The Vidalia High School Literary Team captured the GHSA AA State Literary Championship Saturday afternoon in Milledgeville! The VHS team scored 30 points, and the Indians took three individual state titles. It was the 4th GHSA Championship captured by a Vidalia Literary Team and the first since 1985. The other two wins came in 1971 and 1972, according to the GHSA.
"To say I am proud of our Literary students is an understatement," said Vidalia Literary Coach Margaret Pournelle. "These students have experienced several challenges and changes over the past couple of years, but their determination to improve and succeed, along with their work ethic, never wavered."
Individual champions for Vidalia included Kingston Ryals in Extemporaneous Speaking, Alan Johnson, who repeated as Champion in Humorous Literary Interpretation, and Johnson & Dottie McDaniel, repeating as Champions in Duo Literary Interpretation.
Johnson's win gives him four State Titles in 4-years. Paired with his runner-up finishes in his Freshman and Sophomore years in Duo Oral Interpretation, Johnson now becomes Vidalia's Highest Point total winner in school history, according to VHS Former Principal and Historian John Sharpe
"I recognize that teaching a student as talented as Alan Johnson is rare, and I have treasured the opportunity," said Pournelle. "My only request to Alan has been that one day, when he is walking a red carpet, he takes his old theater teacher, Miss P., along with him!"
In addition to the Individual Champions, Sage Powell finished 2nd in Dramatic Literary Interpretation for the second straight year. The Boys Quartet, featuring Landry Wheeler, Dylan Conway, Andrew Davis, and Cole Dean, took 3rd, and Savannah Edwards took 4th in Girls Solo.
The Literary team has continued to grow under Pournelle's direction. Still, she was quick to credit those around her for the program's success: "I am honored to work alongside an incredible group of leaders and, without whom, this victory would not have been possible! Kellie Rowell, our music director; John Morgan, our accompanist; and Coertze Peters, our physicality consultant, are absolutely the best, and I am so Blessed to work alongside these talented people."
