David City makes another state speech title run
Thursday, March 12, 2009 - 10:42 am
Area speech competitors qualifyDavid City High School's speech team will be in familiar territory as they arrive in Kearney next week for the Class C-1 State Speech Meet.
The Scouts were runner-up to 14-year State Champion Raymond Central in 2008, losing by 20 points, despite a performance called flawless by Coach Jared Ockander.
This year, David City and Raymond Central both return to state. Time will tell whether David City's returning experience will make the difference.
David City has 13 team members in competition; RC has 14. Raymond Central was able to beat the Scouts last year when both schools took eight events to the finals.
However, David City is returning six of its eight medalists from last year, and RC is returning one of its eight medalists from last year.
David City's speech team, like its One-Act competitors, take the attitude that competitions are "theirs to lose."
They prepare meticulously all season long, and competition is required.
"The expectation is placed upon the students to be a part of the team. Each person earns his or her place on the conference and district team through competition throughout the season," Ockander said.
David City easily won several tournaments this year including conference and district meets. The team also took on larger schools, and that sharpened their skills.
"We go against the Class A teams and remain humbled," Ockander said. "Then, when we compete against teams in our own class, we know that we can dominate them because we've been up against the best in the state, regardless of class.
"Also, seeing the best helps us to understand what changes we need to 'beat' the best."
Even though much of the competition is on an individual basis or a combination of two teammates, the speech team works together.
"We all become one big family throughout the season that goes through its own ups and downs, disagreements and successes together," Ockander said. "Competition on our own team better prepares us for competition on the weekends."
The team is not satisfied with an appearance at state, not after winning it all in 2006 and placing second last year.
"I'm proud of what we've accomplished thus far this year, but we've got one final meet of great importance," Ockander said.
The team is led again by Michaela Hruska, who was first in persuasive speaking last year. At the district last week, she was first in persuasive.
Hruska also has qualified for the National Forensic League competition set for June 14, in Birmingham, Alabama, by placing second in original oratory in qualifying competition.
Qualifiers
Here are the individual medalists and state qualifiers from districts:
Abbi Bardsley-1st serious; Jesse Barlean-2nd serious; Elizabeth Hruska-1st extemp; Cody Keck-2nd humorous; Michaela Hruska-1st persuasive; Michaela Hruska-2nd poetry; Ben Mattingly-3rd poetry; Duet team of Ben Mattingly and Jesse Barlean-1st; OID team of Weston Sieck, Andrew Meusch, Cody Keck, and Matt Heller-2nd; Andrew Meusch-1st entertainment; Weston Sieck-2nd entertainment; John Osantowski-2nd informative; Christina Osantowski-3rd. Abbi Bardsley placed 4th in persuasive.
Shelby Qualifiers:
Shelby High School also sends qualifiers to the Class D-1 state and placed third in its district meet.
Megan Veburg, Jr., third, extemporaneous speaking; Samantha Wesely, Fr., third, oral interpretation of poetry; Miranda Johnson, Sr., third, entertainment speaking; Michael Mecek, Sr. and Brooke Micek, Sr., first duet acting.
Team Scores (Top 4 and area)
1. Humphrey St. Francis 141.5; 2. Osceola 91; 3. Shelby 72; 4. Humphrey 67; 9. Rising City 6.
Aquinas and East Butler District D-2-2 competition on Tuesday at Cross County. East Butler placed fifth with 55 points; Aquinas, seventh, 21 points.
Aquinas Qualifiers:
Ben Wessling, jr, first in serious interpretation of prose; second in humorous interpretation.
East Butler Qualifiers:
Lacy Smola, third, extemp.
Room assignments can be found at the following: https://www.nsaahome.org/spentriesrooms.php?class=C1
District results can be found at the following:
https://www.nsaahome.org/spdistresults.php?district=C1-1
Photo courtesy of David City High School.
The David City High speech team poses with its district champion trophy.
