The UIL team competed in the Mt. Pleasant invitational UIL Practice Meet on Jan. 11-12, earning a second place overall finish.
“The meet was the first actual UIL meet where all the events were able to compete,” senior Paige Oliver said. “It was a smaller meet, but there was a lot of good competition. I was in Debate and Persuasive speaking. Our team swept debate, and we ended up first and second in Persuasive. So overall I think we did really well, and I’m excited about future meets so we can keep winning.”
In Accounting, coached by Pam Hamilton, the team placed second overall, with three members placing individually. The Accounting team was Jessica Johnston, fourth; Ashley Ritchie, fifth; Kirstin Lowery, sixth; Tanner Parrott; Lataviunna Scott.
The Current Issues and Events team, coached by Amy Kemp, placed second overall, with two members placing individually. The team consisted of Chris Keith, second; Josh Robinson, fourth; Sandy Martinez; and DJ Mack.
Journalism events, coached by Rebecca Potter, nearly swept every event, winning first overall. Editorial Writing: Taylor Potter, first; Sydney Schoen, second; Morgan Williams, fourth. Feature Writing: Sydney Schoen, first; Taylor Potter, second; Olivia Corbett, third. Headline Writing: Olivia Corbett, first; Morgan Williams, second; Taylor Potter, third. News Writing: Taylor Potter, first; Sydney Schoen, second; Morgan Williams, third.
In Speaking Events, coached by Amy Kemp, the team placed first overall. In Informative Speaking: J.B. Wells, third; Robert Hoover, sixth. In Persuasive Speaking: Paige Oliver, first; Riden Reiter, second. In LD Debate: J. B. Wells first; Paige Oliver, second.
In Literary Criticism, coached by Anne Fruge, Texas High won second overall with one member placing. The Literary Criticism team was: Alex Walker, fifth; Cortlandt Bursey-Reece; Jessie Chapman.
The Mathematics team, coached by Julie McBay placed second overall with two students placing. In Mathematics: J. R. Portwood, second; Heath Fore, fourth; and Josh Robinson.
In Science, coached by Bob Harris, Texas High won second place overall with all four members placing. Science: J. R. Portwood, first; Stephen Jacob, second; Heath Fore, fifth; Hannah Klopper, sixth.
In Social Studies, coached by Chuck Zach, Both Texas High members placed individually: Abigail O’Gorman, fifth; Michael Stanley, sixth.
The Spelling and Vocabulary team, coached by Monica Washington, placed second overall, with two members placing individually: Macy Shirley, fifth; Bailey Vaughan, sixth; Linette Westley.