Play, spelling team and eight individual qualifications advance to state UIL academic meet

Last+minute+session--%0ASponsor+LaShay+Ellis+takes+her+spelling+and+vocabulary+team+through+last+minute+lessons+before+regional+competition+on+April+23+at+Texas+Tech.+The+team+took+first+overall%2C+qualifying+for+state+competition+at+the+end+of+May.

Last minute session– Sponsor LaShay Ellis takes her spelling and vocabulary team through last minute lessons before regional competition on April 23 at Texas Tech. The team took first overall, qualifying for state competition at the end of May.

The UIL academic team took second place with 173 points at the region meet on April 23 at Texas Tech University. Wylie took first with 254 points. Qualifiers will compete at the state meet at UT in Austin on May 23-25.

The one-act play advanced to state along with Brownwood. Senior Blayne Childers was best actor, while junior Nikki Loewen and senior Ivan Froese were named to the all-star cast. Freshman Phiona Hiebert and senior Kelby Miller took honorable mention all-star cast honors. Senior Haylie Hicks was named best sound technician in a non-scoring category.

The speech team took first place overall with its five events.

In informative speaking, senior Cassandra Schultz took third place, qualifying for state, while senior Antonio Porras took sixth.

In Lincoln-Douglas debate, Schultz qualified for state again with second place.

In prose interpretation, junior Madeline Hiebert qualified for state in first place along with Childers in third. Froese took sixth.

In poetry interpretation, junior Ashley Harder and Phiona Hiebert qualified for state with second and third place respectively.

The spelling and vocabulary team took first overall, qualifying sophomore Lacy Jackson, who was second individually, sophomore Celestia Wilkey, senior Tori Acosta and junior Nick Acosta for state.

In feature writing, junior Eva Neufeld took second, qualifying for state.

In news writing, senior Sara Fehr took fourth as state alternate.

In headline writing, Fehr was sixth.