Indiana University East hosted its Annual High School Speech Tournament on February 12 in Whitewater Hall. Approximately 80 students from seven Indiana regional high schools competed in 14 events.

High schools competing in the speech tournament included Burris High School, Centerville High School, Connersville High School, Covenant Christian High School, Lawrence Central High School, New Castle High School, and Tri Junior and Senior High School.

A Wayne County Foundation grant supported this year’s event.

Connersville High School earned first place in the speech tournament followed by Lawrence Central High School in second; New Castle High School in third; Centerville High School in fourth; and Burris High School in fifth place.

L. Grace Espiritu, New Castle High School, and Ronnie Swango, Connersville High School, won the College Incentive prizes for Best Overall Performance Across Individual Events. The category is based on individual placing and ranks. Each received $325.

Judges were from regional high schools, Miami University’s Forensics Team, team coaches and IU East faculty and staff. IU East judges included Jerome Mahaffey, associate professor of communication studies; Natalia Rybas assistant professor of communication studies; Joe Kaiser, adjunct instructor in public speaking; Mardi Bergen, adjunct instructor in public speaking; and Campus Police Sgt. Jeffrey Locke.

For sponsorship information on the 2012 High School Speech tournament, contact Elvinet Wilson, IU East assistant professor of communication studies, at (765) 973-8425 or elsawils@iue.edu.

Tournament Results Listed by Category
Original Oratory
Samantha Strong, Lawrence Central High School, First Place

Memorized Duo
Mitchell King and Jake Johnson, Covenant Christian High School, First Place
Holly Baird and Emily Ball, Centerville High School, Second Place

Radio Broadcasting
Zach Watson, Centerville High School, First Place
Cooper Cox, Centerville High School, Second Place

International Extemporaneous
Bryan Rust, Lawrence Central High School, First Place
Zack Pardieck, Lawrence Central High School, Second Place

Original Performance
Erica Coulter and Kaitlyn Blansett, Centerville High School, First Place
Jake Johnson, Covenant Christian High School, Second Place
Reile Tincher and Rachel Grinstead, Centerville High School, Third Place

Dramatic Interpretation
Lindsay Stone, Lawrence Central High School, First Place
Ronnie Swango, Connersville High School, Second Place
Emily Miracle, Connersville High School, Third Place

Declamation
Hannah Creech, Connersville High School, First Place
Gabbie Kirtz, Connersville High School, Second Place
Felicia Nicholson, Connersville High School, Third Place

Humorous Interpretation
Ronnie Swango, Connersville High School, First Place
John Marvel, Connersville High School, Second Place
Samantha Young, Burris High School, Third Place
Adam Thorne, Lawrence Central High School, Fourth Place

Scripted Duo
Kelsey Bullens and Marissa Bullens, New Castle High School, First Place
Cora Herbkersman and Dakota Davis, Tri Junior and Senior High School, Second Place
Adam Deckard and Alexis Doddridge, Centerville High School, Third Place
Hannah Calvert and Samantha Young, Burris High School, Fourth Place
Emily Miracle and Eleanor Casson, Connersville High School, Fifth Place

Discussion
Joseph Wise, New Castle High School, First Place
Austin Futrell, Burris High School, Second Place
Kevin Joe, Burris High School, Third Place
Taylor Bowlin, New Castle High School, Fourth Place
Molly Boylan, Burris High School, Fifth Place

U.S. Extemporaneous
Alexander Chamey, Burris High School, First Place
Michael Lakes, Connersville High School, Second Place
Riley Gonya, New Castle High School, Third Place
Brendan Wrynn, Connersville High School, Fourth Place
John Hanks, Covenant Christian High School, Fifth Place
Nick Freeman, Lawrence Central High School, Sixth Place

Prose
L. Grace Espiritu, New Castle High School, First Place
Hannah Creech, Connersville High School, Second Place
Cora Herbkersman, Tri Junior and Senior High School, Third Place
Abby Oliver, Tri Junior and Senior High School, Fourth Place
Lindsay Stone, Lawrence Central High School, Fifth Place
Alexis Doddridge, Centerville High School, Sixth Place
Amy Coyle, Centerville High School, Seventh Place
Kelsey Bullens, New Castle High School, Eighth Place
Allison Bryant, Centerville High School, Ninth Place

Impromptu
Riley Gonya, New Castle High School, First Place
Samantha Strong, Lawrence Central High School, Second Place
John Marvel, Connersville High School, Third Place
Zack Pardieck, Lawrence Central High School, Fourth Place
Michael Lakes, Connersville High School, Fifth Place
Alexander Chamey, Burris High School, Sixth Place
Nick Freeman, Lawrence Central High School, Seventh Place
Bryan Rust, Lawrence Central High School, Eighth Place
Brendan Wrynn, Connersville High School, Ninth Place
Rachel Grinstead, Centerville High School, Tenth Place

Poetry
Felicia Nicholson, Connersville High School, First Place
Gabbie Kirtz, Connersville High School, Second Place
L. Grace Espiritu, New Castle High School, Third Place
Emily Ball, Centerville High School, Fourth Place
Wimberly Wilson, New Castle High School, Fifth Place
Hope McFerran, New Castle High School, Sixth Place
Emily Harris, Tri Junior and Senior High School, Seventh Place
Katelyn Pierce, Tri Junior and Senior High School, Eighth Place
Eleanor Casson, Connersville High School, Ninth Place
Angela Doneff, Centerville High School, Tenth Place

Team Sweepstakes
Connersville High School with 131 total points, First Place
Lawrence Central High School with 80 total points, Second Place
New Castle High School with 77 total points, Third Place
Centerville High School with 74 total points, Fourth Place
Burris High School with 53 total points, Fifth Place

Winners of Two College Incentive Prizes for Best Overall Performance Across Individual Events
L. Grace Espiritu, New Castle High School, $325
Ronnie Swango, Connersville High School, $325
*Based on individual placing and ranks