WALDORF — La Plata High School’s quiz team is headed to television after winning the Charles County Public Schools It’s Academic county competition, beating Westlake and North Point in a three-team final.
La Plata finished the championship round with 350 points in the Nov. 4 contest at St. Charles High School, the school system announced Nov. 10. Westlake High School placed second with 230 points and North Point High School was third with 180.
The win sends La Plata to a WETA It’s Academic taping on Dec. 15. The episode is scheduled to air at 10 a.m. March 17 on WETA, according to the school system. Westlake’s runner-up finish earned it a guaranteed spot in a WETA taping in fall 2027.
All seven county high schools fielded teams. They played three preliminary games, with the winner of each advancing to the final. The school system’s office of gifted and talented education coordinated and hosted the event, and Ann Taylor, a retired content specialist for gifted and talented education, served as master of ceremonies.
There was money on the line, too. The Waldorf Jaycees awarded La Plata a $500 scholarship and gave $250 scholarships to each of the teams that placed second through seventh.
The champions
La Plata is coached by social studies teacher Matthew Panzarella. The competing team was made up of three seniors: captain Sofia Myers, Dylan Shafer and William Zopelis. The roster also includes alternate Abigail Hidgon, a senior; juniors Mackenzie Williams, Madison Krupa and Brooke Walker; sophomore Angely Zacarias; and freshman Liana DeLeonard.
The finalists
Westlake (second, 230 points): Coached by social studies teacher Natalie Finch-Howard. Senior Julia Therese Gonzales was captain, joined on the competing team by senior Emilie Pluviose and sophomore Rhys Poag. Other members are alternate Paige Huber, a sophomore; seniors Brian Lopez-Portillo, Layla Williams, Jimmy Bowens Jr., Shelbi Whitfield and Devin Alexander; and sophomores Rogelio Ilamni, Asa Hunt and Emanuel Mehari.
North Point (third, 180 points): Coached by world language teacher Moriah Rochlinski-Evans and English teacher A’leese Dickerson. Senior Shiloh Sescoe was captain, with senior Shamiah Navalo and sophomore Jayden Weng. Other members are alternate Ariana Bryant, a senior; junior Joel Bradford; sophomore ZoRon Jordan; and freshman Aldizhan Robles.
The rest of the field
Henry E. Lackey: Coached by social studies teacher James Hojnowski. Junior Natalie Proctor was captain, with sophomore Jillian Burns and freshman Aiden Latimore. The school system also listed alternate Myles Alexander, a senior; senior Davon Keys Jr.; sophomores Aubrey King, Genesis Torres, Azaria Reid, Noah Williams and Michael Johnson; freshman Rachel Logan; and Zuri Matthews, Ten Alfonso, Shafeen Asghar, Fatima ElKhattab and Zoey Bowie.
Maurice J. McDonough: Coached by media specialist Joanna Hobbs and CASE teacher Mary Dempsey. Junior Jazlyn Wilson was captain, with junior Kai Scott and senior Xavier Revell. Other members are alternate Lila Morgan, a senior; junior Riley Mullikin; seniors Jordin Banks, Malachi White and Nalani Wilson; and sophomore Ryleigh Penn.
St. Charles: Coached by social studies teachers Michael Colatruglio and Matthew Howard. Sophomore Anjali Kissoondath was captain, with senior Aiden Williams and sophomore Uriyah Gilliam. Other members are alternate Silas Fadare, a senior; sophomores Elizabeth Dell and King Gore; and junior Jayla Henderson.
Thomas Stone: Coached by social studies teacher Melissa Hatch and Renee Hopper. Senior Maria Nazir was captain, with seniors Solomon Patterson and Kameron Willis. Other members are alternate Neha Mahato, a freshman; seniors Raven Glascoe, Evan Johnson and Tamya Harrison; sophomore Arooj Nazir; and freshmen Trieu Nguyen and Rhania Sanu-Bing.
The county title came the same week the Board of Education recognized five students at its November meeting. Earlier this month the Chronicle reported that more Charles students are eligible for extracurricular activities after a change in the school system’s eligibility policy.
Charles County Public Schools enrolls 27,904 students in 38 schools.
