At the IHSA state championship, the EHS journalism team scored 28 points and took home its fourth state championship trophy April 24.
After the team won the sectional championship with 82 points, 12 points above the runner-up, the 12 students who qualified for state were excited to show their talent at the highest level of competitive journalism in Illinois.
“I was a mix of excited and nervous heading into state,” junior Hayden Leek said. “I couldn’t wait to compete, but I wanted to do really well.”
At the competition, which took place at Heartland Community College in Bloomington, the team performed well. Senior Atticus Ball took first place in review writing; freshman Kaitlyn Blotevogel and sophomore Darby Christian placed second in advertising and copy editing, respectively; Leek (editorial writing) and senior Allison Kirk (infographics) placed third; and the duo of senior Izzy Robinson and junior Evelyn McKenney also placed third in yearbook theme development.
Although some EHS competitors did not place, they still contributed to the team’s strength and success.
“I remind students who didn’t place at state that they still qualified to participate, first of all,” team coach and adviser Amanda Thrun said. “And I believe their support and encouragement before, during and after each competition block matters just as much as earning points does. Every qualifier on the team deserved recognition.”
Those who did place earned points, and EHS scored 28, putting the team two points above runner-up Huntley High School and securing the state title.
“It was an absolutely incredible feeling to find out that we had won,” Robinson said. “Mrs. Thrun was yelling and we were all running across the floor to collect our trophy, and it was so amazing to realize that we actually did it.”
The 2026 win marks the fourth time EHS has won the IHSA state championship, with previous titles in 2017, 2019 and 2024. The school has also been runner-up two years and placed third last year.
“The EHS journalism program has always been strong, which is part of why the win meant so much,” Robinson said. “It felt like we were continuing a long legacy that we had been working so hard to be part of.”