TWCA Fall 2023

THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

TWCA .NET

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TWCA Celebrates 30 Years of Inspiring Young Leaders

TWCA NEWS

PREGAME

Dear Friends, The Woodlands Christian Academy is blessed to celebrate our 30th year of inspiring young leaders on the field and in the classroom. We are so grateful to our fans for your support of our student athletes, and we look forward to another exciting year in Warrior athletics!

SOCIAL

@vypehouston /vypetexas

@vypetexas @vype.houston

VYPE STAFF PUBLISHER VYPE MEDIA, LLC CEO Shane Hildreth

Physical development is an integral component of the overall school expe rience for our PK4 - 12th grade students. In fact, it serves as one of the four foundational pillars that make up our mission — The Woodlands Christian Academy is an independent, Christ-centered college preparatory school that integrates learning with biblical faith and spiritual growth and challenges students to reach their highest potential - intellectually, creatively, physically and socially - for the glory of Jesus Christ. Rigorous academics, spiritual maturity, stimulating creative opportunities, meaningful social experiences, and competitive athletics have allowed us to graduate confident and well-rounded future leaders who are grounded in their faith and equipped to make a positive impact with their lives. The lessons learned on the field and the mentorship, encouragement, and life-long relationships developed between teammates and coaches are in valuable. Our coaching staff is steadfast in their commitment to implement ing opportunities for fellowship to ensure Warrior athletes recognize that only through Christ are we able to achieve such tremendous success. I am so proud of our student athletes and coaches, and I appreciate the community’s continued support of our programs. Your encouragement and enthusiasm really makes a difference to our future leaders! Go Warriors and, never forget, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12b) Serving Him, Julie H. Ambler Head of School

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

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.

SPECIAL THANKS TWCA MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Stephanie Olson, Michael Fonville & Matthew Reese

ON THE COVER Photo by BRADLEY COLLIER

SOCIAL TWCA

THE GREEN & GOLD: Warriors Salem Armstrong-Behe, Grayson Boeker, Zoe Calimani and Logan Swan lead way for The Woodlands Christian Academy this fall.

@twcawarriors /twcawarriors /twcawarriors

@twca _ sports @twcawarriors /twcawarriors

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Gunnar Okland

BATTLE TESTED The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors are back and better than ever as the student-athletes pursue excellence on their respective fields of play. The football team is off to a solid start with an explosive offense and stingy defense, while the volleyball team ushers in a younger vibe under the direction of first-year head coach Whitney Wofford. Coach Tom Earle’s cross country program is stacked with star power and the cheerleaders bring the energy across campus. It’s time to get on your feet to cheer on the Green & Gold.

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Bella Rios

Emma Conrey

Kaitlyn Bass

Kai Parker

Lauren Shannon

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Jonathan Vidal

Robert Calimani

Victoria Crawford

Beau Ellis

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FOOTBALL BUCKLE UP

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Warriors Expect a Postseason Return

Going through the heat that we had this year has been a big obstacle for us to deal with, but the guys have done a great job about not letting it get to them. They pushed through everything in practice, and have given us the effort that’s necessary to win. What we ask of them is to have the right attitude and effort, and I’m excited that it has already translated on the field this Fall. “ ” ~Kolby Hull TWCA FOOTBALL COACHES’ 6 \\

PLAYERS WATCH TO Hudson Bardwell, DL/TE Grayson Boeker, LB Beau Ellis, RB Duke Heise, SS/WR Kai Parker, WR Jonathan Vidal, QB

CORNER

Justin Abbey

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FOOTBALL

Hudson Bardwell

Duke Heise

Rylan Eaton

JC Lopez

Tyler Seeger

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FOOTBALL 411

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Boeker’s Transfer to TWCA has Paid Dividends \\ By Matthew Ogle

THE

GRAYSON BOEKER MADE AN INSTANT IMPRESSION AT THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY A YEAR AGO AND CONTINUES TO BUILD ON HIS WARRIOR RESUME. After earning all-state, honorable mention and first team, all-district honors as a sophomore, Boeker is ready for a breakout junior season that will put him on the recruiting map. His mindset is to also lead TWCA deep into the postseason. VYPE got the chance to catch up with Boeker before entering district play. ... VYPE: What drew you to TWCA as a move-in over a year ago? BOEKER: “I went to Cypress Woods and checked out TWCA. I was like ‘wow’ when I came. The campus is beautiful, the people are really nice, the teachers are great and the coaches really care about you. It kind of feels like the size of a public middle school, where everyone knows everyone.” VYPE: What made you get into football in the first place, and what’s compelled you to keep going with it? BOEKER: “When I was about seven, I played flag football with my friends because they started a team. I was always pretty good, so my parents told me I should play tackle football. I was going to quit at one point, because I stopped being as good. Then I started putting in the work and really could see my improvement. Now, I’m here.” VYPE: Who do you like to watch to better your game? BOEKER: “I watch a lot of high school linebackers around Texas. I watch Justin Williams of Oak Ridge to see how he approaches the position. In college, I love to watch Clemson’s Barrett Carter and the Colorado Buffs.” VYPE: What do you want to study when you get to college? What career can you see yourself potentially pursuing one day? BOEKER: “Every kid’s dream is the NFL, so I’m going to continue to pursue that as long as I can. I can definitely see myself doing something in the engineering field, because I have a really good mind for math. If not that, I might go into law. I like to debate with people.” VYPE: I’m sure football and school take up a lot of your time. So, what do you do to take the edge off? BOEKER: “I mostly just hang out with my friends. They always find a way to keep me cool -- keep me happy and having fun.”

Grayson Boeker

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TWCA NEWS

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TWCA NEWS

TWCA Warrior Boosters promotes school spirit and provides support to the Athletic and Fine Arts Programs. To join Warrior Boosters, visit twca.net/boosters. Thank You to Our Sponsors!

WARRIOR BOOSTERS PRESENTING SPONSOR

VICTORY SPONSORS

The Orr Family

BIBLER FINNEY PANFIL PRIVATE WEALTH MANAGEMENT GROUP of Wells Fargo Advisors

The Chappelle Family

The Tillman Family

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TWCA NEWS

WARRIOR BOOSTERS FALL SEASON SPONSOR

WARRIOR BOOSTERS WINTER SEASON SPONSOR

WARRIOR BOOSTERS SPRING SEASON SPONSOR

MONARCH SILICA Expert Production. Exceptional Products.

SUPPORTER SPONSORS

BANNER SPONSORS

The Brown Family Compass Drywall

Joe Castro Plumbing Kailee Mills Foundation Kara Powell Photography Mike Powell Insurance Petroleum Wholesale

The Rodriguez Family Mike Seder Group/ Nicole Murphy Realtor Sovran Water Texas Premier Mortgage The Republic Grille

Hometown Pediatrics Houk Air Conditioning Hughes & Cozad Orthodontics

Sponsors as of September 10, 2023

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VOLLEYBALL YOUTH SERVED

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Wofford has Plenty of Young Talent in Year One PLAYERS WATCH TO Salem Armstrong-Behe, R

I’ve been a part of the program for the last eight years, but in my first year as head coach I want to help continue the culture of competitiveness. Winning is not always the definition of success, but I want us to be successful on and off the court. Most importantly, I want to ensure that at the end of the day we’re being good people. “ ” ~Whitney Wofford TWCA VOLLEYBALL COACHES’ 12 \\

CORNER Rylie Moore, DS Logan Swan, OH Whitney Tucker, MB

Coach Whitney Wofford

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VOLLEYBALL

Whitney Tucker

Salem Armstrong-Behe

Rylie Moore

Alexandra Walton

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VOLLEYBALL

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STEPPING UP

TWCA Volleyball Led by Sophomore Swan

\\ By Matthew Ogle

FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH WHITNEY WOFFORD NEEDED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE THAT SHE COULD LEAN ON TO LEAD HER TEAM. Enter sophomore Logan Swan. A sophomore? The Warriors were senior-heavy last season, leaving Swan to step into the leadership role. “Things are a little different this year since so many seniors graduated,” she said. “We had several upperclassmen to look up to on the court, who had been in the program for a while. So, this year I have a different role on the team. Since we’re so young overall, I hope to be someone that can be looked up to in that way, as one of the returning varsity players.”

“

I have grown so much here, and I

definitely wouldn’t be the same person I am today if I had gone somewhere else.

”

Swan moved over from The John Cooper School before entering high school at TWCA. “I was initially thinking of going to public school, until my sister went to TWCA,” she said. “I came with her, and I’ve really enjoyed my time here. It’s nice to have that family element. “I have grown so much here, and I definitely wouldn’t be the same person I am today if I had gone somewhere else.” Volleyball takes up a good portion of her schedule, but when she has some time to spare, Swan still commits herself to reaching excellence as an athlete. “Other than volleyball, I do Crossfit. I really enjoy it,” she said. “That’s part of the reason why I quit playing club volleyball. It can be difficult to manage my time since I play beach volleyball as well, but the intensity of the workouts in Crossfit really appeals to me. Plus, I can always benefit from improving my athleticism that way.” Swan is locked in to leaving her legacy at TWCA... starting now.

Logan Swan

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PERFORMER Calimani Captains State-Ready TWCA Squad \\ By Matthew Ogle CROSS COUNTRY feature THE

Zoe Calimani

“I find that playing the piano is like my quiet place. I mostly play classical music, but it allows me to be alone for a period and relax.” It won’t be long before Calimani graduates, so, what might her future hold? “I know it’s funny to say, but I still see myself running,” she laughed. “I just love to run, it keeps me healthy and I feel like there’s such a great community around the sport. If I get the opportunity to run in college, even if it’s not competitive, I’m more than likely going to take it. “Career-wise, I want to go into medicine or maybe in the field of pediatric nursing. It can be a difficult field to get into, but it’s an aspiration of mine.” If she has the determination to run several miles in the brutal Texas heat on a daily basis, it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to assume that Calimani is capable of making anything a reality.

TWCA HAS HAD A LEGENDARY CROSS COUNTRY PROGRAM BUILT BY COACH TOM EARLE. THE ALL-STATE NAMES DATE BACK DECADES. Setting the pace for the Warriors since her freshman year, Zoe Calimani enters her senior season. The captain led her team to the TAPPS-5A State Meet in 2022, in which the team placed seventh overall. Calimani played a huge role in the team’s finish as she placed eighth individually out of nearly 150 runners. “My teammates are definitely my biggest inspiration,” said Calimani. “Furthermore, being a captain on this team helps to motivate me because I’ve been given the responsibility of setting an example for them. It’s my teammates who drive me to be better.” When she’s not on the trails or the track oval, the senior Warrior quite literally plays her own tune to unwind. “I happen to be a pianist, along with being a distance runner, which I think helps me to be somewhat distinct,” Calimani said. “I’ve been playing the piano for 10 years now. I found that it helps to balance my life, especially since I’m often in the spotlight with cross country and track.

FOR MORE PHOTOS, VISIT US ON INSTAGRAM: @TWCA_Sports

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CROSS COUNTRY

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TRAIL BLAZERS TWCA Vying for State

COACHES’

PLAYERS WATCH TO Robert Calimani

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CORNER Zoe Calimani Philip Catron Hudson Howard Flo Shirley

A lot of the motivation these kids have is from the practices they undergo. It’s intentional, not just going out and running. It’s about building that internal grit and will power. They have a lot of determination even when it hurts, and they know it’s tough. The power of the team is strong because they do it all together.

Coach Tom Earle

” ~Tom Earle TWCA CROSS COUNTRY

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CROSS COUNTRY

Flo Shirley

Hudson Howard

Phillip Catron

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CHEER

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Lexi Elguezebal

TWCA WARRIOR CHEERLEADERS

LET’S GO WARRIORS! TWCA has some of the most accomplished cheerleaders in TAPPS and Texas as a whole. They set the tone inside the hallways and on the field, while being the ambassadors of hype throughout the community. From painting signs to firing up the crowds at volleyball and football games, let’s give the cheerleaders a hand.

Jocelyn Klages

Grace Lundbom

Piper O’Brien

Kate Spitz

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CHEER

SHINING BRIGHT Armstrong-Behe is a Star on the Court and the Field

\\ By Matthew Ogle

EVERY CAMPUS HAS ITS SHINING STAR. Senior Salem Armstrong-Behe seamlessly embodies that role with style. The first thing that piques one’s attention is the uniqueness of her name. “I was born in October, and my Dad has always been a Halloween freak,” she laughed. “My name was initially going to be Scarlet, but it didn’t give off the Halloween vibe. Eventually, my parents landed on ‘Salem’ from the Salem Witch Trials.” Given the fact that she is a leading figure on both the Warriors cheerleading and volleyball teams, Armstrong Behe is a difficult figure to miss on the school grounds. Despite the commitment of doubling up in athletics, she still manages to thrive. “I love staying active, especially now that I’m a senior and have a leadership position,” said Armstrong-Behe. “I’ve been here since the second grade, so it’s been such a great experience to be with girls who I’ve grown up with. We grew together, learned together and competed together. I kind of just wanted to get as much of that as possible.” It’s that same connection that has made Armstrong Behe the person she is today. “Being here (TWCA) for essentially my entire education, I have built friendships that I would never have had otherwise,” she said. “It’s also shaped me into the woman I am today, particularly through Christianity and knowing my faith better. This experience, the friends and the community has allowed me to progress in so many ways.” While she emphasized the love she feels towards volleyball, Armstrong-Behe’s true passion lies where it all began for her. “My Mom was a cheerleader for the University of Tennessee, so I’ve always wanted to follow in her footsteps,” Armstrong-Behe said. “I grew up in competitive cheerleading and dance. It always came naturally to me. I just love everything about the sport, getting to perform in front of people. I’m a very girly girl, so getting ready for games is always fun to me. “But, I think the skill required for it can be overlooked at times. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes, because we’re not just out there yelling at people. There are stunts, tumbling, coordination and choreography involved throughout. Doing that in college would be tremendous.” Whether she’s on the court or on the field in the future, count on this star to keep shining.

Salem Armstrong-Behe

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