"The excellent

effort of the Starr's Mill High School team is a true testimony to the

amazing work that is being done in the classrooms at Starr's Mill,"

stated Bennett about the second-place victory.

State teams

are made up of all the students who placed first in the region competition.

At the state tournament, Starr's Mill's four competitors Julia Wilson,

David Ballard, Tracy Welch and Jamie Collier competed against the best

students from throughout Georgia in their area of expertise.

David Ballard

placed first in Boys Extemporaneous Speaking, becoming the high school's

first GHSA Literary State Champion. Julia Wilson finished with a second

place win in the Girl's Extemporaneous Speaking category, Tracy Welch

placed fourth in Girl's Spelling and Jamie Collier took home fifth place

in the highly competitive Girl's Solo Chorus.