YOUNG SPEECH TEAM HAS BIG YEAR

Coach Jessica Beeson doesn't plan on taking prisoners next year with her speech and debate team.

"This was my first year and Mrs. (Joyce) Theiss' first year," she said. "Last year they graduated a whole lot of seniors, so they were a real young team this year. It was great to see them grow and come together as a team and win.

"Next year should be phenomenal."

The 35-member team enjoyed an outstanding year, led by co-captains Lydia Blades and Kelly Shields. The team competed in 12 tournaments through the season, including hosting its own 13-school meet Oct. 14. Their home meet included poetry, prose, original prose, storytelling, humorous interpretation, dramatic interpretation, extemporaneous speaking, original oratory and duet acting.

Two JHS members have qualified for the state meet in April. Senior Janine Love is going in the poetry division, while junior Katie Townsend qualified in extemporaneous speaking.

At district competition, the following members were entered: Townsend, original poetry, extemporaneous speaking and Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Chad Schuessler, prose, Leah Wright, dramatic interpretation; Love, poetry, Blades, humorous interpretation; Shields, radio; Tim Nicolai, duet acting; Ryan Stroder, duet acting; Brian Haaas, storytelling; and Ryan Stroder, Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

Readers Theatre competitors at district were Charles Flint, Blades, Jennifer Hotop, Ashley Booker, Jonathan Lorenz and Sarah Luehrs.

"I was very proud of them," Beeson said. "They did a great job."