WordSmith Owls Claim Hardware

Ten students participated in the 2025 WordSmith Olympics February 16 at the University of Memphis, led by Instructor in English Eric Dalle ’93. The Owls earned a variety of individual awards and two second-place trophies.
The competition included Grades 7-12 competing in the 40-word dash, 80-word dash, and 120-word dash. Each winner in these categories was invited to the main event, a 400-word dash on a 60-minute timer.

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

The winners participated in the 400-word dash wrote for 60 minutes on topics selected by WordSmith organizers. It was then graded by a committee of University of Memphis professors.

Over 200 students from the area participated, including 10 from MUS, with four Owls earning awards.

Seventh Grade
Rishabh Bag
Alex Russell

Eighth Grade
Graydon Hobson
Luke Wells

Ninth Grade – Second Place Trophy
Courtland Morris, honorable mention in the 400-word dash, honorable mention in the 40-word dash, and first in the 80-word dash

Gus Williams, Bronze Medalist, second place in the 400-word dash, and third place in the 40-word dash

Tenth Grade
Ike Emmert 
Roland Starrett

Eleventh Grade – Second Place Trophy

Brady Ehrhart, Bronze Medalist, first place in the 400-word dash, honorable mention in the 40-word dash 

Miles McCarroll, third place in the 400-word dash and honorable mention in the 120-word dash
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