By Sara Carrasco and Natasha Desai

 

WHS students took home the Sweepstakes trophy at the Aubrey invitational UIL competition on Saturday, Dec. 1, with winners in math, science, journalism and debate.

The Pirate UIL team dominated its competition, which consisted of 21 teams from the North Texas area.

“We were looking for a win, and that’s exactly what we got,” debate coach Travis Hiltbrunner said. “We did it because we have the best team in the district.”

First-time journalism competitors impressed their coach. Journalism consisted of News, Features, Editorial and Headline Writing. Juniors Natasha Desai and Sara Carrasco placed in every category.

“I was really proud of my journalism students,” coach Cindy Anderson said. “This was their first time competing, and they were at the top of every competition.”

Although not their first competition, debate students admit part of their success is based on their positive attitude.

Students, for the first time, competed in Group Improvisation, a competition where students choose the topic and have three minutes to prepare a response. Bringing home the first-place medal for this event were Lauren Brassfield, Kemjika Akagha, Tariq Khan, Will Stephens and Amber Banfill.

“The Wylie High School debate coaches are excellent at preparing us for competition,” Brassfield, a junior, said. “We all felt very confident about the results of this tournament from the beginning.”

New to WHS and winner of the Computer Science competition, junior Kishan Patel had never medaled in that event before.

“Knowing I placed first felt good,” Patel said. “This would be my first medal in Texas.”

The math team swept the competition. Siblings Chris and Rachel Dessert were teamed with juniors Patel and Ben Jones, securing first, second and third place in Number Sense and Mathematics.

“The math team worked hard and did a fabulous job,” math coach and UIL coordinator Anita Murack said. “We’ve never had a first-place team before.
Rounding out the day were Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, and speaking events. Competing in these events were Aisha Bawany, Sally Schmitt, Rachel Hawkins, Emily Bauer, Sarah-Grace Crocco, (Amber) Banfill, Ryan Magee, Taylor Manatsa, Kosmo Barnes, Stephens and Brassfield.

“The team was confident and felt good coming out of their rounds,” assistant debate coach Brian Alexander said. “They were well prepared for the day.”

Sara Carrasco and Natasha DeSai are juniors at Wylie High School

Aubrey Invitational UIL Competition winners:

 

Number Sense: second place, Chris Dessert; fifth place, Ben jones; sixth place, Kishan Patel; second place, team

Calculator Applications: first place, Chris Dessert; second place, Kishan Patel; third place, Rachel Dessert; fifth place, Ben Jones; first place, team

Mathematics: first place, Chris Dessert; second place, Rachel Dessert; third place, Kishal Patel; fourth place, Ben Jones; first place team

Computer Science: first place, Kishal Patael

Science: first place, Chris Dessert; fifth place, Rachel Desert; first place, team

Feature Writing: second place, Natasha DeSai; third place, Sara Carrasco

News Writing: second place, Sara Carrasco; third place Natasha DeSai

Editorial Writing: first place, Sara Carrasco; third place, Natasha DeSai

Headline Writing: third place, Sara Carrasco; sixth place, Natasha DeSai

Lincoln Douglas Debate: second place, Aisha Bawany; fifth place, Sally Schmitt

Public Forum Debate: first place, Rachel Hawkins and Emily Bauer; second place, Sarah-Grace Crocco and Amber Banfill; third place, Ryan Magee and Taylor Manatssa

Top Speaker, Public Forum Debate: Rachel Hawkins

Group Improvisation: first place, Lauren Brassfield and Kemjika Akagha, Tariq Khan, Will Stephens and Amber Banfill

Informative Speaking: second place, Kosmo Barnes; third place, Will Stephens

Persuasive Speaking: third place, Lauren Brassfield

The Pirate Debate and UIL Academic teams rolled over the competition at the Aubrey UIL invitational tournament Dec. 1, taking home the Sweepstakes trophy. After the contest, WHS Principal Virdie Montgomery joined the competitors for a celebratory dinner at Furr’s Cafeteria; in foreground, Furr’s diners are not deterred by the Pirates posing behind them. From left, Katrena Njiki, Principal Virdie Montgomery, Lauren Brassfield, Amber Banfill, Natasha DeSai, Will Stephens, Sara Carrasco, Tariq Khan, Kishan Patel, Kemjika Akagha, John Isom and Kosmo Barnes.

Wylie HS students who contributed to the Sweepstakes victory in Aubrey include, front row from left, Rachel Dessert, Kishan Patel, Amber Banfill, back row, Kosmo Barnes, Ebore Awano, Will Stephens, Tariq Khan, Sally Schmitt and Taylor Manatsa.

Academic and speaking competitors from Wylie HS brought home many medals from Aubrey Dec. 1. Contributing were, front row from left, Natasha DeSai, Sara Carrasco, Michael Magee, Akshay Verma, Lauren Brassfield, Emily Bauer, Rachel Hawkins, back row, Chris Dessert, Kemjika Akagha, Katie Barnes and John Isom.

 

Courtesy photos