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The Troupe has continued its tradition of excellence when they compete in district competition.
Members Amber Grover, Jacob Reynolds and Wyatt Freeman will advance to nationals in their respective events.
Including these three students, the Lone Grove High School speech and debate team has sent eight students to nationals in dramatic interpretation and nine students in extemporaneous speaking.
“It’s cool to come from the Pantheon of the Greats,” Reynolds said.
Freeman, a sophomore who placed second in domestic extemporaneous speaking, has been competing in speech since sixth grade.
“I always heard about X kids going to the national tournament. I always wanted to do that. So, there is the pressure of coming from such a good school, but people will also be afraid of us,” Freeman said.
Students are now taking their place within the tradition.
“Now that we are the ones going to nationals, we are the ones to live up to,” Grover said.
Grover won dramatic interpretation with a piece titled “I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me By a Young Lady from Rwanda,” which tells the story of a Rwandan refugee who flees to London in an effort to tell her family’s story.
She had tried to do the piece as a monologue and found it didn’t work. However, she kept with it and turned it into a dramatic interpretation piece.
“It was hard to get the accent down, but eventually I got it. I have a teacher (Ed Wood) at the Ardmore Higher Education Center from South Africa, and I listened to how he talks,” Grover said.
Reynolds placed second in foreign extemporaneous. His topic in the final round was on growing homophobia in West Africa and whether other countries should intercede.
“I had to think past what the question is and what we’ve prepared. It was probably one of the best speeches I ever gave. Some judges agreed with me and some didn’t, which is the nature of the topic,” Reynolds said.
Freeman said he had information for all but one topic, the readiness of the U.S. for a bio-chemical attack.
“I chose that question because it could affect them, though looking back I’d have chosen a different question. I had very little information on it in my box,” Freeman said.
“I drew it and thought that I knew enough already on the topic. I spoke well in that round, but my content wasn’t that great. I didn’t get below a three in any other round.”
The Troupe has continued its tradition of excellence when they compete in district competition.
Members Amber Grover, Jacob Reynolds and Wyatt Freeman will advance to nationals in their respective events.
Including these three students, the Lone Grove High School speech and debate team has sent eight students to nationals in dramatic interpretation and nine students in extemporaneous speaking.
“It’s cool to come from the Pantheon of the Greats,” Reynolds said.
Freeman, a sophomore who placed second in domestic extemporaneous speaking, has been competing in speech since sixth grade.
“I always heard about X kids going to the national tournament. I always wanted to do that. So, there is the pressure of coming from such a good school, but people will also be afraid of us,” Freeman said.
Students are now taking their place within the tradition.
“Now that we are the ones going to nationals, we are the ones to live up to,” Grover said.
Grover won dramatic interpretation with a piece titled “I Have Before Me a Remarkable Document Given to Me By a Young Lady from Rwanda,” which tells the story of a Rwandan refugee who flees to London in an effort to tell her family’s story.
She had tried to do the piece as a monologue and found it didn’t work. However, she kept with it and turned it into a dramatic interpretation piece.
“It was hard to get the accent down, but eventually I got it. I have a teacher (Ed Wood) at the Ardmore Higher Education Center from South Africa, and I listened to how he talks,” Grover said.
Reynolds placed second in foreign extemporaneous. His topic in the final round was on growing homophobia in West Africa and whether other countries should intercede.
“I had to think past what the question is and what we’ve prepared. It was probably one of the best speeches I ever gave. Some judges agreed with me and some didn’t, which is the nature of the topic,” Reynolds said.
Freeman said he had information for all but one topic, the readiness of the U.S. for a bio-chemical attack.
“I chose that question because it could affect them, though looking back I’d have chosen a different question. I had very little information on it in my box,” Freeman said.
“I drew it and thought that I knew enough already on the topic. I spoke well in that round, but my content wasn’t that great. I didn’t get below a three in any other round.”
In other events, Kevin Anastasio placed second alternate in domestic extemp, and Hattie Clark placed second alternate in dramatic interpretation.
As good as the trip wound up, it did get off to a rocky start — Grover forgot to bring the team mascot, Lucky the longhorn, and the team had to turn around for him.
Team members kiss Lucky before tournaments and hold him as results are announced.
“They start with the third alternate and go up. I was clutching Lucky with every name they called for foreign extemp,” Freeman said.
Nationals will be in Kansas City, Mo., June 13-18. Reynolds lived in Kansas City when he was younger.
“It’s a homecoming. I’m looking forward to Gates Barbecue,” Reynolds said.
Yet, the competition itself is still forefront in their minds.
“We had to be the best (to win districts). Now everyone there is the best and will compete just as outrageously hard as we are,” Freeman said.
Jennifer Lindsey, 221-6536
