World’s Okayest Speech Team
10 Events Honored with All-State Nominations
Advancing to Individual All-State Speech are Justin Grawe (11), Taylor Hammer (9), Hallie Wenger (9), Emily La Rosa (12), Tristan Voelker (12), Ben Litterer (12) and Holden Smith (12).
March 23, 2018
In spite of declaring themselves the “World’s Okayest Speech Team,” the speech season has experienced exceptional success. Throughout the 2017-2018 season, three large group events and seven individual events were nominated for All-State.
For the first time in the last nine years, a West Delaware freshman group advanced to All-State Large Group. The Radio Broadcasting “KMED” included six freshmen.
Blake Cook, a member of “KMED,” said, “I couldn’t believe that we made it, especially because we’re freshmen.”
Stephanie Stocks, the freshman radio coach, was “ecstatic” when she discovered her freshman group had been nominated for All-State.
“As long as they never lose their desire to keep pushing themselves to be better, the sky is the limit for what they can accomplish,” Stocks said about all the speech members.
With 63 students competing in individual events, the team had a “full slate,” meaning every varsity spot was filled, with alternates ready to compete if needed in most categories.
Head coach Abby Osborne is pleased with the successful season. “Usually we have to do some scrambling to fill in drops before Individual Event Contest, but this year we were totally full and then some,” Osborne said.
Seventy-four events attended District Contest at Maquoketa Valley, and 56 events advanced to State Contest at Starmont on Sat., March 10. This was 16 more than the previous year.
Since the speech team increased by over 20 students this season, members felt they had even more encouragement. “Having a bigger individual speech team allows every participant to have more teammates there to support them,” senior Kendra Offerman said. “When you have more people in your room, it helps you get into your speech and have your best performance of the season!”
Emily LaRosa (12), Ben Litterer (12), Justin Grawe (11), Holden Smith (12), Tristan Voelker (12), Hallie Wenger (9) and Taylor Hammer (9) were nominated for All-State Individuals. They will perform their events at All-State on Mon., March 26, at the University of Northern Iowa.
