WHS Academic, Speech & Debate, One-Act-Play Win 28-AAAA Sweepstakes Handily

Dozens of Wimberley High School students have been competing in University Interscholastic League academic, speech and debate events and one-act-play since January, culminating in the District 28-AAAA Sweepstakes Championship in Bandera on March 30. Nineteen WHS students qualified for Region Competition in Corpus Christi on April 12-13, in a total of 31 events, with several students qualifying in multiple events.

“Since we changed districts this year, we had much harder competition than we had in past years. However, we were all able to step up our game and win sweepstakes, along with a lot of people advancing to regionals,” said Julia Love, WHS Senior.

Maya Lewis and Jasmine Cante got everything started in January when they placed 4th in Cross-Examination Debate. Then WHS gained more points when the cast of The Miracle Worker advanced out of District, followed by a stellar performance by the journalism and the Lincoln Douglas debate teams. In this final leg of the district competition, several students helped push WHS over the top with 527 points handily defeating the Boerne competitors, who took 2nd place with 428 points.

“The students worked really hard in preparation for our district meet. We are in a new district this year so we didn’t know what to expect. All the students did a great job and we are expecting to do great again in Corpus Christi,” said Kyla Brookshier, UIL Academic Coordinator.

The placings on March 30 are as follows:

• Current Issues and Events-1st place team: Jake Smorrenburg- 3rd, Jacob Surdy- 4th, Quinton Mendoza-5th, Thomas Ludwick-6th

• Number Sense-Ben McLemore-5th

• Spelling and Vocabulary-2nd Place Team: Carson Ramsey-1st, Donovan McCann-6th

• Science-2nd Place Team: Julia Love-2nd, Ben McLemore-3rd and Top Physics

• Social Studies-1st Place Team: Cameron Savage-1st Quinton Mendoza-2nd Donovan, McCann-3rd

• Math-1st Place Team: Ben McLemore-1st Julia Love-5th

• Literary Criticism- Julissa Hernandez-6th

Speech and Debate-2nd Place Team:

• Poetry-Logan Brookshier-1st, Evie Jennings-3rd, Elysia Becken-5th

• Prose-Sarah Rickert-3rd, Josie Fosdick-4th,

• Informative-Colten Kilpatrick-3rd, Alexa Thomson-4th, Maya Lewis-5th,

• Persuasive-Quinton Mendoza-1st, Jasmine Cante-2nd Julissa Hernandez-2nd Place Ready Writing

Journalism 1st Place Team:

• Copy Editing- Cameron Savage-3rd, Jillian Garcia-4th, Hanna Pickens-5th

• News Writing- Hannah Pickens-1st, Jillian Garcia-4th, Jillian Merritt-5th

• Feature Writing- Jillian Garcia-1st, Hannah Pickens-3rd, Donovan McCann-6th

• Editorial Writing- Jillian Garcia-1st, Hannah Pickens-3rd, Josie Fosdick-5th

• Headline Writing- Jillian Garcia-1st, Donovan McCann-2nd

Lincoln Douglas Debate:

• Colten Kilpatrick-3rd, Isis Akers-4th, Trudeau-5th

Brenna