she needs to do to keep herself balanced. She has found it helps to set reminders on her phone for competitions and create a to-do list for her assignments.

Stone has been on both varsity teams since her freshman year. She made it to the State team for swimming her freshman and sophomore years; however, she wasn’t able to compete during her freshman season because of conflicts with Silver Stars.

Often, the State swim meet will overlap with a Silver Stars competition, so both coaches have learned to make adjustments to perform without her.

“We just want to make sure that everybody’s on the same page,” said swim coach John Dissinger. “You don’t want to plan for something when she can’t be there.”

Last year, Stone competed at the State swim meet, where she placed fourth in the 200m freestyle relay. She has expectations to swim at the meet again

this year. Stone often competes in freestyle events.

Another one of Stone’s goals is to improve herself for her senior year.

“I just want to keep improving upon myself for my senior year,” Stone said. “I just want to be the best swimmer and dancer I can possibly be, because that could potentially be the last time I’ll do both of those things.”

Along with being a multi-sport varsity athlete, Stone is the historian for National Honor Society and strives to have high academics.

Since her freshman year, Stone has learned what

“I try to get as much of my work done during class,” Stone said. “If we’re not doing much during class, or if we finish early, I’ll try to get on top of doing my work. That just means that I have less to do later.”

Alongside being hard working and showing leadership skills in the classroom, Stone has shown initiative in both of her sports.

“She’s a great role model for all students, but especially for our Silver Stars,” Vaughn said, “to look at her and realize that you can do other things and still be at the top in academics and still have a social life. She’s a great example of having a balanced school life.”

2nd

Junior Marisa Stone rests on the wall during a home meet against Summer Creek High School meet on Sept. 20. Photo by Peyton Smithson.

Isabella Munoz Female District Diver of the Meet Colton Anderson Male District Diver of the Meet Elena Amos

District Swimmer of the Meet

Marisa Stone takes

In wrestling and barrel racing, King keeps fighting

The winningest wrestler this season started her chase to State by winning her second district title and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

By Cameron Minatrea Staff Writer

As a student athlete, one of the main goals is to make it to the top competition and earn the highest place. For wrestlers, making it to State is the biggest goal.

Senior Khloe King was able to achieve that feat in only her sophomore year, as she was selected as an alternate for her weight class. Due to injuries, she missed much of her junior season. But she plans to qualify for

King, who wrestles in the 100-pound division, is currently the top performing wrestler in the program this season, with a team-leading

experience, drive and overall dedication have helped her emerge as a team leader and one of the hardest workers on the

suffered during her junior year. The concussion sidelined her for most of the season. She missed the first weeks of November all the way up to the week before districts. Despite this, she won the district title. However, the injury still took a major toll on her.

Although wrestling is a physically challenging sport, the concussion was caused by her other sport – barrel racing. King started competing in the rodeo-event four years ago. Barrel racing is a sport in which competitors ride a horse around three barrels in a clover-like pattern.

Trying to train a horse to do this is difficult and dangerous, and it is what led to King’s injury.

“I was working a very young horse who I was bringing onto the pattern,” King said. “I got bucked off basically into straight concrete. I got back on and then I got headbutted two or three times by the horse.” Recovery was slow and wrestling had to stop while she healed.

“The best thing about Khloe is her competitive nature,” wrestling head coach Jeff Knight said. “She hates to lose and gives it her all. It’s fun to watch her

“The best thing about Khloe is her competitive nature. She hates to lose and gives it her all. It’s fun to watch her compete.”

- Jeff Knight, wrestling coach

Something that has been prominent through her time in wrestling is injuries. Although they have hindered her performances, she has often pushed through them

“My freshman year, I broke my finger. That one sucked,” King said. “I tore my meniscus my sophomore season and

Her worst injury was the concussion she

“I couldn’t do anything,” King said. “They had me in with the trainers pretty much every day to do concussion protocol. I couldn’t come to school the first week after it because the light stuff made me want to puke.”

Just like wrestling, riding horses have played a major role in King’s life. She started off competing in horse cross country, but eventually switched to barrel racing.

“I changed to barrel racing just because I felt like I actually enjoyed it a lot more,” King said. “Not being in a strict environment, I have a lot more fun with it.”

Juggling wrestling and barrel racing, King’s schedule includes a lot of long drives and late nights. She heads to her barn in Crosby to practice riding almost every night after wrestling practice. She rarely makes it home before 8 p.m., meaning that she doesn’t have a lot of time to recover

Photo by Sydney Ortiz

after both wrestling practice and training her horse. Even with all of this, she still has put in a great amount of effort in order to maintain her top position on the wrestling team.

“It’s just mentally staying in check,” King said. “There’s been so many times where I’ve wanted to quit just because I feel like I’m not good enough or I’m not doing as well as I should be doing.”

She has seen much success her senior season though. With her 31-10 record, she has won gold at the Houston Round Robin Tournament and second at last weekend’s Cy Ridge Invitational Tournament.

This weekend she will compete in the District Championship as she chases her dreams of wrestling in the State Championships.

“I’m expecting a district championship again, and definitely be one of the top four at regionals,” Knight said. “I think she’s just going to build on that and finish a great senior year.”

King is hoping to go to Oklahoma State University in order to study animal science and eventually go to veterinary school. She hopes that the traits and skills she learned from high school translates into her future career.

“It goes back to discipline,” King said. “I feel like wrestling has made me a lot more polite. A lot more talking skills and people skills, so I feel like they’ll translate over because it will be a people person kind of job.”

Wrestling continues winning ways

By Sydney Ortiz Sports Editor

The girls wrestling team won the district title and the boys team took second place at the District Championships on Feb. 1. Senior Khloe King won gold and was named Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament.

Gold medalists included Tristan Rodriguez, Alex Jasso, Khloe King, Lea Barron, Jahmiya Brown and Brooke Spoonemore.

Rodriguez won his third consecutive district title, while King and Barron each collected their second ones.

Silver medalists included Addisyn Millar, Cassie Dool, Josh Corkern and Ryan Gray.

Brylee Sellars, Aidan Martelle, Nolan Smith, Du Saucedo, Maverick Clark and Ivy Ward won bronze.

Aaliyah Castillo and Elijah Lester won 4th.

Marco Plasencia won 5th.

Carson Kee and Raden DeSouza placed 6th, and Evan Moore was 8th.

Regionals will be in BryanCollege Station on Feb. 8-9.

Senior Khloe King practices barrel racing at her barn in Crosby. She competes all over Texas, including in Magnolia, La Porte, New Caney and Pasadena. She usually heads to the barn after wrestling practice each day. Photo courtesy of Khloe King.

Coach Jeff Knight complains about a missed penalty by the refs during a match on Dec. 11. Knight helped lead the girls to a district title and the boys to a second place finish. He was also named District Coach of the Year. Photo by Leonardo Peña.

Junior Tristan Rodriguez looks toward his coaches in the midst of a match on Dec. 11. Rodriguez won his third consecutive district title on Feb. 1. Photo by Leonardo Peña.

Senior Lea Barron battles with one of the Kingwood wrestlers during a match on Nov. 13. Barron won her second consecutive district title on Feb. 1. Photo by Tricia Darcy.

Tackling 75 Hard Challenge, no easy task

The 75 Hard is a physical and mental challenge. It’s designed to build mental toughness, resilience, and selfdiscipline in 75 consecutive days. The challenge consists of a 45 minute inside and outside workout, drinking a gallon of water, reading a nonfiction book, and sticking to a diet of your choice.

I started the challenge on Jan. 2. In the beginning of the challenge, it was a struggle. The daily grind of sticking to a rigid routine — two workouts a day, following a strict diet, drinking a gallon of water and reading 10 pages — felt overwhelming. There were days when it felt like too much, especially when balancing work, social life and the

By Emily McKithern

pressure of completing each task perfectly. Missing even one part of the challenge meant starting over, which added extra stress.

As I got deeper into the challenge, it started to feel less like an overwhelming burden and more like a daily routine. The initial struggle faded as I built consistency, and the tasks began to feel more natural. Working out twice a day

became a habit rather than a chore, and planning my meals and water intake started to feel like second nature. Reading 10 pages every day became something I looked forward to.

The mental toughness I built early on started to carry me through the tougher days, and I could see the progress both physically and mentally. What once seemed like an impossible challenge turned into a rewarding experience. The consistency paid off, and I realized that with the right mindset, sticking to something hard actually gets easier with time.

If you’re thinking about taking on the 75 Hard Challenge, I highly recommend it. It’s not just about

Dylan biopic worth seeing

By Jack Coffey Staff Writer

AComplete Unknown The newest biopic from director James Mangold [Girl, Interrupted (1999) Ford vs. Ferrari (2019)] starring Timothée Chalamet and Elle Fanning follows American folk rock legend Bob Dylan in the early years of his career.

The movie starts with Dylan’s arrival in New York City in search of his idol Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy). It follows the next five years as he performs at the Newport folk festival, engages in a tumultuous relationship with Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning), and becomes a multinational idol before turning his back on traditional folk and “going electric.”

The story is less interested in the dayto-day life of Dylan, instead exploring the people around him and how they influence each other – characters like antifascist icon Pete Seeger (Edward Norton), activist songbird Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro), and country music star Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook). They each have their own idea of what folk is and how Dylan should continue his career. We rarely ever see inside the head of Bob Dylan because no one ever did. All the audience can do is put themselves in the ‘60s and just experi-

ence the events as they unfold free of any introspection. Some could see this as a negative aspect of the movie, but I believe it is an intentional creative choice to create a mystery around Bob Dylan and pull you into the intrigue.

Chalamet transforms into Bob Dylan, adopting his iconic singing voice and speaking mannerisms, a contradictory performance that combines bombastic acting decisions and subtly written dialogue to create an interesting interpretation of the “character.” The standout to me however is Boyd Holbrook as Johnny Cash. He is absolutely magnetic on screen and steals the show completely. Another notable performance is Edward Norton as he adopts a sort of Mr. Rogers persona for his Pete Seeger that audiences seemed to really resonate with.

The music is the main focus of this film making up a significant portion of the screen time and being used to tell not only the period of Dylan’s career but also the theme of the particular section of the movie, i.e “The times they are a changin” being used to open a section of scenes illustrating Dylan’s rise to fame after the release of “Freewheeling.”

Overall, as an avid Bob Dylan fan I greatly enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anyone who loves classic music or Timothée Chalamet.

getting in better shape — it’s about strengthening your mind and developing discipline that carries over into every part of your life. Sure, it was tough at first; but trust me, the struggle was totally worth it. I built habits that stuck, felt more accomplished every day and really got to know just how resilient I am. It’s not a quick fix, but by committing to the full 75 days, I believe I’ll come out with a stronger body, a clearer mindset and a sense of pride that comes from following through on something so challenging. Plus, I surprised myself with what I was capable of when I pushed past my limits. It was a game-changer.

By Danielle Nalley

‘You get a trophy! You get a trophy!’

Participation trophies ruin a generation of kids who want rewards for showing up.

Iwould not have been described as a stellar athlete in my youth. Not only was I dead weight when playing soccer, but I was hopeless at gymnastics, pole vaulting, basketball, tennis, and the litany of other sports I tried out in the hope to be exceptional.

Spoiler alert: I was not. But if a child from the ‘40, ‘60s or even ‘80s were to gaze upon all my hardware, they would have been blinded by the sheer magnitude of glorious, glowing synthetic chemical made material painted to look like metal. They would depart, perhaps, with the belief that I was a young prodigy destined for the hallowed halls in which those great athletes reside, eternally illuminated by the Olympic torch. And the same would be true if they were to meet the rest of my generation. Why is it that our parents only got a trophy or medal if they earned it, but we were all given cheap plastic statues to supposedly show our “hard work,” no matter if we never scored a

By Marie Wakefield

single goal the entire season or showed up to one practice? The kid who carried the entire team and worked harder than anybody else there is apparently equal with Marie, the kid who didn’t score a single goal all season. (I still have that soccer trophy.)

I worked hard at soccer. But that didn’t make me great. Greatness is not achieved simply by trying, or everyone would be a star.

Sports were created to showcase excellence. In Ancient Greece, the Olympics were held to determine the fastest, strongest and biggest among them. The whole point of a sport is that there can only be one winner. Participation awards display manufactured realities and expectations for kids about the

real world, where suddenly they might not succeed just by simply “trying.” Their lovely world view swathed in a golden bubble will inevitably pop, leaving behind a big mess.

There is a degree of irony in the entire concept of a participation award. An award is a symbol of excellence, but participation gives everyone one. It’s essentially an oxymoron. Both sides contradict each other.

We can take a lesson from economics. When there is more of an object in circulation, the value goes down. How valuable is a trophy that everyone in the game automatically receives, regardless of talent or dedication? It dilutes the meaning.

Some might protest that it’s just a game, and they’re just kids, and it has no real consequences, as if childhood is not the most formative and impressionable time of their lives. It makes the child feel happy, they might say. They can feel good about themselves and all their hard work.

There is a lot of concern these

days about how the child might feel. Won’t they be sad if they worked really hard and they didn’t get anything to show for it?

Well, every other generation in human history didn’t get participation awards, and they turned out fine. Besides, do we really want to teach children that something is only worthwhile if they get something out of it? Instead of appreciating the memories and progress they’ve made, they look for the physical things they’ve received. And if they haven’t gotten a material reward, they haven’t gotten anything. And so, we have learned to approach life expecting rewards, like we deserve them, when all we’ve done is play our part. The warm embrace of the Everybody Wins mentality is beginning to feel more like a furnace.

I hope that when we have children of our own, we will not make the same mistakes. I hope that we will reward those who succeed and encourage those who lose to keep persevering.

Photo by Marie Wakefield

Weeks without flex hour must stop

Four lunches became a staple for Tuesdays to allow for an advisory period designed to share information with students and “building communities.” The first week back from winter break, we had advisory every day. Having advisory all week, no matter when, is impractical and detrimental to students because it eliminates tutoring, and it means substantially less time for homework during school. For most classes, tutoring is provided during flex hour. With

a full week of advisory, students are unable to go to tutoring to get help on subjects they are struggling with. This semester, many advanced classes had tests the second week into the semester, which meant students risked going into tests without getting additional help on the unit due to scheduling conflicts.

Without flex hour, there is no guaranteed time to work on homework. That means for students with jobs and other outside time

commitments, there was no way for them to properly balance their time to stay on top of school.

The four lunch schedule also cuts down on time in class, which leads to cramped timelines for lectures and assignments. This leads to overwhelming stress.

With advisory every day, the lessons and information lose their importance. By the end of the week, people stopped paying attention because it was information overload.

Having advisory for only the first two days back from break would help get students back into the routine of school, allow for needed information to be shared, and still allow three days that week for students to have flex to attend tutoring, do homework and attend their clubs. Any information that won’t fit in two days of advisory could always go in an email.

Kingwood Park TIMES

February 2025

Volume 11, Issue 4 Kingwood, Texas 77339

EDITORS

Fallon Head, editor-in-chief

Kaitlyn Sitton, editor-in-chief

Tricia Darcy, visuals editor

Sydney Ortiz, sports editor

STAFF WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS & SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS

Sophia Artola Villaorduna, Olivia Brenner, Preston Carpenter, Chase Canlas, Soleil Cavallo, Jack Coffey, Zachary Ford, Anya Henry, Rocco Huerta, Jordan Hutchinson, Michelle Klanke, Rionna Martin, Emily McKithern, Cameron Minatrea, Garrison Moritz, Danielle Nalley, Pilar Retamales, Bishop Scott, Claire Slaydon, Peyton Smithson, Paisley Thomas, Shelby Townsend, Marie Wakefield. Adviser: Megan Ortiz

Cover Photos: Senior Khloe King showcases some of her wrestling medals. Photo by Sydney Ortiz. Smaller photos – Brad Garcia by Zachary Ford. Viktor Cruz and Amara Amadi by Shelby Townsend. Courtney Daniel by James Pham. Precious Rhor by Bishop Scott.

KP MEDIA EDITORIAL POLICY

KP Media is the official student-produced media of news and information published/produced by KP Media students. KP Media has been established as designated public forums for student editors to inform and educate their readers as well as for the discussion of issues of concern to their audience. It will not be reviewed or restrained by school officials prior to publication or distribution. Advisers may – and should –coach and discuss content during the writing process.

Because school officials do not engage in prior review, and the content of KP Media is determined by and reflects only the views of the student staff and not school officials or the school itself, its student editorial board and responsible student staff members assume complete legal and financial liability for the content of the publication.

The media will serve the best interest of the students and faculty of Kingwood Park High School, keeping itself free from any commercial obligations distracting from this purpose; this is defined by the media itself.

All writing in the media, other than letters to the editor in the newsmagazine, will be written by students of the journalism program and will not be accepted otherwise.

The media will specialize in and emphasize on informing their readers of school news and unique students of the Kingwood Park High School community.

The media will cover community, state, national, and international news if it is directly relevant to the school community, and includes local angles.

The media will strive to provide coverage to all school organizations and functions.

Any decisions affecting the publications on all levels will be made by the editorial board, the adviser is allowed to give legal advice and his/her opinion, but the final decision rests in the hands of the editorial board.

Only the editorial board may prevent material it judges to be in violation of the media editorial policy, from being printed.

Letters to editor will be printed in the opinion section of the newspaper or on the website. Letters to editor should not exceed 300 words, must be signed and must include writer’s address and phone number for verification. Letters to the editor will be verified by a member of the editorial board to determine the authenticity of the writer.

The school newspaper will be distributed free of charge to all students every 6-8 weeks. The paper is completely financed by advertising revenues and fundraising. The money raised is used to pay for the school media printing costs, supplies and other media expenses.

See the entire staff editorial policy at KPTimes.com

Students pack into the cafeteria on a four-lunch schedule in August. While the four-lunch schedule is usually implemented only on Tuesdays, there has been an increased frequency of the schedule before and after breaks. When the normal hour-long lunch is eliminated, students lose study time, tutoring time and time with friends. Photo by Anya Henry.

WHAT’S HOT?

Marvel Rivals. A great game, and who doesn’t love Jeff?

Squid Game. “I’ve played these games before!”

Snow: 2 day school week!!!

Super Bowl halftime. Kendrick Lamar show might be the best part of the game.

February Break. Finally a mental health break

Houston Rodeo. The steer wrestling and concerts will go crazy.

WHAT’S NOT?

Cold weather sickness. The coughing, sniffles, and headaches need to leave!!!

Injuries. Can we please make it through the season without a visit to the trainers?

School vending machines. How are they ALWAYS empty?

Lack of pep rallies. We could really use some school spirit in the spring semester.

Tests after six days off school. We are exhausted.

Instagram regulations a positive step forward

By Cameron Minatrea Staff Writer

Instagram was founded 14 years ago and has grown to become one of the most popular and influential social media platforms of all time. With the combination of messaging, stories and reels, it allows for people to have access to multiple different pieces of content on one app. Some content may be sensitive to younger audiences, however, so Instagram has set a new system to control what can be displayed to accounts under 16. These new policies can grant a needed safety percussion to the app.

The new features turn every account that is under 18 into “teen accounts,” which changes who can follow the account and the reels and posts they see. Once they’re 16, they can change the settings back to normal, but accounts that are 15 or below require parental approval.

As annoying as this can seem, this new system allows for teens to not be exposed to inappropriate videos or photos, and allows them to experience the benefits Instagram has to offer.

The system Instagram implemented doesn’t completely take away what teens see. It only filters out the content that isn’t considered “appropriate” for their age.

Meta, the company that owns Instagram, has also had issues with privacy on their other popular social media app Facebook. Instagram is simply trying to prevent this happening on Instagram as well.

So even though the new policies can be seen as “too strict” or “unnecessary,” they are stepping in the right direction toward teen privacy. With the new restrictions, they are helping content reach the appropriate audience, and allow for parents to feel safe with their children on social media.

LAST LOOK

Students enjoyed two rare snow days on Jan. 21-22. Many spent time outside enjoying the weather. Much of Kingwood received a near record-snowfall of 4-5 inches. It was the most snow in the Houston area in decades.

Senior Melvin Arana Mojica throws a snowball at a friend during the snow day on Jan. 21. Photo by Sophia Artola Villaorduna.

Sophomore Kye Wehby. Photo submitted by Jacquie Wehby.

Sophomores Abraham Garcia, Noah Cadem, Rafa Hall, Amerie West and Daileyanne Brom. Photo submitted by Claire Brom.

Sophomores Madelyn Haynes and Charlotte Terrell. Photo submitted by Emily Haynes.

Seniors Avy Day and Gabby Hopper. Photo submitted by Avy Day.

Juniors Landen and Jayden Hansen. Photo by Lori Hansen.

Juniors Carson Kee and Mark Gonzalez. Photo submitted by Mark Gonzalez.