Rattler UIL Academic Teams Claim More Championships, Several Advancing

Photo: From left to right: Top Row-Joshua Scally, Will Hutchinson; Row 2-J.D. Brown, Liam McMains, Silas Andrews, Julisa Gasca, Nathasja Evans; Row 3-Sean Bryan, Itzel Osornia, Eric Apodaca; Row 4-Julian Delarosa, Cristian Rocha, Jared Longoria, Alex Ramon, Daisy Obregon; Bottom Row-Maximilian Murdoch, Elizabeth. Information and photo provided by: David Holmes

In a landmark victory, the San Marcos High School Speech and Debate Team was crowned UIL District Champion after competitions on Saturday, April 2, and Tuesday, April 5, marking the 8th consecutive year the team has taken the district title.

Julisa Gasca won 1st place in Poetry Interpretation for the second year in a row, and Maddie North placed 2nd in Prose Interpretation, with both advancing to regionals.  Also winning medals this weekend were Elizabeth Contreras who placed 5th in Poetry Interpretation and 4th in Persuasive Speaking, and Alyceia Evans who placed 5th in Prose Interpretation.

After heated competition on Tuesday, the Lincoln Douglas debate team finished with Maximilian Murdoch in 4th, and Jared Longoria placing 1st as District Champion and advancing to regionals.

Academic competitors also had a strong showing, with Julian Delarosa placing 5th in Calculator Applications, Felix Aguon earning 3rd in Ready Writing and 4th in Spelling, and Itzel Osornia placing 3rd in Editorial Writing. Auguon and Osornia will advance to regionals.

And in a repeat performance, the Computer Science team was also named District Champion and advanced to regionals.  Individually, Liam McMains placed 1st, J.D. Brown placed 5th, and Silas Andrews placed 6th.