Fingers hover over keyboards, and eyes are trained to the sheet of paper containing the prompt for the essay. Students from across the area of Northeast Texas have met to compete in University Interscholastic League Ready Writing, where students must formulate an essay in two hours, examining and explaining their position on a quote or statement.

The UIL Ready Writing team traveled to Mt. Pleasant for its first practice meet on Friday, Jan. 26. Out of almost thirty contestants, the Texas High team took four places. Directed under English teacher Holly Mooneyham, participants were seniors Langley Leverett and Lois LeFors, junior Nathan Fischer, sophomore Molly Kyles and freshman Charli Hueter.

“I had a great time at the last Ready Writing competition. I feel like I’ve learned more and more about how to write well, and I love getting feedback on my papers,” first place winner and sophomore Molly Kyles said. “I also love spending time with my fellow writers, I hope to continue to place at the next competitions– especially district.”

Mooneyham hopes to continue to place at future meets, and to progress her group to district.

“The meet went wonderfully, I could not have been prouder,” Mooneyham said. “Out of 35 papers, we took four out of six places. I hope the next meet we do the same thing. It’ll be a tougher group of papers because Hallsville and PineTree will be there and they are tough competition. I hope we pull it out.”

As a new addition to the team, Hueter already feels confident in the team.

“I feel like the meet was extremely successful and I look forward to future events,” Freshman Charli Hueter said. “Texas High won a lot of medals and I was very happy to have participated in the overall win as a group.”