Alief ISD Winter 2024

ALIEF ISD HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS

ALIEFISD.NET

CENTER STAGE ALIEF ISD ATHLETES WILL SHINE THIS WINTER

PREGAME

Happy Holidays, Alief ISD

I am elated that we are welcoming another addition of Vype magazine. Our inaugural magazine, which debuted this fall, was one for the record books. Our students, staff, stakeholders, and community were excited, elated, and engaged in what is going on in our district. We are so thankful for Vype for this partnership which allows us to showcase the talents of our amazing students that participate in so many activities. But on top of that, you tell the stories of how our students have persevered, and how they always put academics first. We know that this magazine can be used as a tool, to allow our students to gain scholarships, and to prepare them for the life that they know they deserve. As your superintendent, I am eternally grateful for every opportunity that we have to work with businesses, locally, state wide and nationally, to ensure that the world knows of the greatness of Alief ISD. It’s no secret that we have had some amazing athletes and Fine Arts students that come through this district. The history is rich, and Alief ISD and many of these students have not only gone on to perform on the national level, but they also give back to our district and to our community. And that’s what it’s all about. Giving back.

I hope that when you turn the pages of this magazine ,that you see yourselves in the eyes of the students, but also the great opportunities that we provide our current and future students in Alief ISD. Their goals and desires are to be better than themselves and to give back to the community that has given so much to them. They motivate me, and I hope that their stories and their journey to adulthood inspires you as well. So once again, thank you for being a part of our Alief ISD family. I wish you all the best, please continue to support all of our student athletes and Fine Arts students, follow us on social media and as always, we are Alief proud!

Best Regards, Dr. Anthony Mays Superintendent of Schools

PREGAME

Dream Big and Great Things Will Happen Billie Jean King, former #1 world tennis player once said, “Champions keep playing until they get it right.” The trajectory to a successful life isn’t always linear. There are crooked roads, hills and valleys; but if you fight hard enough; if you dream big enough; you will get there. Many athletes grew up poor and have gone on to be extremely successful. Cristiano Ronaldo, world famous soccer star, was born in a poor neighborhood in Portugal. Jose Aldo, renowned UFC fighter, was born poor in Brazil and Kassim Uma, born into extreme poverty in Uganda, was kidnapped at age five and was forced to join the National Resistance Army. Like these three athletes, I too was born poor. I was working hard living on a farm in middle school and high school. We were not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but what I lacked in riches, I made up for with my talent; a talent that was cultivated in public schools. I was a football player in middle school and then in high school for two years before transitioning into fine arts through the band program. I learned the importance of teamwork and how to work with people from various backgrounds,

along with time management, goal setting, public speaking, and effective communication. I couldn’t procrastinate or be lazy in practice because it didn’t just affect me; it affected my entire team. I made sure every time I stepped foot on the field, I was showing up as my very best self. My team and I pushed each other to do more and be more than the status quo. It wasn’t just good enough to be a great athlete or band member; we needed the grades to back it up. And back it up we did. With the support of my teachers and coaches and of course my family, I was able to take those skills honed through extracurricular activities to earn scholarships and financial aid to afford college. I know that had it not been for the support of those that loved and cared for me, that I would not be where I am today. Students come from all walks of life. They may be poor; couch-surfing from place to place with the only hot meal coming from the school cafeteria or from an affluent background in a gated community; it doesn’t matter. Every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves a quality education and access to extracurricular activities. I can speak wholeheartedly to how much of an impact extracurricular activities made on my life and in the life of my daughter, who was an avid soccer player and now a high school English teacher. My parents valued education and though they didn’t have much financially to contribute, that didn’t stop them from supporting me and my siblings as best as they could. I encourage every parent, grandparent, and community member to continue to show their support for public education. The more we invest in our children, the better our world will be for future generations. It doesn’t matter where you come from but rather where you are going. Shoot for the stars and value the team. Thank you, Alief ISD community, for always supporting our students and staff. We encourage you to continue to show up for our students at every opportunity possible.

Thank you for being Alief Proud! Charles Woods Alief ISD Deputy Supt of Business Services, Alief ISD

ISD Board of Trustees

Secretary

President

DR. LILY TRUONG Vice-President

JENNIFER KEY

DR. GREGG PATRICK Assistant Secretary

DR. DARLENE BREAUX

Trustee

Trustee

Trustee

RICK MORENO

ANN WILLIAMS

JANET SPURLOCK

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PREGAME

Winter Weather Makes Alief ISD Sports Better

SOCIAL

@vypehouston /vypetexas

@vypetexas @vype.houston

Early sunsets and cooler temperatures can only mean one thing; it’s time for winter sports to take DIALING it UP! As a K – 12 Alief ISD alumni and a former basketball student athlete, this has always been my favorite time of year and this year is no different! I’m especially excited that we have some promising teams and players sprinkled throughout basketball, swimming and soccer. Our coaches have been prepping all fall preparing schedules, scheduling fall leagues, holding offseason workouts and practicing in

VYPE STAFF PUBLISHER VYPE MEDIA, LLC CEO Shane Hildreth

CHIEF CONTENT OFFICER Matt Malatesta CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Derek Dusek CREATIVE DIRECTOR Daniel Tiller

ALIEF ISD PUBLICATION + VYPE LOGO DESIGNER Meadowlark Creative • Carrie@ArtByMeadowlark.com PHOTO EDITOR Bradley Collier CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bradley Collier, Jamey Wright, Doug Brown STAFF WRITER Matthew Ogle DIGITAL EDITOR Jackson DiPasquale CAMPUS REPRESENTATIVE Diana Alvarado

preparation of the winter 23-24 season. It is a pleasure to work so closely with our winter sports to ensure our athletes are prepared to compete at their highest level. The prep work is not solely limited to the fall; our coaches in Alief ISD work year-round to ensure our athletes have the tools to succeed in sport and in life! As I indicated earlier, the winter class is promising. We have some highly ranked girls’ basketball recruits with programs looking to enter the play-offs for the second year in a row. Soccer is always a highlight with several of our boys and girls teams vying for the play-offs each year, with a few of them going deep into the state play-offs. In the pool, we have all three programs with swimmers eying a return to the regional swim meet. Needless to say, winter sports offer many reasons to get excited! I encourage you to come out and see all the work our coaches and student athletes put into their respective crafts by catching a game or a meet. Our schedules can be found on the athletics page of our Alief ISD website. We look forward to seeing you supporting our athletes! Best Regards, Marla Brumfield Lewis, M.Ed. Assistant Athletic Director

CONTACT INFORMATION MAILING ADDRESS: VYPE Media, LLC 1334 Brittmoore Road, Suite 2901 Houston, TX 77043 EMAIL: info@vypemedia.com

PHONE: 713-969-7105 WEBSITE: vype.com

VYPE is published by Vype Media, LLC. Reproductions in whole or in part without permission are prohibited. VYPE is not responsible for the return of unsolicited artwork, photography or manuscripts and will not be responsible for holding fees or similar charges. All digital submissions and correspondence will become property of VYPE. EDITORIAL DISCLAIMER All rights reserved. For editorial matters, please contact the editor. The views of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the policies of VYPE nor that of the publishers. VYPE has a clear commitment to inviting and publishing corrections of fact and clarifying errors of context. Corrections of errors and mistakes are a necessity in obtaining credibility in the magazine. VYPE supports and encourages our staff and contributing writers and photographers to make any potential error known to our editor. ADVERTISING DISCLAIMER All rights reserved. The views and opinions of VYPE advertisers does not reflect that of VYPE High School Sports Magazine. In accordance with the NCAA Bylaws, VYPE and its advertisers have complied in all advertisements present in VYPE.

ON THE COVER Photo by BRADLEY COLLIER Center Stage: Alief ISD Athletes Will Shine This Winter

@AliefISD /AliefISD @alief _ proud

SOCIAL

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PHOTO FEATURE

CONTENTS TABLE of

36

18 27

04

Feisty Competitors Rodgers has Tight-Knit Girls Soccer Group at Hastings

Made for This

Run It Back

Wonders of Winter

Gray Expecting Another MVP Caliber Performance with Taylor \\ By Matthew Ogle

Elsik Girls Soccer on Attack in 2024

Photo Feature: Alief ISD Winter Sports Continue to Heat Up

12

19 28

37

Dialing It Up

Bear Down

Taking the Plunge Elsik Swim Aims to Make a Splash in District

The Flip Turn

Elsik Boys Basketball’s New Culture Could Pay Dividends

Boys Soccer Playoff Expectations are Real at Hastings

Taylor Swim Vying for Another Trip to Regionals

14 22 29

38

Tipping Off

Turning the Tables

Willing to Compete Hastings has Budding Swim Program Under Jaundoo

Experience Counts Lions Boys Soccer Aiming for Better Playoff Positioning

Oha; Elsik Rams Girls Basketball Looking for Breakout Season

Wilkerson to Guide Hastings Boys Hoops on the Upswing

24 32 Taking Care of Business Bigger, Better, Faster

16

39

The Last Dance

Setting the Foundation Jiminez Looks to Veterans to Bring Taylor Girls Soccer Best on the Pitch

Alexander Mata Enters Final Season as the Elsik Rams’ Captain \\ By Matthew Ogle

Hastings Girls Hoops is a Vibe

Lions Boys Basketball has Size, Versatility to be Dangerous

26

34

17 On Brand

Game-Changer

Wanting More

Winston’s Tenacity Elevates Hastings Girls Hoops \\ By Matthew Ogle

Taylor Girls Basketball has Pieces to be Citywide Contender

Elsik Rams Boys Soccer Continues Success Under Cox

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PHOTO feature

Michael Nuñez HASTINGS

Winter is coming. As the weather begins to cool down, the various programs at Alief ISD continue to heat up. From Elsik and Hastings to Taylor,

athletes will be lacing up as they prepare to return to their fields of play. On the soccer

pitch, the dedicated competitors are ready to provide some fancy footwork to please crowds, while the iconic sounds of shoes squeaking, balls dribbling, and nets swishing are about to return to the bas ketball court. All the while, some of the most fit athletes around are going

back to the water, as each of the Alief swim teams have their sights set on personal bests.

WINTER WONDERS

of

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PHOTO feature

Fernanda Alvarez HASTINGS

Brian Orellana TAYLOR

Chase Gordon ELSIK

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PHOTO feature

Favour Emeka HASTINGS

Lesli Aviles TAYLOR

Alexandra Brooks ELSIK

Dante Oliver HASTINGS

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PHOTO feature

Angie Barrios ELSIK

Ja’Real Garner HASTINGS

Johanna Ajaya HASTING

Oluwanifemi Taiwo TAYLOR

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Mostafa Modwi ELSIK

Juana Esono TAYLOR

Kali Howard TAYLOR

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PHOTO feature

Morgan Maldonado TAYLOR

Carley Barron HASTINGS

Javier Mathis TAYLOR

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NEWS

alief isd

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MIGHTY RAMS

ELSIK HIGH

RACK ‘EM UP Expectations High for Elsik This Winter

The Rams are poised to make their mark on their respective fields of play. Boys basketball is young with a select few leaders who second-year coach Laurence Muhammad will expect to set the tone on the court. On the girls’ side, coach Ugo Oha has plenty of talent to work with as Elsik pursues a trip to the postseason. Both soccer rosters have tremendous potential to reach the playoffs, especially the boys’ squad, which is coming off an appearance in the 2022 UIL Area round. After reaching the Regional Meet a year ago, Elsik swim is likely to have another stellar season in the water.

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Elsik’s New Culture Could Pay Dividends DIALING it UP feature ELSIK BOYS BASKETBALL

2023-24 Rams Boys Basketball

Ricky Wilson

Trenton Scott

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ELSIK BOYS BASKETBALL

FEATURE

Joshua Smith

Awesome Equaikhide

I think our biggest strength this year is going to be how the guys really pull for each other. This group wants to see each other be successful, and in terms of team chemistry and our culture, the expectations are even higher as I enter my second year with the program. “ CORNER

PLAYERS WATCH TO David Uwalaka (Sr. F) Ricky Wilson (Sr. F/G) Tim Ofesi (Jr. C)

Coach Laurence Muhammad

” ~Laurence Muhammad ELSIK BOYS BASKETBALL

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ELSIK GIRLS BASKETBALL

feature

TIPPING OFF Oha; Rams Looking for Breakout Season

2023-24 Rams Girl Basketball

Ne’Miah Renfro

Sara William

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ELSIK GIRLS BASKETBALL

FEATURE

Trinity Carmouche

Laylah Keese

I have everybody back from last year. I didn’t have any graduating seniors over the offseason, so the expectations are pretty high for this year’s group. We finished fifth in district last year, so we’re expecting to at least finish third or fourth in order to make it to the playoffs. These girls have trained over the summer and we’re seeing it right now. “ CORNER

PLAYERS WATCH TO Alexandra Brooks (So. G) Trinity Carmouche (Sr. C/PF) Laylah Kesee (Jr. G) Nemiah Renfro (Sr. G)

Coach Ugo Oha

” ~Ugo Oha ELSIK GIRLS BASKETBALL

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ELSIK BOYS SOCCER

feature

THE

LAST DANCE Mata Enters Final Season as the Rams’ Captain OVER THE PAST DECADE, ELSIK SOCCER HAS BEEN A DOMINANT FORCE IN THE DISTRICT AND BEYOND. WITH ITS TRADITION-RICH ENVIRONMENT, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE TEAM’S CULTURE LED BY COACH VINCENZO COX. As the team-captain, senior MF Alexander Mata carries on the Rams’ tradition with authority. “Being the captain brings a lot of responsibility, but plenty of adversity as well,” he said. “I have to make sure I’m playing my part, both on and off the field, because the younger guys are looking up to me and they sometimes need guidance. Someone has to help set an example for them.” Not only has Mata set an example for his peers on the field, but in the classroom as well. Given that he currently ranks near the top of his class, this Elsik senior is adamant about taking care of business in both aspects of his high school tenure. “You never know what kind of future you might want to pursue down the road, so I want to leave all my options open,” Mata said. “I want to make sure I’m doing everything correctly on the academic side and the field in order to give myself a better chance of success when I eventually enter a career path.” While he hasn’t decided where he intends to go to college, Mata already has an idea of what he wants to do once he graduates. “I would like to pursue a career in Web Design or UX Design,” he said. “But soccer has always been my passion, so I hope that I’m still in love with that no matter what I’m doing in the future.” However, before he moves onto the next stage of his life, the Rams’ captain still has one more season left to make his mark on the field alongside his teammates. “The time I’ve spent with Elsik soccer has meant a lot to me,” said Mata. “It’s helped me to grow, not only as a player, but as a person. I’ve had some irreplaceable memories and moments throughout my high school career. I’m definitely going to miss it.” Another district championship is unquestionably a possibility for Mata and the Elsik program. Considering the significance the team means to him, expect Mata to do whatever he can to extend that moment into his final postseason with the Rams. \\ By Matthew Ogle

Alexander Mata

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ELSIK BOYS SOCCER

FEATURE

ON BRAND ELSIK RETURNS TO THE PITCH ON THE HEELS OF AN EXEMPLARY 2022 SEASON, IN WHICH THE RAMS CONCLUDED THE SEASON WITH AN OVERALL RECORD OF 18-3-3, A SECOND-PLACE FINISH IN THE DISTRICT, FOLLOWED BY AN APPEARANCE IN THE UIL AREA ROUND. Coach Vincenzo Cox returns to direct the squad in pursuit of a resurgence with plenty of returning talent in his arsenal. Look for seniors Alexander Mata Diego Salamanca to power the midfield effort, while Luis Hernandez (Sr. GK) anchors the net. Ram Soccer Continues Success Under Cox

Luis Hernandez

Alexander Mata

2023-24 Elsik Boys Soccer

Coach Vincenzo Cox

Diego Salamanca

Luis Hernandez

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ELSIK GIRLS SOCCER

feature

RUN it BACK Elsik Girls on Attack in 2024

Ashley Tinoco

Margarita Baltazar

Moreno Marcos

2023-24 Elsik Girls Soccer

Despite having a smaller senior class, because these girls were freshmen when COVID hit, we’re really excited for this upcoming season. We have a very strong midfield which feeds into every part of our game, especially with how we want to pace the attack. After reaching the playoffs last year, we’re expecting the same from this group. “ ” ~Ricky Tran ELSIK GIRLS SOCCER COACHES 18 \\ ALIEF ISD \\ WINTER 2023 \\ vype.com

Coach Ricky Tran

CORNER

PLAYERS WATCH TO Margarita Baltazar (Sr. MF) Lizbeth Martinez (Sr. FW) Moreno Marcos (Sr. MF)

ELSIK SWIM

FEATURE

TAKING the PLUNGE Elsik Swim Aims to Make a Splash in District

Lesly Campos

Lesly Paxtor

2023-24 Elsik Swim

CORNER

There are a good number of newcomers entering this year, but we’re looking to return to the Regional Meet for both the girls’ and boys’ sides. We have a dedicated group. They come into practice, they work hard, and they have shown to be very coachable in my experience. “ ” ~Shauna Griffin ELSIK SWIMMING vype.com \\ WINTER 2023 \\

Christian Ly

SWIMMERS WATCH TO

Lesly Gomez Christian Ly Mostafa Modawi Lesly Paxtor

COACHES

ALIEF ISD \\ 19

NEWS

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FIGHTING BEARS

HASTINGS HIGH

FIGHTING BEARS

Hastings Building Upon Established Foundations The Bears are dead set on making their mark on the court, field and in the pool this Winter. Coach Darrell Collins will look to Amari Wilkerson and other seniors to lead a resurgence on the court. Hastings girls hoops is expecting another trip to the postseason with stellar performances from Melinda Winston and several more of coach Corey Brotherton’s playmakers. Boys soccer has a solid shot to make a playoff run, while the girls soccer team is young and talented. Coach Lori Jaundoo returns to direct a youthful and growing group of swimmers in her first year back since 2014.

Juan Vergara

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Wilkerson to Guide Hastings Hoops on the Upswing HASTINGS BOYS BASKETBALL TURNING the TABLES feature

HASTINGS RETURNS TO THE COURT ON THE HEELS OF A REBUILDING YEAR, WHICH SAW THE GROUP EXPERIENCE A SERIES OF UPS AND DOWNS. Under the direction of coach Darrell Collins, the Bears will look to build on its foundation in order to turn things around. Amari Wilkerson (Sr. G) should once again be a key contributor for Hastings, after leading the team in points a year ago. Also look for junior PG Giovanni Bernal and Ja’Real Garner (Sr. PF) to make some big plays this Winter as well.

2023-24 Bears Boys Basketball

Daniel Martinez

Coach Darrell Collins

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HASTINGS BOYS BASKETBALL

FEATURE

Amari Wilkerson

Wenbo Fernandez

Giovani Bernal

Deondra Rountree

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HASTINGS GIRLS BASKETBALL

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TAKING CARE of BUSINESS Hasting Girls Hoops is a Vibe

2023-24 Bears Basketball

Kamren Stiggers

Ma’Kaylee Martin

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HASTINGS GIRLS BASKETBALL

FEATURE

Amyah Weathersby

Reese Santos

CORNER

PLAYERS WATCH TO Favour Emeka (Jr. G) Kamren Stiggers (Sr. F) Amyah Weathersby (Jr. F) Melinda Winston (Sr. G)

“

I try to teach the girls to be good leaders, and good mentors to the younger girls, not only on the court but off of it. Our GPA is high, it’s above a 3.5. These young ladies are great in the classroom. So, when you have a team that takes care of their business off the court, it makes my job as a coach that much easier on the court.

” ~Corey Brotherton HASTINGS GIRLS BASKETBALL

Coach Corey Brotherton

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HASTINGS GIRLS BASKETBALL

feature

Melinda Winston

GAME-CHANGER \\ By Matthew Ogle Winston’s Tenacity Elevates Hastings Girls Hoops

“My biggest inspiration is easily my parents,” said Winston. “My Mom – who I’m named after – is majestic and carries herself with such grace and poise. She’s taught me to be humble and sensible with others. “My Dad (Dennis Winston) was a professional football player. He’s in the Hall of Fame at the University of Arkansas and played with the Steelers and Saints, so there’s plenty to look up to. But, sometimes I’ll be having a bad day and he’ll send me inspirational quotes and give me advice. He’s always been there for me.” While she has unfinished business at Hastings, Winston is more than prepared for the next level, where she will play at Georgia Southern.

“I’d say one of my biggest strengths on the court would be my ability to pick apart defenses,” she said. “You know, using Euro-steps, crossovers, watching their body language – I like pulling moves out of my bag, and seeing the look on the coaches’ face when I score. You can’t pay for that, it’s priceless.” Winston’s palpable charisma makes it easy to see how she’s become a fan-favorite. She’s a great teammate, getting others around her involved. “Everyone gravitates towards the scorer,” Winston said. “Even though I’m not a point guard, I’ve always been drawn towards that position because their job is to find their teammate’s favorites spots as well as their own. So, going through high school, my assists have gone up for that exact reason. It’s cool to see those windows and give your teammates some love.” Players like this don’t come around often. So, what’s been the secret ingredient that has made Winston into the person she is?

SINCE DONNING HER BLACK AND GOLD JERSEY, HASTINGS’ MELINDA WINSTON HAS BEEN AN INDISPUTABLE GAME-CHANGER. It might not come as a surprise, but this senior Bear has been a baller since day one. “I would follow my older brother (Gabriel) into the gym, and he would always play with his friends,” said Winston. “I always wanted to be like him, so one day I went to the YMCA and I saw this boy dribbling the ball under his legs and I thought, ‘I want to learn how to do that’. “So my Mom told me I could play at Fort Bend, but they made rules that said you can’t steal or block. That was too easy. I started AAU and the rest is history.” It seems that her career has been a highlight reel, given that she’s led the team in scoring each season – most recently averaging over 17 points per game in 2022. But according to her, scoring isn’t even her greatest asset.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @alief_proud

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HASTINGS GIRLS SOCCER

FEATURE

FEISTY

COMPETITORS Rodgers has Tight-Knit Group at Hastings

Gladis Son Cuc

Letisia Ramirez

Yamileth Campos

2023-24 Hastings Girls Soccer

CORNER We’re in a rebuilding year with only five returning starters, but I can tell our strength will be in our passing game. We have little, tenacious defenders who are a tight unit of seniors. I feel like we’re a feisty group who have a lot to prove this upcoming season. “

PLAYERS WATCH TO Fernanda Alvarez (Jr. CM) Letisia Ramirez (Sr. MF) Gladis Son Cuc (Sr. CB)

” ~Courtney Rodgers HASTINGS GIRLS SOCCER

Coach Courtney Rodgers

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HASTINGS BOYS SOCCER

feature

BEAR DOWN Playoff Expectations are Real at Hastings

Jared Loredo

Miguel Razo

Juan Vergara

2023-24 Bears Tennis

COACHES

The expectation at Hastings is always to win and make a run for the playoffs. Off the field we want to help these kids build social skills and an understanding of how to deal with adversity. We look forward to a great season. We have a very tough district, but we’ve been competitive for years, so I don’t expect that to change. “ ” ~Jesse Castanon HASTINGS BOYS SOCCER ALIEF ISD \\ WINTER 2023 \\ vype.com

CORNER Luis Fuentes

PLAYERS WATCH TO Jared Loredo (Sr. LB) Miguel Razo (Sr. GK) Juan Vergara (Sr. CM)

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HASTINGS SWIM

FEATURE

WILLING TO

COMPETE Hastings has Budding Program Under Jaundoo

Kirvin Martinez

Heidi Chanchavac

Ashley Valdez

2023-24 Hastings Swim

CORNER We’re trying to build willing competitors with a very young team. We’re starting from basically a learned swim program with hopes of advancing through to Regionals, and hopefully some State swimmers at some point. They just need to be motivated and have the determination to learn all four strokes in order to succeed moving forward. “ ” ~Lori Jaundoo HASTINGS SWIMMING

SWIMMERS WATCH TO

Johanna Ajayi Heidi Chanchavac Alexis Estrada Kirvin Martinez

Coach Lori Jaundoo

COACHES vype.com \\ WINTER 2023 \\

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NEWS

ALIEF ISD

I M P A C T E D IMPACTED

Subscribe and listen!

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ROARING LIONS

ALIEF TAYLOR HIGH

DOMINANCE CONTINUED The Lions’ Den Primed for Dominance

Andrea Funes

The expectations couldn’t be higher for Alief Taylor, as the majority of their Winter teams return from preceding successes. Both of the basketball programs, led by Frank Castanon and Brandy Jones respectively, are coming off postseason appearances and have plenty of talent to repeat. Nathan Kongolo and Nefi Taiwo should once again headline the boys’ side, while Nataliyah Gray will remain a dominant force for the girls. On the pitch, coach Jose Leal will depend on his seniors to bring about a hopeful playoff return, as coach Jorge Jimenez expects his girls to improve upon their competitive streak. In the pool, coach Chenghan Lin seeks for his group to make another push for the Regional Meet in the ensuing months.

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TAYLOR BOYS BASKETBALL

feature

FASTER Lions Have Size, Versatility to be Dangerous BIGGER, BETTER,

2023-24 Lions Boys Basketball

Sean Kongolo

Nathan Kongolo

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TAYLOR BOYS BASKETBALL

FEATURE

Tae Han Malik

Cesar Sanchez

Our strength tends to vary, year to year. We like pushing the ball up the court and playing some man-to-man, but given the size we have on defense, we have the opportunity to pick and choose the scheme that works to our advantage against any opponent we may face. “ CORNER

PLAYERS WATCH TO Nathan Kongolo (Sr. PG) Sean Kongolo (So. G) Cesar Sanchez (Jr. G) Oluwanifemi Taiwo (Sr. PF/C)

Coach Frank Castanon

” ~Frank Castanon TAYLOR BOYS BASKETBALL

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TAYLOR GIRLS BASKETBALL

feature

WANTING MORE Taylor has Pieces to be Citywide Contender

2023-24 Lions Girls Basketball

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TAYLOR GIRLS BASKETBALL

FEATURE

Diara Williams

Trinity Hamilton

Mya Rhea

Madison Bush-Lewis

We’ve made it to the playoffs five years in a row. Our hurdle is to get further into the playoffs, so everybody has that mindset. The girls come to work every day with that thought in their heads. That’s our goal, and we have the pieces to do it. “ CORNER

PLAYERS WATCH TO Nataliyah Gray (Jr. F) Trinity Hamilton (So. G) Madison Bush-Lewis (Jr. G) Mya Rhea (So. G)

Coach Brandy Jones

” ~Brandy Jones TAYLOR GIRLS BASKETBALL

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TAYLOR GIRLS BASKETBALL

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Nataliyah Gray

Gray Expecting Another MVP-Caliber Performance MADE THIS F O R

\\ By Matthew Ogle

Despite only being a junior, Gray is garnering the attention of numerous collegiate teams. The reigning District Offensive MVP has a clear picture of what she’s seeking from a potential college program. “In a school, I’m looking for an environment of family and community,” said Gray. “For me, that’s what I hope for. Where ever I’ve played, it’s always been about the coach. I want to make sure I’m comfortable in the system and love the atmosphere that I’m in...a coach and program which believes in me and gets me to where I want to go.” With a 6-foot-3 frame and another two seasons remaining on the high school court, the sky’s the limit for Nataliyah “Tally” Gray.

Most of my techniques come from her.” While it might have taken some time, Gray ultimately realized that she was meant to be a basketball star. “It was in seventh grade,” said Gray. “I think I finally started to have fun playing it. I wanted to play it, I wanted to learn it. That’s what made me start to really think, ‘Is this something that I can see myself doing in the long run?’. Come to find out, it was. I watch a lot of WNBA and college basketball, and now that’s the dream.” Perfecting her craft takes up the majority of her schedule. But, what does Gray do to take the edge off? “TikTok,” she laughed. “I know everybody knows about TikTok, and that is my thing. I could be on that App all day. I also love to watch movies and I’ll occasionally play some video games, but most of my free time is spent on TikTok.”

EVERY SO OFTEN, A TEAM IS GRACED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL WHO CAN ELEVATE THEIR PEERS, JUST BY BEING ON THE COURT. For Alief Taylor, junior Nataliyah Gray fulfills that role with style. Since coming onto the scene Gray has dominated, scoring over 20 points a game to propel the Lions into the postseason ever since she has graced the court. Given her background in the sport, her prowess comes naturally. “My Mom (Chontel Reynolds) was a professional and my Dad played basketball as well, so it’s always been in my life,” she said. “When you’re around basketball, eventually you’re either going to like watching it or you’re going to play it. “For me, it was mostly been my Mom’s influence, making me love the game... teaching me about it.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @alief_proud

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ALIEF ISD \\ WINTER 2023 \\ vype.com

THE FLIP TURN FEATURE TAYLOR SWIM Taylor Swim Vying for Another Trip to Regionals

Sebastian Romero

Nha Lam

Yvonne Ly

2023-24 Taylor Swim

Last year, both my girls and boys teams advanced to Regionals, which marked the only school in our district to accomplish that feat. I am very proud of that. My goal, as a coach, is definitely to maintain that consistency, and hopefully advance to the Regional Finals. Our numbers have always been smaller... we’re small, but strong. “ ” ~Chenghan Lin TAYLOR SWIM CORNER vype.com \\ WINTER 2023 \\

SWIMMERS WATCH TO

Isaiah Rivas Garcia Kali Howard Yvonne Ly Sebastian Romero

Coach Chenghan Lin

COACHES

ALIEF ISD \\ 37

EXPERIENCE feature TAYLOR BOYS SOCCER Senior-Laden Lions Aiming for Better Playoff Positioning COUNTS THE LIONS ARE COMING OFF A YEAR IN WHICH THEY MUSCLED THEIR WAY TOWARDS A

POSTSEASON APPEARANCE AFTER FINISHING FOURTH IN A COMBATIVE DISTRICT. Coach Athony Khan will see to it that that remains the standard for the program. He will look to a bevy of seniors to anchor a young roster, as Taylor will likely depend on their strong back-line to keep the team competitive throughout the ensuing season. Look for various senior starters, such as Bryan Chuc, Terry Garcia, Bryan Fajardo, Cristian Rojas and Edgar Vazquez to propel the Lions to another trip to the postseason.

Coach Athony Khan

Terry Garcia

2023-24 Taylor Boys Soccer

Edgar Vasquez

Bryan Chuc

Bryan Fajardo

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ALIEF ISD \\ WINTER 2023 \\ vype.com

FOUNDATION FEATURE TAYLOR GIRLS SOCCER Jiminez Looks to Veterans to Bring Taylor’s Best on the Pitch SETTING THE

Martha Laguna

Catherine Guillen

2023-24 Taylor Girl Soccer

By the end of the season, I would say a win for us would be to stay together as a team, bring up those win numbers, and reduce the goal count. Furthermore, it would be great to beat one of our close rivals, like Hastings or Pearland. We’ve had moments where we were close, so it’s on our list of goals to achieve this year. “ ” ~Jorge Jimenez TAYLOR GIRLS SOCCER CORNER vype.com \\ WINTER 2023 \\

Mia Torres

Emily Chavez (So. GK) Catherine Guillen (Jr. F) Martha Laguna (Sr. D) Mia Torres (Sr. CM) PLAYERS WATCH TO

Coach Jorge Jimenez

COACHES

ALIEF ISD \\ 39

NEWS

ALIEF ISD

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ALIEF ISD \\ WINTER 2023 \\ vype.com

NEWS

ALIEF ISD

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