By Jody Markgraf, Speech Coach
Under the cold cover of darkness, the Kimball speech team departed for the first of their early Saturday morning tournaments Saturday, Feb. 6, in Albany. As the light crept over the horizon, the 21 students evolved into 21 public speakers and warmed up to their tasks.
Several speech veterans turned up the heat in their categories and brought home awards. In Extemporaneous Reading, freshman Tyler Dockery, sophomore Chelsey Maus, and freshman Alissa Jones swept the first-, second-, and third-place medals, with freshman Hannah Zipoy also earning an honorable mention. In Original Oratory, senior Kelsey Vigoren took second place, while Shelby Schiefelbein, eighth grade, earned a fourth-place ribbon, and senior Abby Zoller received an honorable mention. In Great Speeches, senior Lindsay Pramann took third place, and freshman Kenzie Traurig earned fifth place. Janessa Dahle, in a new category this season, took third place in Humorous.
The early morning contest did not leave our nine rookies out in the cold; three of the nine “newbies” earned a place on the award stage as well. Freshman Jonathan Bisila talked his way into a fifth-place finish in Discussion and Megan Bisila earned a sixth-place ribbon in Informative Speaking. Freshman Ashley Angier, despite being up late at Snow-feast the night before, gave a sparkling performance in Serious Poetry and placed second in the category.
Overall, the team placed third, and received an honorable mention in the Large Team category, following Eden Valley-Watkins in second, and Melrose taking top honors. In Small Team, Rockford placed first with Royalton taking second, and Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City receiving a third-place honorable mention. Congratulations, team.
This week will be busy for the team as they travel to Swanville Saturday, Feb. 13 (the bus leaves at 6:20 a.m.) and, as they serve hot pancakes and sausage for the Sweetheart Pancake breakfast Sunday, Feb. 14, at the KAHS Cafetorium from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.