A blend of seasoned competitors and first-year talent powered Oak Lawn Community High School’s journalism team to a sectional championship earlier this month, securing a strong showing against some of the state’s top programs.
Competing April 10, the team outpaced schools including Argo, Evanston, Oak Park-River Forest and St. Laurence, finishing with 67 points and qualifying for 12 of the 16 events at the upcoming state tournament. The result reflects both experience and depth, according to those involved.
The roster featured veteran contributors aiming for a return trip to state alongside newcomers adjusting quickly to the pace and pressure of competition.
Senior Rawan Ali, who earned All-State honors as a sophomore, said the experience has shaped her approach entering her final season.
“Getting All-State as a sophomore showed me what’s possible,” Ali said. “Now, as a senior, I’m determined to make the most of my final opportunity and go for the state title.”
Leading the way was senior Sara Abdelrahman, who captured sectional titles in both editorial writing and yearbook caption writing. She was joined by fellow sectional champions Rory Ali in photo storytelling and junior Makaila O’Brien in review writing, with O’Brien also placing second in feature writing.
In yearbook theme development, sophomores Sara Nassar and Mariam Hrezi teamed up for a first-place finish, while freshman Ryszard Plata took top honors in news writing — an early sign of the program’s emerging talent.
Additional state qualifiers included senior Joseph O’Leary in newspaper design, senior Naliyah Anderson in advertising, senior Sophia Valdez in radio broadcast, sophomore Kalid Cintron in headline writing and freshman John Allison in yearbook copy.
Points toward the team total were also contributed by sophomore Yusr Elmer and junior Brody Ivey, underscoring the group’s depth across categories.
Head coach Pat DiFilippo said the sectional performance positions the team well heading into the state competition but emphasized the importance of continued focus.
“With all these sectional champions and state qualifiers, we have a great opportunity to perform well at the state tournament,” DiFilippo said. “We have to keep working on our craft, and success will follow.”
With momentum on its side and a mix of proven leaders and rising contributors, Oak Lawn Community High School will look to carry its sectional success into the state finals.