The Chesterton Speech team placed second to Warren Central in Division III (large schools) at the IHSFA State Tournament on March 21 in Indianapolis. Twelve of the team’s twenty-seven entries advanced to final rounds and accumulated a total of 77 points.

More than 60 schools and 600 students took part in the day-long competition, and only twenty points separated the top four teams.

Junior Tyler Fabbri led the team with a championship in impromptu speaking and a second place in U.S. extemporaneous speaking. Juniors Adam Potrzebowski and Matt Keeley also placed in two events to contribute to the team’s success. Potrzebowski was second in both impromptu and international extemporaneous speaking. Keeley placed fourth in both original performance and dramatic interpretation.

Juniors Hayley Miller and Olivia Gordon placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in original oratory. Miller also advanced to semifinals in declamation. Junior Megan Adamczewski placed fourth in U.S. extemporaneous, behind Fabbri. In discussion senior Manhur Grewal finished sixth.

Jackson Fox (12) placed second in humorous interpretation, and he and his partner Jack Deuberry (12) were semifinalists in memorized duo. Fellow senior Sarah Alberti took fifth place in poetry, and was a semifinalist in drama.

Other semifinalists not advancing to finals were Jake Pullins (9) in broadcasting, Jessica Povlinski (12) in international extemporaneous, Aris Ringas (12) in U.S. extemporaneous, and Ben Andrews (12) in discussion.

Following CHS and Warren Central in Division III were Ben Davis in third, Fishers in fourth, and Ft. Wayne Northrop in fifth. In Division II Plymouth won, Munster was second and Connersville finished third. The Division I winner was Culver Academies, followed by Canterbury Preparatory, and Park Tudor. Plymouth High School won the Ralph Lawson Memorial Trophy as the overall state champion (all three divisions).

“The entire coaching staff are very pleased with today’s results. This is the tightest the competition at the top has been in many years. Our kids worked hard and made it very close. This has been a great group to work with all season, and we’re very proud, not only of their performance, but their attitude and sense of team,” said Coach Bob Kelly.

Joining the coaching staff, were several team alumni, who helped by working with the students and with judging duties. Cassie (Dommer) Radabaugh, Amy (Pavlock) Lowery, Molly Deuberry, and Ryan Anderson were all there to support the team.