Published: May 13, 2008 10:43 am            

Rogers wins second state title

For the second year in a row, Blake Rogers was first.

Rogers, an Athens High School senior, recently won a second University Interscholastic League state championship in the prose interpretation. To accomplish the feat, he competed in invitational, district and then regional meets.

According to UIL’s Web site, prose interpretation is a contest that encourages students to understand, experience and share prose works through art of oral interpretation.”

Rogers views the event as a play of sorts.

“He likes to entertain,” said Myrna Bass, the UIL coordinator and prose interpretation coach at Athens High School.

This is his fourth, and final, year to compete in the UIL competition.

“I couldn’t have done it without my coach,” he said.

Bass said about 500 students competed in the events this year.

Rogers picked two books from categories set by the UIL. He had to perform from one book written by a southern writer and one work of fiction.

Rogers said his coach’s role is to critique his performance and help him pick his pieces.

“I chose ‘Rocket Boys,’ the book ‘October Sky’ is based on, and ‘I love you Beth Cooper,’” Rogers said. “They have a lot of character, happy stuff.”

“I find the right books that fit me, books that are crazy and fun,” Rogers said.

“The judges told him he has good comic sense,” Bass said.

Rogers said he will be attending Abilene Christian University as a major in music theater. He wants to be an “equity actor,” someone who gets paid to act.

“It’s fun to be someone else and explore emotions,” Rogers said.

He said his favorite actor is Tom Hanks because of his versatility.

Bass said she expects great things from Rogers.

“We will watch for him to shine. He is going to do well in college, because he can balance so many things,” Bass said.

Other than UIL competitions, Rogers is also active in choir, tennis, one act play and is in the top 10 in his graduating class.

“I just have to stay really organized. I had to learn that in high school,” Rogers said. “I make a lot of lists.”

Now he can mark one more thing off his to-do list: two-time state champion.

— Lauren Ricks

        

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