National English Honor Society hosted its second annual Poetry Out Loud competition on Friday, Nov. 4.
Five students competed in the poetry contest, and junior class president John Liner came in first place, reciting “Football” by Louis Jenkins and “The Birth of John Henry” by Melvin B. Tolson.
“I was kind of shocked,” Liner said. “I thought the other two [final] competitors were great. It was up for grabs, I thought.”
Students were required to choose and memorize two poems, and were judged on both performance and accuracy.
“I practiced in front of mirrors, I practiced in front of my friends, I practiced in front of my parents, I practiced in front of my English class,” Liner said.
By placing first, Liner advances to State Finals, where he will perform the same poems at a date to be announced. Winners of the state competition will qualify for National Finals in Washington D.C.