COEUR d’ALENE — They work hard. They play hard.

And they work incredibly hard at their plays.

That's why the Coeur d'Alene High School Theatre Department once again reigns supreme, winning the 5A State Championship Drama Competition for the eighth time in nine years.

“I’ve been here for four years and I’ve looked up to so many people who have been four-time state champions, and I always was thinking, ‘That could be me!’ And when it is you, it’s a completely different thing," said CHS senior Alyssa Livingston. “I’m extremely happy about it and excited and it’s awesome. Our team is so loving all the time and so supportive, but it’s also bittersweet because I know it’s the end of it, and we can’t do it again. But I am extremely grateful to have the experience."

Alyssa and her theater teammates were celebrated during a morning assembly in the school's gym Thursday, where they presented Principal Libbi Barrett with the trophy and shared their good news with their peers.

“There’s so much love everywhere, always. I’m going to start crying,” said overjoyed senior and four-time state champ Taylor Wenglikowski. "We all work so hard, and it’s so cool to see it paid off and everybody be so supportive.”

The Idaho High School Activities Association's 2019 State Drama Championships were held Dec. 6 in Idaho Falls. CHS scored an exceptional 62 points in the 5A conference, including Idaho's largest schools (based on enrollment) such as Post Falls High School and Lake City High School, the latter of which came in fourth.

The next-highest-scoring school was far behind CHS with just 27 points in the 5A division.

"I was competing against 51 other people, and I managed to take second out of the whole state, which is a really cool thing," Taylor said.

The third four-time state champ, senior Logan Jaggi, said this win "is pretty fantastic."

"It’s a huge thing," he said. "It's a completely different life, and it’s super fun."

CHS theater instructor Jared Helm said these students are leaving a legacy for their school.

“It’s a legacy in that, with a center of goodwill and generosity, anybody can do anything," he said. "When you put the focus on becoming a better human, and sharing that generosity with everyone, success will always follow, even if it isn’t necessarily a win."