From the clicking of keyboards and the hum of nerves, what started with a road trip to San Antonio turned into a whirlwind of competition, friendship, and bylines written under pressure.
On April 26, freshman Nithya Poola, sophomore Ariana Tower and junior Sophia Clapp competed in the University Interscholastic League Regional Journalism meet at the University of Texas at San Antonio. At the end of that day, Clapp advanced to state in newswriting after placing second in the competition.
The competition marked a major milestone for the students, especially for Poola, who placed third for headline writing in the district meet as her first time competing in UIL.
“After I competed, I panicked because I really wanted to make it to state,” Poola said. “I had a mindset where I believed [that was] a possibility, but I’m still glad that I worked as hard as I could. It was a very stressful day, but I felt like I persevered through it pretty well.”
For Clapp, a seasoned UIL journalism competitor, the experience took on new meaning as the team expanded and bonded through the weekend.
“We went up as a group on Friday, and we got to spend the night before competition,” Clapp said. “It was really fun because my roommates and I got along really well, and the night before the competition we went out to dinner together and played games on the hotel TV.”
Clapp placed in both newswriting and feature writing this year, although she was unsure how she’d perform, the results exceeded her expectations.
“I did not expect to make it to state,” Clapp said. “Obviously it was a goal of mine, but knowing that you’re up against some of the best writers in the districts, it’s hard to believe that you’re going to beat them. I feel really proud and happy. I’ve been competing and practicing for three years, and I’m glad that my hard work has paid off.”
For Tower, the heart of the experience was in the people around her.
“I love competing, I think it’s because of the people,” Tower said. “We always have a greater sense of camaraderie between everyone. Surrounding yourself with good people gives you a better chance of doing well. I believe that being surrounded by good people gives you more motivation because you want to match your teammates.”
