Navarro Independent School District

Pictured: Calculator Applications team from left to right: John Kehoe, Hongyan Liu, Emilio Salazar, Yandel Ramon

GERONIMO, TX – April 30, 2025 – Navarro ISD’s UIL Academics teams demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication at the highly competitive Region IV Tournament held at Texas A&M Corpus Christi on Saturday, April 26th. While the season has concluded for most competitors, the Panthers left a strong mark, securing several top finishes and one coveted spot at the upcoming State UIL Academics Meet.

The Navarro teams achieved impressive results, including a 6th place finish in Number Sense, a 5th place finish in Literary Criticism and Mathematics, and a 4th place finish in Accounting. Individually, John Kehoe stood out, placing 11th in Number Sense and earning a 5th place bronze medal in Mathematics and a 2nd place silver medal in Calculator Applications, qualifying him for the State UIL Academics Meet. Claire Mulvaney placed 8th in Literary Criticism, while sophomore Kaylee Henley earned two 4th place bronze medals in Journalism for both Feature Writing and Headline Writing. The Calculator Applications team also secured a strong 2nd place finish.

Reflecting on his UIL experience, John Kehoe shared, "Being a part of UIL academics has introduced me to many students who also care about their education. Most of my friends are from UIL academics. UIL academics has also allowed me to improve dramatically in mathematics and pursue my passion with the guidance of Mr. Meyers, my UIL math coach, without having to worry about grades or scores, but rather focusing on how much I improve and learn. At the state meet this year, I look forward to meeting people with similar interests as me and people who are willing to put in as much work as me in order to make it to state. I also look forward to doing my best and hopefully placing on the podium for Calculator Applications."

Navarro ISD UIL Academics Coordinator Mr. Daniel Meyers lauded the students' efforts, stating, "Our Panthers displayed remarkable poise and intellectual prowess in a very challenging regional field. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and commitment throughout the season."

Superintendent Epley echoed this sentiment, expressing her excitement for the program's future. "Congratulations to all our UIL Academics participants on a fantastic season, and a special shout-out to John Kehoe as he advances to State! As we aim to elevate Navarro ISD's standing in the Lone Star Cup, our UIL Academics program plays a vital role in inspiring students and providing invaluable opportunities to showcase their diverse talents. We celebrate the holistic development of our students and the confidence they gain through these competitions.” She also applauded the coaches, saying, “The dedication of our coaches and coordinator is deeply appreciated, as they foster not only academic excellence but also lasting relationships and memorable learning experiences for our students. We are eager to build on this success and expand our participation across all UIL categories next year."

Kehoe further emphasized the value of UIL Academics, stating, "If you're on the fence about joining, I think you should join anyway. There are many different events to choose from and learn from, not just math. It encourages you to work with others and develop strong relationships with certain teachers in order to hone your skills and prepare you for college. I certainly would have regretted not joining my freshman year because UIL academics, especially math, has prepared me for college far more than any math class I've taken or is offered at my school. UIL academics also introduces you to opportunities for TILF scholarships and encourages working as a team. I've only made it this far because of UIL academics and the effort I've put in these past 3 years."

The district congratulates all participating students, their coaches, and Mr. Meyers on an outstanding season and wishes John Kehoe the best of luck at the State UIL Academics Meet.

Number Sense (6th place team)

John Kehoe - our top scorer placing 11th out of 36 individuals, Emilio Salazar, Yandel Ramon and Hongyan Liu

Literary Criticism (5th place team)

Claire Mulvaney - top scorer placing 8th out of 40 individuals, Zoey Ison, Bryce Pircher, Sofia Castillo

Mathematics (5th place team)

John Kehoe -  5th place bronze medalist, Emilio Salazar, Yandel Ramon, Sofia Castillo

Accounting (4th place team)

Rylan Trost - top scorer placing 13th out of 37 individuals, Noah Garza, Amelia Lovgren, Kade Johnston

Journalism

Kaylee Henley - 4th place bronze medalist in both Feature Writing and Headline Writing

Calculator Applications (2nd place team)

John Kehoe -  2nd place silver medalist and state qualifier, Emilio Salazar - personal record score, Yandel Ramon -  personal record score, Hongyan Liu

Kaylee Henley

Clair Mulvaney