2024 marked the 64th annual Wisconsin Junior Classical League Convention. The convention is attended by around 450 kids from across the state every year and attending is a staple of the Homestead Latin program.
“When they get to State, they’re so excited. They get to see what other schools are doing and they get to meet kids from around Wisconsin and develop lifelong friendships. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the classics. And when we do, we get charged up and then we want to continue this amazing journey in the Latin language,” Marianne Wallach, Latin teacher, said.
One highlight that attributes to the environment and excitement around state is the spirit competitions that begin the first and second General Assemblies.
“Spirit is such a unique experience. Your school basically just screams Latin cheers as loud as you can while hundreds of other students are doing the same and trying to beat you. I lost my voice both days but it was so worth it because feeling the energy and passion of everyone around you is something that can’t be replicated anywhere else,” Charlotte King, sophomore, said.
Latin Club President, Olivia Rembert, senior, not only led the Homestead delegation of 48 students, but also gave an opening speech at the third general assembly.
“I reflected on my time in the WJCL–being elected to the State board in an emergency election last year, joining other Wisconsin Latin students at the National Convention in Atlanta, and most recently, attending my final WJCL State Convention this year. The common denominator between all of these experiences was this: I had found a welcoming community I could call my family,” Rembert said
A highlight of the convention for many is the competitive Latin trivia game called Certamen. Teams of four at each level answer questions on a wide variety of subjects, from history to grammar. After three preliminary rounds, the three teams with the most points proceed to the finals.
“Certamen was very exciting this time around. We had two solid rounds to start off but then had a rough loss in the third. We felt pretty defeated but just went into the finals hoping to do our best and have fun. Everything seemed to fall into place. We were very quick to the buzzer and worked as a team to consistently get the bonus questions as well as the toss ups. I think our biggest strength is our team itself. The four of us work really well together, so we are able to just brush off our mistakes and keep going,” King said.
King led the Latin II team of Emily Taylor, Luke LaLonde, and Addison Drumm to their second consecutive championship. The Latin I team of Weston Eichmeier, Misha Auchynnikau, Olivia Kormanik and Parker Pope took home second place. The Latin V team of Brian Franks, William Harwood, Marco Buscemi, and Olivia Rembert placed third.
The Certamen teams were not the only winners of the convention. Two members of the Homestead delegation placed in the top 10 out of 450 kids for the second year in a row.
“We had Charlotte King placing second in the overall sweepstakes and Luke LaLonde placing fourth. These are both sophomores and to achieve that at this level is quite an achievement,” Wallach said.
Other achievements include a first place finish for Quantitive points, first place for overall spirit, first place for roll call and high placements on many of the academic tests. Students placed in art competitions, costume contests, memorized oratory and war machine. Matthew Seiberlich, junior, was elected as the WJCL President for the 2024-2025 school year.
Many students attribute the success of the delegation to the support of their peers, and especially to their teacher, Mrs. Wallach, whom the students lovingly refer to as Magis (an abbreviation of the Latin word for teacher: magistra).
“I could not have asked for a better group of people to surround myself with during my first convention experience. I am so thankful for my Latin teacher, Magis, for giving me the extra push I needed in order to believe in myself,” Olivia Kormanik, freshman, said.
“None of this would be possible without Magis. She is just incredible” Addison Drumm, sophomore, said.
The students have now started preparing for the trek to the National Junior Classical League convention in July at the Univeristy of Tennessee.
“At Nationals, Wisconsins classics students will come together to compete against 30 states or about 1500 students for a week. Lives are changed there and life long friendships begin” Wallach said.
After so much time committed to the program, many seniors find it sad to say goodbye. Brian Franks, senior, reflected on his time in the Latin program.
“After all the running around, yelling, competing and general storm of activity was over, I finally got the chance to breathe in my room after the fact. It sort of hit me all in a flash that it was finally over. Five years of being in the program and attending conventions ended tomorrow. The convention experience was a lot of fun, and I was grateful for everyone that made the experience wonderful,” Franks said.