Shock and grief are rippling across Georgia after the U.S. Defense Department announced three Army Reserve soldiers from the state were killed in a weekend drone strike in Jordan.

Episcopal is off to an even better start than expected this year, which speaks volumes considering how high the bar was already set for the SPC program.

The Houston Christian Mustangs enter SPC play prepared from a tough tournament season.

The championship year came in the inaugural season of the Cydrce McMillian-era at Episcopal. The Knights bring back five starters off a 35-7 title team and look to go back-to-back. Mykayla McMillian comes back from an All-SPC campaign for the Knights. Other key returners include All South Zone selections Ally Frailey – who is committed to play beach volleyball at Santa Clara University – and Kara Thomas.

When it comes to their respective reputations on the diamond, both Houston Christian Softball and Baseball tend to uphold the gold standard.

The 2022-23 school year has further proven what a juggernaut the Houston Episcopal athletics program is in the Southwest Preparatory Conference.

The Concordia Lutheran Crusaders are all that everyone is talking about in Houston private school baseball. The 'Saders are loaded up and down the lineup and are currently undefeated. But, it's time for district play.

Houston Christian won SPC girls basketball earlier this month and VYPE caught up with Mustang coach Ryan Bickham to talk about their back-to-back titles.

The Prospectus

The SPC Championship concluded with several notable performances from the JCS Dragons Athletics program.

President Joe Biden has bestowed the nation’s highest military honor to four Army soldiers for heroism that he says went above and beyond the call of duty during the Vietnam War.

There's no girls wrestling program at the private school level in state, so Episcopal's Thalia Vogelsang competed with the guys - and medaled while doing so.

Winter Seasons Finish With Dragon Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball and Swim & Dive Teams Headed To Championship Play

No. 2 Houston Christian Mustangs

HOUSTON - Another week is in the books in the private school realm ... and there wasn't much change to the Top 10.

Legislation aimed at honoring a Houston soldier who was killed while stationed at Fort Hood is being introduced by state lawmakers Tuesday.

A gate at Fort Hood was named in honor of a Houston soldier Monday who was killed while stationed at the military installation.

The Episcopal Knights return a ton of talent from a year ago when the season was cut short. Episcopal was in the SPC title game when we last played playoff baseball in 2019. AdCLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL MAGAZINECLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PHOTOSCLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL DIGITAL MAGAZINEFor all the ways you love to play, Academy Sports and Outdoors makes easier than ever to gear up and have fun out there! Get free shipping on your favorite brands at academy.com or get free curbside or in-store pick-up at your Academy store. AdGear up this Spring at Academy Sports and Outdoors.

The John Cooper School girls basketball team went 7-1 in conference play to capture the Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) South Zone Championship, the best finish in school history. This season, the SPC restricted travel due to the pandemic, limiting competitions to South and North zones. I know it was important to our team to finish out the season winning our final two games," said BJ Feuerhelm, Head Coach for the Dragon girls basketball program said. "In accomplishing this goal, we set a new conference record for any Cooper girls basketball team." "The varsity girls basketball team should be incredibly proud of their accomplishment," said John Hoye, Director of Athletics for The John Cooper School.

VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL1/5 vs Cypress Christian • 86-31 W1/8 vs Episcopal High School* • 59-51 WCoach BJ Feuerhelm: What a way to open up SPC play! VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL1/5 vs Cypress Christian • 61-51 W1/9 vs St Stephens • 67-49 LCoach Matthew Wilson: It was great to be back in the gym with the guys! The guys worked hard this week and we can't wait to officially begin SPC play on Friday at St. Stephen's in Austin. 1/9 vs Episcopal High School* • 12-0 LCoach Amber Clevenger: Tonight's game versus EHS was tough, they were good all over the field. Next up for Dragon SwimmingJan. 14 at Westfield High School (vs. St. John's, Episcopal and Houston Christian), 4 p.m.Jan. 16 HAPPI*conferenceWatch Dragon varsity basketball and soccer games live atThe John Cooper School YouTube Channel

John Cooper School Dragons SPC Consolation Bracket FinalsTo purchase VYPE's 2020-21 BASKETBALL PREVIEW, CLICK HERE. The John Cooper School has become a fixture in the SPC playoffs. Making it four-straight years, the Dragons are coming off a 24-11-mark last season with three starters returning. Ogiemwonyi led the team with 15.9 points and 11.1 rebounds per game last season. One cannot forget about Jorynn Ross, who averaged a double-double for the season in 2020, putting up 10.9 points and 10.2 rebounds per game for the Dragons.

The 2020 VYPE Austin high school girls basketball season preview continues with area TAPPS and SPC team breakdowns. Check them out below and stay tuned for more area preseason coverage in the coming days. The Austin St. Andrew's Episcopal School Highlanders missed the SPC tournament in the 2019-2020 campaign, but can bounce back with five returning starters, all-SPC talent Scout Swanson and fellow notable contributors Ella Townsend and Melina Ruelas. Other Private School Teams to Watch: Texas School for the Deaf, Faith Academy of Marble Falls, Regents School of Austin, Austin St. Stephen's Episcopal School and Hill Country Christian School of AustinFor more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook, @VYPE_ATX Instagram and @VYPEATX Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program.

It's that time of year when volleyball playoffs are in full swing, football playoffs are about to get underway and the boys and girls hoops' seasons are set to tip off. This week, we'll provide the Top 10 Preseason Power Rankings for class 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and private schools. BOYS6A/SPC RANK TEAM 1 Dallas St. Mark's 2 Plano John Paul II 3 Addison Greenhill 4 Arlington Oakridge 5 Plano Prestonwood5A RANK TEAM 1 Frisco Legacy 2 Fort Worth Christian 3 Flower Mound Coram Deo 4 Dallas Christian 5 Grapevine Faith4A RANK TEAM 1 Colleyville Covenant 2 Arlington Grace Prep 3 Fort Worth Lake Country 4 Arlington Pantego 5 TCA-Willow Park3A RANK TEAM 1 Dallas Yavneh 2 Denton Calvary 3 Lucas Academy 4 Dallas Lakehill Prep 5 McKinney Cornerstone2A RANK TEAM 1 Red Oak Ovilla 2 Garland Christian 3 Dallas First Baptist 4 Fort Worth Covenant Classical 5 Fort Worth Bethesda1A RANK TEAM 1 DeSoto Canterbury 2 Waxahachie Prep 3 Dallas Fairhill 4 Dallas Alcuin 5 Irving StoneGateGIRLS6A/SPC RANK TEAM 1 Dallas Bishop Lynch 2 Plano Prestonwood 3 Argyle Liberty Christian 4 Addison Trinity Christian 5 Fort Worth All Saints5A RANK TEAM 1 Fort Worth Southwest Christian 2 Dallas Christian 3 Dallas Bishop Dunne 4 Fort Worth Christian 5 McKinney Christian4A RANK TEAM 1 Colleyville Covenant 2 Fort Worth Lake Country 3 Dallas Shelton 4 Arlington Pantego 5 Arlington Grace Prep3A RANK TEAM 1 Denton Calvary 2 Lakehill Prep 3 Rockwall Heritage Christian 4 Dallas Yavneh 5 Plano Coram Deo2A RANK TEAM 1 Red Oak Ovilla 2 Dallas First Baptist 3 Weatherford Christian 4 Garland Christian 5 Fort Worth Bethesda

On Friday October 30th, UIL 14-4A Division II member Geronimo Navarro traveled from South Texas to Southeast Texas to play a non-district game against a SPC program in Houston Christian. Check out the game's VYPE Live highlights below. Navarro DEFEATS Houston Christian ||TXHSFB www.youtube.comFor more sports coverage, follow Thomas (@Texan8thGen Facebook/Instagram/Twitter) and VYPE (VYPE Texas Facebook and @VYPESATX Instagram/Twitter) on social media. Check out ShopVYPE for fresh gear that supports local schools and the VYPE U Ambassador Program. To sign up for the VYPE U Program, apply at VYPEU.com.

So far this year, nearly 30 service members connected to Fort Hood have died, including by homicide, suicide, accident and illness. Army leadership has admitted that Fort Hood has the worst rate of violent crime and incidents among its U.S. installations. Christopher Wayne SawyerSawyer, 29, was found unresponsive on March 5 in his residence on Fort Hood, according to a statement released by the post. Mejhor MortaMorta, 26, was found unresponsive July 17 in the vicinity of Stillhouse Hollow Lake, near Fort Hood. His body was discovered on Aug. 25 near railroad tracks in Temple, about 30 miles from Fort Hood.

The 2020 football season is going to start a little later than many thought for The John Cooper School. The Dragons are slated to open their season on October 2 against Lutheran South, which will pit two solid quarterbacks against each other. So, what do the players think about the upcoming season? VYPE caught up with William Bisso, Nicholas Harris, Ben Currin, Jackson Kovin and Connor Dove at the Dragons' recent VYPE Media Day about the upcoming season. (These interviews were conducted prior to the SPC announcing cancellation of their fall championships)

Welcome to the 2020 football season. But VYPE has still done what we have always done when it comes to previewing Texas high school football here in Houston. 6 John Cooper School Dragons! CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE 2020 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW MAGAZINECLICK HERE TO ORDER PHOTOSCoach Erik DeHaven led his team to the SPC Class 3A state finals but were overwhelmed by Fort Worth Country Day. The John Cooper School will compete with an independent schedule this fall outside of the SPC.

Welcome to the 2020 football season. But VYPE has still done what we have always done when it comes to previewing Texas high school football here in Houston. 4 Kinkaid Falcons! CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE 2020 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW MAGAZINECLICK HERE TO ORDER PHOTOSThe Kinkaid Falcons return 10 starters from a team that was doubled-up by Episcopal in the SPC finals, 42-21. Coach Nathan Larned and the Falcons still sting from the loss in 2019 and have revenge in their eyes.

Welcome to the 2020 football season. But VYPE has still done what we have always done when it comes to previewing Texas high school football here in Houston. CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE 2020 VYPE HOUSTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW MAGAZINECLICK HERE TO ORDER PHOTOSCoach Steve Leisz has one of the most dominate offensive lines in the state — at any level. The Knights are the favorites but it can be different being the hunter instead of the hunted. They will play an independent schedule this fall after SPC canceled its fall championships.

Welcome to the 2020 volleyball season. What a weird offseason it was for everyone. No club tournaments to travel to, limited training available but what that means is everyone should be fresh for the 2020 campaign. Below are the Top 5 preseason teams for private school in the Houston-area. **Since these rankings were made, SPC has announced that there will be no fall championships**

FORT HOOD, Texas – The Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy held a news conference Thursday in Fort Hood to discuss the death of Spc. In late June, skeletal remains were found in a field near Fort Hood. According to a federal complaint, the 20-year-old was killed and dismembered at the base by a fellow Fort Hood soldier who later shot himself. Guillen’s death served as a catalyst, bringing to light the many issues within the military such as sexual harassment and sexual assault. In addition, the Army is rolling out “Project Inclusion,” which will address behaviors and issues such as a lack of diversity, discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault and suicide.

Fort Hood senior commander will host a press conference to address the current status of the Spc. Vanessa Guillen investigation. At 2 p.m., Maj. Gen. Scott Efflandt, III Corps deputy commanding general, will be joined by Fort Hoods U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID) and representatives from law enforcement agencies who are assisting with the investigation. This is a developing story.

[adsanity align='alignnone' id=377]In the newest rankings by VYPE powered by Barcelona Sports, Tomball has continued to be one of the most impressive 5A teams in the city. In 6A, Cypress Ranch continues its run of dominance but teams are chasing close behind for the coveted top spot. We sell sports equipment, customized uniforms and professionally fitted accessories for football, baseball, basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball and track and field. 12 Fort Bend Travis (22-6, 12-1)No. 5 Cypress Christian Warriors (21-8, 11-3)No.