Friendswood High School students showcased their exceptional skills at the recent UIL Region 3 5A contests, clinching victories and securing spots in the state competitions across multiple categories.
In UIL Accounting, the team triumphed at the regional contest, winning the team event and sweeping top individual places. Coached by Jane Pearce, the team comprised Jackson Skeele, who took first place, followed by Jeffrey Otto, Maliha Khan, and Jacob Mayfield, securing second, fourth, and seventh places respectively. These students are now preparing to represent their school at the state level competition in Austin this May.
The UIL Science team, under the guidance of Vanessa Parker, also made an impressive showing by winning the regional competition. Team members Andres Justin, Hugh Tian, Aldrich Nguyen, and Sebastian Leiman demonstrated their expertise, with Tian placing third overall, first in Biology, and second in Physics. Leiman and Nguyen also garnered top placements in Biology and Chemistry respectively. This victory propels them to the state competition, where they aim to continue their success.
Jose Rivera, coach of the UIL Speech and Debate teams, praised students Aayush Jetly and Vishank Panchbhavi for advancing to the quarter-final round in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Additionally, Rivera highlighted the commendable performances of Bailee Kettler, Tristan Rabie, Ishan Pendyala, Sajenesh Sudhakar, and Aydin Haniff, who all excelled at the regional level.
The UIL Poetry and Prose teams, led by Kathy Powdrell, also had notable achievements. Sophomore Brendon Romell placed third in Poetry Interpretation, advancing to the state meet, while Senior Jimmy Perry was named an alternate after placing fourth. The teams, including team captains Caroline Krebs (Poetry) and Thatcher Chase (Prose), along with Beau Laviolett, showcased their literary talents at Fulshear High School during the Region III meet.
These series of victories culminated in Friendswood High School winning the Regional Academic Championship, a testament to the dedication and skill of both the students and their coaches.
