Owls Place in WordSmith Olympics

Eleven students participated in the 2023 WordSmith Olympics February 26 at the University of Memphis, led by Instructor in English Eric Dalle. Among the awards, seventh grader Gus Williams won a Gold Medal, and junior Jerry Xiao a Silver Medal. The Owls also earned school second-place trophies for seventh and 11th grade.
The competition includes Grades 7-12 competing in a 40-word dash, 80-word dash, and 120-word dash. Each winner in these categories is then invited to the main event, a 400-word dash on a 60-minute timer. 

The 40-word dash requires students to describe an object without naming it. In the 80-word dash participants create a narrative of events depicted in pictures. For the 120-word dash contestants write a letter to the editor taking a stance on an issue refenced in a collection of recent news headlines. 

Over 200 students from the area participated with the following seven Owls earning awards.

Seventh grade
Second-place school trophy.
Gus Williams, individual overall Gold Medal, second place in the 120-word dash, first place in the 400-word Main Event.     

Eighth grade
Walker Atkinson, first place in the 120-word dash.

Ninth grade
Miles McCarroll, honorable mention in the 80-word dash.
Brady Ehrhart, second place in the 40-word dash.

Tenth Grade
Kushal Patel, honorable mention in the 80-word dash and third place in the 400-word Main Event.

Eleventh Grade
Second-place school trophy.
Will Hess, second place in the 120-word dash.
Jerry Xiao, individual overall Silver Medal, first place in the 80-word dash, third place in the 120-word dash, third place in the 400-word Main Event.
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Memphis University School

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