Kingston academic team posts strong performances

By Jon Dohrer
Kingston Public Schools

ADA — Kingston students continue to hoard medals at academic meets, gaining momentum toward this season's Tournament of Champions.
The Redskins have have earned 15 medals in their last two meets, including three first-place performances at the East Central University Interscholastic Meet. Dalton Williams (Algebra II), Shannon Lane (Flash Essay) and Natasha Fain (Clothing and Textiles) all took gold medals at ECU.
In addition to the eight placings Kingston posted at East Central, they won seven medals at Murray State College the previous week.
Sponsor Tammy Russell said the team has exceeded expectations so far this season.
"I feel really good about where we are," Russell said. "We have been to some huge meets with lots of teams, so to have this many people place is a great accomplishment."
In addition to the returning stars from last season, like Dalton Williams, Destiny Hughes and defending state champion Ben Whipkey, Russell said a number of first-timers have made contributions, including Lane, Joseph Lara, Regan Stephenson, Logan Thomas and Harley Cendejas.
Russell has also been pleased with the number of students who have volunteered to compete in courses Kingston High School doesn't currently offer and done surprisingly well. She cited as examples Robbie Bunger, who placed second in Shakespearean Verse Monologue at Ada, Raylee Woodward, who took second in Television Broadcasting and Austin Stottlemyre, who earned second place in Trigonometry.
In addition to the students who have placed at meets so far this season, Russell said a few more strong competitors who were unavailable at earlier meets are expected to join the team.
Students who earn first place at any of the regular-season meets will be invited to compete in the prestigious Tournament of Champions, which serves as the state championship meet. Russell expects several Kingston scholars to earn berths in the meet.
"We already have several who have qualified, and we have several more who are right there, and I think they'll qualify at one of the later meets," Russell said.

East Central Interscholastic Meet
Dalton Williams, Jr., 1st, Algebra II.
Shannon Lane, So., 1st, Flash Essay.
Nathasha Fain, Sr., 1st, Clothing and Textiles.
Robbie Bunger, Sr., 2nd, Shakespearean Verse Monologue.
Raylee Woodward, Sr., 2nd, Television Broadcasting.
Destiny Hughes, Sr., 3rd, American Literature.
Joseph Lara, Fr., 3rd, Creative Writing.
Harley Cendejas, Sr., 3rd, Art.
 
Murray State College Interscholastic Meet.
Logan Thomas, Jr., 2nd, Accounting.
Jared Swilling, Fr., 2nd, Algebra I.
Regan Stephenson, Fr., 3rd, Geometry.
Austin Stottlemyre, So., 2nd, Trigonometry.
Nick Herfurth, Sr., 4th, Anatomy and Physiology.
Ben Whipkey, Jr., 4th, Chemistry.
Mason Whipkey, So., 4th World History.