For a group of Whitesboro High School (WHS) students, months of preparation, problem-solving and perseverance culminated on the biggest academic stage in Texas.

The Whitesboro UIL Computer Science team - senior Siena Bensley, juniors Jeremy Krause and Jake Niles and freshman Ian Niles - advanced to the UIL Academic State Meet after winning the regional championship.

Meanwhile, sophomore Layla Carey earned a trip to State in feature writing after placing third at Regionals.