Crusaders Compete at 62nd Annual Latin Convention
During the last week of July, a group of students from St. Andrew's Upper and Middle School divisions participated in the 2015 National Junior Classical League (NJCL) convention held at Trinity University in San Antonio. In addition to the contests and camaraderie that goes along with convention activities, the students were able to experience life on a college campus for the week from dormitories to the dining hall.
During the convention students excelled in their individual academic, artistic, and athletic contests in addition to having the opportunity to meet students from around the U.S. and Canada. Bryce Deskins was recognized for achieving the high score overall in the Classical Art contest. The Advanced level competitive Certamen team from Texas, which included St. Andrew's student Bryce Deskins, played a great tournament and finished fifth place overall. Some students' work was recognized during a general assembly of convention delegates for achievement in special contests. William McKinnerney won third place in the State Website Contest for his redesign of the Texas State Junior Classical League (TSJCL) website in his official capacity as TSJCL Webmaster in the 2014-2015 school year. William McKinnerney will continue to serve in this capacity on the TSJCL Executive Board for the coming year along with Historian Walton Schmidt and Editor Katherine Salinas. St. Andrew's alumnus Trace Turner ('13), who attended the convention as a member of the Senior Classical League, ran Ludi events at the convention as Vice President of the SCL. At the end of convention, Trace was elected to the post of NSCL President for the coming year. The Latin Club sponsors are thrilled with the results!
Here are the NJCL contest results for St. Andrew’s students, reflecting students who placed 1st-10th in their contests:
FIRST PLACE
Tristram Coffin - Boy's Costume
Bryce Deskins - Classical Art (high score overall)
Katherine Salinas - Mosaic
SECOND PLACE
Katherine Salinas - Computer Enhanced Photography
FOURTH PLACE
Walton Schmidt - Latin Sight Recitation
FIFTH PLACE
Tom Hogan - Essay
SIXTH PLACE
Rachel Nezzer - Large Model
Katherine Salinas - Essay
Katherine Salinas - Latin Sight Recitation
Walton Schmidt - Latin Oratory
SEVENTH PLACE
Bryce Deskins - Academic Decathlon
Bryce Deskins - Academic Heptathlon
Bryce Deskins - Latin Literature
Bryce Deskins - Roman History
EIGHTH PLACE
Rachel Nezzer - Essay
Katherine Salinas - Latin Oratory
TENTH PLACE
Layne Alam - Hellenic History
Tristram Coffin - Overall Creative Arts
Henry Erlinger - Latin Vocabulary
Rachel Nezzer - Mosaic
The Advanced Certamen team from Texas, which included St. Andrew's student Bryce Deskins, represented the state of Texas in the highest level of the competitive tournament. The team won all three of their preliminary rounds during which they defeated eventual finalist teams Ohio and California and earned the second highest cumulative score. In semifinals, they were set to play Florida and Wisconsin. They played a tough semifinal round in which Florida took the early lead, but the Texas team fought to make a great comeback at the end. The final result hinged on a disputed answer given by the Florida team. After an hour of deliberations by the moderators Florida’s answer was accepted, and Florida moved on defeat Ohio and California to win the National Championship. The team is grateful for all of the supporters who followed the competition via the @SASAustinLatin Twitter feed and cheered them on.
