The S.H.S. speech team recently completed their season after a good run. The team’s first meet was all the way back in the middle of November 2023 and ended in early February this year.
The team itself only has four members: senior Michelle Henderson, sophomores Avery Moran and Kyla Smith, and freshman Jonas White. Despite having a small number of people, the team persevered and were able to demonstrate their strengths in speech even more.
All members competed in specific categories throughout their seasons: Moran and Smith both competed in “humorous duet acting,” White did “radio,” and Henderson competed in “prose reading” and “dramatic interpretation.” Each member made it to regionals and Henderson made it all the way to sectionals.
At one of their top meets, which was hosted by Rock Falls High School in January, Henderson tied for first with her piece for “prose reading” and Moran and Smith placed fourth for their piece in “humorous duet acting.” At regionals, White finished off his season by placing sixth in his category and Moran and Smith also finished their season at regionals, placing sixth in their category. Henderson, however, placed second in “dramatic interpretation” and third for “prose reading,” which allowed her to move onto sectionals. Henderson, unfortunately didn’t make it to finals, but still had a great year overall.
The members themselves have been working really hard to perfect their pieces with help from each other and their coach Victoria Duffin.
White said, “My main advisor, Victoria Duffin helped me with everything. She taught me what radio was and how to do each part of it. Her advice really helped me, helped me put more of myself into my script and voice.”
White also says that he is looking to do speech again next year and wants to go to more competitions to prepare himself and “to hopefully make it to sectionals.”
Henderson has been doing speech since sixth grade and says she feels much improved since then.
“I feel as though speech has made me more confident in speaking with others and overall just made me a better actress all together.” Henderson read through her pieces multiple times before sectionals to help her be better prepared and shared, “I had my past coach Jill Price watch me perform my piece as well as the now current co-director Ellen Johnson watch both of my pieces and give me notes.”
Overall, the S.H.S. speech team had a really good season and they are looking forward to next year as they hope to make it even farther.
