Syosset High School Student Named State Champion In Poetry Out Loud Competition

Syosset High School junior Iree Mann was recently named the New York State champion in the 12th Annual Poetry Out Loud competition.

Mann will represent the state in the national semifinals to be held in Washington, D.C., this month following her victory at the state finals held earlier this week in Syracuse.

The local student outshined 24 of the brightest, most creative young student poets in the state, reciting a wide range of poems from the official POL anthology.

As state champ, she received a prize of $200 as well as an all-expenses paid trip to the national semifinals.

In addition, Syosset High School will be awarded a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books.

Mann’s winning recitations were of the following poems, which she recited from memory:

• “American Smooth,” by Rita Dove
• “The Golden Shovel,” by Terrance Hayes
• “Break of Day,” by John Donne

POL competition participants are evaluated on a cumulative point total covering all three recitations that factor in accuracy, dramatic appropriateness, evidence of the poem’s understanding, presence, and voice and articulation as well as overall performance.

For the competition Mann had to recite from an extensive list provided by the organization, with a pre-20th century poem required.

Syosset High School English teacher Lydia Esslinger, who is also Mann's adviser on the Forensics Society, coached her.

“I am thrilled not only that Iree will represent Syosset High School and the state of New York on the national level, but that she was put in touch with beautiful and powerful language that captures moments of experience the way only an exquisite poem can,” Esslinger said “My hope is that she becomes a poetry fan for life.”

The POL national semifinals will be held at George Washington University on Tuesday. Nine semifinalists will advance to the national finals, also held at the University, the following day.

Congratulations to Iree Mann!