CHULA — Tiftarea Academy won the GISA state literary championship March 18 at Gordon State, which is becoming a tradition at the school. This is Tiftarea’s second state title in four years and Natalie Rippy, who serves as the literary team advisor, said that in addition to the 2022 state championship, TA was runner-up in 2024.

Individual state champions were Thomas Holt in Impromptu Speaking; Ridley Monk in Extemporaneous Speaking; Will Shelnutt in Argumentative Essay and Olivia Monfort in Spelling.

Tiftarea additionally had three second placers — Jack Brand and Isla Curry in Boys Solo and Girls Solo, respectively, and Curry, Lexie Moore and Rachel Hancock in Trio. Third place went to Ansley Hutto in Dramatic Interpretation and Curry and Moore for Duo Interpretation.

Among the state champions, Rippy said, Holt has won five region championships since joining the team, four of them in impromptu speaking.

“Thomas has been dominant in region every year that he has competed in literary,” said Rippy. “He has placed third in state once, second in state twice,  and this year he walked away with a state championship.”

Monk is busy this spring. Rippy noted that besides competing in literary, he is an athlete and is a starter on Tiftarea’s baseball team and also is a track and field athlete. After state, she said Monk immediately headed back to Chula to help lead the Panthers to a win over Valwood in baseball.

Shelnutt is new to the team in 2024-25, the son of Tiftarea headmaster Bill Shelnutt.

Only a sophomore, Monfort has won region and state in spelling both years that she has competed. 

“Every student that went to state this year placed first, second or third in the state,” said Rippy, “the same situation that we had in 2022.” 

She has headed up the team since 2018, with Christie Livingston as the contest manager. Livingston began working with the team when her son, Chandler, was on the squad. Chandler Livingston also was a state champion at Tiftarea.

“Kim French, assisted by Gina Lawhon, works with the vocal teams and all of Tiftarea’s vocal teams,” said Rippy.

Brand barely missed a state championship in Boys Solo, she said.

“Donalyn Garrick joined the team this year and coaches the drama categories,” Rippy said. “Two of her teams went to state and placed third in drama. Curry and Moore made up the duo interpretation team and Ansley Hutto was a strong competitor in dramatic interpretation.”

Tiftarea won with 48 points at state literary, five ahead of second-place Lakeview Academy. They might have won by much more. Rippy said Frances Nelson, Keith Dorman, Annie Shelnutt and Lillie Roberts almost qualified for state as well.

Rippy said she was thankful for the support from teachers, administration and Tiftarea’s board. Though state ended only last week, she said many students are already signing up for slots for the 2026 team.