Vidalia Wins State Literary Championship

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The Vidalia High School Literary Team captured the GHSA AA State Literary Championship on Saturday, March 23, in Milledgeville.

This championship marked the fourth overall GHSA State Literary Championship and the first team state victory since 1985. The VHS team scored 30 points, and the Indians took three individual state titles.

'To say I am proud of our literary students is an understatement,' remarked Vidalia High School Literary Coach Margaret continued from page

Pournelle. 'These students have experienced several challenges and changes over the past couple of years, but their determination to improve and succeed, along with their work ethic, never wavered.'

Individual champions for Vidalia included Kingston Ryals, who was victorious in Extemporaneous Speaking; Alan Johnson, who repeated as champion in Humorous Literary Interpretation; and Johnson and Dottie McDaniel, who successfully defended their Duo Literary Interpretation championship.

Johnson's win gives him four state titles in four years. Paired with his runner- up finishes in his freshman and sophomore years in Duo Oral Interpretation, Johnson now becomes Vidalia's Highest Point total winner in school history.

'I recognize that teaching a student as talented as Alan Johnson is rare, and I have treasured the opportunity,' commented Pournelle. 'My only request to Alan has been that one day, when he is walking a red carpet, he takes his old theater teacher, Miss P., along with him!'

In addition to the Individual champions, Sage Powell finished second in Dramatic Literary Interpretation for the second straight year. The Boys Quartet, featuring Landry Wheeler, Dylan Conway, Andrew Davis, and Cole Dean, took third place, and Savannah Edwards took fourth place in Girls Solo.

The Literary team has continued to grow under Pournelle's direction. Yet, she shared that she does not accomplish success alone, as she credited those around her. 'I am honored to work alongside an incredible group of leaders and, without whom, this victory would not have been possible! Kellie Rowell, our music director; John Morgan, our accompanist; and Coertze Peters, our physicality consultant, are absolutely the best and I am so blessed to work alongside these talented people,” she emphasized.