Blanco High School UIL Academic Team members successfully defended their title as Region IV Champions, edging out district rival Lago Vista last Friday and Saturday at Texas State University.
Eleven students qualified for the state meet as BHS claimed three team championships and scored points in 10 different events.
The meet turned quickly into a three-school show. The final tally was Blanco 186, Lago Vista, 181, and George West 110. Twenty-nine schools from the region scored points.
“We brought several first-time qualifiers to the meet. They stepped up and performed well,” said UIL academic coordinator Russell Kirkscey. “We needed the points from every top-six finish to win the championship.”
Led by freshman Mark Kuebel, the computer science team swept 1st through 4th places. Senior Michael O’Rear placed 2nd, followed closely by Colton Barrow (junior), and Joshua McCaslin (senior).
Speech and debate team members also won their regional championship. Sophomore Drew Ritter and junior Thomas Kirkscey placed 1st and 2nd respectively in persuasive speaking.
Senior Annabeth Griffin took 4th in Lincoln-Douglas debate, and sophomore Vanessa Skillman placed 6th in poetry interpretation. Junior Patton Keutz placed 6th in informative speaking.
The calculator applications team also finished 1st with Junior Moses Godinez taking 1st, senior Callie Nance placing 4th, and junior Mariah Ackerson coming in 9th.
In the journalism events, senior Kristin Watt finished with a 3rd place in editorial writing. Senior Lauren Russell was close behind in 5th. Junior Breanna Collins placed 6th in headline writing.
The mathematics team finished 2nd overall with Nance qualifying for state in 3rd place. Members also include Godinez (5th place), and seniors Brett Champion and Rance Dollahite.
Keutz placed 2nd in current issues and events as the team took 2nd place. Team members also included Watt and Kirkscey.
Individuals who placed 1st through 3rd, the computer science team, and the calculator team will represent BHS a the state meet at UT Austin on May 20-21.
1 photo attached to this article.
More from School.