Last night the St. John XXIII Lions Tennis team traveled out to Bay Area Christian for the District Tennis Tournament!
Check out the highlights from the matches below!
Houston Christian High School announces the hiring of Lake Creek GBB Coach Brianna "Bre" Taylor in March 2026
Photo taken by: Bradley C. Collier (VYPE) // Graphic developed by @vypegraphics
“While it was brief, my time at Lake Creek really helped me grow as a coach,” Taylor said. “I’ve learned to embrace adversity and step outside my comfort zone—that’s where true development happens. As coaches and former players, our identity is often rooted in performance, particularly performing well, so it’s been about seeking different ways to achieve that. As a result, my ability to connect with players, meet them where they are, and support them has taken a tremendous leap.”
That evolution didn’t begin on the sideline, but rather through a shift in perspective during her playing career.
“Honestly, I swore I’d never become a coach or teacher when I was playing,” she said with a laugh. “But I’ve come to see this field as a true calling. Late in my collegiate career, injuries sidelined me and allowed me to view the game through a different lens. From that perspective, my IQ as a player grew, which has helped shape the kind of coach I want to be. Starting out coaching fourth graders in AAU taught me patience and how to communicate and pass on knowledge I had to earn—skills that translate well now.”
Taylor steps into a situation primed for immediate success.
Houston Christian Jr. PG A'Zyua BlairBryan Guevara (VYPE)
Houston Christian went 22–7 in 2026 and finished as the SPC 4A runner-up to The Kinkaid School, setting the stage for what could be a defining winter ahead. The Lady Mustangs return a core of high-level talent, headlined by A’Zyua Blair, who earned TABC All-State and All-SPC honors as a junior. Rising seniors Lyla Delafosse and Naddilee French further bolster a roster with both experience and ambition, as the program eyes its first championship since 2023.
Balancing those expectations with culture-building is where Taylor sees her role extending beyond the court.
“The greatness is already there at Houston Christian, so I think being a full-time coach and teacher brings a kind of ‘newness’ the girls will appreciate,” Taylor said. “When you see your coach in the halls or sit in their class, it creates a different high school experience—that’s what fosters culture. These girls have nothing to prove; they’re heading to college, and some will play at the next level. My job is to prepare them for that as best I can and be with them every step of the way.”
For Taylor, the next step isn’t just about wins—it’s about presence, perspective, and purpose, all converging in a place that already feels like home.
Some of the stars of 2025-26 Houston Christian HS Basketball
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
“We could tell early on that we had something special,” Crandall said. “A lot of that came from our willingness to connect, starting in the offseason. We read The 7 Commitments of a Great Team together—going through a few pages each day and meeting twice a week to discuss it. That helped us get to know each other on a deeper level than just basketball. It became our focus and built a bond that was unbreakable—and one we were able to sustain.”
Houston Christian adapted The 7 Commitments as a guiding framework, emphasizing commitment to the team’s vision, positivity, continuous improvement, connection, and valuing each other. Those principles evolved into a player-driven mission statement: “Be a Brotherhood that inspires others through our infectious energy and discipline.”
On a broader level, the program’s identity is rooted in its “Be ELITE” mantra, introduced in 2020. More than a call to be superior, ELITE represents Excellence, Love, Identity, Thankfulness, and Enthusiasm.
“A coach told me a long time ago, ‘You are what you emphasize, and you get what you tolerate,’” Crandall said. “We want to be a team that emphasizes more than just going out there to hoop and win games. We want to be the young men God calls us to be, pursuing excellence through the process we follow each day.”
Landon Veal (Jr. F)
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The players delivered on that philosophy. Juniors Landon Veal, Josiah “Jojo” McGowen, and Will Arriaga—each All-SPC selections—often proved too much for opponents to handle. Veal’s standout season earned him a Guy V. Lewis Award nomination and Tournament MVP honors, while senior point guard Demetri Lewis, Aiden Pitcaithly, Xavier Gibbons, and Miller Martin each contributed selflessly to the team’s success.
“Everyone has a special role that they bring to the team, and we value what that is,” Crandall said. “Let’s minimize what they can’t do and maximize what they can do. We poured into each other to bring out the very best in everyone to fulfill that role.”
One might assume that winning a championship is the ultimate goal each season, but that’s part of what sets Houston Christian apart.
“We’re not defined by how many championships we win,” Crandall said. “We should be defined by the impact we have on people—that’s what legacy is about. Titles are just an experience you share with that team, but it’s the journey that led there that you’ll always remember.”
For Crandall and his Mustangs, that journey—built on connection, discipline, and shared values—remains the real blueprint of success.
The new head coach of Houston Christian's field hockey program, Meadoe Harrell-Alvarez
Her vision for the team exceeds wins and losses.
“My goal is to continue developing them physically, while also helping them understand the game and compete at a higher level,” she said. “They have the chance to be great, and I want to show them that in an environment where they feel both supported and challenged.”
Coach Harrell-Alvarez joins senior Isabella Diaz on the day she signed with Bellarmine UniversityPhoto provided by Harrell-Alvarez
Harrell-Alvarez’s credibility is rooted in experience as both a player and a coach. Beyond her work at HCHS, she plays a key role with Albion Field Hockey Club, a new extension of the long-established Albion Hurricanes Football Club.
Albion aims to build a sustainable youth program—including an adult league—across Texas. Harrell-Alvarez oversees curriculum, recruiting, tournament development, and promotion, blending hands-on coaching with program-building responsibilities.
“The passion has always been there for me as a coach,” she said. “But with the introduction of my position at HCHS and Albion, it’s more important that I show growth as well. Coaching really brings out opportunities for people, so I don’t want to just lead this Houston Christian team. I hope to be a beacon, and help others find that same love for the sport.”
Since her promotion, the dynamic with the team has remained consistent.
“The only thing that has changed is the title,” Harrell-Alvarez said. “They know I love field hockey and being around them. This team can be a safe haven and help them to progress, and I think we’re all just genuinely excited to see where this goes.”
Early achievements, she says, are rooted in confidence and progression.
“I’ll measure our success by how comfortable they feel on the field and in their positions. Wins will follow as they improve, but what matters most is their confidence in the game, the growth of their skills and fitness, and how they contribute in the classroom and community. Those qualities are already victories in my book.”
Utilizing a holistic approach, Harrell-Alvarez is shaping Houston Christian field hockey’s next chapter—one that is full of promise.
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