LCHS speech team finalists from Charleston's invitational are Sara Shane, second in radio speaking; Wyatt Phillis and Matthew Langdon, third in humorous duet acting; Grace Sheley, fifth in prose reading; Tegan Follis, third in poetry; Madison Bishop, sixth in junior varsity impromptu speaking; and Jacqueline Keysear, second in junior varsity oratorical declamation.

LCHS speech team competes in 'Hooray for Hollywood' at Charleston [November 20, 2012]  CHARLESTON -- The Lincoln Community High School speech team placed sixth overall at Charleston's "Hooray for Hollywood" invitational on Saturday. The 16-member team had about 20 different entries competing in both varsity and junior varsity divisions.

Speakers compete in 14 different categories to prepare for the state series, which begins in February. After preliminary rounds are completed, those who ranked the best according to judges from around the state then compete head-to-head with the other "bests" in their categories and divisions.

Varsity finalists are students who have competed on a speech team before, but not necessarily in that event. Varsity finalists were senior Sara Shane, second place in radio speaking; senior Wyatt Phillis and junior Matthew Langdon, third in humorous duet acting; senior Tegan Follis, third in poetry speaking; and senior Grace Sheley, fifth in prose speaking.

Junior varsity members of the team who advanced to finals were Madison Bishop, who placed sixth in impromptu speaking, and Jacqueline Keysear, who placed second in oratorical declamation.

"The team is definitely growing, in both numbers and confidence," said head coach Jennifer Keith. "The ones who put in the most amount of practice are doing well and encouraging the others on the team to join them at the top.

"From here on out, the competition will be practicing more, as well as we will need to raise our games in order to continue succeeding," Keith said.

After a week's break for Thanksgiving, the team will head to Bloomington High School on Dec. 1 for its invitational.

[Text from file received from Jennifer Keith, Lincoln Community High School]