West Plains takes top honors in 33rd annual Interscholastic Contest - News

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – The team from West Plains High School took top honors in the 33rd annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 6, on the Missouri State-West Plains campus.

An estimated 273 students from 13 area high schools in Missouri and Arkansas participated in the academic event. The competition tested the 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.

OVERALL COMPETITION WINNERS

The West Plains team placed first in the overall competition, which gives them ownership of the coveted grand trophy that is awarded to the overall first place winner every year. Second place overall went to Thayer High School, and third place went to Mountain Home (Ark.) High School.

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

DIVISION WINNERS

In Division I, West Plains again took top honors, followed by Mountain Home in second and Willow Springs High School in third.

THE TEAM FROM Thayer High School took top honors in Division II and second place overall in the 33rd annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 6. With their trophy are front row from left: Brittany Hirsch, LaCrysta Adams, Taylar Bowers, Darcy Mainprize, Mikayla Allen, April Earls, Kaycee Bowers and Jurnee Rolen. Second row: Dawson Russell, Dagen Jones, Jett Haven, Grant Shrable, Logan Lowther, Morgan Taylor, Jace Matteson and Hallie Johnson. Back row: Ayden Stone, Jalen Andrews, Lane Worley, Garrett Blum, Evan Simer and Matthew Denton. Christian Hirsch also was a member of the team. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

Top honors in Division II went to Thayer High School. Houston High School placed second, and Mtn. View-Birch Tree Liberty High School third.

THE TEAM FROM Winona High School took top honors in Division III of the 33rd annual Interscholastic Contest hosted by Missouri State University-West Plains on Friday, April 6. With their trophy are, front row from left: Saige Fitzanko, Emerald Wilkes, Wesley Fuller, Mikayla Riggs, Courtny Womack, Lyndsey Rightnowar and Brea Cooper. Back row: Kiley Cowen, Abigail Miley, Teah Thomason, William Scott, Caleb Fitzanko, Adam Blunk, Tanner Williams, Kassidy Spinner, Kiley Counts and Lillian Wright. (Missouri State-West Plains Photo)

In Division III, the team from Winona High School placed first, followed by Van Buren High School in second and Mammoth Springs (Ark.) High School in third.

In all, three teams competed in Division I, five in Division II and five 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.