Italy students fare well in academic competition
IHS Small Schools Teams — Pictured (left to right): Annalee Lyons (sr), Zach Hernandez (jr), Tyler Boyd (sr), Marjorie Bridge (Coach), Lexie Miller (jr), Courtney Westbrook (jr) and Taylor Benevidez (jr)
Not Pictured: Jonathon Levy (jr), Cori Jeffords (jr) and Shane Cotter (sr)
For the last several years, Italy High School has been represented by several students in the Small Schools Academic Competition. The name has changed to the Texas Association of Community Schools Academic Competition, but the new name did not make the competition any easier. This year several IHS students fared very well and earned scholarship monies.
Three Italy High School teams competed in the 2009 Area competition at Comanche High School on Sunday, February 15, 2009. Eleven teams from Italy, Peaster, Comanche and DeLeon competed to win scholarship funds and advance to the state competition. Accompanying the teams were Coach Marjorie Bridge and Proctors Monica Boyd and Brannon Bridge.
Senior Tyler Boyd, junior Zach Hernandez and senior Annalee Lyons competed as Italy team I. These students won 3rd place by losing a tie breaker for 2nd, advanced to the state competition and received approximately $1500 in scholarship funds.
Italy team U consisted of junior Lexie Miller, junior Courtney Westbrook and junior Taylor Benevidez. This team won approximately $500 in scholarship monies and also advanced to state.
Italy team Q won 5th place in a tie breaker. Even though they did not win scholarship money, they could advance to state also. This team was made up of junior Jonathon Levy, junior Cori Jeffords and senior Shane Cotter.
The teams spent many extra hours after school practicing for the competition and should be proud of their accomplishments. Several nights after baseball, basketball and softball practice these teens were at the high school reading literature, studying history and science or working math problems to prepare for the competition. They also did the same thing on Sunday afternoons between morning and evening church services. During the week when possible they would gather in a corner to study together. They proved during this competition that hard work can and does pay off.
Marjorie Bridge stated that these competitors are some of our school’s brightest and best students. They are involved in everything including sports, UIL, band, FFA and cheerleading as well as out of school activities. They are to be highly commended for the extra effort they put forth to achieve their goals.