Two LHS Students Earn All-State Honors in Group Interpretation State Finals

LEMONT, IL - Lemont High School senior Sami Schoell and sophomore Madisyn Lambrakis each earned all-state honors thanks to their performances at the 2017 IHSA Drama & Group Interpretation State Finals, at the Sangamon Auditorium on the campus of the University of Illinois-Springfield on March 24-25.

According to a release from LHS, Lemont was making its fourth appearance at the IHSA Drama & Group Interpretation State Finals overall, but its first since 2012.

The IHSA State Finals includes two competitions, Drama (i.e., Contest Play) and Group Interpretation. Lemont's Group Interpretation entry this year - “The Sandlot” - was directed by Sydney Bozich and Alexander Vjestica.

Playing the role of “Scotty Smalls,” Lambrakis was a unanimous all-state selection. Schoell was listed on four of five all-state ballots playing “Benny Franklin Rodriguez.”

Lemont finished as the runner-up in the Group Interpretation category at the IHSA Reavis Sectional on March 18. The top three finishers in each category from each of six IHSA Sectionals across the state advanced to the IHSA State Finals.

Nine schools competed in the Group Interpretation category at the IHSA Reavis Sectional, where Hinsdale South edged Lemont for the sectional crown. Lemont won the South Suburban Conference title earlier this month, with all cast members earning all-conference accolades for their performances.

More than half of Lemont’s nine cast members earned IHSA All-Sectional honors for their performances, including Lambrakis, Schoell, seniors Devin Becker and Hailey Jones, and junior Grace Smiles. The cast for “The Sandlot” also included seniors Rebecca Bailey, Kim Van Hecke and Alissa Zeglen, and sophomore Lonnie Camer. Senior Justin Haase served as a student director.

The school said Lemont has reached the IHSA Drama State Finals twice (2010, 2011), and competed three times in the IHSA Group Interpretation State Finals (2011, 2012, 2017).

Photos provided by Lemont High School.