PLACES TO GO Around the Neighborhood
WEST SIDE STORIES Judy and Patrick Cantilo
Pages 2-3
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VOLUME 36 ISSUE 11 - SINCE 1986
INSIDE Holiday Gift Guide Pages 17-22
W E S TA U S T I N N E W S . C O M
Honored Seniors: Cheerleader Khamirah Marsh (front), Manager Jay Carter, #56 Tad O’Brien, #0 Max Flint, #11 Brooks Nelson, #18 Sam Marsh, #62 Gus Stratton, #9 Owen Gab, #51 Ryder Runkle, #5 Homero Rangel
NOVEMBER 23, 2023
Bennett Julian, James Reilly, and Giulia Faini painting pumpkins at the Homecoming Picnic
Highlander Spirit at St. Andrew’s Homecoming Celebration St. Andrew’s Episcopal School was full of Highlander spirit on Friday, October 20, as the school celebrated its annual homecoming, bringing together families from kindergarten through twelfth grade. This special all-school event is always a favorite of the community. During the homecoming picnic, members of the Upper School Rock Band treated guests on the Nazro Green to a special performance, showcasing their talents and energizing the crowd. The younger Highlanders enjoyed face painting, carnival games, and painting pumpkins at stations manned by Middle and Upper School student volunteers. Families enjoyed food trucks while connecting with new and old friends. Down at the Dell Track, Lower School students participated in the 17th Annual Fun Run before the football game. Students and parents enjoyed running while the crowd cheered them on from the sidelines. St. Andrew’s graduates mingled with beloved faculty members at the Alumni Tent and reconnected with old classmates. Before football kickoff, the Athletic Department honored senior athletes in the Senior Night ceremony. Seniors were honored for their commitment, dedication, and contribution to St. Andrew’s athletics, with a celebratory feeling filling the air before the Highlanders took the field against the Austin Crusaders. The homecoming court was crowned at halftime, and the 2022-2023 SPC Championship teams were honored.
Indy B. and Kiran K. running in the Annual Fun Run
Football players Max Flint and Gus Stratton carry flags, leading players onto the field for the Homecoming Game
The crowd celebrated the championship wins of Boys Cross Country (4A), Girls Basketball (3A), Girls Golf (3A) and Boys Tennis (3A). The Highlanders finished the football game with a 41-0 victory over the Austin Crusaders.
Brody Murchison, Finley Ahern, and Walter Richard performing at the Homecoming Picnic
Emily Gregg and Charlie Moore with Head of School Melissa Grubb after winning Homecoming Court
Mascot Scottie embracing students at the Homecoming Picnic
Anderson Water Polo Girls Wins Area Championship, Boys Win Regional Quarterfinals On Oct. 16, Anderson High water polo teams competed at Regional Quarterfinals where the girls’ water polo team ended their season as Area Champions, and the boys’ water polo team won Regional Quarterfinals and moved on to Regional competition in Houston in late October where a loss to Foster High ended their season. The Anderson boys’ team was the only AISD water polo team to compete at Regionals. At the bi-district championships in early October, the boys won 21-5 over Midway, led by Evan Minter and Seth Crowley with 7 points each. Max Bisang scored 3 points, and Evin Fox, Jake Roberts, RC McPherson, and Ryan Dean each contributed a goal. The girls won 18-11 over Cedar Ridge, led by Sarah Kester with 8 points. Rachel Cavanaugh had 5 points, Rozhon Arabian and Chloe Rizk each contributed 2 points, and Phoebe Jaggers contributed 1 point. On October 12, at the Area Championships, the girls won 16-12 over San Antonio’s Pieper High.
Coaches Eric Swanson and Michael Stratton with Anderson boys’ water polo team members Jake Roberts, Max Bisang, Evan Minter, Dylan England, Tyler Tracy, Ryan Dean, Benjamin Jaggers, Gus Lott, Evin Fox, Evan Schaffer, Luke Schoelkopf, RC McPherson, Owen Vera, Stephen Szygenda, Zay Herrera, Ethan David, and Seth Crowley; not pictured, Jackson Stemple, Rob George, Larry Hong Anderson girls’ water polo team members Erin Blumentritt, Rachel Cavanaugh, Phoebe Jaggers, Abby Amato, Saah Kester, Kathleen Wallace, Charlie Silkenson, Marayam Zowell, Chloe Rizk, Zoe Nagro, Rozhon Arbabian, Sophia Lifschitz, and Simone Frey with coaches Eric Swanson and Michael Stratton
Sarah Kester led Trojan scorers with 9, followed by Rachel Cavanaugh with 5. Maryam Zowell and Phoebe Jaggers each had one goal. The girls also played a tough game against Round Rock, with Sarah Kester scor-
ing 4 points and Rachel Cavanaugh scoring 2 points. Erin Blumentritt had 5 saves, but ultimately, Round Rock proved too strong, beating the Trojans 6-17. Also at Area Championships, the
boys won over Hays High 22-11, led by Evan Minter with 6 points. Seth Crowley had 4 points, Max Bisang and Jake Roberts each scored 3, and Evin Fox scored 2. Evan Schaffer, Ben Jaggers, Gus Lott, and Ethan David each contributed one goal. The boys then won over Round Rock 14-6, led by Seth Crowley with 5 points. Evan Minter and Max Bisang each had 3
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points, Jake Roberts had 2, and Evin Fox had 1 point. Stephen Szygenda had 4 saves. This win sent the boys to regional competition. Water Polo is in its second year as a Texas UIL sport. Before the 202223 school year, water polo was a club sport at the high school level, and Anderson’s senior class began water polo at Anderson in club competition.
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