Contributed
Placing first at the SPVA conference speech meet include members: (first row, l-r): Brandon Case, Ian Sihm, Bryce Grothman, Peyton Woodmancy, Kate Patrick, Colton Heinemann, Hailee Iske-Fraizer, Rylee Huff, Bella Fraizer, Savannah Schmitt and Hannah Kempf. Middle row: Destiny Beisner, Haven Wid, Karen Ruiz, Valerie Perez, Kenyon Gaar, Caleb Lagler, Sam McArtor, Keshia Leeper, Miah Long and Jacob Woodmancy. Back row: Chris Terry, Ethan Terry, Jonathan Hanson, Evan Sestak, Carter Krajewski, Nathan Kemling and Matthew Wendell. Not pictured: Ian Picquet.
Speech team takes first at SPVA
Taking first at the SPVA conference speech meet on Monday, March 5 were the Perkins County speakers.
With spring-like winds blowing the PCS bus to Imperial, the speech team competed with students from Bridgeport, Chase County, Hershey, Kimball, North Platte St. Pat’s and Sutherland in a two-round preliminary, six-contestant final contest.
Preliminary rounds were judged by one individual, while the top six competitors advanced to a round with two judges.
SPVA rules limit the number of contests to two per each of the nine events. And, as is the case in district competition, team scores include points from both preliminary round as well as the final round. Showing the balanced talent of this year’s team, PCS placed finalists in each of the nine events.
Contestants and their final placings:
Informative –Sam McArtor, third; Haven Wid, fourth
Persuasive—Kate Patrick, third; Haven Wid, fifth
Entertainment—Peyton Woodmancy, third; Ian Sihm, seventh
Extemporaneous—Matthew Wendell, fourth; Valerie Perez, sixth
Poetry—Hailee Iske-Fraizer, fifth; Kadie Hanson, eighth
Humorous Prose—Jacob Woodmancy, fourth; Keshia Leeper, eighth
Serious Prose—Kenyon Gaar, first; Karen Ruiz, sixth
Duet Acting—Colton Heinemann and Chris Terry, first; Jonathan Hanson and Nathan Kemling, second
Oral Interpretation of Drama—Kenyon Gaar, Bryce Grothman, Colton Heinemann and Chris Terry, first; Keshia Leeper, Sam McArtor, Ian Sihm, Matthew Wendell and Jacob Woodmancy, second
PCS took first with 220 points, Sutherland earned 219 points for second place and Bridgeport tallied 184 points for third place.
Best of the West
In preparation for the conference contest, PCS speakers attended the Best of the West speech meet on Saturday, March 3.
Over 500 entrants from 26 area schools of all class sizes attended the meet. No team placings were recognized at this contest, but medals are awarded to the top 12 competitors.
PCS competitors earned medals in eight of the nine events.
Informative—Wid, 10th
Persuasive—Patrick, third; Wid, eighth;
Extemporaneous—Wendell, fourth
Entertainment—Sihm, ninth
Poetry—Hanson, fourth; Iske-Fraizer, ninth
Serious Prose—Ruiz, 12th
Oral Interpretation of Drama—Gaar, Grothman, Heinemann and Terry, eighth
Duet Acting—Heinemann and Terry, first
Next action
District competition will be on Tuesday, March 13 at North Platte High School.