DGS, DGN Compete in Speech State Tournament Saturday

and dominated their IHSA Speech Sectional last Saturday and are competing at the IHSA State Speech tournament Saturday in Peoria.

South came in first at last week's sectional with 74 points and North came in second with 40 points. Points are based on students' rankings in final rounds. In the IHSA State Speech Series, students compete in 15 different events that range from public speaking to duo or individual acting. Each school can also compete in performance in the round, where students act out a 15-minute scene or short play, complete with props and costumes.

South students have advanced to the state tournament in all but one of the events, failing to advance in Informative Speaking. South students were sectional champions in nine of the events, including performance in the round. South has been ranked as the strongest speech team in the state by the IHSA.

North students have advanced to state in five of the individual or duo events as well as performance in the round.

Students who advanced to the state IHSA speech finals will compete in Peoria next Friday and Saturday.

North State Qualifiers:

Extemporaneous Speaking: Emily Temple-Wood

Humorous Interpretation: Devin Collett

Informative Speaking: Meredith Frank

Oratorical Declamation: Erin Portman

Original Oratory: Maggie Butzen

Performance in the Round: Nikki Kay, Andy Krupin, Colin Ludlow, Haley Palmer, Joe Pelliccioni, Katie Portman and Sam Staley

South State Qualifiers:

Dramatic Duet Acting: Billy Chengary and Stephanie Flowers

Dramatic Interpretation: Colleen Derosa

Extemporaneous Speaking: Ed Roberge

Humorour Duet Acting: Billy Chengary and Michelle McCarthy

Humorous Interpretation: Erin C. Walsh

Impromptu Speaking: Ed Roberge

Oratorical Declamation: Colleen Derosa

Original Comedy: John Junk

Original Oratory: Claire Drews

Performance in the Round: Kaylee Moeslein, Tyler Murley, Emma Murry, Nicole O'Toole, Subhan Suhail, Alissa Wickien, Lillie Kase, Logan Moran-Rudd, Stephanie Coupland, Dan Leahy, Alex Werner, Lian Lucansky, Mike Maloney and Natasha Prosek

Poetry Reading: Erin M. Walsh

Prose Reading: Michelle McCarthy

Radio Speaking: Erin C. Walsh

Special Occasion Speaking: Milap Mehta