Mtn. Home takes top honors in 30th annual Interscholastic Contest - News

THE TEAM FROM MTN. HOME High School took top honors in the 30th annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 10. Competition was held in three divisions based on school size, with first, second and third place winners announced in each division. First, second and third place winners overall also were named. The Mtn. Home contingent placed first overall, which gave them ownership of the “traveling trophy” that is given to the overall first place winner every year, and third in Division I. Team members included, front row from left, Charli Partney, Noah Nelson and David Lewis; second row: Sam Buel Johnny Woods and Bailee Carter; third row: Jayden Phillips Sydney Blevins and Hannah Strider; back row: Kyle Chandler, Ben Eggensperger, Kate Vawter, Lucas Johnson, Tyler Vincent, David Manolof and Jacob Cotterell. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

THE TEAM FROM WEST PLAINS High School took top honors in Division I of the 30th annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 10. With their trophy are, front row from left, Jayden Hicks, Taylor McGraw, Thomas Mayhew, Taylor Guffey and Serena Jolliff; second row: Summer Burnes, Mae Pavelka, Alyssa Roylance, Joey Block, Kate Froehlke, Gerrard Dietrich, Cole Henry, Matt Pavelka, Kyle Seeley, Andrew Smith, Audrey Russell, Emma Pingleton, Juliette Reid and Emily Kimball; back row: Jacob Colangelo, Austin Beard, Alex Eggert, Jacob Burke, Patrick Cobb and Bradley Sloniker. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

THE TEAM FROM MTN. VIEW-BIRCH TREE Liberty High School took top honors in Division II of the 30th annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 10. With their trophy are, front row from left, Chris Wilson, Brittany Farias, Taylor Barker, Zoey DeGroodt and Chandler Foster; second row: Clayton Haynes, Jessica Mantel, Jessie Dowler and Jordan Owens; third row: Andrea Pelate, Lindsey McMullen and Hali Liles; fourth row: Brendn Burks; back row: Kennedy Kelly, Kyle Nichols, Bryan Porter, Luke Noble and Tyler Langston. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

THE TEAM FROM WINONA High School tied for first place in Division III of the Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 10. With their trophy are, front row from left, Kyndal Thomason, Zack Smith and Madison Counts; second row: Megan Mays, Jake Smith, Tre Thomason, Dalton Voyles, Jesse Denton, Gretta Phillips and Joe Norris; third row: team sponsor William Chilton, Michaela Kile, Jerica Will, Kelsey Spinner and Regan Brown; back row: Jacob Deckard, Sarah Marchbank, Logan Thompson, Destiny Brewer, Julia Sartin and Olivia Barnes. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

THE TEAM FROM PLATO High School tied for first place in Division III of the Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 10. Team members included, front row from left, Erin Parks, Blair Cook, Jordie Emery, Tia Fletcher, Kathryn Kidd and Shasta Blakenship; second row: Meredith Caldwell, Rayanna Otterholt, Heidi Murry, Seth Thomas, Andrew Patrick and Nick Lombardi; back row: Rose Haney, Liam Davis, Mason Crabtree, Anthony Newsome, Eli Dowden, Jacob Supancic and Alex Leitner. (Photo provided)

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The team from Mtn. Home High School in Mtn. Home, Arkansas, took top honors in the 30th annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 10, on the Missouri State-West Plains campus.

An estimated 400 students from 18 area high schools in Missouri and Arkansas participated in the academic event. The competition tested students’ knowledge in a variety of subject areas ranging from agriculture, science and math to speech, history and English. Competition was held in three divisions based on school size, with first, second and third place winners announced in each division. First, second and third place winners overall also were named.

The Mtn. Home team placed first in the overall competition, which gives them ownership of the “traveling trophy” that is awarded to the overall first place winner every year. Second place overall went to West Plains High School, and third place went to Plato High School.

Alex Pinnon, director of the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program at Missouri State-West Plains and coordinator of the contest, said the overall competition winner is determined by a point system based on student scores irrespective of division.

“Mtn. Home had more students who placed first, second or third overall than the other schools,” he explained. “West Plains, however, won the division trophy because they had more students total take first, second or third place among the division and fewer who placed in the top three overall.”

West Plains High School took first place in Division I and was followed by Willow Springs High School in second. Mtn. Home High School took third in the division.

In Division II, Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty High School and Plato High School tied for first place, each scoring 22 points. Second place went to Houston High School and third to Cabool High School.

In Division III, the Winona High School placed first, followed by Summersville High School in second and Mammoth Springs (Arkansas) High School in third.

In all, three teams competed in Division I, six in Division II and nine in Division III.

“The Interscholastic Contest is always a highlight of the academic year for us, as we get to host some of the best students around on our campus, and these great students get to challenge their scholastic endeavors,” Pinnon said.

For more information about the Interscholastic Contest and how to participate in next year’s event, contact Pinnon at 417-255-7965 or at apinnon@missouristate.edu.