Written by Wheeling Park High School’s . Leiahna is a contributing writer to The Park Press.
The Wheeling Park High School Speech and Debate team competed in Morgantown, WV March 12-14th for their 46th consecutive State Championship. Nine individual competitors won 10 state championships and senior Will Medovic took the top speaker in the state award.
In 1979, the team earned their last second place trophy to powerhouse dynasty Parkersburg High School. Then, in 1980, a legacy began.
As the team prepares, speech and debate competitors feel the pressure to uphold a generation of success.
“Obviously everybody is nervous because we don’t want to let down the legacy but I have faith in our team that we will do well.” said senior debater, Taylor Miller.
Competitors may have nervous doubts about the outcome, but the team leaves no doubt throughout the year due to their hardwork and grueling season. Wheeling Park Speech and Debate competes in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and in national tournaments across the country.
“I’m very excited personally. I think we are going to do well individually and I’m excited to win another team state championship because that’s not just important to me and the people on the team,” said Speech Vice President Jerome Maynard Jr.
Three coaches lead the team: school counselor, Jennifer Mathieu, Fine and Performing Arts chair, Kayla Nelson, and Park Press advisor, Isabella Droginske.
“This team works so hard starting all the way in May. The reason why we leave no doubt is because they are constantly working to improve and are never satisfied,” said Coach Mathieu.
The next step for this team is preparing for three national tournaments: Tournament of Champions in Kentucky, the NCFL Nationals in DC, and the NSDA Nationals in Richmond, VA.
The individual awards the team earned are:
Will Medovic, Overall Top Speaker, 1st place Informative Speaking, 2nd place Prose Interpretation; 2nd place Duo Interpretation
Briele Dobson, 1st place Declamation; 1st place Oral Interpretation of Literature
Levi Powell, 1st place Programme Oral Interpretation; 2nd place Original Oratory
Anna Contraguerro, 1st place Prose Interpretation; 3rd place Informative Speaking
McKenna Guthoerl, 1st place Poetry Interpretation; 4th place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation
Jerome Maynard, 1st place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation
Jana Schodzinski, 1st place Impromptu Speaking; 2nd place Extemporaneous Speaking; 2nd place Congressional Debate
Lilly Smith, 1st place Duo Interpretation; 4th place Declamation
Ireland Witchey, 1st place Duo Interpretation
Isabella AlKhouri, 3rd place Prose Interpretation
Blair Anderson, 2nd place Declamation; 4th place Extemporaneous Speaking
Jules Burke, 4th place Public Forum Debate
Gabrielle Contraguerro, 3rd place Oral Interpretation of Literature; 2nd place Programme Oral Interpretation
Amiah Fuentes, 2nd place Poetry Interpretation
Josephine Gilbert, 3rd place Congressional Debate; 3rd place Public Forum Debate
Cash Givens, 6th place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; 3rd place Extemporaneous Speaking
Miriam Halicki, 5th place Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Paige Jones, 4th place Public Forum Debate
Audrey Kenamond, 4th place Duo Interpretation
Siyan Lopez, 5th place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation; 3rd place Poetry Interpretation
Claire McFadden,2nd place Duo Interpretation
Gianna Mills, 4th place Broadcasting; 4th place Duo Interpretation
Flannery Muscar, 2nd place Oral Interpretation of Literature; 3rd place Humorous/ Dramatic Interpretation
Ava Norman, 6th place Impromptu Speaking; 2nd place Broadcasting
Khadija Rizwan, 4th place Original Oratory
Emma Seibert, 5th place Impromptu Speaking
Joeyana Strothers, 4th place Informative Speaking; 5th place Poetry Interpretation
Nathan Tyska, 4th place Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Ella Wheeler, 3rd place Public Forum Debate
Bridget Zoeckler, 6th place Congressional Debate
Liam Curtin, 6th place Spontaneous Debate
Other members contributing to the team’s win: Leah Cole, Clara Demasi, Maria Faulstick, Taylor Miller, Mojolaoluwa Oluwadare
