The Woodlands Christian Academy
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TWCA's Alexis Osterhaus
ON A MISSION: Osterhaus a central figure in TWCA Softball's stunning resurgence
With that experience under their belts, paired with the much more considerable depth the team features this time around, expectations have never been higher.
“Last year, people didn’t know what we were capable of, and we definitely made a name for ourselves,” said Osterhaus. “I feel that, heading into this season, we’ve polished off every single player that we have, and every fundamental behind what we can do. I genuinely believe that people have an idea of what could happen with us, but we have more than what they expect.”
Individually, Osterhaus was given a first-team, all-district nod for her efforts, in addition to receiving a TAPPS all-state honorable mention.
From the third base spot, she’s fine-tuned numerous recognizable attributes that’s made her the renowned player she is today.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
“I think I’m extremely athletic and quick-witted,” she said. “So, if a ball is coming my way, my reflexes are able to kick in rapidly. Not everyone has the ‘softball mindset’ sometimes, which just means being decisive in the key moments, but I just feel that comes naturally to me from my position.”
While some athletes have been a part of The Woodlands Christian Academy school system from the beginning, Osterhaus transferred during her sophomore year, from a places he describes as a “little town” in Maine.
Though that would be a significant change for anyone, the move has made all the difference.
“The whole reason why I moved from Maine to Texas was for competitive softball,” she said. “My freshman year there, I made the newspaper cover because I like to think I was something of a ‘big fish in a small pond’. But my family and I thought it would be best for my high school experience and better collegiate opportunities to move down here.
“I definitely think that it has challenged me because I’ve played girls who are better than me, which has helped me to improve and become more competitive. I see now that it was God’s blessing and I’m also just grateful to have been part of this community."
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TWCA's Beau Ellis
JACK OF ALL TRADES: Ellis a versatile competitor with a relentless drive for TWCA
Over the past year, the senior has competed in football, basketball, and track—three demanding sports that leave little room for downtime. But for him, that’s just the way he likes it.
Ellis was a second-team all-state selection in football, helping TWCA reach the second round of the TAPPS-II playoffs. Whenwinter rolled around, he transitioned seamlessly to basketball, where he played a key leadership role in another postseason run. Now, with track season in full swing, Ellis is gearing up for one final sprint—literally and figuratively.
With such a packed schedule, one has to wonder if he just hates having free time.
“First off, I just love being active as much as I can,” Ellis said. “You can’t take a God-given ability for granted. I don’t want to waste this time as an athlete because there’s going to come a point where I won’t be able to move the same or have the same energy when I’m older. The late practices and early mornings—they’re not for everyone. But I try to embrace it since I know it’ll be gone soon.”
Juggling multiple sports isn’t easy, but Ellis believes it gives him an edge.
“It’s a lot of different movement and varying types of conditioning between each sport,” he explained. “With basketball and football, there’s so much lateral movement and change of direction, whereas track is just straight forward. Basketball, in particular, has played a huge role in my endurance, and I can already see a big improvement in my speed.”
That improvement could make a major difference on the track this spring. Last year, Ellis placed third in the pole vaultat the TAPPS-5A District 5 Meet while also helping TWCA’s relay teams earn silver in the 4x400 and bronze in the 4x200.
This season, he’s expanding his event list to include the100m, 200m, and 400m dashes—another testament to his athletic range.
With his final semester at TWCA underway, Ellis has taken time to reflect on how the school has shaped him in the four years he’s been in attendance.
“I’d definitely say it’s been life-changing,” he said. “I’d be a completely different person if I didn’t come here and probably wouldn’t have played sports because middle school wasn’t looking too great for me.
“The coaches here really take the time to build relationships with each individual, which is something you don’t often see in most public schools, or even other private schools from what I’ve heard. Winning is important, but growing your connection to Christ is such a big thing here. Their primary focus is to build you up, and that’s been my biggest takeaway.”
As his time at TWCA winds down, he is still weighing his options for the future.
“I’m still deciding on a college right now, but I would love to run track at the next level,” said Ellis. “Football, and the physical aspect of it, is one of my biggest passions. But I really feel that I have the best shot of competing in college with track. I’m a fan of running in general, so that’s likely going to be the best fit for me.”
No matter where he ends up, one thing is certain: Ellis won’t slow down anytime soon. Whether on the football field, basketball court, or track, he’s proven that dedication and perseverance can take you far—and he’s just getting started.