Whitesboro elementary UIL students (grades 2-5) swept their 2024-2025 competition, claiming the title of overall district champions. These students were recognized at the Feb. 10 school board meeting held at the Hayes Primary School Cafeteria.
“All grade levels claimed the title in each individual grade,” UIL Coordinator April Ollila said, holding the UIL trophy up for all to see. “Not only that, but we had several kids earn individual medals and ribbons. It was a great season!”
In the events held on Nov. 27, every participant and every team placed, with a total of 11 first-place teams, eight second-place teams and one third-place team. Twelve second-graders earned individual medals; 18 third-graders earned individual medals; 24 fourth-graders earned individual medals (in every event); and 39 fifth-graders earned individual medals. Total points earned were 875.2.
“Thank you to the administration, school board and coaches for supporting UIL,” Ollila said. “We’re seeing great things in Whitesboro.”
Congratulations to the following Bearcats:
SECOND GRADE (overall champion for the district)
Chess (coach Cyndi Martin) – 3rd place team
Harper Parish (3rd place individual), Kamden Koerner, Harley Brawdy, Kayde Sullivan
Creative Writing (coach Cyndi Martin)
Harper Parish (3rd place individual), Ellie Maxwell (1st place individual), Sophie Hensley, Evie Glenn, Abby Miles
Music Memory (coach Ashley Calderon) – 1st place team
Sadie Crawley (6th place individual), Alexandra Chrastka (1st place individual, perfect score), Caleb Johns (1st place individual, perfect score), Charlotte Springs (4th place individual), Sebastian Labrada (Best Alternate), Evelyn Lewis (4th place individual)
Storytelling (coach Cyndi Martin)
Eleanor Maxwell (2nd place individual), Brooklyn Harris (4th place individual), Evelyn Murphy (3rd place individual), Octavia Ford, Kye Hemperley
THIRD GRADE (overall champion for the district)
Chess (coach Kara Farmer) – 2nd place team
Elam Knight (1st place individual), Liam Farmer (5th place individual), Jamison Barton, Levi Hoskins (Best Alternate)
Music Memory (coach Ashley Calderon) – 1st place team
Ariana Aguirre (1st place individual, perfect score), Coraline Edwards, Penelope Harwell (3rd place individual, perfect score), John Holle (Best Alternate), Elam Knight (4th place individual, perfect score), Manuel Sandoval Portillo (2nd place individual, perfect score), Jack Wisener (5th place individual, perfect score)
Ready Writing (coach Michaela Eldredge)
Manuel Sandoval Portillo (6th place individual), Eliza Servin (5th place individual), Harlie Russell, Anabelle Wheeler
Spelling (coach Kassie Lynch) – 2nd place team
Jamison Barton (Best Alternate), Alan Maldonado (4th place individual), Kylee Caldwell (1st place individual, tie), Coraline Edwards (5th place individual)
Storytelling (coach Mocha Wohlgemuth)
Bree Shopbell (3rd place individual), Mia Willis (4th place individual), Asa Freeman (1st place individual), Coraline Edwards, Arianna Aguirre
FOURTH GRADE (overall champion for the district)
Art (coach Emily Fennell) – 2nd place team
Jett Hemperley, Olivia Anderson, Laila Mitchell (2nd place individual), McKinleigh Stanford (4th place individual), Lily Wright
Chess (coach April Ollila) – 2nd place team
Jesse Cook (5th place individual), Parker Debord (4th place individual), Caitlyn McClendon (2nd place individual), Maxwell Schultz (Best Alternate)
Music Memory (coach Ashley Calderon) – 1st place team
Molly Baggett (Best Alternate), Talon Cohorn (2nd place individual, perfect score), Owen Hobbs (1st place individual, perfect score), Maxwell Schultz (4th place individual), Mason Schultz (5th place individual), Adylynn Toutounchian, Caitlyn McClendon (6th place individual)
Number Sense (coach Kalyn Brule) – 1st place team
Jesse Cook (4th place individual), Caitlyn McClendon (Best Alternate), Luke Beckett (1st place individual), Charlotte Reed (6th place individual)
Oral Reading (coach Mocha Wohlgemuth)
Jesse Cook, Ava Oakley, Bailey Metdker (5th place individual), Freyah Lewis (3rd place individual), Ava Cowden
Ready Writing (coach Angela Barnard)
Madison Glenn (2nd place individual), Alexa Glenn, Ava Oakley, Paisley Mrusek
Spelling (coach Tammie Kupper) – 1st place team
Lily Wright (Best Alternate), Madison Glenn (4th place individual), Emma Miles (1st place individual), Mason Welch (2nd place individual)
FIFTH GRADE (overall champion for the district)
Art (coach Emily Fennell) – 1st place team
James Hapiuk, Gunnar McCoy (1st place individual), Elliana Gomez (4th place individual), Bryce Cain (Best Alternate), Nora Bitros (5th place individual), June Aycox (3rd place individual)
Chess (coach April Ollila) – 2nd place team
Lincon Idleman (6th place individual), Luke Pollard (4th place individual), Caleb Key (5th place individual), Antonio Torres
Dictionary (coach Tammie Kupper) – 1st place team
Hadley Jones, Matthias Welles (Best Alternate), Brynlee Johnson (6th place individual), Fenway Murray (2nd place individual), Stella Baker (1st place individual)
Listening (coach Joni Durham) – 1st place team
Bryce Cain (5th place individual), Nora Brennan, Kaelynn Harper (3rd place individual), Caleb Key (1st place individual), Kaylor Sandmann (Best Alternate)
Maps, Graphs, and Charts (coach April Ollila) – 1st place team
Luke Pollard (4th place individual), Caleb Key (3rd place individual), Addison Crabtree (2nd place individual), Kaelynn Harper (Best Alternate)
Music Memory (coach Ashley Calderon) – 1st place team
Addison Crabtree (6th place individual), Elliana Gomez (5th place individual), Shaniah Heineken (2nd place individual), Lincoln Idleman (1st place individual), Luke Pollard (3rd place individual), Shelby Watson (4th place individual)
Number Sense (coach Ms. Wright) – 1st place team
Fenway Murray (2nd place individual), Nash Villarreal (3rd place individual), Luke Pollard (4th place individual), Paisley Alexander
Oral Reading (coach Mocha Wohlgemuth)
Nora Bitros, Amelia Cargile (5th place individual), Kaelynn Harper, June Aycox, Jolene Grant
Ready Writing (coach Michaela Eldredge)
Steele McCool, Adelyn Dishman (4th place individual), Elliana Gomez (2nd place individual)
Social Studies (coach April Ollila) – 2nd place team
Kaelynn Harper (Best Alternate), Jolene Grant, Shelby Watson (5th place individual), Addison Crabtree (2nd place individual)
Spelling (coach Tammie Kupper) – 1st place team
Allizabeth Hollandsworth (Best Alternate), Stella Baker (4th place individual), Brynlee Johnson (3rd place individual), Fenway Murray (2nd place individual)