OHS Takes 2nd in UIL Regionals

Olney High School competed at the regional UIL meet that was held on Friday, April 24, at Grayson College and won second place overall with 203 points. A total of 23 students competed at regionals, and eight students advanced and will compete at the state competition on May 18-19 at the University of Texas campus in Austin.

“Regionals were tough this year because they scheduled every contest in one day instead of two,” Sherry Livingston, UIL Coordinator, said. “I felt everyone was in a rush to get to the multiple contests. However, Math and Speaking have been very successful; writing is also one of our strengths.”

The results are as follows: Accounting: Darla Castillo - eighth place, Kaitlyn Ward - 11th place, Allison Alvarado - 13th place, Braelyn Casteel 21st place.

Calculator Applications: First Place Team; Jeffry Flores - first place, Braelyn Casteel - fourth place, Sophie Roach fifth place, Darla Castillo - 10th place, all state qualifiers.

Computer Science: Nathaniel Elmore - eighth place, Jeffry Flores - 12th place, Colby Johnson - 19th place, Crayton Nash - 31st place.

Current Issues and Events: Foster Sullivan - 21st place.

Editorial Writing: Darla Castillo sixth place.

Informative Speaking: Morgan Simmons - first place and state qualifier, Ava Stewart - fourth place, Aubree Englishbee - seventh place.

Lincoln Douglas Debate: Sawyer Edgington - third place and state qualifier, Aubree Englishbee - 13th place.

Literary Criticism: Third Place Team; Sophie Roach - seventh place, Jojo Acuna - eighth place, Fernanda Cardenas 10th place, Lauren Pham - 14th place.

Mathematics: First Place Team; Sophie Roach - second place, Jeffry Flores - fourth place, Adrian Gonzalez - eighth place, Darla Castillo - 12th place, all state qualifiers.

News Writing: Lauren Pham - fourth place.

Number Sense: Second Place Team; Sophie Roach - fifth place, Adrian Gonzalez - seventh place, Jeffry Flores - 11th place, Mackenzie Berngen - 20th place.

Persuasive Speaking: Sawyer Edgington - second place and state qualifier, Maddox Johnson - third place and state qualifier, Will Caffey - fourth place.

Ready Writing: Morgan Simmons second place and state qualifier.

Social Studies: Foster Sullivan - 15th place, Ben Baran - 24th place tie, Wesley Symank - 24th place tie, Jojo Acuna 44th place.

The speech team won first place, and the journalism team took eighth place. Mrs Livingston also included some things we learned from this regional meet.

“We learned to make sure that we focus on the contests and do not overextend ourselves trying to do too many things,” Livingston said. “We should just continue to work with the coaches and get better. At this stage, we are not learning any new material, just improving on what we know.”

Livingston also advised students who didn’t make it to state this year.

“My advice is to hold your head up and enjoy the success you had by making it to Regionals,” Livingston said. “Not everyone can do what you have done. If you are an underclassman, continue trying to do better in the future. If you are a senior, just know how much you have contributed to UIL over the last 4 years.”