ECHS Academic Team Wins District Title

On Tuesday and Wednesday, January 28 and 29, 2015, the Edmonson County High School Academic Team captured the KAAC Governor’s Cup District 12 Championship.  Students from the high school competed in eight events consisting of quick recall, future problem solving (FPS), and written assessment in the following areas: mathematics, science, language arts, social studies, arts and humanities, and English composition.  The participating schools included Edmonson County High School, Grayson County High School, Ohio County High School, and McLean County High School, as competition host. 

ECHS had students competing in eighteen written events and picked up placements in fifteen, including placing first in five of six categories.  ECHS coach Derek Stice had this to say about the individual performance, “This is the most individual placements that ECHS has received since I have taken over as coach, and it is one of the most dominating performances in school history.”  In arts and humanities, Makenzie Daniels placed first, Jacob Simpson placed second, and Cameron Vincent placed fifth.  In science, Jacob Simpson placed third and Aryah Miller placed fifth.  In social studies, Presley Kendall placed first and Danny Holt placed third.  In language arts, Makenzie Daniels placed first, Quinn Dorris placed third, and Dawson Stith placed fifth.  Makenzie only missed two questions on the district exam, which was the highest score, on this exam, in the state.  In English composition, Kolbie Vincent placed first and Dawson Stith placed fourth.  In mathematics, Tyler Huber placed second, and Spencer McMurdo and Aryah Miller tied for fourth.  All of these students will advance to the regional tournament on February 14th.

The FPS team finished second in the district to a very good Grayson County Team.  The team included Olivia Forester, Presley Kendall, Emery Hunt, and Spencer McMurdo.  They will also advance to the regional championship.

ECHS Academic Team - Left to Right: Back Row: Derek Stice (Coach), Cameron Vincent, Spencer McMurdo, Danny Holt, Quinn Dorris, Tyler Huber, Dawson Stith, Jacob Simpson Front Row: Aryah Miller, Makenzie Daniels, Olivia Forester, Presley Kendall, Shaun Stice (Coach), Team Members Not Pictured: John Michael Mills, Emery Hunt, Kolbie Vincent (courtesy of ECHS Academic Team)

The team won all three of its quick recall matches to claim the district title in the event.  In round one, ECHS faced 2013 District Runner-Up and Tri-County Conference Champion Ohio County High School.  ECHS started quickly, going on a 12-0 run to start the game, and never looked back. The halftime score was 20 – 2.  “I was very proud of the team in this game.  After the great start, I was able to make many substitutions and the pressure never let up.  Almost every player on the team scored in this game and the games to follow,” stated Coach Stice.  ECHS defeated Ohio by a final score of 34 – 4.  

In round two, ECHS faced Grayson County and continued its dominance.  After a slow start to the half, ECHS refocused and led at the half by 11 – 4 and went into the bye round with a 28 – 9 victory.

After sitting out round three, ECHS faced Grayson County in the finals of the double elimination tournament. The team began the half with a 9 – 1 run, and maintained this margin entering the intermission with a 14 – 6 lead.  The Wildcats scored two quick points on the first two questions of the second half and it looked like the game might be over.  However, the Cougars followed that with seven consecutive correct answers to pull within three.  ECHS then regrouped and pulled away, capturing the district title with a final score of 28 – 17.

ECHS head coach, Derek Stice, had the following comments, “I am extremely proud of our team.  The majority of our players are sophomores, but hard work has allowed us to play with more experienced teams.  I am very pleased that we were able to capture the championship.  We will now begin working to prepare for the regional championship on February 14 at Owensboro Catholic High School.”

Edmonson Voice Staff
Courtesy of ECHS