The Oak Lawn Community High School Journalism team earned a fifth-place finish in the Illinois High School Association State Finals at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois, on Friday, April 26. Four individuals placed in the top six in their respective events to lead the Spartans to seventeen team points.
Senior Sierra Knutsen reached the pinnacle of individual success in high school journalism by winning an individual state championship for Yearbook Caption and earning six points for the Spartan's overall team score. Sierra’s competed in her third consecutive State Finals and had previous placed at the Finals as a sophomore. She was congratulated by her teammates with high fives all around for her first winning entry.
Knutsen said, “Placing first in state was such a rewarding feeling. I was so shocked at first, but that was quickly overshadowed by my excitement and the cheers from my friends and teammates. I am so glad I could end my senior year with this achievement. I am so proud of both myself and my team.”
Senior Grace Tynski added five points to the team total by placing second in Feature Writing. Tynski was also at her third consecutive State Finals and was coming off a top finish last year. When she placed, it was a great relief because it was the first points at the awards ceremony for Oak Lawn.
Tynski said, “This year, State was definitely a tough competition. There were some really stressful moments, but when they called my name for Feature Writing, it all felt worth it. As a senior, I’m so sad to leave the team, but I’m confident the underclassmen will do great things next year.”
One of those underclassmen, sophomore Rawan (Rory) Ali secured second place at State in Photo Story Telling. For Rory, his was her first competition, and her success demonstrated that she is a cornerstone of the Spartan Journalism team going forward.
Senior Adan Dominguez also contributed to team scoring, earning sixth place for Headline Writing. Adan, in his first journalism competition, proved to be a fast learner with his success.
The IHSA State Finals host the leading student journalists from across Illinois, as determined by the seven sectionals that were held a few weeks in advance. To place at the IHSA State Finals, students had to place in the top three at a sectional. The students compete in eighteen events centered around writing, artistry, design, and broadcast. The State Finals featured some of the highest-ranked schools in Illinois and the nation. Stevenson High School and Edwardsville were the co-winners of the event.
The 2023-2024 Oak Lawn Journalism team won its fourth consecutive Journalism Sectional and eleventh Sectional title in the eighteenth year of the competition's existence. The Oak Lawn team competed in fifteen events and had one of the largest groups of students to make it to state.
Head Coach Mr. DiFilippo commented, “This was a wonderful team that worked very hard. I was proud of their accomplishments not only this year but throughout their high school journalism experiences. Their talents are extraordinary, and I look forward to seeing all they accomplish in the future.”