Piedmont’s Literary Team Wins State
Piedmont Academy’s spring literary team brought home the GISA AA state title at the Spring Literary and Music competition held at Valdosta State University on Wednesday, March 21. The team edged out Region 4AA champion LaGrange Academy by one point at the state competition to bring home the school’s fifth spring literary and music team championship.
Senior Samantha Ramsdell successfully defended her state championship title by winning first place in dramatic interpretation, outscoring the second place contender by 13 points.
Ashley Young, a junior and a newcomer to the spring literary team, proved herself to be a champion in the personal essay category where she outscored the second place essay by 10 points. Miss Young teamed up with fellow junior Katie Odegaard to take home state championship medals in duo interpretation where the pair defeated their closest competition by 12 points.
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Sophomore Andrew Mitchell won the international extemporaneous speaking category with an 11 point margin and brought home his first state championship medal for a speech about the trade and economic relationship between the United States and the European Union.
Competing in U.S. extemporaneous speaking, Gabe Hestad, a junior, placed second and missed the championship title by only five points for his speech about the condition of mental health treatment in this country.
Eighth grader Will Tillman competed in humorous interpretation and contributed three points toward the team trophy with his third place finish.
The girls’ trio, consisting of seniors Lacy Adamson and Audrey Cleary and junior Savannah McGinnis, performed at state and made a strong showing in a very competitive event.
Gabe Courtman, a sophomore, competed in boy’s solo and as a member of the boys’ quartet along with Mr. Hestad and fellow sophomores Owen Kimball and Chase Olson.
Senior Carley Cain, freshman Morgan Leach and eighth grader Starr Batchelor also attended state competition to support their teammates and to help the coaches with various duties throughout the day.
Even though the team competed in only 10 out of 14 events, the team earned 36 points and came in first place out of the 20 AA private schools that competed in last week’s event. LaGrange Academy was the second place team with 35 points, and Westwood School was the third place team with 29 points.
Piedmont’s team is coached in the speaking and acting events by Bobbi Sauls and in the music events by Mrs. April Allen. Jackie Tarrah accompanied the trio, quartet, and soloist on the piano.
Leslie White worked with Ms. Young on essays. The students were supported by faculty member and parent Mary Ramsdell as well as parents JoEllen and Scott Kimball, David Odegaard, Rebekah Mitchell, and Tom Tillman. The students were also encouraged by grandparents Dan and Edna Ramsdell and sibling Lauren Mitchell.
