More than 500 students compete in UIL junior school events

Goose Creek’s annual junior school UIL Academic meet was held on February 19-20 at Highlands Junior School. More than 500 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students from every junior school campus competed in 16 academic events with each campus represented among the winning teams or individual events.

Individual medals were awarded in prose reading, group improv, impromptu, poetry reading, number sense, general math, calculator skills, dictionary skills, listening skills, social studies, science, spelling, writing, music memory, art memory and maps, graphs and charts. Schools also received first place trophies for overall points in each event. First through third place trophies were awarded to Gentry, Horace Mann, and Cedar Bayou Junior Schools for having the highest cumulative points scored by students in all events.

The district wide competition was hosted by Highlands Junior School assisted by individual campus coordinators and event coaches as well as volunteer monitors, judges and graders. Winning students and teams were personally congratulated at the awards ceremony by Dr. Toby York, superintendent of schools, and executive directors, Suzanne Heinrich and Diana Cox. Here is a list of the winners: Dictionary Skills – eighth grade
First place: Garrett Barton, Horace Mann
Second place: Alex Vasquez, Horace Mann
Third place: Ricardo Medina, Horace Mann
Fourth place: Bianca Quinones, Baytown Junior
Fifth place: Alyssa Garza, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Alexis Davila, Baytown Junior
Dictionary Skills – seventh grade
First place: Jaime Rodriguez, Horace Mann
Second place: Michael Hernandez, Horace Mann
Third place: Aysha Patel, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Juan Perez, Horace Mann
Fifth place: Celeste Nyrobi, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Iliana Banda, Baytown Junior
Dictionary Skills – sixth grade
First place: Levi Torres, Horace Mann
Second place: Dominique Palmer, Gentry Junior
Third place: Shruti Bam, Horace Mann
Fourth place: Suhani Bhakta, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Brenda Garcia, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Akila Patel, Gentry Junior

Listening Skills – eighth grade
First place: Raven Jenkins, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Elizabeth Keyes, Highlands Junior
Third place (tie): Shelby Sylvester, Horace Mann
Third place (tie): Kris Gibbs, Gentry Junior
Third place (tie): Andrea Garcia, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Aryn Clift, Highlands Junior
Listening Skills – seventh grade
First place: Megan West, Highlands Junior
Second place: Kelsey West, Gentry Junior
Third place: Lauren Corbett, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Samantha Duran, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Natalie Martin, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Sabrina Munguia, Baytown Junior
Listening Skills – sixth grade
First place: Slavash Zamirpour, Gentry Junior
Second place (tie): Sean McCafferty, Baytown Junior
Second place (tie): Kaitlyn Jones, Highlands Junior
Fourth place (tie): Suhani Bhakta, Gentry Junior
Fourth place (tie): Dominique Palmer, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Delaney Palstra, Cedar Bayou

General math – eighth grade
First place: Madeline Eschberger, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Christian Mendoza, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Evan Situ, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Crystal Huerta, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Andrea Cole, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Lorenzo Rodriguez, Highlands Junior
General math – seventh grade
First place: Kayla Stears, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Darian Magness, Gentry Junior
Third place: Pooja Bhula, Highlands Junior
Fourth place: Chris Prox, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Budy Pulido, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Brenda Garcia, Cedar Bayou
General math – sixth grade
First place: Nathan Kelley, Gentry Junior
Second place: Astrid Guevara, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Siauash Zamirpour, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Ariel Pratt, Baytown Junior
Fifth place: James Landry, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Jasiel Alvarado, Cedar Bayou

Number sense – eighth grade
First place: Christian Mendoza, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Bryce Benskin, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Kursten Jamie, Horace Mann
Fourth place: Presley Lundquist, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Sasha Ramjattan, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Briana Madox, Baytown Junior
Number sense – seventh grade
First place: Darian Magness, Gentry Junior
Second place: Tara Bevers, Horace Mann
Third place: David Collier, Highlands Junior
Fourth place: Chris Prox, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Kayla Stears, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Caren Sanchez, Gentry Junior
Number sense – sixth grade
First place: Dhvani Shukla, Gentry Junior
Second place: Caroline Fess, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Ruchir Pipalia, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Shruti Bam, Horace Mann
Fifth place: James Weber, Highlands Junior
Sixth place: Nathan Kelley, Gentry Junior

Spelling – eighth grade
First place: Bedford Umezulike, Gentry Junior
Second place: Jeremiah Bolivar, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Nathan Tharp, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Destiny Somerville, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Leslie Price, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Kaylon Flores, Highlands Elementary
Spelling – seventh grade
First place: Jan Castro, Gentry Junior
Second place: Aysha Webb, Highlands Junior
Third place: Cassidi Pape, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Brandon Dunbar, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Maria Ortiz, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Killian Flavien, Highlands Junior
Spelling – sixth grade
First place: Rachel King, Highlands Junior
Second place: Cassandra Mouton, Gentry Junior
Third place: Breanna Runnells, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Shruti Bam, Horace Mann
Fifth place: Astrid Guevera, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Ciara Thitoff, Highlands Junior

Calculator skills – eighth grade
First place: Erik Chavez, Baytown Junior
Second place: Nick Garcia, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Crystal Huerta, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Ginnie Berg, Baytown Junior
Fifth place: Jeremiah Bolivar, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Stormy Boyd, Gentry Junior
Calculator skills – seventh grade
First place: Lauren Corbett, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Desirae Gonzalez, Horace Mann
Third place: Julian Reyna, Horace Mann
Fourth place: Shelby Bond, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Frankie Hernandez, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Juan Villegas, Gentry Junior
Calculator skills – sixth grade
First place: Caroline Fess, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Nancy Morfin, Horace Mann
Third place: Matthew King, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Katy Arabie, Baytown Junior
Fifth place: Nikita Nance, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Sierra Thompson, Baytown Junior

Social studies – eighth grade
First place: Azalia Sprecher, Horace Mann
Second place: Lauren Bernal, Horace Mann
Third place (tie): Christian Carpio, Horace Mann
Third place (tie): Cameron Rock, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Yaswant Deverkorda, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Evan Situ, Gentry Junior
Social studies – seventh grade
First place: Kaelyn Anaya, Gentry Junior
Second place: Geovanna Arguellas, Highlands Junior
Third place (tie): Juan Villegas, Gentry Junior
Third place (tie): Iram Halguin, Highlands Junior
Third place (tie): Zachary Blackman, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Paige Searcy, Highlands Junior
Social studies – sixth grade
First place: Miguel Morales, Baytown Junior
Second place: Trey Davis, Highlands Junior
Third place: Cheyenne McBay, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Juan Aguilera, Horace Mann
Fifth place: Jonathan Viel, Highlands Junior
Sixth place: Jennifer Caltzeron, Gentry Junior Ready writing – eighth grade
First place: Sage Hadley, Cedar Bayou
Second place: Morgan Miles, Cedar Bayou
Third place: Paige Selensky, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Shelby Blackwell, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Genni Butts, Highlands Junior
Sixth place: Leslie Price, Gentry Junior
Ready writing – seventh grade
First place: Kathy Torres, Highlands Junior
Second place: Ashley Brown, Gentry Junior
Third place: MaKenna Leatherwood, Baytown Junior
Fourth place: Ayzha Webb, Highlands Junior
Fifth place: Sterling Milner, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Cameron Adams, Gentry Junior
Ready writing – sixth grade
First place: Kimberly Williams, Baytown Junior
Second place: Rachel Brown, Highlands Junior
Third place: Madison Garcia, Cedar Bayou
Fourth place: Astrid Guevara, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Taylor Almendarez, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Isis Alfred, Baytown Junior

Impromptu speaking – eighth grade
Gold medal: Alesha Ponce, Baytown Junior; Luis Espinoza, Baytown Junior; Gabi McCune, Gentry Junior; Derek Robinson, Highlands Junior; Taelor Harris, Horace Mann; and Sasha Ramjattan, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Angela Serrano, Baytown Junior; Sage Hadley, Cedar Bayou; Savannah McDaniel, Cedar Bayou; William Hutchison, Highlands Junior; and Angel Guzman, Highlands Junior
Bronze medal: Donald Craig III, Cedar Bayou; Alyse Munrose, Gentry; and Susana Madrigal, Horace Mann
Impromptu speaking – seventh grade
Gold medal: Dejah Anatole, Gentry Junior; Cade Welch, Highlands Junior; Myra Yado, Horace Mann; and Samantha Gonzalez, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Natalie Martin, Cedar Bayou; Thomas Butcher, Cedar Bayou; Chloe O’Brian, Gentry junior; and Johnny Turner, Highlands Junior
Bronze medal: Herman Hopson, Horace Mann
Impromptu speaking – sixth grade
Gold medal: Diego Sierra, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Abigail Briscoe, Gentry Junior; Ashton Cole, Gentry Junior; and Tanner Stephens, Highlands Junior
Bronze medal: Gerrod Baldwin, Gentry; Tyler Spell, Highlands Junior; and Jose Pulido, Horace Mann

Science 2– eighth grade
First place: Yeswant Deverakonda, Gentry Junior
Second place (tie): Pablo Chavez, Horace Mann
Second place (tie): Cid Torres, Baytown Junior
Second place (tie): Donald Craig, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Victoria Rosas, Highlands Junior
Sixth place: Samantha Postoak, Cedar Bayou
Science 2– seventh grade
First place: Chris Prox, Cedar Bayou
Second place (tie): Darian Magness, Gentry Junior
Second place (tie): Marcos Gonzales, Baytown Junior
Fourth place: Samantha Duran, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Nathan Sheffield, Highlands Junior
Sixth place: David Minson, Gentry Junior

Music memory – eighth grade
First place: Azalia Sprecher, Horace Mann
Second place: Neil Hernandez, Horace Mann
Third place: Angela Rios, Baytown Junior
Fourth place: Darian Hernandez, Highlands Junior
Fifth place: Cynthia Ponce, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Monica Ozuna, Baytown Junior
Music memory – seventh grade
First place: Desirae Gonzalez, Horace Mann
Second place: Lilliana Flores, Baytown Junior
Third place: Jolene Crawford, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Megan West, Highlands Junior
Fifth place: Tyrae Ihonvbere, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Gabby Overhaul, Gentry Junior
Music memory – sixth grade
First place: Matthew Broussard, Gentry Junior
Second place: Jaisiel Sprecher, Horace Mann
Third place: Cassidy Pesudes, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Rachel King, Highlands Junior
Fifth place: Elizabeth Lara, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Miriam Heredia, Baytown Junior
Seventh place: Genesis Torres, Baytown Junior

Art – eighth grade
First place: Abraham Sanchez, Baytown Junior
Second place: Genni Butts, Highlands Junior
Third place: Marcus Collins, Highlands Junior
Fourth place: Brett Jones, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Abraham Irias, Horace Mann
Sixth place (tie): Stephen Tate, Highlands Junior
Sixth place (tie): Monica Martinez, Gentry Junior
Art – seventh grade
First place: Christian Gonzalez, Highlands Junior
Second place: Yareli Juarez, Baytown Junior
Third place: Kevin Trejo, Highlands Junior
Fourth place: Aysha Patel, Gentry Junior
Fifth place: Kiara Francis, Baytown Junior
Sixth place: Geoffry Glaspie, Highlands Junior
Art – sixth grade
First place: Rachel Brown, Highlands Junior
Second place: Laura Macedo, Cedar Bayou
Third place (tie): Drake Collins, Highlands Junior
Third place (tie): Sueyzen FongBaeza, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Jaime Ponce, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Alyssa Cantu, Gentry Junior

Maps & graphs – eighth grade
First place: Yaswant Devrokonda, Gentry Junior
Second place: Andrea Cole, Gentry Junior
Third place: Rishab Gadi, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Abraham Gomez, Horace Mann
Fifth place: Pablo Chavez, Horace Mann
Sixth place: Sage Hadley, Cedar Bayou
Maps & graphs – seventh grade
First place: Caren Sanchez, Gentry Junior
Second place: Clay Kogut, Gentry Junior
Third place: Rudy Pulido, Gentry Junior
Fourth place: Tara Bevers, Horace Mann
Fifth place: Marshall Cooke, Cedar Bayou
Sixth place: Frankie Hernandez, Cedar Bayou
Maps & graphs – sixth grade
First place: Dhvani Shukla, Gentry Junior
Second place: Ruchir Pipalia, Gentry Junior
Third place: Joshua Sanchez, Highlands Junior
Fourth place: Delaney Dalstrom, Cedar Bayou
Fifth place: Alexander Moyers, Gentry Junior
Sixth place: Charlie Flint, Highlands Junior

Prose – eighth grade
Gold medal: Madii Poirot, Baytown Junior; Lauren Ailles, Baytown Junior; Landon Mathieu, Highlands Junior; Elizabeth Keyes, Highlands Junior; and Katrina Compton, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Eliseo Garcia, Baytown Junior; Cheyenne Davis, Gentry Junior; and Jose Mendez, Horace Mann
Bronze medal: Kursten Jaime, Horace Mann; Alise Mena, Gentry Junior; and Derek Robinson, Highlands Junior
Prose – seventh grade
Gold medal: Katherine McKay, Cedar Bayou; Allie Guy, Cedar Bayou; Johnny Turner, Highlands Junior; Elissa Witt, Horace Mann; and Alyssa Salinas, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Cedric Godfrey, Baytown Junior; Catherine Young, Baytown Junior; Marshall Cooke, Cedar Bayou; Jayla Watkins, Gentry Junior; Iteel Carrasco, Gentry Junior; and Samantha Gonzalez, Horace Mann
Bronze medal: Maria Torres, Baytown Junior; Jessica Siegler, Gentry Junior; and Cade Welch, Highlands Junior
Prose – sixth grade
Gold medal: Nicole Poirot, Baytown Junior; Javonne Ladet, Gentry Junior; Siriya Zuniga, Horace Mann; Isaac Lewis, Horace Mann; and Jose Pulido, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Erendida Hernandez, Baytown Junior; Micah Pierce, Gentry Junior; and Siavash Zamipoor, Gentry Junior
Bronze medal: Ahleena Lugo, Cedar Bayou; Mario Hurtado, Cedar Bayou; Jordan Averitt, Highlands Junior; Kaitlyn Sammarco, Highlands Junior; and Jonathan Cauthan, Highlands Junior

Poetry – eighth grade
Gold medal: Jordan Manuel, Baytown Junior; Shelby Blackwell, Gentry Junior; Perla Saavedra, Horace Mann; Katrina Compton, Horace Mann; and Kursten Jaime, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Eliseo Garcia, Baytown Junior; Madii Poirot, Baytown Junior; Samantha Postoak, Cedar Bayou; Ruth Francis, Cedar Bayou; Ashley Casey, Cedar Bayou; Conner Clegg, Gentry Junior; Gerrod Baldwin, Gentry Junior; Angel Guzman; Highlands Junior; and Aryn Clift, Highlands Junior
Poetry – seventh grade
Gold medal: Katelyn Burns, Highlands Junior; Alyssa Salinas, Horace Mann; and Elissa Witt, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Brittany Mathis, Cedar Bayou; Landon Earnest, Gentry Junior; Jessica Crawford, Gentry Junior; and Karen Chavez, Horace Mann
Bronze medal: Maria Torres, Baytown Junior; Catherine Young, Baytown Junior; Katherine McKay, Cedar Bayou; Tristen Truitt, Gentry Junior; and Ericka Johnson, Highlands Junior
Poetry – sixth grade
Gold medal: Nicole Poirot, Baytown Junior; Cierra Ward, Highlands Junior; Vivian Monaterio, Horace Mann; Jaime Ponce, Horace Mann; and Karina Rojas, Horace Mann
Silver medal: Kaylee Stewart, Baytown Junior; Olga Lombrana, Baytown Junior; De’ricka Lewis, Gentry Junior; Jessica Jones, Gentry Junior; Tanner Stephens, Highlands Junior; and Kaitlyn Jones, Highlands Junior
Bronze medal: Karma sample, Cedar Bayou; Katherine Russell, Cedar Bayou; Brooke Lundquist, Cedar Bayou; and Abby Buggs, Gentry Junior

Group improvisation – eighth grade
Gold medal: from Baytown Junior – Jordan Manuel, Colson Shepherd, Maddie Herrera, Priscilla Jones and Kimberly Aranda; from Cedar Bayou – Brianna Jason, Sierra Wheeler, and Mason Lewis; from Gentry – Amber Hodge, Brandon Reinersten, Shelby Schlesselman; Conner Clegg, Gabby McCune and Alyse Munrose; from Highlands Junior – Darian Hernandez, Alan Cauthan, and Maddie Walker; from Horace Mann – Armando Morfin, Jose Mendez, and Carmen Ochoa.
Silver medal: from Baytown Junior – Rosa Vasquez, Jocelyn Martinez, and Luis Espinoza; from Gentry Junior – Roque Gonzalez, Wayne Wood, and Stephen Jackson; from Highlands Junior – Landon Matthieu, Angel Guzman, William Hutchison, Elizabeth Keyes, Aryn Clift, and Drayton Guillory; from Horace Mann – Sasha Ramjattan, Eva Castellanos, and Katrina Compton
Bronze medal: from Cedar Bayou – Meagan Briggs, Ruth Francis, and Tori Smith; and from Horace Mann – Taelor Harris, Susana Madrigal, and Perla Saavedra

Group improvisation – seventh grade
Gold medal: from Gentry Junior – Landon Earnest, Chris Arabie, Abby Lalumandier, Jose Ayala, Sydnee Land, and Morgan Allen; from Highlands Junior – Cade Welch, Kaitlyn Burns, Johnny Turner, Ericka Johnson, Ayzha Webb, and Kathy Torres; from Horace Mann – Aisha Isaac, Alyssa Salinas, Karen Chavez, Elissa Witt, Samantha Gonzalez, and Herman Hopson
Silver medal: from Baytown Junior – Catherine Young, Eric Ramirez, Cedric Godfrey, Devin Spell, Alyssa Flores, Victoria Martinez, Meredith Gibson, Jessica Hayes, and MaKenna Leatherwood; from Cedar Bayou – Thomas Butcher, Brittany Mathis, Jordan Prater, Chelsea Rubin, Atova Coper, Kimbra Tippen; from Gentry Junior – Robyn Floyd, Abigail Vernier, and Symone Scott
Bronze medal: from Horace Mann – Myra Yado, Jasmine Juarez, and Ashley Rayon; from Cedar Bayou – Andrew Wahl, James Prescott, and Hannah Weaver

Group improvisation – sixth grade
Gold medal: From Highlands Junior – Jumar Magtibay, Casie Russell and Alex Rodriguez; from Horace Mann – Isaac Lewis, Nancy Rangel, and Norma Diaz
Silver medal: from Highlands Junior – Hunter Hamm, Daniel Stone, Hayden Sanders, Tyler Spell, Raven Pitre, and Sierra Quiroga
Bronze medal: from Baytown Junior – Elizabeth Rios, Nancy Vega, and Nicole Poirot; from Cedar Bayou – Payton Adams, Ethan Hanson, Carl Spell, Parker Watson, Ernie Beard, and Jerat Parrino; from Gentry Junior – Javonne LeDet, Taylor Rivera, Micha Pierce, Maddie Snyder, Addie Brown, and Cody Lager; From Horace Mann – Diego Sierra, Luis Martinez, Angel Torres, Jose Pulido, Karina Rojas, and Vivian Monasterio