Pink Ladies win shot at the title

From: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester,NY,USA - Mar 27, 2007

The Pink Ladies, a group of five girls and their coaches, are on their way to Washington, D.C., after winning the Northeast Regional Gallaudet University High School Academic Bowl for deaf and hard-of-hearing students Saturday.

The girls, who wear pink shirts during competition, attend various area schools but receive support services through Monroe BOCES 1 in Perinton, finished third nationwide last year in the competition among 16 finalist teams.

They are: Gabby Speach, 16, who attends Mercy High School; Taylor Vogt, 16, and Hannah Worek, 14, who attend Brighton High School; Jessica Vitale, 18, who attends Nazareth Academy; and Nicole Williams, 17, who attends Pittsford Sutherland High School.

Michael Haddix is the coach, and Anne Kingston is assistant coach.

The second-place team, Austine School for the Deaf, in Brattleboro, Vt., also advances to the championships to be held at Gallaudet University on April 21-24.

© 2007, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle