This year Piedmont Academy’s literary team took home the gold once again in what the students have affectionately referred to as a “3peat”. This is the team’s second straight region win and third straight state championship in the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) Literary Competition. The team consisted of 14 students and included events in music, drama, speech, spelling, and essay writing.

Head Literary Coach, Mary Catherine Sikes, stated, “I am so proud of all the hard work the team put into the months leading up to competition. We have a highly experienced group of seniors who have been the recipe for our success, and I am so pleased that they were able to bring home one last region and state championship.”

Gracie Brittain, Martina Coleman, and Anne Marie Hildebrant placed second in the trio competition at region. Anne Marie Hildebrant also competed in the girl’s solo event and placed second in region and fourth in state.

Danny Ramsdell and Will Tillman competed in duo interpretation and finished second at both region and state. Danny Ramsdell also competed in Boy’s Solo and Dramatic Oral Interpretation. He finished third in region in boy’s solo, and in dramatic interpretation, he finished first place in region and fourth in state.

In addition to duo interpretation, Will Tillman competed in humorous oral interpretation where he finished first in region and second in state.

Chris McClain competed in domestic extemporaneous speaking placing first in region and, for the third straight year, first in state.

Nick Maynard competed in international extemporaneous speaking; he placed second in region and first in state.

In the spelling competition, Kevin Davis placed first in both region and state for a third year.

The team had three first place wins in the essay competitions at region. Emma Kate Edmonds competed with a personal essay, Jackson Waddleton competed in rhetorical, and Ivy English competed in argumentative. Additionally, Ivy English placed first in state with her argumentative essay.

Grace Roberts and Jessica McEwen joined the literacy team as alternates, and Maddie Mooneyham accompanied as our student photographer.                   

The school, as well as all of its faculty and students, is proud to have an amazing team full of such talented individuals. The Piedmont Academy literary team would also like to extend a special “thank you” to Ms. Mary Catherine Sikes, Mrs. Allison Hildebrant, Mrs. Leslie White, Mrs. April Allen, and Mrs. Jackie Tarrh who made this all possible. In addition they would like to thank Ms. Bobbie Sauls who, despite no longer being at Piedmont, is a huge part of what they are and what they do.

Article written by State champion in International Extemporaneous Speaking, Nick Maynard, who is also a member of the school’s journalism class.