On January 31, a group of aspiring authors from Warner Middle School made history as the school fielded a team to compete in the “Just Write” Regional Writing Junior High Competition for the first time ever!

The inaugural team — composed of Ben Cooper, Aiden Albert, Makaya Smith, Violet Durflinger, Elise Grohnki, Chris Weaver, Tori Grimes, Paisley Neal, and Rose Weaver — delivered a series of standout performances against peers from across the region during the event held at Xenia High School.

Coaches Mary Black, Ronna Couser, and Pam Graetz expressed immense pride in the team’s dedication and sportsmanship. While the entire team competed wonderfully, several students earned top honors in their respective genre writing divisions:

• Rose Weaver (6th Grade): Secured 7th Place in the 6th/7th Grade division.
• Elise Grohnke (8th Grade): Earned an impressive 3rd Place in the 8th Grade division.
• Makaya Smith (8th Grade): Took home 5th Place in the 8th Grade division.
• Aiden Albert (8th Grade): Placed 6th in the 8th Grade division.
• Violet Durflinger (8th Grade): Placed 7th in the 8th Grade division.

Beyond the genre rankings, two Warner students received the prestigious Laureate Choice Award, a special distinction "Honoring the Power of Poetry."

• Makaya Smith was recognized for her poem titled, "Above the Sea."  
• Violet Durflinger was honored for her piece, "Where the Crumpled Papers Left Me."

Due to their high rankings, these Warner Middle School winners now have the opportunity to have their work selected for publication in the upcoming "Just Write" national anthology.

Congratulations to all our student writers on their achievement at this inaugural event — and we can't wait to see what's next!