The Coeur d’Alene High School drama team received its last standing ovation of the year Friday afternoon as the entire school celebrated the team’s victory at the state drama competition, for the third year in a row.

The CHS drama team has won five of the past six state championships.

“Since we’ve won a lot, people are really upping their game,” said Hannah Verdi, a junior who placed first in both the “Solo Humorous” and “Solo Musical Theatre” categories. “The competition was more intense this year.”

“It was a lot more fun because it was a close call,” added senior Autumn Moore, who placed first in Prop Design.

This year, CHS hosted the state competition. Dec. 2 and 3. Thirty CHS students competed against over 500 students from over 40 different schools in Idaho.

Students compete in drama by performing different skits in different categories, like humor, serious or musical theatre. There are solo and ensemble versions of most categories. Students can also compete in technical theater, showing their skills in costume design and makeup.

“People don’t often understand that this is an art form,” said Annika Silk, a junior who was a finalist in Costume Design. “I mean yeah, we’re here to compete, but really we’re here to spread goodwill.”

Jared Helm, who heads up the CHS theater department, said it’s been really important for the team to not focus on old successes, but to look forward and approach each new competition separately.

“It’s very easy to become egotistical, especially in performing arts,” he said. “But we focus on people as a whole and how we can help empower each other.”

Not only has the drama team empowered its own members, but it’s inspired the rest of the student body. Helm said that the team’s winning streak has brought more respect to drama and theater.

He said that more students who typically wouldn’t be found in the theater department have given it a chance.

“I think [the student body is] starting to realize how impressive this is,” Helm said. “It’s no longer just a certain type of person here, now there’s more different types of people in theater.”

CHS students who won first place are: Hannah Verdi in the “Solo Humorous” and “Solo Musical Theatre” categories, and Blake Dodson and Autumn Moore in “Technical Properties” — commonly known as prop design.

Autumn Plucker and James Hill got second in the “Ensemble Serious” skits.

CHS students who placed third are: Tyler Heick in the “Solo Serious” category, Griffin McDonald in the “Solo Humorous” category and Autumn Plucker and Tyler Heick in the “Ensemble Musical Theatre” category.

Students who made it to the final round of the state competition are: Mandy Burke and Branden Newton in the “Original Humorous” category, Andrew Johnson in the “Solo Audition” category, Annika Silk in “Costume Design” and Madison Murray and Michelle Green in the “Technical Makeup” category.