The auditorium lights hit the stage as names start getting called, one after another. The journalism team sits close together, leaning forward and reacting to every placement as if it were their own. By the time the championship ends, the result feels clear. Eight gold medals, nearly the entire newspaper staff qualifying, a team score about 100 points ahead of the runner-up, and a state trophy they get to bring home and call theirs.
It is their second state title in a row, but this one stands out more, not just because they won again, but because of how many people contributed across broadcasting, newspaper, and yearbook. Instead of relying on one or two top finishes, the team built points across almost every event.
“The moment I won a gold medal was honestly surreal,” junior Lucas Day said. “I didn’t even expect to make state in that category, nonetheless place gold.”
Day earned first in Newspaper Sports Feature Writing and second in Yearbook Feature Writing, contributing major points for the newspaper team. His performance reflects how strong the group is overall, with almost the entire staff qualifying and placing in multiple events.
“I just remember thinking, ‘Don’t get last, don’t get last,’” Day said.
That same pressure shows up in yearbook events, where time limits and unfamiliar prompts make every second count. Senior Parker Neville worked through that pressure and earned second in Theme Copy Writing, pushing through a slow start and finishing without time to edit.
“The time limit was the biggest challenge,” Neville said. “I had to use every last second.”
Instead of playing it safe, Neville took a risk with his theme choice and tried to stand out, and it was worth it in the end when he left with a silver medal hanging around his neck. That mindset carried across the yearbook staff, where strong individual performances continue to build.
“I remember thinking that this was a risky choice,” Neville said. “So if I could make it work, it would just make my entry more impressive.”
That approach pays off with multiple top finishes, including a gold medal from sophomore Scarlett Schmit in Yearbook Sports Feature Writing. Her story focused on emotion, helping it stand out even under pressure.
“I wanted to try and be as descriptive as possible,” Schmit said. “I tried capturing an angle that people would be interested in and would be able to see the emotion through.”
Her win adds to the team’s total of eight gold medals and shows how underclassmen step into big moments. That depth becomes one of the biggest reasons the team pulls so far ahead.
“When my name was called for first place, I was honestly shocked,” Schmit said.
Broadcast adds just as much to the total. Senior Sahana Kumar earned both first and third place for her Broadcast Feature stories, finishing her senior year with two strong placements.
“Focusing on emotion in feature stories helps the audience feel connected,” Kumar said.
Her work shows how storytelling across different formats still connects in the same way. Whether it is writing or video, the goal stays the same. Tell real stories that people care about.
“It was a great way to end my senior year,” Kumar said.
Other placements continue to build the team score. Junior Lydia Harlow placed in both Advertising and Column Writing, contributing points while competing in events she has not had much experience in before.
“The hardest part was definitely managing that nervousness with the time constraints in an unfamiliar atmosphere,” Harlow said.
That willingness to step into new challenges adds to the team’s overall strength. Every placement matters, especially when so many people compete.
“We have an incredible group of writers, editors, photographers, and broadcast crew who have a genuine passion for journalism,” senior Sarah Robey said.
By the end, it didn’t feel like individual events anymore. Instead, it’s one shared effort that was carried through every room, deadline, and moment under pressure.
“I’m just so unbelievably proud of everyone,” senior co-editor-in-chief of the Hoofbeat, Mira Mukherjee, said. “All the late-night edits, long layout weeks, dozens of interviews, and a million more behind the scenes of hard work culminated in our achievement.”
Winning the State Championship for the second year in a row confirms what the team already knows. It is not about one moment. It is about everything adding up.
“Even if we didn’t win, that doesn’t take away from our staff’s dedication,” Mukherjee said. “But this was a very nice end to the best three years of my high school newspaper.”