WCHS quick-recall team finishes second in state

Woodford County High School continued its history-making season with its quick-recall team finishing in second place at the Kentucky Governor's Cup state finals in Louisville. Luke Allen, Seth Allen, Hannah Edelen and Ryan Mink won all of its matches to advance to a second day of quick-recall competition. The Brain Jackets defeated Henderson County High School in the semi-finals before losing to Daviess County High School in the state finals. "We've never made it to the second day before," said WCHS Coach Kyle Fannin. "We've never placed in quick-recall at the state." In addition to their contributions to the quick-recall team, Luke and Seth Allen finished ninth and 10th, respectively, in social studies written assessment to help WCHS finish 11th overall in the state. In February, the WCHS academic team won its first-ever 11th Region Governor's Cup title. WCHS also won a National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT) State Championship in March. Over a nine-week span, the Brain Jackets won 46 of 50 matches in NAQT competition and will next compete in the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence (PACE) national finals in Chicago during the first week of June. "These kids just don't fear anyone any longer," said Fannin. Defeating nationally ranked academic teams from other states in NAQT tournaments have built this team's confidence and they now believe no team - including Dunbar - is better than WCHS. "We've had good kids for a while, but they had to get over the mental roadblock that somehow we're not as good as these big schools," said Fannin, who plans to retire as head coach of the WCHS academic team after this season - his 24th year of leading the program.