HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Two years in a row, students at Houston County High School won the Georgia High School Associations' State Literary Championship.
The talent has always been there according to the school's literary coordinator.
Central Georgia native Talmadge Smith is from Swainsboro.
Before he came to Houston County, he said he taught at Swainsboro middle and high schools, Liberty High in Hinesville, and Lumpkin County High.
"Houston County has really been a dream school," Smith said. "I always wanted to be here, and I always said if the position at Houston County came open, I would jump on it."
His students call him Mr. Tee.
"Mr. Tee came in, and redirected, and rebuilt our program," Catherine Nix said. "And because of that we're two time state champs, which is crazy, because it really was his first year last year, and he came in, and won state and then did it again this year."
The team contested in different group categories, including speech and singing competitions, then their total was added at the end.
"We're one of the few places around here that has a designated male class for singing," Miles Stelson said.
He and his classmates, Alex Mayweather, Tripp Smith, and Spencer Voskuil sang in the male quartet that won first place at the competition!
The girls trio included Abi Bragg, Catherine Nix, and Addie Page Munn; they won second place.
Jackson Griffith won second place for Extemporaneous Speaking - Domestic and Ruxanda Malcoci won third for Extemporaneous Speaking - International.
According to Smith, "The students receive the broad topics a month in advance and are responsible for research those topics. The topics are current events from the past year in Domestic and International. When they arrive to the contest, they draw a topic and have 30 minutes to prepare a 5–7-minute speech for two judges.
"He tells us all the time it's ok to lost, just don't let them outwork you," Miles said.
"It's the greatest Avocational subject that there is, really," Mr. Tee said.
"A lot of us kind of felt bad that we only got third, like I wish I could've done more, but then it only came down to one point so it was the feeling that like literally we could not have done it without everybody on the team," Ruxanda said.
The students won the competition by a single point.
Congratulations, Houston County High School, on being our School of the Week!
School of the Week: Houston County High School students are state literary champions 2 years in a row
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