The Chesterton
Speech team competed at two separate tournaments this weekend. The majority
of the team traveled to the John Oliver Speech Invitational at Plymouth High
School, while eleven members attended the Fort Wayne Carroll High School
Tournament.
At the Fort Wayne
Carroll tournament there were sixteen schools competing, with the top five
schools receiving a trophy. Chesterton was the overall winner with over
forty points separating them from the second place team. The students
competed in three preliminary rounds with the top six advancing to a final
round. CHS had six tournament champions.
Leading the team
were seniors Justyn Lantz and Jami Ritchea who were the tournament champions
in memorized duo. The senior team of Liz Green and Layla Mooradian were the
tournament runners up. Sophomore Izzy Goodman and junior Carley Lowe placed
fourth in the event. Lantz was also the tournament champion in drama,
followed by senior Danny Vincent placing third, Carley Lowe placing fifth
and junior Kasey O’Keefe placing sixth.
In humor, Jami
Ritchea was the tournament champion followed by Liz Green who placed fifth.
In declamation Kasey O’Keefe was the tournament runner up, followed by Layla
Mooradian. Mooradian was also the tournament champion in original oratory.
Junior Nate Burris was the tournament champion in impromptu. Burris was also
the tournament runner up in United States extemp followed by senior Jessica
Ratel-Khan who placed third. Sophomore Timmy Vincent was the tournament
champion in international extemp.
At the Plymouth
tournament there were ten schools competing, with the top five schools
receiving a trophy. The Chesterton team placed fifth overall behind Warren
Central, Munster, Valparaiso and Concord respectively. The students competed
in three preliminary rounds with the top six in each event advancing to a
final.
Leading the team
was freshman James VanDrie, who was the tournament runner up in humor. In
discussion, sophomore Eddie Young placed third. The scripted duo team of
sophomore Lexi Justak and junior Lauren Hogan placed fourth overall. In
drama, freshman Karley Carden placed sixth.
The team had
several former students and parents assist coaches Eric Schaefer, Kirsten
Reed, Jessica Cleary and John Coots in judging the tournaments. Assisting in
judging was, Jack Deuberry, Kayla Fleming, Marcia Ritchea and Nathan Zavala.
“The entire
coaching staff could not be more proud of what these students accomplished
this weekend. The team has been working very hard these past few months and
this weekend’s success is a great reward for the students. The team is in a
great position heading into post season,” said coach Jessica Cleary.
The Chesterton team
will be hosting their home tournament next weekend.