Home

Second Baptist School cheer made school history this season at the 2025 Tier IV TAPPS Cheer Championship State Competition, earning a first-place finish in the 5A Spirit Game Day division. After years of growth and perseverance, the team rose above 10 private schools across Texas to claim the top spot and secure the first TAPPS state championship in program history!

This marked the program’s fourth appearance at the state level, following previous trips in 2019, 2021 and 2024. Each return brought new experience and deeper unity, and this year, that steady progress came together in a championship performance. 

The team was led by senior cheer captain Quin Harder and spirit captain Alex Alpe, guided by Head Varsity Coach Andrea Spence, Assistant Varsity Coach Elleana Yarborough and JV Coach Kim Marshall. The 26-member squad, made up of 19 varsity cheerleaders, seven JV cheerleaders and three spirit crew members, worked together to bring energy, precision and spirit to the team’s overall performance.

The team’s success also brought individual state-level recognition. Seniors Alex Alpe and Quin Harder earned First Team All-State and Academic All-State honors, while junior Micah Nini was named Second Team All-State. Selections were made by TAPPS judges based on competition-day performances.

Beyond the results, the team’s season reflected a shared commitment to excellence and faith. Their perseverance and joy both in competition and on the sidelines served as a testimony to Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.”

Second Baptist School celebrates this historic achievement and the example these students set for the SBS community through discipline, leadership and Christ-like character. As they continue to Live the Call, their legacy points the way forward for the future of SBS cheer.

After months of anticipation and waiting, the day had finally arrived for me to rejoin the soccer team for the annual Jingle Bell Classic. Before Christmas break, this yearly event invites family and friends to come support the soccer programs! The women’s team plays a match at 5 p.m. followed by the men’s team at 7 p.m. The home games build excitement about the soccer season as our district season approaches in January.

Because of football’s exciting playoff run and the cheer team’s incredible State Championship win, I had yet to participate in soccer pre-season games. With my last game being the State Championship match in March, I was eager to join my teammates and best friends back on the pitch to kick off my junior season. 

To prepare for the game, I gave myself plenty of time to get ready, do my lucky hairstyle of a bubble braid and get excited with my teammates before warmups. The team took the field together to stretch and warm up for the game. Before we knew it, it was game time, and 10 of my teammates and I ran onto the field ready and excited. 

The whistle blew, and within seconds our team gained possession of the ball. To start strong, we initiated our offensive drive, playing the ball from Madison Kalife ‘26, center midfielder, out wide to Syriah DeBakey ‘26, right wing, and up the line to Peyton Walsh ‘26, forward. Peyton received the ball and began a pursuit up the line. When she saw the open shot, she took it, and SBS was up 1-0 in the first minute of the game. The team and fans erupted in celebration, knowing this would be a great game. 

We went on to score nine more goals, winning the game with a shutout score of 10-0. The victory boosted team morale and built confidence as we prepare for our district season in January. In hopes of returning to the State Championship and bringing home a state title, we are growing team chemistry, training hard and staying focused on the goal at hand!

Written by Communications Fellow, Carson Patterson '27

From the outside, another trip to the state championship could suggest a smooth, dominant season for Second Baptist School football. The reality was far different. Tested early by a demanding pre-district schedule, the Eagles entered district play at 1-4. Two early district losses followed, dropping SBS to 1-6 in the season. What unfolded was a team choosing to grow through adversity, leaning on Christ and continuing to compete when circumstances refused to fall in their favor.

Senior quarterback Canon Toon’s season mirrored the adversity the Eagles faced as a team. After a shoulder injury early in the year and later a noncontact ankle injury, his season was repeatedly interrupted. With each setback, Canon leaned on his faith and stayed present with his teammates, trusting God’s plan while continuing to lead and support them. When he returned for the regional matchup against The Woodlands Christian Academy, he played through the injury, limping his way through a performance that helped secure a win few expected.

As the roster adjusted to injuries and uncertainty, others stepped into expanded roles. Sophomore Casey Dunn assumed the quarterback position during a critical stretch of the season, showing poise and leadership. Dunn provided stability for the offense and offered a glimpse of the program’s future.

The Eagles leaned heavily on senior running back Langston Davis throughout the year. Battling turf toe during the playoffs, Davis continued to deliver consistent production and explosive plays, recording multiple games with runs of 50 or more yards and scoring three rushing touchdowns against LSA. His toughness and reliability in the backfield kept SBS competitive from week to week.

By the time playoffs arrived, Second Baptist was no longer the team that opened the season. SBS began the postseason with a dominant performance against Victoria St. Joseph. That confidence carried into the regional round against The Woodlands Christian Academy, a familiar opponent that had defeated the Eagles earlier in October.

The rematch told a different story. The Eagles responded when it mattered most, playing with confidence and urgency from start to finish. Jordan Jones ‘26 sealed the win with a pick-six in the last thirty seconds of the game. What many expected to be a one-sided matchup became one of the season’s defining moments.

Momentum carried into the semifinals, where SBS battled past Lutheran South Academy to earn a return to the state championship.

Throughout the postseason run, the outside noise remained loud. Senior Kelvin Baptiste answered it with a simple question: Why not us? The phrase became the team’s playoff motto and the belief that steadied them every week.

The state championship brought a familiar opponent. Second Baptist faced Fort Worth All Saints’, the same team that ended its season in last year’s title game. SBS won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, then set the tone defensively by stopping All Saints’ first two drives. The Eagles scored first with a diving pylon touchdown by Canon Toon ‘26, followed by a field goal from Luc Normand ‘28 to take a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter. SBS carried a 10-7 advantage into halftime.

All Saints’ responded in the second half, pulling ahead early in the third quarter. A highlight interception by Will Newhouse ‘27 earned a spot on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10, but momentum continued to shift. By the end of the third quarter, All Saints’ held a 21-10 lead. The Eagles continued to compete, but the gap proved too much to close. The final score read All Saints’ 34, SBS 16.

This season will not be remembered solely by a final score. It will be remembered for the character this team displayed through adversity and for the steady faith that anchored them in every moment. The legacy of this team will extend beyond this season and continue to shape Second Baptist School football for years to come.

State Football Photo Album

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at SBS! Hosting three Christmas programs, including Festival of Christmas, the Winter Art Show and Lyrics & Lattes, the SBS Arts Department brings our community together for these cherished events that mark the start of the Christmas season.  

Festival of Christmas

A beloved tradition at SBS, the Festival of Christmas brings our community together for an evening of festive performances each December. 

This year, the evening began outside the Worship Center with pre-show performances from our seventh and eighth grade intermediate band and fourth grade ukulele players. A piano prelude, performed by Carl Rubly ‘29, invited guests to their seats as the Vision and Reflection Choirs kicked off the performance with a rendition of Carol of the Bells. 

Performances from theatre, the Drumline, the jazz ensemble and fifth grade hand chimes filled the Worship Center with joy as the evening continued. An annual favorite from the Vision and Reflection Choirs, O Holy Night, began with solos from Christopher Key ‘26 and Emma Hodge ‘26. 

The program concluded with an all-choir finale of Born on Christmas Day accompanied by a nativity scene from our kindergarten class. This all-school event reflects the heart of SBS as we celebrate the birth of Jesus together.

Winter Art Show

Featuring pieces from middle and upper school students, the Winter Art Show highlights the creativity and talent of the SBS Arts Department. 

Charcoal sketches, abstract paintings and 3D sculptures lined the halls as attendees admired our students’ artistry and dedication. 

The AP Art students presented their semester projects, discussing the inspiration and process behind their personal galleries. One AP Art Student, Sara Griffin ‘26, researched color symbolism and explored the illustration of emotions through color. 

Brimming with vibrant hues and intricate designs, the annual Winter Art Show celebrates the God-given gifts and hard work of our students.

Lyrics & Lattes

Lyrics and Lattes invites the SBS community to gather around and sip hot chocolate as students perform festive musical numbers underneath Christmas tree lights. 

The SBS Drumline opened the event, followed by a rendition of “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” performed by Lizzi Spittal ‘29, Elyse Chan ‘29 and Erin McCleary ‘28. 

The program continued with familiar carols, such as “White Christmas,” delivered by Luke Ockwood '29 and Eliott Dawley '29, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Gabriella Hogan '28. 

A routine to “Christmas Tree Farm” from the Golden Girls and a duet of “O Holy Night” from Christopher Key ‘26 and Noah Salazar ‘27 brought the production to a close, sending families into the season with full hearts.

Featuring the talent of our students, Christmas with the Arts unites our community in celebration of Christ and the creativity He has given them.

With the start of December comes the joyful anticipation of long-awaited Christmas traditions. At SBS, our lower school students are getting ready for one of the most cherished Christmas traditions in our community. On December 18, our kindergarten through fourth grade students will recite Luke 2:1-20 at this year’s Christmas Chapel.

This decades-long tradition of reciting Luke 2 brings the Christmas story to life in a powerful way. “Luke's gospel gives a beautiful account of Jesus's birth,” said Lower School Bible Teacher Dianna Bolling.

Students spend months preparing for the presentation of the Christmas story. “Each Bible teacher takes time to teach the passage through sign language while explaining what the passage means in modern-day English. As we approach the big day, we practice in group rehearsals, where we nail down inflection, pace, articulation, expression and dynamics,” said Mrs. Bolling.

Each grade learns a specific set of verses, and when their voices come together, they share nearly the entire story of Luke 2. Our lower school Bible teachers pray that as students memorize these verses each year, they will hide God’s truth in their hearts and grow in their love for Him.

“What is hidden cannot be taken away. We are blessed with freedom, but many believers around the world endure persecution and are denied access to God's word. The world may someday take away our access to the Word of God, but no one can ever take away what we have hidden in our hearts! We hope our students will take this tradition with them into adulthood and share it with their future families,” said Mrs. Bolling.

And indeed, many of our students take this tradition with them into adulthood. Over the decades, it has become a familiar marker in the SBS experience. Many who learned Luke 2 in lower school can still recall the passage long after they have moved on to middle school, upper school and beyond. This tradition reaches far beyond one morning in December. It’s something our students share across grade levels and generations, a reminder of how Scripture hidden in our hearts stays with us.

This program leaves a lasting impression on both the students who share Luke 2 and the parents who watch and listen. It remains one of the sweetest moments of the season at SBS, pointing our community to the truth and hope of Jesus’ birth.