Thomas County Central High School Literary team took part in region 5A competition March 2 in Columbus. The team finished in third place, just five points behind the second placing team.
Several students placed in their individual event. Two students placed first and advanced to state competition: Riley Jones in essay, personal topic and Matthew Edmonds in boys solo.
“I was extremely pleased with how our team fared in the region meet,” sponsor Tom Rinehart said. “To see the talent from different schools in our region was amazing. Our students should be proud of their accomplishments and their representing our school system.”
Senior Riley Jones has competed in literary for three years. He was originally nominated by his literature teacher, Stacey Mitchell. Jones wrote about how his cat has brought happiness to his life.
“It’s an honor to compete in a competition with some of the best writers in our region,” he said. “I have fun competing with others, but everyone at the competition is very friendly, and I have often found myself becoming friends with the same people I compete against. Overall, it is a challenging yet fun experience.”
Jones thanks Mitchell for seeing his potential as a writer and challenging him to greatness and Rinehart for his encouragement and trust.
Senior Matthew Edmonds loves competition and believes his dedication and work ethic got him selected for this year’s team by his chorus teacher, Nicole Davis. He performed the songs “Du Bist Wie Eine Blume” by Robert Schumann and “Tonight At Eight” by Jerry Bock.
“Every day I work hard to improve upon my diction, my technique, and my breath support,” Edmonds said. “The anticipation and the energy in the room gets me excited and eager to present my voice and talent. Competition really brings out the best in me. I love to compete to be the best, and if the judges think that I’m not good or not at my best potential, it drives me even more to improve in myself and to work harder on whatever the judges say I need to work on.”
Team second place finishers were: Kennedy Ward in extemporaneous speaking, domestic; Jamey Gray in girls solo; and, Megan Schminky, Aspen Sloan and Tori Hall in treble trio.
Jamey Gray was also selected to compete by teacher Nicole Davis. This is her first year participating in literary.
“It was thrilling and a great honor,” Gray said of the experience. “I want to thank Ms. Davis for having such faith in me to learn this music and to sing before the judges. Thanks to her, I know I can step outside my comfort zone and sing formally and succeed like those who have sung before me.”
Rinehart said this experience helped the team learn what it takes to be more competitive, and he looks forward to a more complete team in each competition area next year.
Gray anticipates a return performance.
“I was very inspired to hear the most talented singers in our state,” she said. “It gave me a goal to better myself to be able to go back next year and do even better than I did this year.”
State competition will be held March 17 at Buford High School in Buford.
Jones will have a new writing topic, but Edmonds expects to sing the same songs at state competition.
“I will look over the comments from the judges, and I will work hard on those areas to improve them,” Edmonds said. “I am very excited, and I look forward to this competition.”