VARSITY VOLLEYBALL Dragons Are Silver Bracket Champs
10/8 vs. Houston Christian • 3-0 W
10/9-10 at Houston Open Tournament, Houston Skyline Volleyball
• Silver Bracket Champions•
Dragons finished 4-2 overall, with three wins on the final day.
vs. Frassati: 2-0 W
vs. Concordia 2-1 L
vs. St. Agnes 2-0 L
vs. Faith West Academy 2-0 W
vs. St. John XXIII 2-0 W
vs. Fort Bend Christian 2-0 W
Next up for Dragon Volleyball:
Oct. 13 vs. Duchesne, 6 p.m.
Oct.15 vs. St. John's, 5:30 p.m.
VARSITY FOOTBALL Dragons Are 2-0 For Season
10/2 at Houston Christian • 16-3 W
Coach Erik DeHaven: The John Cooper School went to 2-0 Friday night defeating Houston Christian 16-3. Jake Peterson carried the load rushing for 221 yards and two touchdowns, averaging over 10 yards a carry. The windy conditions kept the game mainly on the ground and Peterson was up for the task, repeatedly getting the needed yardage to move the chains for the Dragons; on a crucial 4th and 9, Peterson asked "if you want it, I got it", and that's exactly what he did. For the second game in a row the Dragon defense bent without breaking, forcing two fumbles and one interception limiting the Mustang offense to just 72 total yards on the night. ll, racking up 13 tackles, 10 solo, one sack and three tackles for loss. The Dragons match up with the Lions of St. John XXIII next week.
Offensive Stats:
279 Rushing yards
54 passing yards
Total 333 Yards Offense
Defensive Stats:
(-6) Yards rushing
78 Passing yards
Total 76 Yards Offense
Players of the Game:
Team MVP: Jack Peterson • 221 Rushing Yards / 2 TD / 10 yard avg per carry / 13 total tackles, 10 solo, 2 pass break ups, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 Sack.
Off MVP: Jax Sisson • Highest Graded Offensive Lineman with 3 pancake blocks
Def MVP: Will Corson • 2 Sacks – 4.5 Tackles – 1 Forced Fumble
Special Teams MVP: Will Young • (30 yard filed goal) 2 touch backs on kickoff – 100% PAT
Scout Team: Hayden Hammit • Tremendous effort all week.
Next up for Dragon Football:
Oct. 9 at Saint John XXIII, 7 p.m.
VARSITY CROSS COUNTRY Tough Results on a Tough Course – Coach Dohner
10/10 at The 40th Maverick Ramble at Spring Creek Park
Coach George Dohner: Tough results on a tough course
Boys 4th • Girls 2nd
The Cooper Cross Country teams ran at the St Johns 40th Maverick Ramble this weekend at Spring Creek Park.
The Tomball course took its toll on the Cooper boys as two of the top runners did not finish due to minor injuries on the course. This allowed the rest of the team to step up. Senior Zac Winton did just that, knocking another seven seconds off his personal best (17:12) to lead the Cooper team to a 4th place finish. Junior Drew Wilkerson also ran a personal best (17:46) and finished 11th. Nathan Seamans and Grey Mendenhall ran well finishing 15th and 16th. Kase Melodick finished out the team scoring in 18th.
"While we felt bad for Will and Vishnu having to drop out of the race, we are extremely proud of the rest of the boys for stepping up. Four of the five set personal bests on a pretty tough course!" said Coach George Dohner.
Team Finish – 4th place
Zac Winton – 6th (17:12)
Drew Wilkerson – 11th (17:46)
Nathan Seamans – 15th (18:09)
Grey Mendenhall – 16th (18:12)
Kase Melodick – 18th (18:19)
The Cooper girls also ran well without senior leader Katie Drake who did not compete this weekend. Cooper only finished 15 points behind the team champions St Johns. Sophomore Megan Day ran a season best 20:59 to take 3rd place in a tough field of runners. Freshman Ava Perugini, in only her second 5k race, knocked nearly a minute off of her personal best to finish in 9th place with at 21:45. She was followed by Rebecca Melin in 10th place, Amber Navarra in 12th, and Chloe Smith and Abby Mendenhall in 15th and 16th.
"We proved today that we have a little depth on our team are happy with the results," said Dohner.
Team Finish: 2nd place
Megan Day – 3rd (20:59)
Ava Perugini – 9th (21:45)
Rebecca Melin – 10th (21:59)
Amber Navarra – 12th (22:00)
Chloe Smith – 15th (22:29)
Next up for Dragon Cross Country:
Oct. 24 at Creekside West Nature Trail Tri-Meet
The stars of 2025-26 Second Baptist School Basketball
No. 1 -- Second Baptist Eagles
Fresh off one of the most commanding displays of the decade, Second Baptist enters this campaign with all the momentum—and aura—it could ask for.
Rightfully so, considering the Eagles (33-4 in 2025) delivered a master class in composure, powering their way to the TAPPS-5A State Championship. In head coach Taylor Land’s inaugural season, SBS capped its title run with a convincing 65-47 win against Grace Prep —marking the program’s first state crown since 2018 and fourth overall.
By all accounts, point guard Reese “Lil Skip” Alston is him. The reigning TAPPS-5A Player of the Year collected a slew of honors last season — Tournament MVP, District MVP, and TABC All-State among them. Ranked No. 24 nationally and regarded as a four-star blue-chip talent, the 6-foot-2 junior already holds more than 20 Division I offers, and counting.
But it’s far from a one-man show. Equally integral to Eagles’ offensive dynamic is Shia Francis (Navy-commit), a senior guard who returns after averaging 15 points and 7 rebounds en route to first-team, all-state honors. Junior Will Goolsby (13 ppg, 4 rpg) also earned first-team, all-state recognition, while senior Maverick Manginello (second-team, all-district) and junior Cason Hall round out a loaded unit that’s dead-set on a repeat in 2026.
No. 2 -- Houston Christian Mustangs
Isaiah Vela (VYPE)
In an era where programs often chase relevance through waves of young talent, some would argue that true staying power begins with direction and identity. Fortunately for Houston Christian Hoops, the Mustangs have both. Under head coach Ron Crandall, the program has become a model of consistency — a trend that remains firmly intact.
Last winter, HCHS posted a 19-13 record and advanced to the SPC-4A Semifinals, falling only to rival Episcopal. But the early signs surrounding this year’s group suggest the Mustangs could once again be in position to contend for their first championship since 2023.
Standing 6-foot-9, junior forward Landon Veal is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. His size, mobility, and soft finishing touch make him one of the most intriguing frontcourt players in Houston. Alongside him, 6-foot-7 Will Arriaga brings physicality and balance on both ends, forming a formidable front line.
In the backcourt, senior point guard Demetri Lewis elevates the offense with his composure, vision, and unselfish playmaking. Meanwhile, juniors Josiah McGowen and Xavier Gibbons, along with senior forward Miller Martin, round out a rotation defined by depth and familiarity.
No. 3 -- The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
Wins certainly came in bunches for The Woodlands Christian Academy in 2025. The Warriors capped off a strong 24–8 campaign with an undefeated district title before bowing out to bitter rival Second Baptist — the eventual TAPPS 5A State Champions — in the second round of the postseason.
Now entering his third year at the helm, head coach Jason Tocabens faces a mild retooling process following the graduation of several TWCA pillars, most notably first-team, all-state selections Howie Keene (Montana State) and Nick Brashear (Colorado College).
Still, the offseason brought a wave of new playmakers that should keep the Warriors firmly in the mix once again.
Headlining that group is senior guard Christian Haskett, a 6-foot-4 Houston Christian-transfer and recent All-SPC performer whose scoring instincts add a dynamic edge to the unit. Fellow senior Jackson Day, another 6-foot-4 guard who arrives from Willis, brings proven production after averaging 12 points, four rebounds, and three steals per game en route to second-team, all-district honors.
Meanwhile, returner Jack Krantzcke, a junior forward and former all-district honorable mention, is expected to take on a larger role, while Jacob McClure and Tyler Dalton — the latter a Tomball transfer — round out a promising TWCA squad.
No. 4 -- Episcopal Knights
Matt Powell (VYPE)
It’s business as usual for Episcopal High this winter as the Knights look to build on yet another impressive outing.
Coming off a 24–8 season, Episcopal’s focus is clear: avenge last year’s 79–65 loss to Greenhill in the SPC-4A title game— a defeat that denied the program its sixth championship. The motivation is there for head coach Wayne Jones and company. Fortunately, so is the firepower.
Leading the way is junior Alim Olajuwon, whose blend of length and finesse at 6-foot-4 makes him virtually unguardable. The nephew of NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon and cousin of Stanford-commit Aziz Olajuwon (IMG Academy), Alim continues to carve out his own name as one of the area’s premier guards.
Newcomer Nyle Harrison, a 6-foot-6 forward from Fort Bend Austin, adds a steady inside presence and consistent double-double potential. Furthermore, the likes of Caleb Clay (Jr. CG), Jordan Goffney (So. PG), and Reid Sasser (Sr. G) will only bolster EHS as the team looks to make a swift response.
No. 5 -- Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles
All signs point to progress for Fort Bend Christian Academy as the Eagles approach this campaign with new leadership steering the wheel. The program turned the page this past April with the hiring of Ondra Waddy, formerly the head coach at Mesquite Horn. He inherits a program that most recently went 21-16 and advanced to the Regional round of the TAPPS-5A playoffs.
In terms of returning talent, few in the state bring more to the table than senior forward Sean Jimmy-Ducksworth, FBCA’s all-state cornerstone who eclipsed the 1,000-point career mark last year. SJD averaged over 17 points and eight rebounds per game, anchoring both ends of the floor with his versatility.
Running the backcourt is senior point guard Dylan “DJ” Nunn, a steady playmaker and second-team, all-state selection after posting 13 points and four assists per contest. Juniors Layden McGrady and Trent Meyer, along with senior Charlie Molloy, compose an incredibly balanced mix of athletes who are sure to help Fort Bend Christian act on its tremendous upside.
Others to Watch: Concordia Lutheran, St . Francis Episcopal, St .Thomas, St . Thomas Episcopal, The Kinkaid School, Westbury Christian
...
SEE ALL THE PHOTOS
https://www.vypephotos.com/f383210807
...
PRE-ORDER THE MAG
GAMES
Join the #VYPETEAM
Get up to date news from all over the country!
