School: High School

Warriors Shut Out Brazos Christian School in Season Opener

Football season is back! Our Warriors opened the 2022 football season with a decisive victory over the Eagles from Bryan Brazos Academy. While both offenses started slow with several early miscues, the Warriors were strong on defense from the first snap.  Senior quarterback, Max Landrum, began the scoring for CCS midway through the opening quarter on a 33-yard run. Meanwhile, the Eagles, facing a stiff Warrior defense, punted each possession of the half, with the exception of ending a drive with a Warrior interception by safety, Owen Witschonke. After another Landrum TD run, fullback, Warren Haudek, capped a 60-yard Warrior drive for the third score of the half and the Warriors went in 21-0 at the half.  

The Warriors exploded on offense in the second half with 33 points with touchdowns being scored by Cooper Greiss, Adler Smith, Max Landrum and Kyle Prazak. Prazak, playing the slot position, had a good game in multiple areas, racking up 80 yards in punt returns in addition to the 37-yard TD reception from Landrum. The Warriors finished with 384 yards of total offense with the majority coming on the ground behind a good performance from the offensive line of Zeke Hogan, Christian Slabic, Jacob Rauch, Tucker Goodall and Andrew Owen.

Led by junior nose guard, Jacob Rauch, and senior linebacker, Preston Hamrick, the Warrior defense overwhelmed the Eagles offense the entire game. Rauch had a sack and two tackles for loss while Hamrick stood out, recording seven tackles, three for losses and recovering a fumble. Continuing a couple of trends from last season, the Warriors defense forced four turnovers and gave up almost nothing on the ground.

This Friday will be a much stiffer challenge as the Warriors travel to take on another defending state champion from 2021 in the Dragons from John Cooper High School. Coach Hogan believes this game will be a tough one for the Warriors. “John Cooper has a very good quarterback and a talented group of receivers. They do a great job attacking with their full-spread passing game. Every part of our pass defense better be prepared for a challenging night. Their Linebackers may be the strength of their team and they have enough guys returning from their state team last year to help shape a mindset that knows how to win. We will definitely have our hands full with Cooper. On the other hand, I’m very proud of the work our guys are putting in and I’m encouraged by the progress we’re making. We look forward to a competitive game Friday night,” says Hogan.

Game Information:

Class of 2023 Parking Space Painting

Last Thursday evening, students in the Class of 2023 continued the tradition of painting their newly assigned parking spaces with their classmates and families. Students spent time enjoying a nacho bar, iced coffee bar and ice cream sundae bar as they helped each other to design and paint their spots. It was a great opportunity to fellowship and bond as a class. They did an amazing job helping each other and came up with some cool designs.

Student Leadership University 301

Around 30 Warrior Leadership Academy students from CCS traveled to Charleston, SC for their Student Leadership University 301 stateside experience. As part of the leadership experience, CCS students took a few days to visit some of the sites in and around the city, many of which have historical implications in shaping the framework of the United States. 

Charleston, South Carolina played a major role in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Students visited storied Fort Sumter, where the first shot of the Civil War was fired. They were able to visit the famous Magnolia Plantation, with a guided tour including some walking through original and restored slaves’ quarters. The tour included a lecture on the life, hardships and stories of the slaves’ lives.  The students also saw alligators roaming about in the former rice and crop fields and were able to tour part of the mansion and beautiful garden and grounds. 

One exciting aspect of the trip was being able to stand in the same room where some of the signers of the Declaration of Independence once stood, in buildings dating back to the late 1600s. It was a packed week of constant movement which included an all-day scavenger hunt, a guided historical carriage ride, a trip to the infamous Provost Dungeon, the sobering Exchange Building where slaves were sold and the beauty of Battery Park. 

The Revolutionary War history was really unbelievable, with lots of rich and proud history-making moments, buildings and events right at their fingertips. Students were able to hit the beach two times and made the most of the waves, playing in the sand and some volleyball! There were teaching sessions and lots of notes throughout the trip, culminating in a final lesson after sunset on their last evening together. It was a beautiful way to end an impactful trip and they look forward to hitting Europe next July!

Varsity Baseball Earns Academic Excellence Award

For the second consecutive year, the CCS Warrior varsity baseball team has earned the American Baseball Coaches Association’s Team Academic Excellence Award. The roster of 13 student-athletes compiled an average GPA of 95.7%, while also defending their TAPPS district championship. During the 2021-2022 academic year, only 18 high school teams in Texas earned this distinction. 

The CCS baseball coaching staff commends the steadfast academic support of players from both family and faculty, alike. We sincerely recognize the sacrifice of players, families and teachers who arrived early and stayed late in pursuit of excellence.

Student Leadership University 201 2022

Forty-four Warrior Leadership Academy students from CCS traveled to Washington, D.C. for their Student Leadership University 201 experience.

The conference began with a livestream interview and question and answer session with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, impressing on students the importance of Christian leaders in government positions.

Students had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Jay Strack, Jeff Struecker (former Army Ranger who participated in the ‘Black Hawk Down’ mission), Edward Graham (former Army Ranger, member of the executive leadership team of Samaritan’s Purse and grandson of Billy Graham) and Chaplain Barry Black (Chaplain for the United States Senate). From these lessons, students were shown what it means to be a leader for Christ with the heart of a patriot. 

Other speakers included Keisha Toni Russell (Religious Liberty Attorney with First Liberty Institute) on the importance of standing for religious rights, no matter a person’s age. Emily Midgette and Mallory Carrol of Susan B. Anthony List spoke on the sanctity of life.

Students returned home to Texas with pages of powerful notes, taken from the lectures and staff debriefings that were held each evening.

During the conference, CCS students toured the Holocaust Museum, The Museum of the Bible, The Smithsonian Museum of American History, the World War II Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the Viet Nam War Memorial and the Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington Monuments. While at Arlington Cemetery, Jackson Potts participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetary. 

Memories were made that will last a lifetime along with many important lessons to grow and develop strong, patriotic, Christian leaders. It is our prayer that the trip inspire the students to grow into the men and women they have been created to be!

AP Capstone Student Success

CCS is proud to be one of approximately 2,300 high schools worldwide to be recognized as an AP Capstone School. This innovative College Board program consists of two courses, AP Seminar and AP Research, taken during the junior and senior year of high school. The courses teach students skills including college-level independent research, collaboration, teamwork, writing and communication that can be used in any discipline.

Original research was conducted this year by 10 members of the Class of 2022. We are pleased to announce that all students successfully completed the AP Research Academic Paper and Presentation. Colin Burns, Griffin Fisk, Aaron Holl, Grace Macune, Ana Sofia Navarro, Jackson Owen, Pearson Pollard, Anthony Shatby and Andrew Williams each earned the AP Capstone Diploma. Additionally, Claire Achterkirch has earned the AP Capstone Certificate.

“With initial research topics ranging from the global power grid to considerations in urban planning, I knew this group would be special,” commented Mr. Leonard upon hearing of the students’ successes. Mr. Leonard added, “This group was full of talent, and the GoGuardian technology provided by CCS helped them along the way. I will miss this group, but GoGuardian and I are anxiously awaiting the next group of talented researchers.”

Cheer Teams Win Multiple Awards at Camp

This past week, the varsity and middle school cheer squads attended the UCA cheer camp at Texas A&M University. The varsity cheerleading team adhered to their mission to excel in cheer and character throughout their time at camp. Three separate UCA camp staffers commented on the team’s positive and encouraging attitude and their kindness shown to one another and to other teams. These girls were actively being the LIGHT of Jesus as they represented our school as the only Christian school at camp.

In addition to displaying excellent character, the varsity cheer team won the following awards: blue ribbon for superior performance, gold ribbon for superior performance and the “banana” for most spirited! Ashleigh Townsend was recognized for her excellent character and kindness to others. Makena Pham and Sophia Swanton were given the title of All-American Cheerleader. On the last day of camp, the varsity cheerleaders competed against other schools and the team received first place in camp routine, second place in cheer and first place in sidelines.

Middle school cheer also had an excellent week full of new material, stunts, dance parties and awards. Middle school cheer won two blue superior ribbons, a spirit stick and first place for their camp routine.

Our varsity and middle school cheerleaders cheered each other on during practice and performances, and on the last night of camp both teams celebrated their wins at a local ice cream shop in College Station. This was just the beginning of an amazing year to come!

Student Leadership University 101

Fifty-three freshmen students began their Student Leadership University journey by attending the SLU 101 conference in San Antonio. This is the first step in a four-year pathway to develop strong, active Christian leaders who will allow God to use them to do exceedingly and abundantly more than they can ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

SLU 101 is designed to encourage and equip students to be leaders now – in their homes, schools, churches and relationships. Students learned that in all things, they are commanded to be excellent. (1 Corinthians 10:31) While observing sharks and dolphins at SeaWorld, they learned about personality types and how best to build positive and lasting relationships with each other. (1 Corinthians 12:25-27) Students were challenged to dream and do big things to fulfill God’s will for their lives. They were encouraged to “eat the big frog first” as a reminder to make a habit of doing hard things first; understanding that growth and change occur when difficulties are overcome.

Throughout the conference, students were reminded of Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

2022 High School Academic & Athletic Awards

On Tuesday, May 17, the high school administration was pleased to honor high school students for their accomplishments in the classroom and on the field as a representation of how important it is to educate the whole person for the glory of God.

To see the scholarships that were awarded to senior students, please click here. To view a video of the ceremony, please click here.

ACADEMIC AWARDS

AP Scholars

As an AP Capstone School, CCS attempts to provide as many opportunities as possible for students to take AP classes because they are some of the best at preparing students for college classes. AP Scholars who have scored a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams:

• Alex Andrus
• Cody Andrus
• Coleman Mabry
• Matthew McClellan
• Michael Slabic
• Andrew Smith (not pictured)
• Carolyn Trent

Students who have scored a 3 or higher on four or more AP exams earn recognition as an AP Scholar with Honors Award:

• Claire Achterkirch
• Audrey Mills
• Jacob Patterson
• Mason Runge
• Andrew Williams

Students who have earned a minimum of 3.5 on all AP exams and scored 3 or more on at least five exams earning the AP Scholar with Distinction Award:

• Colin Burns
• Griffin Fisk
• Nathan Hamm
• Bella Henslee
• Aaron Holl
• Justin Kostecki
• Grace Macune
• Ana Sofia Navarro
• Jackson Owen
• Pearson Pollard
• Anthony Shatby
• Jacob Swan
• Makaylah Williams

Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award

The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award recognizes and rewards individuals, male or female, who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. The student selected to receive this year’s award is the definition of a servant leader, representing CCS with enthusiasm, integrity and humility and actively seeking opportunities to serve our broader community. This student is Lynden Yough.

Cy-Fair Women’s Club Scholarship

The Cy-Fair Women’s Club (CWC) is a community-based service organization for women committed to providing support to families and non-profit organizations in the Cy-Fair area. Each year, the organization looks for students who exhibit a high-level of community service, school involvement, leadership, good character and academic accomplishments. The Cypress Christian School recipient of this scholarship is Justin Kostecki.

Bible Department Award

The Bible department award is somewhat unique in that we seek to recognize those who are not only excellent students when it comes to learning God’s Word, but who also actively seek to put these things into practice, thereby exemplifying the traits of a Christian disciple both inside and outside the classroom. We are blessed to have many good candidates, but these students have distinguished themselves from their peers this year.

While this candidate comes from a grade of many excellent options for this award, Audrey Fransen stands out for her Christian character. Whether it is helping a fellow student with understanding a difficult school concept or being patient in a group project, Audrey contains a sense of graciousness. Responsibility is a key component of who she is. Her kind smile is welcoming, and her humor never comes at the expense of others. Her sensitivity to others around her sets her apart. Audrey’s Bible knowledge is amazing, but the truly amazing part is that she goes the next step and applies it to her own life first. It’s not every day that a freshman sees the needs around her and genuinely volunteers to others that she will pray for them. Her confident faith in Jesus proves itself by the way she lives her life to be a blessing to others. Congratulations, Audrey!

Generally speaking, it can take some time for a student to get acclimated to any new school environment and to start leaving an impact, but to say that Luc Shyaka Ngabo has exceeded this timeline would be an understatement. From the first week of school to the conclusion of the last final, Luc has impressed many with his combination of integrity, kindness and work ethic. While it would be relatively easy for him to coast by in New Testament based on his prior knowledge alone, Luc has consistently put in the time and effort to continue to read, learn and practice God’s Word. This is evidenced by the way that he treats those around him, faculty and student alike. It is rare for a student to have the power to set the tone of their surrounding environment, but Luc leaves a positive impact on every conversation and class that he is part of. He is a joy to have in class and a true model of Christ-like character. Congratulations, Luc!

English Department Award

The recipient of the academic award in English is a student who consistently demonstrates a keen ability to discern and develop critical analyses of complex reading passages while simultaneously refining a writing style that is reflective and reasoned. In addition, this student excels in class discussions, often leading peers to challenge their own perspectives on both historical and current events as well as classic literature. This student dependably exhibits mastery through investigation, composition and deliberation. We have two students who are receiving our English award this year. 

Lynden Yough is a senior who graciously, selflessly, consistently excels in her English classes. As a sophomore, Mrs. Lambert sat amazed at the maturity and depth with which Lynden completed each assignment. She did not simply read a novel; she devoured it and gleaned universal truth from each chapter. As a natural leader, she tenderly facilitated Socratic Seminars, encouraging and challenging her classmates in their own participation. As she grew in AP Language and Composition last year, she fought to seek meaning in every piece of nonfiction she was assigned and revised her practice essays until they were pure perfection. As a senior in AP Literature, Lynden’s academic ability was continually evidenced in her nuanced interpretations of poetry and prose; moreover, it was her genuine empathy for others that naturally elevated her literary analysis. Finally, she correctly answered 3,483 Membean vocabulary questions…759 questions ahead of any other student. We celebrate her thoughtfulness, her commitment to sharing Jesus with everyone she meets and will miss her dearly as she steps into her future at Texas A&M University. 

Sophomore Keaton Barbisch receives our ELA award this year because he is simply a genius. When a student so young is blessed with such remarkable academic gifts, arrogance often rears its ugly face, but never with Keaton. He is humble in receiving constructive criticism, eager to improve his essays and insightful as he reads challenging pieces of literature. He questions everything in such a pleasant way as if he invites the opportunity to learn something new and grow from it. Another natural leader, Keaton embraces humor, truth, faith and obedience in all areas of his life, and we celebrate his excellence tonight. We know that as he continues as an upperclassman in the coming two years, we will continue to see incredible growth and value in him as a writer, reader and leader on our campus.

Foreign Language Department Award

The Spanish award is given to one upperclassman and one underclassman student who demonstrate a desire to become not only proficient in the language but endeavor to be completely bilingual. The motivation to learn about culture: the people, their practices and the products of Spanish speaking communities throughout the world is evident. These students have a willingness to take risks and learn from failure, understanding that the objective is communication with others rather than perfect grammatical accuracy or perfect test scores. 

The first award goes to a young lady in AP Spanish IV. From the first day that she entered Mrs. Galbreath’s class freshman year, she has excelled in both written and spoken Spanish. Among the topics that have been studied this year are world challenges, advances and pitfalls in science and technology and the role of family within the community. This student often comes to class with questions regarding those topics based on what she has read and researched while completing her monthly authentic resource assignment. Her questions have kept Mrs. Galbreath on her toes and challenged her to learn more. She is a true example of Colossians 3:17, dedicated to doing everything to the best of her ability to glorify Christ. This is evident through her humble approach to learning and thirst for knowledge as well as her willingness to encourage and help her peers She has taken on the challenge of speaking Spanish whenever possible to others here in our community as well others as she travels to Spanish-speaking countries. Mrs. Galbreath is proud to present the upperclassman award to Miss Gillian Storey.

The second award is being given to a sophomore in Spanish III Honors. He always gives his best effort, and it has been rewarding to see his confidence in the language grow from the beginning of freshman year to now. Mrs. Galbreath admires his relentless pursuit of becoming orally proficient in the language. He always speaks to her in Spanish regardless of when she sees him on campus. If the class is covering a new grammar concept which is presented in English the first time, he will still respond and ask questions in Spanish only. As the class learned how to share the gospel with others using the POR FE outline, he was doubling up by learning a different outline at church in preparation for a mission trip this summer.  Although he strives for excellence, perfection is not his goal or motivation. His goal is to communicate with others in Spanish and ultimately to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. This year’s underclassman award goes to Will Simcik.

History Department Award

The social studies award is awarded to students who have excelled throughout the year in the field of social studies. The two individuals are receiving this award because they have demonstrated a complex understanding of the historical development that is necessary to explain the relevant and insightful connections within and across periods. Congratulations, Dillon Wolff and Ethan Edwards.

Math Department Award

The recipient of the academic award in mathematics is a student who demonstrates an interest in the application of the concepts and not just the process, consistently participating in class discussions via asking relevant questions to clarify understanding and supplementing explanations with additional contexts in which the concepts can be applied. The student demonstrates an ability to move from the affective domain of learning to the cognitive domain evidenced by the student’s comprehensive justifications on assessments and willingness to assist peers in their pursuit of understanding, cognizant that, “to teach is to learn twice” and therefore seeking opportunities to impart knowledge if only to reinforce one’s own learning.

Macy Murray has a true heart of a Warrior. She always has a smile for Mrs. Escamilla when she comes to class, and she can rely on her to work diligently with her partners. Macy is very well organized and takes the time to work through challenging questions. She is also proactive when it comes to planning for upcoming absences or taking the time to reach out via email when she doesn’t understand a homework problem. She is kind and courteous, and Mrs. Escamilla has been truly blessed to get to know her.

Lucy Davis – Though it was eighth period, the end of the day, this student always walked into Mrs. Escamilla’s classroom with a smile – a smile that not only made her excited about the math lesson, but also strengthened and encouraged the class to finish the day strong! Her work was thorough – maybe too thorough as she would often send Remind messages to Mrs. Escamilla to check the posted answer key because she got a different answer and had checked her work multiple times. She was usually right, but she was also humble. Math may not have been where she felt her strengths lay, but she had an unmatched work ethic and utilized the gift of diligence God had given her and was determined to succeed.

Science Department Award

• Demonstrates persistence and diligence in the science classroom
• Consistently turns in all assignments with excellence
• Demonstrates an active interest in applied science
• Demonstrates leadership in the science classroom
• Initiates individual science projects or demonstrates interest in going beyond the regular classroom activities and assignments

Gillian Storey has earned the recognition and respect of all of her science teachers over the past few years for several reasons. Each day, she comes into class with a gentle and quiet spirt, always ready and willing to learn and apply difficult concepts. She  pursues every task, whether mundane or monumental, with consistent excellence. She is kind and encouraging to all of her peers, helpful without being patronizing. She excels without being prideful. She shares her success in class generously with others. She consistently puts others before herself and makes it look easy. It is evident to all of her teachers that God has blessed her with strong intellect, but even more so with a strong spirit that shines through regardless of the situation. When Mrs. Longridge thinks of a Bible verse that describes her, she thinks of Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are the MEEK, for they shall inherit the earth. Many misunderstand the meaning of meekness in our culture, but historically, Roman war-horses were described as being “meek”. Meekness is NOT weakness; it is substantial strength that is harnessed under firm self-control. Mrs. Longridge knows the Lord has great things in store for Gillian because He has blessed her with a meek and gentle spirit. Mrs. Longridge thanks her for her excellent work this year, and says congratulations.

Camille Zemke (not pictured) has consistently exhibited an unwavering pursuit of knowledge and the ability to apply this knowledge to problem solving in the science classroom. Mrs. Longridge knows Camille has spent many hours studying and her hard work did not go unnoticed. She took special care to go above and beyond the usual assignments, challenging herself to go the extra mile to ensure understanding. She is a model student, an example of what we hope all students can achieve, both in her academic performance in the classroom and in her willingness to help others. Mrs. Longridge had the distinct privilege of having Camille this year as a chemistry student and she can recount the numerous times that she exceeded her expectations and was always willing to help a fellow student with a difficult problem or explain a concept in simpler terms. Her prayer for Camille is that she will continue to grow in knowledge and wisdom. The verse that comes to mind is Proverbs 18:15 – The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. She has proven herself to be wise in always wanting to learn and in listening closely to gain knowledge. On behalf of the science faculty at CCS, thank you to Camille for her excellent work this year, and congratulations!

Fine Arts Department Award

The recipient of the academic award in fine arts is a student who demonstrates a passion for the arts and not just the end-product, but consistently participates in class projects, performance opportunities and leads like a warrior. The student demonstrates an ability to move from the role of a student to the role of a teacher or director for their peers. Students awarded the fine arts academic award showcase what it means to be a leader inside and outside of class whether it be in the classification of art, music or theatre arts. This year we are awarding three outstanding students with this honor. 

The first is Kiley Kreitz. Kiley has been part of the choir and theatre arts programs for the last five years and has always been a champion of the arts and has helped to organize every theatre arts performance for the last two years. Kiley serves as the secretary for the International Thespian Society on campus and although she is a junior, she has the drive, creativity and passion for the arts that rivals that of many adults. Cleverly disguised as a student in the drama program, she has shown what it means to lead courageously and guide her fellow students in their walk as actors, technicians and believers in Christ. 

Second, we honor Justin Kostecki. Justin has been a part of the Visual Arts program for the past six years and the Drumline for the past four years. Justin is extremely gifted in the visual arts, especially when it comes to his photography and creative ideas. He is always challenging himself to the next level for whatever he is creating. His work has received awards at the state, local and national levels in art competitions. He has always been an inspiration to Mrs. Brubaker as well as his classmates and is always willing to help and serve. In National Art Honor Society, he has always held a leadership position and has a heart for service and has led and created many service projects with his passion to help and serve others. 

Our final recipient of the fine arts academic award is Audrey Mills. She not only serves as the Yearbook Editor-in-Chief, but also is willing to help and teach others when working on an assignment or parts of the yearbook. Audrey has served in yearbook all four years of high school and has helped the school achieve top honors in the TAPPS State academics meet this spring. Audrey takes time out of her schedule to mentor students in the yearbook program and ensures the success of everything that she does through her tenacity, creativity and faithfulness in her talents. 

Principal’s Leadership Award

As a school, one of the character qualities that we see as being vital for our students to learn and participate while at CCS is that of leadership. As adults, we have all encountered different types of leadership that have been either, good, bad or indifferent. Those who are good at leading were not created overnight but have taken practice and learning to craft their leadership style. This year as Dr. Berens has walked the halls, and watched these high school students live out leadership opportunities, one student has truly stood out amongst his peers. This student has led in every avenue that is available to him. This student has led in the classroom, finishing in the top five of the class taking as many AP classes as possible. He has led on the athletic field, whether it be with a bloody nose in the state championship game or by throwing one of the his best discus throws at state. He led one of the most successful drives at CCS, bringing in over 20,000 diapers for a great cause. He is the president of the NHS and an officer of the Houston Chapter of the Young Men Service League. He has been a student pep rally leader and can be found in the stands of most every sport that he is not actively participating in cheering on his peers.  He leads in his family as he already is working to help his younger brother achieve his college dreams. He is thankful to his parents, which can be rare in high school students. Most of all, this young man has led in his faith. He shows his love of Jesus by being himself and raising up those around him. Dr. Berens looks forward to seeing what he will lead in the future and is thankful he got to be a part of his path. The winner of this year’s principal award is Griffin Fisk.

Barnabas Servant Leadership Award

Barnabas in the Bible was a gracious personality, characterized by his generous disposition. This award goes to the student that has made the greatest impact through her service to others during her high school career. She has accumulated over 500 hours of community service and is always seen as willing to help with a smile on her face. We are thankful for the impact she has made on the Cypress Christian School community. This year’s award goes to Mallory Overton.

Military Appointment – West Point

Congratulation to Grace Macune, who has received an appointment to and will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point where she will also play on the Women’s Rugby Team. 

TAPPS & OTHER AWARDS RECOGNITION

ART

• Art Team: State Champions
• Communication Design: Tyson Anding – State Champion
• Senior Portfolio: Lynden Yough – State Champion
• Computer Rendered Art: Ana Clements – State Runner-Up
• 2-D Mixed Media: Katelyn Hong – State Runner-Up
• Seek & Sketch Color: Emily Matthews – State Runner-Up
• Senior Portfolio: Abigail Sanders – State Runner-Up
• On-Site Drawing: Abigail Sanders – State Runner-Up
• Communication Design: An Tran – State Runner-Up
• Printmaking: An Tran – State Runner-Up
• Fall Photography Contest – Student Life: David Wahmhoff – First place
• Fall Photography Contest – Waterscapes: David Wahmhoff – First place
• Fall Photography Contest – Informal Portraits: David Wahmhoff – First place
• Rodeo Art Competition: Abigail Sanders – “The Bull and the Pig” – Gold Medal Winner & Highest Auction Amount, $45,000 Scholarship

ACADEMICS

• Academic Team – State Runner-Up
• Math: Ben Hensley – State Champion
• Yearbook: Audrey Mills – State Runner-Up
• Yearbook: Cayden Tate – State Runner-Up
• Spelling: Verena Shatby – State Runner-Up

THEATER & SPEECH

• TAPPS One Act Play – Actor: McKenzie Davenport – All-State
• TAPPS One Act Play – Actor: Jackson Murrill – All-State
• Solo Acting: Jackson Murrill – State Champion
• Oratory: Kiley Kreitz – State Runner-Up
• Duet Acting: McKenzie Davenport & Jackson Murrill – State Runners-Up

ATHLETIC AWARDS:

Academic All-State

Academic excellence is a core value of the CCS mission statement. This award provides the opportunity to recognize individual students who are true to this core value while competing well in the area of athletics. The Academic All-State Award is given to athletes who not only have been recognized for their contributions on the field but have also shown themselves to be dedicated students in the classroom. To qualify, students must be juniors or seniors, have qualified for a state tournament in lifetime sports or have been voted first or second-team all-district, while having an academic average of 90% or better.

Academic All-State Athletes – Boys

• Cody Andrus – Football, Soccer
• Grayson Beckman – Football, Baseball
• Jackson Braun – Football, Track, Baseball
• Jared Erby – Football
• Griffin Fisk – Football, Track & Field
• Max Landrum – Football, Soccer, Track & Field
• Matthew McClellan – Football, Track & Field
• Jacob Moran – Football
• Jackson Murrill – Football
• Jackson Owen – Football, Track & Field
• Ryan Randall – Football
• Michael Slabic – Football, Track & Field
• Jacob Swan – Football, Baseball
• Alex Andrus – Soccer, Track & Field
• Colin Burns – Soccer, Track & Field
• Parker Coates – Soccer
• Kevin Dubon – Soccer
• Price Schlutea – Basketball, Track & Field
• Nile Austin – Basketball
• Will Hotchkiss – Basketball, Track & Field
• Michael Lavigne – Basketball
• Matthew LeForce – Basketball
• Jalen Young – Basketball, Track & Field
• Coleman Mabry – Track & Field
• Taylor Hotchkiss – Golf
• Zach Thibodaux – Baseball
• Dion Thompson – Baseball
• Pearson Pollard – Baseball
• Andrew Williams – Baseball
• Cole Wisenbaker – Baseball

Academic All-State Athletes – Girls

• Faith Cullison – Volleyball, Soccer
• Bella Henslee – Volleyball, Track & Field
• Bethany Janz – Volleyball
• Chloe Roberson – Volleyball, Softball
• Camryn Whitmarsh – Volleyball
• Abbie Hirth – Cheer, Track & Field
• Ashlyn Jackson – Cheer
• Claire Achterkirch – Cheer
• Addison Petru – Cheer
• Remi Greenberg – Soccer
• Gillian Storey – Soccer
• Grace Macune – Basketball
• Stacey Muthoka – Basketball
• Cayden Tate – Basketball
• Lynden Yough – Basketball
• Riley Fox – Track
• Olivia O’Bannon – Track & Field
• Megan Cater – Golf
• Lucy Davis – Softball
• Makaylah Williams – Softball

All-State Athletes

The highest TAPPS award that an individual athlete can earn is to be named to the All-State Team. These athletes were first voted to the All-District First Team by their own District coaches. From there, they are voted on by coaches from across the state to be named to the TAPPS All-State Team. This is a very big honor that is earned by very few athletes…so they also sign a special sport-related item, kept in the CCS trophy case to permanently display this accomplishment. 

All-State Athletes – Boys 

Football

• Cody Andrus – First Team Offense
• Grayson Beckman – First Team Defense
• Grayson Beckman – Honorable Mention Offense
• Jackson Braun – Second Team Defense
• Jared Erby – Second Team Defense
• Griffin Fisk – First Team Defense
• Zeke Hogan – First Team Offense
• Max Landrum – First Team Offense
• Jackson Owen – First Team Defense
• Jackson Owen – First Team Offense
• Jacob Moran – First Team Offense
• Jackson Murrill – First Team Defense
• Jacob Rauch – First Team Defense
• Michael Slabic – Honorable Mention Defense

Basketball

• Nile Austin – First Team
• Jonathan Quarles – Honorable Mention
• Price Schultea – Honorable Mention

Soccer

• Colin Burns – First Team Offense
• Kevin Dubon – Second Team Midfield
• Max Landrum – First Team Defense

Track & Field

• Alex Andrus – First Team
• Jackson Braun – First Team
• Colin Burns – First Team
• Will Hotchkiss – First Team
• Max Landrum – Honorable Mention
• Coleman Mabry – First Team
• Jackson Owen – First Team
• Price Schultea – First Team
• Michael Slabic – First Team
• Jalen Young – First Team

Golf

• Grayson Petru – First Team 

All-State Athletes – Girls

Volleyball

• Bella Henslee – Second Team

Cheer

• Claire Achterkirch
• Abbie Hirth
• Ashlyn Jackson
• Addison Petru

Basketball

• Sarah Olenick – Honorable Mention
• Lynden Yough – Second Team

Soccer

• Faith Cullison – First Team Defense
• Remi Greenberg – Honorable Mention Offense
• Anna Smith – Honorable Mention Midfield
• Madeline Talkington – First Team Midfield

Track & Field

• Riley Fox – First Team
• Evie Greenberg – First Team
• Bella Henslee – Honorable Mention
• Abbie Hirth – First Team
• Olivia O’Bannon – Second Team
• Nicole Santos – Second Team
• Sophia Swanton – First Team
• Mariana Van Dyke – First Team

Golf

• Claire Johnson – First Team
• Makena Pham – First Team
•  

Multi-Sport Athlete Award

• Alex Andrus – Football, Soccer, Track & Field
• Cody Andrus – Football, Soccer, Track & Field
• Faith Cullison – Soccer, Track & Field
• Jackson Braun – Football, Baseball
• Kevin Dubon – Football, Soccer
• Will Hotchkiss – Football, Basketball, Track & Field
• Grace Macune – Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field
• Griffin Fisk – Football, Track & Field
• Grayson Beckman – Football, Baseball
• Jack Ellisor – Football & Basketball
• Abbie Hirth – Cheer, Track & Field
• Coleman Mabry – Football, Track & Field
• Audrey Mills – Cross Country, Track & Field
• Mallory Overton – Cross Country, Track & Field
• Jackson Owen – Football, Track & Field
• Ryan Randall – Football, Track & Field
• Michael Slabic – Football, Track & Field
• Andrew Smith – Football, Track & Field
• Jacob Swan – Football, Baseball
• Camryn Whitmarsh – Volleyball, Swimming
• Parker Wright – Football, Baseball
• Jalen Young – Basketball, Track & Field
• Makaylah Williams – Volleyball, Softball

Valiant Warrior

The Valiant Warrior Award is given to the senior male and female student who exhibit excellence in athletics, leadership, determination, sportsmanship, Christian character, academic achievement and integrity while participating on athletics teams at Cypress Christian School.

The Valiant Warrior Award is a long-standing tradition where Cypress Christian School honors a student whose high school career has shown a high level of success in multiple sports, dedication in the classroom and an exemplary attitude. This award is earned by a student who is a strong representative of what it means to honor God, their family and represent the entire CCS family with a level of excellence that makes the entire Warrior Nation proud! The Valiant Warrior Award is the highest award given by CCS athletics.

The young lady selected has been a student at Cypress Christian School since Kindergarten. She has participated in many activities over the years and once in high school, she continued to excel in soccer for two years, and cheerleading and track and field for four years. “Once a competitor, always a competitor” rings true for this young lady because she always competes at her best and never backs down from a challenge. As a result, she served as a tremendous leader for her teams, setting a high example and encouraging those around her. She has enjoyed serving others, while also being the best at her sports. She has been through the highs and lows of her sports, and even though she had to learn lessons the hard way, that is when God speaks the most to us. She has risen from defeat and continued to press on to give God her best. She has been a source of strength with her relay teams over the years, someone they knew they could depend on and she never backed down from a battle. Give her someone to run against, and “it’s on!” She will beat you and yes, she did. Two years in a row, she anchored the 4×100 and 4×200 relay teams and two years in a row, they earned the title of state champions. Her teammates did their part and handed the baton to her in first place, and she never let anyone who challenged her pass her. She is most known for her incredible high jump skills, and next year, she will be a member of the Texas A&M University Track & Field team. We cannot wait to see her battle there! She ran relays, the 100 m. dash, high jumped and long jumped for CCS and she was a star in each event, a state champion in three of those events! We are honored to recognize Abbie Hirth as this year’s Valiant Warrior.

The young man selected for this year’s Valiant Warrior embodies every description of this award and has been involved in many activities along the way. In high school, he played four years of football, two years of basketball and participated in track. In football, as a junior and senior, he was voted both First-Team All-District and First-Team All-State. He served as a team captain for his junior and senior seasons, and in his senior year, he was named the Cypress Christian School Defensive MVP. At the conclusion of his senior season, he was also voted the District’s Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches in the district. Athletically, academically, and in leadership, he excels, and it is apparent other students gravitate toward him. One coach described him saying, “his attitude and effort are THE examples of what coaches dream about from their players. He is a true difference-maker in anything he is involved with, on and off the field. As a senior, having never participated in track as a thrower, he approached the coaches about “trying discus.”  He started slowly while learning the techniques. By the time he got to the district track meet, he was in the thick of fierce competition, not the least of which were some of his own teammates!  As usual, he rose to the occasion and threw his personal best, unbelievably finishing as the District Champion!  Keep in mind, he had never thrown discus prior to “trying it out” as a senior! He ended up throwing far enough at the south regional meet to earn a spot at the state track meet where he captured fourth place in the TAPPS 4A state meet, earning points to help his team win their second straight state title. He is a young man with a great mind, great perseverance, true diligence and incredible character. He is a gifted high-achiever and we cannot wait to see how God uses him in the next stage of life, where he will be playing football at the prestigious MIT next fall! We are honored to recognize Griffin Fisk as this year’s Valiant Warrior.

Engineering Helps Drumline Solve a Problem

The drumline had a need and the engineering class came up with a solution. What a blessing it is to see the body of Christ using their skills and lessons learned at work within our CCS classes and community.

In the pictures you will see students from the Principles of Engineering class building a structure for the drumline to store their drum harnesses. The class was able to see first-hand the design process used and come to life. “This product started out on paper with YOUR drawings and brainstorming! And now it is here and built and ready for our customer! How awesome is that?” – Mrs. Yaw

Lady Warriors Headed to Final Four

The Lady Warriors softball team is headed back to the TAPPS 4A Division III Final Four for the second straight year thanks to a 13-1 win over Bay Area Christian in the regionals. CCS was led by two freshmen, Megan Smith and Kennedy Schwartz, who each went 3-for-3 at the plate. Anna Fernandez, another freshman and junior Maura Stricklin delivered two hits each to help power the Warriors’ 15-hit batting barrage.

Lucy Davis pitched a complete game, giving up just two hits on the day. Only one Bronco runner advanced past second base as the Warriors defense backed up Davis with outstanding play in the field. Shortstop Sarah Olenick made the play of the day, diving to stop a hard grounder up the middle and slinging the ball to first just in time for the final out of the game, bringing the CCS faithful to their feet in celebration. CCS is now 25-4.

• CCS vs. Holy Cross of San Antonio (defending 4A State Champions)
• Friday, May 20, 1 p.m.
• Allan Saxe Field, University of Texas at Arlington, 1400 Maverick, Arlington, TX 76013

Click here for more details including tickets, facility map, game program and livestream link through TAPPS TV.

Back-to-Back State Champions – Girls & Boys Track & Field Teams!

The girls and the boys track & field teams competed at the TAPPS State Meet last weekend at Midway High School in Waco, TX. It was a great two days of competition with field events on Friday and running events on Saturday. Last year, the Warriors were able to come away with two State Championships, and this year, the teams repeated, making the Warriors back-to-back State Champions as the girls and the boys teams competed incredibly well with several personal and season bests. The girls team had nine personal records and the boys team had eight personal records achieved at the State Meet.

Friday’s Field Event Results:

Shot Put – Girls:

• Mariana Van Dyk – State Champion
• Skylar Davis – sixth place 

Shotput Boys:

• Andrew Owen – fourth place

Discus – Girls:

• Mariana Van Dyk – State Runner-up

Discus – Boys:

• Griffin Fisk – fourth place
• Jacob Rauch – fifth place

High Jump – Girls:

• Abbie Hirth – State Champion

High Jump – Boys:

• Matthew McClellan – fourth place

Pole Vault – Boys:

• Adler Smith – sixth place

Long Jump – Girls:

• Abbie Hirth – State Runner-Up
• Bella Henslee – third place

Long Jump – Boys:

• Jalen Young – State Runner-Up

Triple Jump – Girls:

• Nicole Santos – State Runner-Up
• Bella Henslee – fifth place

Triple Jump – Boys:

• Max Landrum – third place

Saturday’s Running Event Results:

100 M. Dash – Girls:

• Riley Fox – third place
• Abbie Hirth – fourth place

100 M. Dash – Boys:

• Jackson Owen – State Champion with a new 4A State Record
• Jackson Braun – fifth place

200 m. Dash – Boys:

• Jackson Owen – State Champion

400 M. Dash – Boys:

• Jalen Young – State Runner-Up
• Will Hotchkiss – fourth place

100 M. Hurdles – Girls:

• Olivia O’Bannon – State Runner-Up

300 M. Hurdles – Girls:

• Olivia O’Bannon – sixth place

300 M. Hurdle – Boys:

• Max Landrum – third place

4×100 Relay – Girls:

• Riley Fox, Sophia Swanton, Evie Greenberg, Abbie Hirth – State Champions

4×100 Relay – Boys:

• Michael Slabic, Jackson Owen, Alex Andrus, Jackson Braun – State Champions

4×200 Relay – Girls:

• Riley Fox, Sophia Swanton, Evie Greenberg, Abbie Hirth – State Champions

4×200 Relay – Boys:

• Michael Slabic, Colin Burns, Alex Andrus, Jackson Braun – State Champions

4×400 Relay – Boys:

• Will Hotchkiss, Coleman Mabry, Jalen Young, Price Schultea – State Champions

The coaching staff is so proud of each of the athletes who came ready to compete!

Way to go, Warriors!

Baseball District Champs!

The varsity baseball team finished their regular season as district champions! In the first week, CCS defeated the Northland Cougars with scores of 8-4 and 13-1. After that, the Warriors defeated Legacy Prep with senior pitcher Andrew Williams on the mound. Backed by some great defense, Andrew pitched a complete seven-inning game shutting down Prep with a score of 5-0. The Warriors defeated Prep in a second game with senior pitcher Pearson Pollard throwing a complete game shut-out with only 80 pitches. The score of 19-0 was topped off with Jackson Braun going deep with a grand slam to secure an early end to the evening. The team continued successfully through the season while battling injuries in key positions, but they are now ready to begin the playoff journey.

Their season record earned them a bye in the first round of playoffs, but you can come watch them face off against San Antonio Holy Cross at home for the TAPPS Area title this Tuesday. Come cheer on the Warriors and enjoy some fresh grilled burgers and hot dogs.

Area Playoffs

• CCS vs San Antonio Holy Cross
• May 10 at 5 p.m.
• CCS Will Rhodes Memorial Stadium

Senior Night Photos:

Girls and Boys Golf Teams Headed to State!

Both the boys and girls golf teams qualified for the TAPPS 4A State Golf Championships this past week at Regionals! The girls team was the Regional Runner-Up and the boys team took fourth. They head to Waco for a two-day tournament to determine state champions. We are so proud of the work that the athletes have put in this season and are excited to see how they do at State. Go, Warriors!

TAPPS 4A State Information

Monday & Tuesday, May 9 & 10

Cottonwood Creek Golf Course, 5200 Bagby Ave., Waco, TX 76711

Stock Market Game Winners

Eighth-grade students participated in the SIFMA Foundation Stock Market Game. Teams begin the simulation with an imaginary investment of $100,000 to trade on the NYSE and NASDAQ. Students follow current events and global news impacting the financial markets and place trades online in real-time. One CCS team placed first in the Houston region with a portfolio totaling over $129,000 after just eight weeks of trading. They were awarded prizes from the SIFMA Foundation. We are so proud of their accomplishment!

First Place Team

• Allie Boujaoude
• Lilah Johnson
• Corinne Keim
• Peyton Whitmarsh

Girls & Boys Track & Field Teams are Regional Champions!

Both the girls and boys track & field teams had a great day competing in Waco at the old Baylor stadium for the TAPPS 4A South Regional meet. Listed below are our accomplishments:

Girls Team:

• Regional Champions
• Discus: Mariana Van Dyk – Regional Champion, Skylar Davis – sixth place
• High Jump: Abbie Hirth – Regional Champion
• Long Jump: Abbie Hirth – Regional Champion, Bella Henslee – Regional Runner-Up
• Pole Vault: Sophia Swanton – fifth place
• Shot Put: Mariana Van Dyk – Regional Runner-Up, Skyla Davis – fourth place
• Triple Jump: Nicole Santos – Regional Runner-Up, Bella Henslee – third place
• 4×100 Relay: Riley Fox, Sophia Swanton, Evie Greenberg, Abbie Hirth – Regional Champions
• 100 M. Hurdles: Olivia O’Bannon – Regional Runner-Up
• 100 M. Dash – Abbie Hirth – third place, Riley Fox – fourth place
• 4×200 Relay: Riley Fox, Sophia Swanton, Evie Greenberg, Abbie Hirth – Regional Champions
• 300 M. Hurdles: Olivia O’Bannon – third place
• 4×400 Relay: Mallory Overton, Kynsie Ramirez, Megan Cater, Sophia Swanton – fifth place

Boys Team:

• Regional Champions
• Discus: Jacob Rauch – Regional Runner-Up, Griffin Fisk – fourth place
• High Jump: Matthew McClellan – Regional Champion
• Long Jump: Jalen Young – Regional Runner-Up
• Pole Vault: Adler Smith – fourth place, Erich Sachtleben – fifth place
• Shot Put: Andrew Owen – fourth place
• Triple Jump: Max Landrum – third place, Matthew McClellan – fourth place
• 4×100 Relay: Michael Slabic, Jackson Owen, Alex Andrus, Jackson Braun – Regional Champions
• 100 M. Dash: Jackson Owen – Regional Champion, Jackson Braun – fourth place
• 4×200 Relay: Michael Slabic, Colin Burns, Alex Andrus, Jackson Braun – Regional Champions
• 400 M. Dash: Jalen Young – Regional Runner-Up, Will Hotchkiss – third place
• 300 M. Hurdles: Max Landrum – third place
• 200 M. Dash: Jackson Owen – Regional Champion, Colin Burns – sixth place
• 4×400 Relay: Will Hotchkiss, Coleman Mabry, Jalen Young, Price Schultea – Regional Champions

The top four in each event advance to the State Track & Field meet on Friday, May 6 & Saturday, May 7 in Waco, TX. Visit TAPPS Track & Field for more information. Schedules, ticketing information and more will be posted closer to the meet date.

Golf District Champion & District Runners-Up

Grayson Petru, a freshman at Cypress Christian, competed in the TAPPS 4A district tournament at River Point Golf Club in Richmond, TX on April 19. He finished the round with a 71 and won the tourney by 3 strokes. Grayson has competed in five tournaments for the Warriors this season and finished in first or second place each time.

The CCS boys and girls golf teams received district runner-up awards at the TAPPS 4A district tournament last week. Three girls (Lindsey Brashier, Makena Pham, Claire Johnson) and three boys (Grayson Petru, Taylor Hotchkiss, Johnathan Cater) qualify as individuals for the regional round. Great job, Warriors, and good luck at regionals next week!

Academic Team Performs Well at State

The Academic Team competed in the TAPPS Academic and Fine Arts State meet last Tuesday and Wednesday in Waco. After months of preparing, the team finished sixth in state in academics for 4A schools and when combined with speech events, CCS garnered fourth place overall. Ben Hensley defended his title as State Champion for the second year in a row placing first in TAPPS math (ninth and 10^th grade only). Mrs. Galbreath said, “I am proud of all of our team members and state competitors. Each one has put in hours of study time preparing for their event.”

Other state finishers are:

• Verena Shatby – State Runner-Up (second place) in Spelling
• 2021 Yearbook – State Runner-Up (second place) – Editors: Audrey Mills and Cayden Tate
• Samantha Frankio – Third place in Spanish
• Ben Hensley – Sixth place in Number Sense
• Katie Schmitt – Sixth place in Math
• Sasha Farrington – Sixth place in Science
• An Tran – Seventh place in Science

This year’s team is young, made up primarily of ninth-grade students. This bodes well for our future as these students will continue to gain knowledge, hone their skills and compete for several more years at the state level.

Girls & Boys Track & Field Teams are District Champions!

The girls and boys track teams won the District Track & Field Meet today held at Cypress Christian School. These students are advancing to the TAPPS 4A South Regional Meet:

• 100 m. dash – Abbie Hirth (District Champion), Riley Fox, Jackson Owen (District Champion), Jackson Braun
• 200 m. dash – Maddie Dodd, Jackson Owen (District Champion), Colin Burns
• 400 m. dash – Will Hotchkiss (District Champion), Jalen Young
• 100 m. hurdles – Olivia O’Bannon (District Champion)
• 300 m. hurdles – Olivia O’Bannon (District Champion), Max Landrum
• 4×100 relay – Riley Fox, Sophia Swanton, Evie Greenberg, Abbie Hirth (District Champions); Michael Slabic, Jackson Owen, Alex Andrus, Jackson Braun (District Champions)
• 4×200 relay – Riley Fox, Sophia Swanton, Evie Greenberg, Abbie Hirth (District Champions); Michael Slabic, Colin Burns, Alex Andrus, Jackson Braun (District Champions)
• 4×400 relay – Mallory Overton, Olivia O’Bannon, Megan Cater, Sophia Swanton; Will Hotchkiss, Coleman Mabry, Max Landrum, Price Schultea (District Champions)
• Shot Put – Mariana Van Dyk (District Champion), Skylar Davis, Andrew Owen
• Discus – Mariana Van Dyk (District Champion), Skylar Davis, Griffin Fisk (District Champion), Jacob Rauch
• High Jump – Abbie Hirth (District Champion), Matthew McClellan
• Pole Vault – Sophia Swanton, Erich Sachtleben
• Long Jump- Abbie Hirth (District Champion), Bella Henslee, Jalen Young
• Triple Jump – Nicole Santos, Bella Henslee, Max Landrum, Matthew McClellan

Congratulations to our entire team on a great season and way to shine at district! Let’s go get them at Regionals!

South Regional Track Meet Information – Tuesday, April 26, 2022

City of Waco Hart Patterson Track, 501 S. 32nd St., Waco, Texas 76711 – Map to stadium

Tickets are $12 and must be purchased through this Link to TAPPS tickets. There will be no onsite cash ticket sales.

CCS Named TAPPS State Champion School in Art

On Tuesday, April 12 and Wednesday, April 13, CCS artists participated at the TAPPS state art competition at the BASE Events Center in Waco, Texas. Twenty-three artists were entered in 13 distinct categories and three on-site events winning over 30 medals. The results were as follows:

• CCS placed as the TAPPS 4A State Champion School in Art
• Lynden Yough:
  • State Champion (first place) – Senior Portfolio
  • Honorable Mention – Seek Sketch B&W
• Abigail Sanders:
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – Senior Portfolio
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – On-Site Drawing 
  • Third place – Seek & Sketch Color
  • Third place – 2-D Mixed Media
  • Fifth place – Drawing Color
• Justin Kostecki:
  • Sixth place – Senior Portfolio
  • Fourth place – B&W Photography
  • Fifth place – Seek & Sketch B&W
  • Eighth place – On-Site Drawing
  • Honorable Mention – B&W Photography
• Emily Matthews:
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – Seek & Sketch Color
  • Third place – Seek & Sketch B&W
• An Tran:
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – Communication Design
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – Printmaking
• Tyson Anding:
  • State Champion (first place) – Communication Design
• Katelyn Hong:
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – 2-D Mixed Media
• Gillian Storey:
  • Third place – Relief
• Ana Clements:
  • State Runner-Up (second place) – Computer Rendered Art
  • Third place – Computer Rendered Art
• Will Hotchkiss:
  • Fifth place – Drawing B&W
• Chloe Roberson:
  • Sixth place – Printmaking
• Ava Loraditch:
  • Eighth place – Fashion Design
  • Honorable Mention – Printmaking
  • Honorable Mention – Relief
• Caden Clinton:
  • Honorable Mention – Relief
• Lilyana Balderas:
  • On-Site Drawing
  • Seek & Sketch B& W
• David Wahmhoff:
  • Senior Portfolio
• Raegan Lubs: 
  • Computer Rendered Art
• Alex Slabic:
  • Painting
  • 2-D Mixed Media
• Fatima Mendoza:
  • Drawing Color
• Bria Lloyd:
  • Color Photography
• Olivia O Bannon:
  • 3-D Sculpture
• Ryan Fisk:
  • 3-D Sculpture

Each year, Mrs. Brubaker takes the art students who participate in the on-site events for a field trip to Baylor University. The students’ schedule on Wednesday morning allowed them to visit the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center and see the different art studios and the Juried Student Art Exhibition in the Martin Museum of Art. The students also got to visit the Armstrong Browning Library and the bookstore.

Mrs. Brubaker would like to thank all her student artists for a momentous year with great results using their gifts to honor God.     

2022 NHS Induction Ceremony

On April 8, National Honor Society was proud to welcome its newest members. It was an evening of fun and accomplishment for the incoming juniors and sophomores. We are incredibly proud of our inductees and their dedication in acquiring hours of community service and their devotion to maintaining the highest level of academic excellence!

1. Lilyana Balderas
2. Keaton Barbisch
3. Lindsey Brashier
4. Jackson Broussard
5. Megan Cater
6. Ethan Edwards
7. Lydia Gwyn
8. Kiran Harper
9. Ben Hensley
10. Bethany Janz
11. Brody Johnson
12. Matthew LeForce
13. Bria Lloyd
14. Miles Martin
15. Addie McLain
16. Drew Mestayer
17. Marko Micic
18. Macy Murray
19. Robby Mynes
20. Isabella Navarro
21. Sarah Olenick
22. Andrew Owen
23. Claire Petru
24. Makena Pham
25. Kynsie Ramirez
26. Jacob Rauch
27. Annika Sandhu
28. Verena Shatby
29. Will Simcik
30. Alex Slabic
31. Anna Smith
32. Emersyn Smith
33. Riley Stephens
34. Brayden Stovall
35. Sophia Swanton
36. Ashleigh Townsend
37. Mariana Van Dyk
38. Thomas Walsh
39. Luke Wisenbaker
40. Owen Witschonke
41. Camille Zemke

Lady Warriors are Undefeated District Champions Second Year in a Row

The CCS Lady Warriors softball team wrapped up another district championship with an 18-3 win at Northland on Tuesday. 

Freshman Megan Smith led the way with four RBIs, including an inside-the-park homerun and two triples. Freshman Sarah Olenick, senior Makaylah Williams and Junior Chloe Roberson each added three hits of their own, as the Warriors banged out 18 hits in the win.

Junior pitcher Lucy Davis and freshman Kennedy Schwartz teamed up to hold Northland’s batters to just two hits as the Lady Warriors completed district play undefeated for the second year in a row.

Cypress Christian is 20-2-1 heading into the TAPPS Division III playoffs which begin in two weeks.

TAPPS State Champions!

The TAPPS State Academic, Fine Arts and Speech Meet took place this week in Waco. Our Warriors had the perseverance and tenacity to place as the 4A State Champion school in Art, the State Runner-Up school in speech and placed fourth overall when academics and speech combined their efforts.

Speech individual award winners:

Solo Acting:

• Jackson Murrill – State Champion
• Avery Connelly – ninth place

Duet Acting:

• McKenzie Davenport & Jackson Murrill – State Runner-Up
• Alli Crawford & Gia Granato – third place

LD Debate:

• Rayne Harris – seventh place
• Amanda Taylor – eighth place

Poetry:

• Camille Zemke – fourth place

Prose:

• Ashley Lopez – sixth place

Original Oratory:

• Kiley Kreitz- State Runner-Up
• Ester Torres Pinheiro – third place
• Katie Schmitt – fifth place

The coaches could not be more proud of the talents and efforts displayed by everyone who competed. Go, Warriors!

Individual awards for art and academics coming soon!

Honors Engineering Banquet Featuring Reach Unlimited

The Honors Engineering class of 2021-2022 presented the projects they built to enhance the lives of their clients from Reach Unlimited at a banquet on Monday, April 11.

The semester began with the students visiting Reach Unlimited to meet their clients and understand a need they have in their community. The students worked through the design process and project management skills to present a product that would fulfill three needs.

Group one (Isabella Henslee, Drew Smith, Jacob Swan, Andrew Williams) was tasked to create a fully-automated stamp machine. Reach Unlimited has a gift shop that uses gift bags with stickers of their logo on them when customers buy items. The stamp of the logo would be used on the bags in place of the sticker and allow their client to help with the process, even with her limited mobility. The students decided to use programming and an actuator inside of a metal-plated wood frame. The client is able to simply hit a button and the machine will vertically stamp one gift bag at a time.

Group two (Colin Burns, Tatum Moore, Pearson Pollard, Cole Wisenbaker) was tasked to create a headpiece for a client to be able to participate in art activities at Reach Unlimited. The headpiece incorporated a 3D-printed piece that connected the inside of a hard hat safety helmet with an art utensil such as a marker or paint brush. The group also created a mobile stand specifically designed for their client’s wheelchair. The stand rolls up to the client and can adjust in height as well as hold different types of art paper or canvas on a white board.

Group three (Jackson Owen, Landri Robinson, Anthony Shatby, Makaylah Williams) was tasked to create a soil sifter machine for a client who otherwise would not be able to help in the greenhouse. Currently, large shovels are used to mix soil with perlite. The new product will allow the client with limitations in his hands to pour smaller amounts of soil while the machine vibrates from an electric sander. The machine then has a motor that rotates PVC pipe to mix the soil and perlite before being used in the greenhouse.

“Last semester, we had so much exposure to engineering and what a first-year engineering class in college might look like. This semester, the students have used that knowledge combined with skills, desires and determination to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” ~ Mrs. Yaw

Lady Warriors Undefeated in District Play

The Lady Warriors softball team extended its winning streak to eight games, sweeping a district doubleheader with Faith West on Tuesday.

Cypress Christian took game one by a score of 19-1 as sophomore Macy Murray led the way with three hits and five RBIs. Junior Lucy Davis pitched four innings of one-hit ball for the victory, retiring the final eight batters she faced to wrap up the win.

The Warriors offensive barrage continued in game two as Davis, freshman Megan Smith and sophomore Sarah Olenick all homered in the first inning to stake the Warriors to an 8-0 lead. Freshman pitcher Kennedy Schwartz added an inside-the-park homerun later as the girls lit up the scoreboard with 18 hits and a 23-9 win.

Cypress Christian is undefeated in district play and 19-2-1 overall heading into its final district game on Tuesday, April 19, at Northland.

2022 Pearl Museum of Fine Arts Student Art Contest Winners

The jurors for the Pearl Museum of Fine Arts Student Art Contest adjudicated over 180 incredible entries on March 17. From these entries first, second, third and honorable mention was chosen for each division. Entries were from school districts all over the North Houston area – public, private and homeschool. The jurors also chose pieces to be included in the juried selection, which will be included on the museum website and in a printed catalogue.

CCS students who have been selected as winners by the Fine Arts Jurors for the Pearl Museum of Fine Arts Student Art contest are:

• Cailea Chalton’s (eighth grade) work Blue Moon has placed third in the middle school division and will receive $50 cash prize and an art gift bag.
• Bria Lloyd’s (10^th grade) work Dog Days received the Juror’s Selection award.

The winning artwork will be on display in the museum during the month of April 2022.

The Museum is also holding an outdoor family day on Saturday, April 23 where families are encouraged to see the artwork in the museum and enjoy activities such as a bounce house, face painting and art activities. A Student Art Contest digital ceremony video will be played and added to the museum website including the judge’s commentary on winning works and juried selections. The Pearl Museum of Fine Arts is located at 6815 Cypresswood Drive in Spring, TX (next to the Barbara Bush Library).

Also included in the photos below are the finalists at CCS for the competition:

Middle school students:

Sixth grade:

• Anna Knox
• Audrey Petru
• Audrey Sanders

Seventh grade:

• Ava Benningfield
• Emery Bonin
• Elizabeth Montalbano
• Guy Stamos

Eighth grade:

• Madeline Boctor
• Rachel Czagas

High school students:

10^th grade:

• Caden Clinton
• Rayne Harris

11^th grade:

• Katelyn Hong
• Fatima Mendoza
• Gillian Storey

12^th grade:

• Will Hotchkiss
• Justin Kostecki
• Abigail Sanders
• Lynden Yough

Spanish 2 Students Teach Cooking Class

Students in Spanish 2 Honors classes taught a cooking class this week to demonstrate their mastery of using commands in Spanish. Students brought in small samples to share with the class, and taught how to make everything from burgers and sandwiches to entire chocolate cakes, smoothies and even slime! Thanks to all of these students for their hard work, and well done!

Warrior Golf Competes in Covenant Prep Invitational

Warrior Golf recently competed in the Covenant Prep Invitational at the Kingwood Country Club. Megan Cater came in first for the 11th/12th grade division. Grayson Petru, shot a 70 and came in second place. Lindsey Brashier came in third in the 9th/10th grade division.

Lady Warriors Win District Opener

The Lady Warriors softball team opened district play with a 22-8 win over Northland Christian School on Tuesday evening. The girls broke open a tight ballgame in the bottom of the fourth, batting around twice and scoring 15 runs before making their third out.

Senior Makaylah Williams circled the bases twice in the big inning, taking advantage of fielding mistakes after laying down a perfect bunt and, later that inning, scoring on an inside-the-park homerun. Sophomore shortstop Sarah Olenick and junior outfielder Melody Janz each crossed the plate four times in the victory and junior pitcher Lucy Davis led the offense with three hits and four RBIs.  

The Lady Warriors are 16-2-1 this season and have won eight of their last nine after beating Northland and edging John Cooper High School 11-9 late last week. 

Senior Track Athletes Compete in Prestigious Meet

Cypress Christian School had two track & field athletes who qualified to compete in the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays this past week, held at the University of Texas in Austin. This is a statewide event for high schools and colleges and student-athletes must qualify to compete. Due to COVID restrictions, the high school section has not been held the last two years, so we were excited to once again have the opportunity to register for this prestigious meet.

CCS entered several athletes in individual events with performances from this year’s events. These athletes’ accomplishments were measured against many others and only the top applicants were accepted into the meet. Seniors, Jackson Owen, Division 1-100 m dash – private and 1A-3A public schools and Abbie Hirth, high jump – all private and public schools, qualified and competed in the meet.

Jackson and Abbie represented CCS well on Friday, March 25. Jackson qualified for the finals, which were run on Saturday, March 26, and he earned fourth place honors with his best time of the season, 10.75 seconds. Abbie tied for fifth place with a 5’6” jump. Winning height was 5’8”. We are proud of their accomplishments, as well as all of our track & field team.

Come see us as we compete at our home meets on April 7 and 14, and then again as we host the district meet on April 19 and 21. You will be amazed at the talent displayed. CCS has 73 high school students competing in track & field this year.

Lady Warriors on a Hot Streak

The hot streak continues for the Lady Warriors softball team as they vanquished Veritas Academy last week, 20-5, and then shut out Frassati Catholic this week, 15-0.  

Chloe Roberson led the way with four hits, including her second home run of the season, in Cypress Christian’s win over Veritas on March 24. Sarah Olenick added five RBIs in the Warriors’ highest scoring game so far this season, while Lucy Davis struck out eight batters in four innings for the victory.

On March 29, the Warriors shut down the Frassati Falcons with a combined shutout from pitchers Macie Dammeyer and Kennedy Schwartz. Jessica Atkins and Bella Henslee each knocked in three runs to keep the Warriors’ potent offense rolling.  

The Warriors are now 12-1-1 over their last 14 games, outscoring their opponents during that stretch by a combined score of 146-71. They open their district schedule at home against Northland Christian on Tuesday, April 5. Come out and support our Lady Warriors!

Golf Season Starts Strong

Our varsity boys and girls golf teams started out the season strong with two tournaments this week. Monday’s tourney was at Northgate Country Club and the girls team took first place overall! We had four athletes finish in the top 10: Grayson Petru and Claire Johnson placed third, Makena Pham placed sixth and Lindsey Brashier finished in seventh place. On Wednesday, the Warriors competed at Gleannloch Pines and Grayson Petru came in third place overall. Congratulations to our Warrior Golf Team. We are looking forward to a great season!

Join the Golf Booster Club

Lady Warriors Softball Returns with a Bang

The Lady Warriors Softball team returned from Spring Break with a bang, scoring 12 runs in the first inning en route to a 15-9 win over St. Francis Episcopal.  

The first inning barrage included a bases-loaded triple from junior Cayden Tate, one of four triples and eight hits in the inning as the Warriors sent 16 batters to the plate. Junior Chloe Roberson and sophomore Macie Dammeyer contributed three hits on the night to help power Cypress Christian’s offensive onslaught.

Freshman Kennedy Schwartz started and pitched a complete game, and junior Lucy Davis and sophomore Sarah Olenick backed her with stellar defense as the Lady Warriors improved to 12-2-1 on the season.

CCS College Fair

CCS hosted representatives from 25 colleges and universities for a College Fair during the week before spring break. Sophomores and juniors had the opportunity to browse the fair and learn about the universities’ academic programs, student life, scholarships and more. Representatives were impressed with the questions students asked and are enthusiastic to come back to campus for future events. We hope that this event sparked conversations at home about where students will go next as they graduate from CCS. We are so excited to see the doors that God is opening for our students!

“The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.” – Prov. 16:9 ESV

NHS Entrusted Houston Project

In February, NHS, the National Honor Society, worked with Entrusted Houston to create a diaper drive, helping children and parents who may not have the resources they need. The original goal set by NHS was 5,000 diapers, and a grand prize would be given if the goal was met. Also, a competition was held by grade to see which grade could donate the most diapers, with a dress-up day awarded to the winning grade. Altogether, high school donated over 20,000 diapers, and will receive a bounce castle day soon. Furthermore, the grade who donated the most diapers, ninth grade, donated over 10,000 diapers and received a dress-up day. 

Lady Warriors Finish Season in the Elite Eight

Senior David Wahmhoff Gifts Eagle Scout Project to CCS

Thank you to senior David Wahmhoff for using his God-given talents of design and photography in providing his Eagle Scout project to Cypress Christian School. The photography display is located in the foyer of the East Gym and includes photos taken by David and others, highlighting academic excellence, biblical values, athletics and fine arts.

David has attended CCS since kindergarten and considered this project to be a way he could give back to CCS for all the school has given him over the last 13 years. Becoming an Eagle Scout requires perseverance and hard work. One of the requirements is to earn at least 21 merit badges. David earned 30 in his pursuit of the Eagle rank. Becoming an Eagle Scout places him among the top 4% of all scouts.

Warriors are State Runners-Up!

Congratulations to our Cypress Christian School Warriors boys soccer team for making it to the 2022 TAPPS Division III state championship game! The Warriors played their 14-0 season with grit, never gave up and earned the right to play in the final showdown. On March 8 in Round Rock, TX, the CCS Warriors faced off against a tough team, Colleyville Covenant Christian.

Led by Coach Ade and Coach Dipo, the entire CCS team contributed to a lively match and a hard-fought battle. Forwards, Colin Burns and Alex Andrus led the offensive attack for CCS with Burns scoring a second-half goal. Kevin Dubon and Anthony Shatby distributed the ball from mid-field and both players scored during the back-and-forth match. Cody Andrus, Maxwell Landrum and goalie, Parker Coates helped lead a strong defense in opposition to Colleyville.

Though our team played with determination to the final whistle, unfortunately, the Warriors fell short against the Cougars with a final score of 5-3. We are very proud of everything that our 2022 CCS Warriors team achieved in their outstanding season. They embodied the Warrior spirit…they exemplified One Heart!

Lady Warriors Win Tournament

The Cypress Christian Lady Warriors softball team captured the championship in the First Baptist Christian Academy Softball Tournament last weekend.  

CCS went 4-0 in the tournament with wins over St. Francis Episcopal, Frassati, Concordia Lutheran and First Baptist Christian Academy. Senior Makaylah Williams led the way with five hits in the tournament and Junior Pitcher Lucy Davis registered three wins. Davis also clubbed her first home run of the season in a 7-5 victory over St. Francis Episcopal.

The Lady Warriors are now 8-1 on the season heading into the Latexo Invitational Softball Tournament in Crockett this weekend.

Announcing the High School Warrior Cheer & Dance Program

Cypress Christian School is excited to announce new additions to our cheer program for the 2022-2023 season. Additionally, we are happy to announce our launch of the Warrior Dance Team! The cheer and dance programs will work together to form the Warrior Cheer & Dance Program as the premier spirit, serving organization to the entire athletic department! CCS parents, Morgan Groll and Jennifer Mestayer will lead the program with enthusiasm and a Christ-centered perspective, emphasizing excellence in cheer and dance and leading young ladies to be excellent leaders and Warriors for Christ.

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Lady Warriors are 3-1

The Cypress Christian Lady Warriors softball team improved to 3-1 with a 16-1 win over Frassati Catholic School on Tuesday evening.

Junior Lucy Davis led the way with three hits and five RBIs, including a bases-loaded double as the visiting Warriors sent 16 batters to the plate in a 10-run fourth inning outburst. Junior shortstop Chloe Roberson scored twice in that inning and reached base in all four of her plate appearances in the game, scoring four runs.

Freshman Megan Smith and Sophomore Macy Murray each had two hits as well, part of a 13-hit onslaught for the Lady Warriors, who look to improve their record this weekend at the First Baptist Christian Academy Tournament in Pasadena.

Varsity Boys Basketball is on to Regionals

Varsity boys basketball defeated Veritas Academy Austin on Tuesday night to advance to the regional round. We are thankful to God for all the success He has allowed us to have this season.

Regional Playoffs vs. Westbury Christian

• Friday, February 25
• 7 p.m.
• University of St. Thomas

Lady Warriors Basketball Headed to Regionals

The Lady Warriors won the area round of TAPPS 4A basketball playoffs on Tuesday, defeating First Baptist Christian Academy, Pasadena, at Emery Weiner High School. The Lady Warriors were led by Lynden Yough, Addi McLain, Sarah Olenick and Cayden Tate, all scoring in double digits as they played hard, winning 55-33. The team followed the game plan holding FBCA’s best player to only one basket all night. This team, though young, is making a mark, winning the area round, and moving on to the Elite Eight.

Please encourage, cheer on and pray for our Lady Warriors!

Regional Playoffs vs. Lutheran High School, San Antonio

• Saturday, February 26
• 3 p.m.
• Giddings High School 

Lady Warriors Defeat Incarnate Word Academy

The Cypress Christian Lady Warriors rallied back from a pair of six-run deficits for another exciting comeback victory, beating Incarnate Word Academy 18-16 and improving their record to 2-0.

After falling in a 6-0 hole in the first inning, the Warriors got on the scoreboard in the second thanks to Macy Murray’s solo homer, a rocket launched into a stiff wind blowing in from the outfield. That homerun was the first of four RBI’s on the night for the sophomore first baseman. 

The Warriors evened the ledger at 6-6 in the third inning, thanks n part to back-to-back extra-base hits by Chloe Roberson and Lucy Davis and a game-tying RBI single from Melody Janz.

Trailing by six runs again in the sixth inning, the Warriors stormed back to take the lead for good with their home fans cheering them on. Macie Dammeyer knocked in three runs with a liner to left field to start the comeback. Roberson and Davis followed with back-to-back triples to put the Warriors in front to stay.

Freshman Kennedy Schwartz picked up the win in relief of Dammeyer. Schwartz pitched three innings and, backed by several solid defensive plays from her teammates, didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield over the final two frames as the Warriors came back for their second win in a row to start the 2022 season.

NAHS Visits Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts

CCS National Art Honor Society members had the opportunity on their annual field trip to the Pearl Museum to see two exhibitions and then create art based on one of the exhibitor’s methods for art making. See below for information about the exhibitions and the Pearl.

The students also brought a sack lunch and went to a nearby park for lunch and a nature art activity. It was a beautiful day for art-making inside and out.

Chloe Roberson is Artsonia Artist of the Week

Congratulations to junior Chloe Roberson for being selected as Artsonia’s “ARTIST OF THE WEEK” (grades 10-12). Chloe received 809 votes from website visitors. In addition to the plaque, Blick Art Materials has generously donated a $100 gift certificate to CCS for needed art supplies for secondary art classes and $50 to Chloe. 

Thank you for voting and helping us celebrate the creativity and God-given gifts of our students! We are thankful for such a positive and supportive community around the CCS art program!

Varsity Boys Basketball are Undefeated District Champions!

Varsity boys basketball finished the regular season as undefeated district champions for the first time since 2007!

Come out to cheer them on at home for their first playoff game on Tuesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. vs. Veritas Christian.

Congratulations, Warriors!

Varsity Girls Basketball are District Runners-Up!

The Lady Warriors finished the season as district runners-up!

Come out to support them in the area round of the playoffs vs. Pasadena First Baptist on Tuesday, February 22 at 6 p.m. Since both teams finished second in their districts, the game will be played at a neutral site – Emery Weiner High School, 9825 Stella Link Rd., Houston, TX 77025.

Tickets will be sold at the door – Adults $8, Students $5. Only TAPPS passes accepted. Cypress will be the visiting team. Wear your Columbia blue and navy!!!

Way to go, Lady Warriors!

Senior Abigail Sanders Advances to Auction Level at Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo School Art Contest

On Tuesday, the CCS Academic Team began the first round of practice for the state preliminary tests. Official prelim testing will take place upon return from spring break with the top three scoring students in each category advancing to state. Team members have been preparing by attending study sessions during Tuesday and Thursday lunches since October, as well as dedicating time at home. Categories in which students have chosen to compete are:

• Lincoln-Douglas Debate (Resolved: In matters of foreign policy, the United States ought to value universal human rights over economic interests.)
• Social Studies (Topic: The Modern Olympic Movement and the Politics of Sport)
• Literary Criticism (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sonnets from the Portuguese and Other Poems by Elizabeth Barret Browning, and The Tragedy of McBeth by William Shakespeare)
• Ready Writing (Expository writing based on a passage provided)
• Spanish (Listening, reading and writing)
• TAPPS Math (Ninth and 10^th grade)
• Science (Biology, chemistry and physics combined)

Honors Engineering and Reach Unlimited

The honors engineering class is continuing their projects with Reach Unlimited. They have been tasked with creating projects that can benefit the clients. One team must create a way for the clients to paint with their head, another must create a soil sifter and the last team must create a way to stamp bags.

Part of the project management and design process includes creating prototypes and taking trips to Lowe’s for supplies. As time moves on, the timeline for each project must be updated with supplies needed, price ranges and due dates for final designs. At the end of the semester, the final product will be presented to the clients.

Lady Warriors Open the Season with a Win

The Cypress Christian Lady Warriors softball team won its season opener Tuesday night, beating the Westside Wolves 8 to 4 on a chilly night at CCS.  

The Warriors lineup came back from a 4-0 deficit, scoring seven runs in a decisive fourth inning. Sophomore shortstop Macie Dammeyer got the scoring started with a clutch two-run single to centerfield. Junior Chloe Roberson delivered a line drive to left field to tie the game 4-4. Junior Lucy Davis then put the Warriors in front to stay with a two-run double over the centerfielder’s head, Davis’ second double of the night.

Davis pitched a complete game, giving up just four hits and striking out 10 batters. Roberson, Senior Makaylah Williams and Junior Maura Stricklin delivered outstanding plays in the field to back Davis, as she held the Wolves lineup without a hit over her last four innings for the win.

The Warriors play their next game at home on Tuesday, February 15, against First Baptist Christian Academy-Pasadena. Game time is 6 p.m.

TAPPS Fall Photo Competition 2021

Over 44 schools participated in Texas in the TAPPS Fall Photo competition and there were over 600 entries. CCS brought home 10 medals and seven ribbons! Big winners were David Wahmhoff (12th grade), Justin Kostecki (12th grade), Katelyn Hong (11th grade) and Anna Fernandez (9th grade). There were 10 student entry categories: Animals, Still Life, Experimental, Waterscapes, Landscapes, Cityscapes, Student Life, Sports, Formal Portraits and Informal Portraits.

CCS Winning Artists:

Anna Fernandez, 9^th grade: 

• 2^nd Place Sports

Justin Kostecki, 12^th grade: 

• 3^rd Place Cityscape
• Honorable Mention Student Life
• Honorable Mention Animals
• Honorable Mention Landscapes
• Honorable Mention Still Life

Katelyn Hong, 11^th grade: 

• 2^nd Place Cityscape
• 2^nd Place Experimental
• 3^rd Place Experimental
• 3^rd Place Cityscape
• Honorable Mention Landscape

David Wahmhoff, 12^th grade:

• 1^st Place Student Life
• 1^st Place Waterscapes
• 1^st Place Informal Portraits
• 3^rd Place Sports
• Honorable Mention Formal Portraits
• Honorable Mention Student Life

Congratulations to all our talented CCS artists with their winning photography.

Warriors Honored by The Houston Chronicle

The Houston Chronicle’s Texas Sports Nation has named senior football players Cody Andrus, Jackson Owen and Jacob Moran to the 2021 All-Greater Houston Private School Football Team and named Coach Kris Hogan Coach of the Year.

The Warriors had an amazing season and are the 2021 TAPPS Division III state champions. We are so proud of all of you! Congratulations, Warriors!

Houston Chronicle article

Varsity Teams Achieve Success in the CCS Warrior Classic

Varsity boys basketball had a phenomenal weekend in the CCS Warrior Classic going 3-0 and earning tournament champs. Nile Austin and Price Schultea were selected for the All-Tournament team.

The Lady Warriors earned tournament runner-up in the with Sarah Olenick and Lynden Yough earning All-Tournament honors.

Both teams are gearing up for the start of district play and looking forward to the playoffs with the first home district games for both teams on Friday, January 28 against Legacy Prep.

It was a great weekend for the entire basketball program as they worked and played hard.

Lady Warriors Serve Mission of Yahweh

Before the Christmas break, the Lady Warriors basketball team went shopping together for the children of Mission of Yahweh, a mission organization in Northwest Houston, that they serve each Christmas. Each girl brings a cash donation and the team pools the money and takes the shopping list for the children to Wal-Mart to purchase much-needed gifts for the 150 children the mission serves. They had a great time shopping, but more importantly, the girls were able to give to those in need out of their hearts. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve once more and put words into action.

Girls High School Basketball Teams Compete Well

The Lady Warriors basketball program really stepped out this past weekend as the junior varsity girls traveled to Conroe Lifestyle to compete in a varsity-level girls private school basketball tournament. There were definitely challenges ahead as the entirely ninth -grade team faced tough opponents in pool play on Thursday. However, on Saturday the girls, led by Caroline Tate, Sophia Wanic and Nicole Santos, fell into the consolation bracket facing Lifestyle Christian varsity and coming away with a strong win. In the afternoon, the team played the Faith West varsity girls for the consolation championship game and came away with another win. Caroline Tate earned All-Tournament honors! Every player on the team improved in their play and worked together as a team. It was quite impressive that freshmen girls could come up with a plaque in a varsity tournament, which really speaks well for the future.

Our varsity team traveled to Flatonia High School near San Antonio to participate as the only private school in a public school round robin tournament. The Lady Warriors played six games, two a day, facing, 2-2A schools, 1-3A school, 2-4A schools and 1-1A school in a very competitive tournament. Each team was a school we had never faced before and they were unique in their style of play so the seven-member team had to focus on new strategies and defense to be effective in the tough competition. The Lady Warriors came out with a 4-2 record and earned second-place honors overall with Lynden Yough being chosen for All-Tournament honors. The entire team improved daily with the new competition, and learned how important good attitudes and staying focused are to the team. Every player improved and we saw many bright spots with Addi McLain scoring 29 points and pulling down 22 rebounds in the last game of the tournament. It was a tremendous opportunity for the team to continue to grow together and learn what it takes to make a team really work.

This Friday, December 17, our JV girls and varsity girls will host Iola High School (2A) in basketball action with one more game before the Christmas break. The JV girls will play at 4:30 p.m. and the varsity girls will play at 6 p.m. Come on out and cheer them on as we continue to prepare for the goals of our season. District play begins January 25.

Cypress Christian Warrior Football – State Champions!

Our Warrior football team captured the Texas State Championship by defeating a strong team from West Texas on Friday afternoon in Waco ISD Stadium. The game between CCS and the Lions of Lubbock Trinity High School turned into an exhaustive defensive battle on an unusually balmy December day, with temperatures in the low 80’s and plenty of humidity. Both coaches agreed that the weather and a strong opponent took an unexpected toll on their players.

The Warriors churned out just under 350 yards of offense on a great Lubbock defense, but fortunately for Lubbock, untimely Warrior turnovers kept our points to a minimum. Warrior Head Coach Kris Hogan expressed this in a post-game interview with members of the press, “I felt like we dominated the game, but when you have a couple of 70 and 80-yard drives that end with any kind of turnover, it basically offsets those drives because you come away empty-handed in terms of scoring points.”  Yet for all of the challenges the Warriors had to overcome to score, the challenge for the Lions offense was even greater…it was the #1 ranked Cypress Christian defense, which was dominating. Lubbock head coach Kevin Spiller commented, “That’s the best defense we have faced and it’s not even close. They’re physical, fast and smart. Just very difficult to deal with.”

Cypress opened the scoring by capping a nice 10-play 75-yard drive with a one yard touchdown run by senior running back Cody Andrus. Andrus finished the game with 173 yards on 32 carries and a TD. The Warriors took a 6-0 lead into halftime, as the defensive battle ensued.

After forcing a Lubbock punt after a quick three and out to begin the third quarter, the Lions received a huge gift of field position, setting up their only score of the game. The Warriors muffed the punt and the Lions recovered on the Warrior 17 yard line. Five plays later Ramon-Edwards, the Lions best offensive weapon, punched in a two-yard score to put Trinity in front 7-6 early in the third quarter. (The talented Edwards received a full scholarship offer from Texas Tech Saturday morning following the game!)

The Warriors immediately regained the lead with a beautiful 12-play 89-yard drive, capped by a seven yard run by junior quarterback Max Landrum. Landrum had 119 yards on 18 carries and one TD. The drive was highlighted by the dominance of the Cypress offensive line. The men up front; Jacob Moran, Jake Swan, Parker Wright, Zeke Hogan and Jacob Rauch simply overwhelmed the Lubbock defenders, continually smashing the line of scrimmage forward, leading the siege of a battering Warrior run game. Coach Hogan noted, “Our O-Line hit the field angry after the turnover and just took over the game on that particular drive. They were locked and loaded!

The Warriors would never relinquish the lead, as Lubbock could never manage another real scoring threat, and a late safety was icing on the cake for the Warriors.

“I’m so proud of our guys. Because of the circumstances of the game they had to play their hearts out for four quarters. It shows what great character and determination they have as a team.  It’s always difficult to beat a good team in a championship game, but to overcome that kind of turnover deficit, just shows how resilient these young men are. I couldn’t be more proud of a team, not only for how they compete, but by how well they represent our great school with class and a strong reflection of our Christian faith and our Lord Jesus Christ.” One Lubbock coach echoed that sentiment a couple of days after the game, passing on to coach Hogan, “Our kids said you guys (CCS) were the most respectful team they had ever played.”   

“I was humbled by his statement.” said Hogan, “but with the parents we have here and the experience I have with these young men, I’m not surprised.”

Having been in two state championship games in as many years, the Warrior football program is building a brand that is being recognized all over the state in newspapers and websites dedicated to covering high school sports. 

Cypress Christian Wins TAPPS State Championship (Houston Chronicle – December 6, 2021)

Cypress Christian Warriors Win Defensive Struggle for 2nd TAPPS Football Title (Texas Red Zone Report – December 3, 2021)

Cypress Christian Tops Lubbock Trinity for Second Title (Houston Chronicle, Texas Sports Nation – December 3, 2021)

Football Friday Night (KHOU – December 3, 2021)

It’s a great time to be a WARRIOR!

Cross Country Awards

The CCS varsity cheer team competed in the TAPPS State Cheer Competition this week and placed 4th, earning a superior rating.

Abbie Hirth & Ashlyn Jackson were named First Team All-State. Claire Achterkirch & Addison Petru were named Second Team All-State. Evie Greenberg was a finalist in individual tumbling.

Great job, Warriors!

Honors Engineering Students 3D Print Christmas Ornaments

The honors engineering class had the opportunity to 3D print Christmas ornaments. The class was blessed to have Mr. James Zapico as a guest speaker to help understand the history of engineering drawings and the modern technology and programs engineers have today to communicate drawings and designs. The students were able to create drawings in an online computer-aided design program called OnShape. They used their skills and practice to design a Christmas ornament of their choice. Mr. Zapico came back to the class to explain how a 3D printer works. Their computer designs were then 3D

Christmas Card Contest Winners

Earlier in the fall, CCS announced the annual Christmas Card Contest and asked elementary and secondary students to submit artwork depicting the story of Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This year, eight works of art were selected to create Christmas cards to be sent to preschools, vendors, donors and fellow Christian schools.

Congratulations to these talented artists!

In no particular order:

1. Cailea Chalton – Grade 8

2. Lilyana Balderas – Grade 11

3. Reagan Lubs – Grade 10

4. Victoria Weaver – Kindergarten

5. Regina Hernandez-Rodriguez – Grade 10

6. Rachel Czagas – Grade 8

7. Mary Ellis Shappley – Grade 1

8. Colton Fields – Grade 5

Varsity Boys Basketball Serves & JV Competes

Last Saturday, the high school boys basketball program partnered with the Theta Chi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity to distribute over 80 turkeys to families in need. Varsity basketball boys, along with Coach Rory and Coach Kenny, delivered the turkeys to four Houston-area churches. A big thank you to the CCS families who made this event a blessing and success.

During the same weekend, Coach Austin and Coach LeSpade merged the JV boys basketball teams and participated in the Galveston O’Connell Thanksgiving Classic and brought home third place.

Basketball Season is Off to a Great Start

The boys varsity basketball team has worked so hard to get to where they are. They won the home opener against Frassati Catholic High School with a score of 43-34. We are excited about the future!

Lady Warrior Basketball is up and running with two high school teams this year. We have a JV team for the first time in a few years and these girls are already 2-1, learning every day. The varsity team came up with a great win against Frassati Catholic High School, 65-55, on November 16. The teams will be traveling to Tyler for a tournament this weekend. We are looking forward to a fun season!

Drum Along the Brazos

On November 6, the Warrior Drumline participated in the Drum Along the Brazos drumline competition hosted by College Station High School. The Warrior Drumline had one of their best performances of the year.

After their performance, the students enjoyed a few hours of mini golf, arcade games and laser tag before returning to watch a few other drumlines perform and hear the results. Although they did not win any awards at the competition, the judges did enjoy their performance and commented on how “the group obviously has a lot of fun performing together.” Another band director also complimented the Warrior Drumline for “energy they must obviously bring to Friday Nights.” While this marks the end of the competition for the pep band and drumline, the students look forward to performing on Friday nights for the football team and during varsity basketball games.

Drum Along the Brazos Performance Video

High School Students Serve with Dr. Morales

On Sunday, October 31, seniors, Griffin Fisk and Jackson Braun, and junior, Price Schultea, volunteered to help Dr. Morales run booths at Market Street Baptist Church’s annual community outreach event where Dr. Morales is the pastor. They helped minister to over 70 children from the neighborhood.