For the second year in a row Hanford High's FFA team has swept the competition, bringing home two state championships and five high-individual awards.

At the 52nd annual California FFA State Cotton Judging Contest, held on Nov. 7 at California State University, Fresno, both the A team (varsity) and the B team gold (junior varsity) took home state championship titles.

Ten teams from Corcoran to Atwater competed for this year's title, judging pima lint, seed, bolls, plants and taking a written test that covered the California cotton industry.

This year Hanford was represented by three groups.

Hanford's junior varsity gold team was made up of all girls, four of which took home high-individual awards.

Kelsey Escobar was awarded first place high individual, Maddy Wisecarver took home second place, Katie LaBlue received third and Liz Smith was awarded fifth.

Hanford's B team blue came in third in the overall competition.

At the varsity level the championship team included Zack Beck, Elizabeth Gingles, Jordan Avila, who also placed third for high individual, and Dale Henry.

Henry, the only senior on the team, said he was elated when he found out about the championship win.

"It was a remarkable year in cotton judging and one I will never forget," he said. "I have been part of FFA since I was a freshman, and it's my last year so it was my goal to get a championship this time."

Another member of the team, Jordan Avila, said he, too, was very excited about the win.

"We tried our hardest and in the end we pulled through," Avila said. "We were so excited; especially since it was the second year in a row."

One of the team's coaches, Sam Rodriguez, or "Mr. Rod" as his students call him, said he is happy for this year's team.

"I am very proud of them," Rodriguez said. "They deserve it; they worked so hard this year and improved on what they needed to -- they came a long way."

Rodriguez said that because each year the teams are made up of different students, getting two championships in a row is impressive.

Since 1970 the Hanford FFA cotton judging teams have won 25 state titles; this year was the team's third championship in four years.

(Nov. 21, 2009)