Dalton Teeler may only be a sophomore, but he has already accomplished many things in his short time in high school. He has been a “Bear Stage Player” for two years and has been a valuable member of the UIL Poetry and Prose team since his freshman year.

During that time, he has seen much success from the various tournaments he has participated in.

“I ended up getting second and third most of the time,” Teeler said.

Teeler said one of his biggest inspirations for doing well is his love for speaking and the encouragement he has gotten from his coach, theater director Cory Broom. He said he also learned from watching one of his high school role models, Alex Borel, compete and excel in Prose and Poetry. Borel is also the one who encouraged him to join the team.

“Last year in Prose and Poetry I was a freshman with no experience, so I didn’t do great at the beginning,” Teeler said.

In order to stay on top of his game, Teeler said he practices at least six days a week and drinks plenty of water. As a group, Dalton and the other Prose and Poetry team members do multiple vocal warm-ups and read their pieces aloud.

Teeler said reading in front of people will always make him nervous, but since he gets to choose the pieces he reads (with the help of Broom, to make sure it meets UIL standards), that makes it a bit easier.

“I choose the material by finding things I can relate to or imagine myself in,” Teeler said.