VBOE Honors One Act State Champs

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At their meeting on December 10, the Vidalia City Schools Board of Education recognized the Vidalia High School One Act Play cast and crew for their recent Georgia High School Association 1A One Act Play State Championship victory.

This victory marks the first time the school has won the state championship since it has been split from the State Literary Competition.

The team’s performance of Region 3-1A Championship play “Bad Axe,” unfolded late Saturday evening, November 23rd, at Houston County High School in Warner Robins, and ultimately took home the gold for the Indians. This victory marks the first stand-alone One Act Play State Championship for the Vidalia One Act Play Team and the seventh in the school’s history. The previous six titles were won as part of the State Literary Championships, the last of which was awarded in 1975.

“This has been a 20year journey for me, and it’s a dream come true,” Vidalia High School One Act Coach Margaret Pournelle emphasized, as she shared that earlier this year, she had told both her students and her brother that she hoped to win a state championship during her career.

Superintendent Sandy Reid responded to this statement, remarking, “Wow, that’s amazing. To really hone in on a craft for 21 years until you become the coach’s best in the business – I think it speaks volumes about why our program is where it is today. So, I just want to thank [Pournelle] for everything she puts into the program.”

Pournelle continued to speak about the occasion. “Coming in this school always reminds me of the days of rehearsing in the [old] cafeteria and not having a stage,” she told the attendees and board. “We would put our sets in my classroom and roll them out to practice; then, we had to take a trailer out to [Southeastern Technical College] to rehearse on stage. Now, we have the theatre and a state championship.”

The coach also commented on the excellence of the students which participated in the play. “I could not have asked for a better group of kids to do this with,” she remarked. “They are my family and I love them so much. I always tell them that me being proud of them does not depend on victories; I am proud of them every single day because they work so hard. They are so hardworking and talented. They put in the hours and do everything I ask of them – that’s what brings out the champions.”

Pournelle highlighted each member of the cast and crew, sharing their role in the production. She also informed the Board that Sage Powell had earned the award for Best Actress at every competition which the group competed, and that Savannah Edwards and Kingston Ryals had been named to the All-Star Cast at these competitions.

Participants in this year’s One Act Play were Erica Harvey, Sage Powell, Zoey McDilda, Dylan Conway, Gregory Huston, Cole Dean, Savannah Edwards, Daniel Cerrillo, Cayden Beasley, Grace Green, Lacy Turner, Leah Cruz, Mikayla Stovall, Kingston Ryals, Bailey Fulford, Eli Cleghorn, and Richard Delgado.

The Board congratulated the team and coach, sharing their pride for the group’s victory.