CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas–The Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) High School Academic Team held on to their Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) Academic State Championship title for 2012— the fifth time in six years.
The Angels headed into the state meet on Saturday, March 31, as district champs to take on 24 schools in the 4A Division. The meet was held at Concordia University in Austin, where students engaged in high-level academic competitions in the advanced areas of math, science, reading, writing, public speaking and social studies.
“This year’s competition was a nail-biter until the very end,” chemistry teacher and academic coach Sandra Quintero said. “The other schools are excellent competitors who show up to win it. I am very proud of our students for their commitment to be fully prepared.”
IWA sent 28 students to the competition, including Alex Armstrong, Caitlyn Hornsby, Ashley Arriaga, Maria Kroeger, Julia Baker, Lauren Kuffel, Shannay Baradaran, Erin Kuffel, Parixit Bhakta, Clarissa Lara, Kristen Biggins, James Matl, Evan Buhidar, Matt Matl, Emma Camarena, Matt McClung, Daniel Cassidy, Savannah Moore, Austin DeGaish, Tommy Pesek, Brittany Donald, Jackie Salazar, Cristian Fernandez, Samantha Skurka, Derek Ficenec, Michael Tinning, Joseph Gore and Chelsea Guerra.
Twelve students returned with a combined 15 top six finishes to secure the first-place win. Matthew Matl took first place in science (top physics) and advanced math and second in calculator. Kroeger won first place in poetry interpretation and third in solo acting. Ficenec placed first in social studies.
Placing second were Armstrong in social studies, DeGaish in mathematics and Skurka in spelling. Tinning took third place in number sense; Baker placed fourth in calculator, as did Donald in mathematics; McClung placed fifth in ready writing; and Bhakta and Camarena came in sixth in science and Spanish, respectively.