Grapeland FFA Places Two Teams in Top 10 in National Sr. Quiz
Other Local Teams Fare Well
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
INDIANAPOLIS – The 92nd National FFA Convention and Expo kicked off this week in Indianapolis, IN. and played host to several local FFA chapters.
“Every year,” the organization’s website stated, “FFA members nationwide converge on the National FFA Convention & Expo to celebrate their accomplishments and find inspiration for their next steps. Motivational keynote speakers, energetic concerts, fulfilling workshops and a sweeping expo floor bustling with agricultural education and industry opportunities will have you snapping pics and grabbing videos of all of the experiences you’ll remember forever.”
In recent years, one of the experiences the Grapeland FFA has enjoyed is competing in and winning the National Invitational Quiz Contest.
Under the leadership of longtime Grapeland FFA Advisor Gary Graham, the Grapeland FFA Chapter had captured the Sr. Quiz title in five of the last six years, winning the title in 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
Prior to the start of the convention, the quiz teams had a chance to compete at the national level and showed why Houston County may well be not only the oldest county in Texas, it may also be the smartest!
Two teams from Grapeland, two from Crockett and one from Latexo were in the competition and when the results of Oct. 29 contest were tallied, four teams from Houston County finished in the Top 20.
The Grapeland team of KeKe Harris, Madilyn McCombs, Alyssa Dilli and Cayden LeBlanc placed third overall with a combined score of 239. Harris recorded a score of 87 and McCombs notched a 77 while both Dilli and LeBlanc scored a 75.
Finishing just ahead of the defending National Champions were the FFA Chapters from Harmony, Texas and Felicity-Franklin, Ohio. Harmony claimed the title with a score of 270 while Felicity-Franklin was second with a total of 249.
The second Grapeland team at the competition – comprised of Mary Jane Watson, Cadie Belle Currie, Stacy Perez, Preslie Reynolds and Keegan Harrison – finished sixth overall, with a combined score of 199. Watson scored a 75, Currie had a 64, Perez tallied a 60, Reynolds had a 56 and Harrison recorded a 46.
Individually, Harris finished in fifth place and McCombs finished in a tie for seventh. Dilli, LeBlanc and Watson all finished in a tie for 10th place. Currie finished 21st, Perez was 31st, Reynolds was 34th and Harrison was 75th.
The Crockett FFA Chapter also sent two teams to Indianapolis. Crockett’s Team #1 just missed a top 10 finish as it came in 12th with a combined score of 166. Not far behind was Crockett’s Team #2 which finished 16th with a score of 142.
Individually for Crockett, Cassie Murphree scored a 61 to finish in 27th place. Weston Reeves tallied a 56 to finish in 34th place. Emily Allen made a 55 to finish 39th. Meredith Tuggle placed 55th with a score of 49 Emma Bass and Yazaret Marcelo finished in a tie for 66th place with a score of 47. Trinity Meadows finished 116th with a score of 40 and Omar Garcia finished 138th with a score of 38.
The Latexo FFA Chapter placed 58th overall with a score of 89. Individually for Latexo, Noah Hoch placed 177th with a score of 33, Rori Holcomb was 198th with a score of 29 and Kade Hauck was 213th with a score of 27.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
