On the weekend of April 25, 25 Sudan High School students traveled to Amarillo to compete in the UIL Regional Academic Meet, and an additional 23 students competed in Amarillo’s One Act Play Regional.
Several students placed in their respective competitions, and 10 are advancing to the Academic State competition in Austin.
“I am so proud of the fifty-plus students in the academic program this year,” Jonathan Robertson, the team’s Academic Coach, said. “They are all a blessing.”
Upon the first night, students endured tornado sirens around 1:30 a.m., ahead of their expected rehearsal time at 6:30 a.m.
Nonetheless, students kept their hearts set on the competition.
In the past, Sudan earned 165 points in 2023, 208.5 points in 2024, and increased its momentum by earning 213 points at this year’s competition.
The computer science team, comprised of Gibson Whittington, Denise Gonzalez, Caden Edens and Garicyn Bigham, won first place. Individually, Whittington won first, Gonzalez fourth and Edens fifth.
Additionally, Bigham placed fifth in Copy Editing.
In Informative Speaking, Bigham placed first, and Emma Armstrong placed second.
The math team, comprised of Whittington, Edens, Gonzalez and Kye Polk, won second place. Inplace, dividually, Whittington won sixth.
The number sense team, comprised of Edens, Polk, Gonzalez, and Whittington, won first place. Individually, Edens won first, and Polk won fourth.
Jolie Dyck won first place in Persuasive Speaking.
Chase Caswell won first in Poetry.
In Prose, Drew Lockhart won first, and Brooklyn Swart won second.
The Speech team won first scoring almost 100 points.
The One Act Play team won fifth place. Individually, Lockhart won Best Performer for the fourth consecutive contest, Phillip Jones won All-Star Cast and Caswell won Honorable Mention All-Star Cast.
The sponsors for the team’s endeavors included Chrissy Bass, Tonja Edens, Chelsea Lewis, Angie Robertson and Jonathan Robertson. The team additionally extends a big thank you to Gordon Martin, Cindy Martin, Kevin Bass, James Markham and Kim Harris for logistical support at the contest.
“Three-peating at regional is amazing,” Robertson said. “Several of these students have won points all three years. Their nevergive- up attitude will serve them well in life. They have developed a true work ethic, which is hard to find in today’s society. They will go far.”