There were no referees, scoreboards or coaches to call out plays, but the competition to become the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County’s Youth of the Year still was pretty stiff.

Four local students on Wednesday evening presented their achievements both in academics and within the community to about a dozen judges for the club’s highest honor.

The judges selected eight questions before privately interviewing each contestant. Ebony Norman, a 17-year-old East Hall High School student, shared her experience with an original poem.

“The Boys & Girls Club took me in and that’s why I call them my family/I love them dearly and they always know what’s best for me,” she said.

“Helping me with my emotional needs/Teaching me the better things in life/Like what’s wrong and what’s right.”

Each student had experienced some kind of hardship they said the Boys & Girls Clubs helped them work through.

For Qymane Brawner, 16, the club was a source of positive male influences since he grew up without the constant support of a father. The Gainesville High School student has been a member for more than half his life and said he has set his college ambitions on Brown University and a career in marketing.

In response to a question about what he would change about his community, Brawner said,”I would expand schools.”

“I would like to change it where if a city school has more stuff than a county school, then it can equal out (with the schools) having both the same technology. That way the student will not miss out.”

Last year’s winner, Teryan Rucker, 17, returned to attempt a repeat of last year’s success. A 12-year member of the club, Rucker said he is active in his church choir and has shouldered part of the bread-winning responsibility of his family, helping to pay bills at home.

But when asked by judges what he would change about his life, he said nothing.

“(God) put me in the position that I am so I could use that as a motivation and see that’s what my mom (who passed away last year) would want me to do.”

Rounding out the list of applicants was 16-year-old Tyeisha Williams from Gainesville High. She said her grandmother and younger sister inspired her to apply for the title.

“They’re both a big part of my life, so they were a big part of my speech,” she said.

On one question, three out of four of the students agreed they would change one thing about local high schools: the long class periods.

“Having the 90 minutes just sitting in one classroom is kinda hard but you get through it,” Rucker said.

Not present was the fifth contestant, Manuel Alacron of East Hall High School. The 14-year-old is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant and was not healthy enough to attend, event organizers said.

Each student was offered assistance preparing their speeches for the event by club staff members.

“We’re preparing the youth to be future citizens and future leaders of Hall County,” said the club’s graduation coach and program director, Jason Pleasant.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County offers support for hundreds of local children and teens. The Youth of the Year winner will compete for the title at the state level for a $1,000 scholarship and the chance to advance to the regional and national competition.

The winner will be announced at the club’s retreat later this month.