State qualifiers from the LCHS Speech team are Claire Conrady in Original Comedy, and Justin Woods and Lena Stapleton in Dramatic Duet Acting. They compete Friday and Saturday in Peoria.

Lincoln Community High School Speech Team advances three to state

[February 17, 2016]  LINCOLN - The Lincoln Community High School Speech team advanced three students in two events to the Illinois High School Association State Individual Events competition to be held Friday and Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center.

Senior Lena Stapleton and sophomore Justin Woods were the Sectional Champions in Dramatic Duet Acting and junior Claire Conrady placed 3rd in Original Comedy. The top three places advance from Sectional to State competitions.

"The Sectional meet is the toughest, most surprising, most heartbreaking competition all season," said head coach Jennifer Keith. "The LCHS team has had ups and downs, and this meet was no exception."

"Lena and Justin barely advanced from the Regional, placing 4th when the top 4 advance, and here they won the tournament," Keith continued, "and the others have just worked so hard, that not advancing to state is heartbreaking. We are so excited for the duet and Claire."

Sectional runners-up were Stapleton and senior McKenzie Landers who placed 4th in Humorous Duet Acting, and Woods, 4th in Humorous Interpretation.

Senior Braden Tanner placed 5th in both Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry Reading at the Sectional.

Those who advance will compete once on Friday and then again on Saturday morning. If they are in the top 6 of the 18 that advanced from all six Sectionals across the state, they will compete once more for the title of State Champion.

[Coach Jennifer Keith]