On Saturday, March 11th, the Plymouth High School Speech Team competed at the ISSDA State Speech Tournament held at Fishers High School. Once again, this year they placed second overall, as well as second in the AA class (mid-sized schools).
The team finished a mere eight points behind rival Munster High School. However, they also out-distanced AAA Fishers High School, who finished third overall, by thirty-six points.
In total, fifty-four schools advanced students to the State Finals. The Top Ten included:
1st Munster HS (AA Champion) 160 points
2nd Plymouth HS (AA Runner-Up) 153 points
3rd Fishers HS (AAA Champion) 117 points
4th Avon HS (AAA Runner-Up) 105 points
5th Culver Academies (A Champion) 97 points
6th Bishop Dwenger HS (A Runner-Up) 84 points
7th Chesterton HS (AA 3rd Place) 82 points
8th Cathedral HS (AA 4th Place) 49 points
9th Warsaw HS (AAA 3rd Place) 44 points10th Ben Davis HS (AAA 4th Place) 32 points
Twenty-nine PHS team members competed in thirty-nine of a possible forty entries, which they had qualified at the Sectional Tournament held at the end of February. Thirty-five of those entries made the first break to advance to the quarter-finals. Twenty-four entries advanced to the semi-finals, and thirteen entries advanced to the final rounds.
PHS tallied State Championships in two of the 15 events once again this season. Senior Meg Robinson earned her championship in Prose, while junior Jonathan Velasquez and sophomore Dariel Herrera teamed up to win the championship for Duo Interp.
Director of Forensics, Dave McKenzie commented, “It was a strong performance by all of our team members the entire season. Our Sectional / State Team rocked the end of the season once again. Each year, we are narrowing the gap on first. It’s just a matter of time, and we believe the time will be soon.”
McKenzie went on to commend the seniors. “These seniors were more than just competitors who represented our community throughout their high school speech careers. They led with a class that is a part of the Plymouth Speech and Debate legacy. Now, it’s time for their next step. For some, it will be representing the Northeast Indiana District in the national competition in June. For others, their speech competitions have come to a conclusion. However, our coaches hope that the lessons each individual takes away from our activity will make a difference daily.”
Full-time PHS coaches include Dave and Sarah McKenzie, Dan and Charlotte Tyree, Eric Schaefer, Sarah Robinson, and Maggie Kubley.
Individual Team Member Results:
BROADCASTING
Rylan James, Quarter Finalist
DECLAMATION
Jordon Nethercutt, 4th (2nd Team All-State)
Brice Hoover, 6th (2nd Team All-State)
Elizabeth Williams, Quarter-Finalist
DRAMATIC INTERP
Meg Robinson, 2nd (1st Team All-State)
Claire Lewandowski, 4th (2nd Team All-State)
Alex DeJarnatt, 5th (2nd Team All-State)
DUO INTERP
Dariel Herrera and Jonathan Velasquez – State Champions (1st Team All-State)
Alex DeJarnatt and Claire Lewandowski, 3rd (1st Team All-State)
Maddy Thangam and Madelyn Hutchings, Semi-Finalists
Addie Kingston and Garrett Bicknell, Quarter-Finalists
HUMOROUS INTERP
Gloria Sullivan, 2nd (1st Team All-State)
Jonathan Velasquez, 5th (2nd Team All-State)
Olivia Burch, Semi-Finalist
Garrett Bicknell, Semi-Finalist
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
Sam Bradley, 6th (2nd Team All-State)
Addie Kingston, Semi-Finalist
Anne Blake, Quarter-Finalist
Estela Mendez, Quarter-Finalist
INTERNATIONAL EXTEMP
Cassidy Riddle, Semi-Finalist
Maddie Harness, Quarter-Finalist
ORIGINAL ORATORY
Dariel Herrera – Semi-Finalist
ORIGINAL PERFORMANCE
Lylianah Seidelmann, Quarter-Finalist
Aidan Faulstich and Mia Hartley, Quarter-Finalist
POETRY READING
Emily Garcia, Semi-Finalist
Megyn Mann, Quarter-Finalist
Maddy Thangam, Quarter-Finalist
Angel Oviedo, Quarter-Finalist
PROGRAMMED ORAL INTERP
Gloria Sullivan, Semi-Finalist
Anne Blake, Quarter-Finalist
PROSE READING
Meg Robinson, State Champion (1st Team All-State)
Lyli Seidelmann, 5th (2nd Team All-State)
Aiden Ruiz, 6th (2nd Team All-State)
Megyn Mann, Semi-Finalist
UNITED STATES EXTEMP
Tyler Travis, Quarter-Finalist
