Column: WHS speech team enjoys excellent season

• District 518

District 518

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WORTHINGTON — What does a student get from choosing speech as an extra-curricular activity besides early mornings and grueling Saturdays of competition? Students who participate in speech are honing their critical thinking skills, writing skills, researching skills, oral communication skills and vocabulary while taking part in a competitive academic activity. They extend the walls of the classroom while acting as ambassadors for Worthington High School.

Minnesota State High School League Speech consists of 13 individual categories. Some of these categories are interpretive in nature and the students use works of literature as their presentations. The students select and cut the material to fit into the time limits while keeping with the author’s intent. These categories are Poetry, Drama and Prose. Other categories require the students to write their own selections. Some of these include Original Oratory, Informative, Creative Expression and Great Speeches.

Some categories are unscripted and extemporaneous in nature. The students have nothing but their research and the will to survive combined with the luck of the draw. They choose from three possibilities and prepare their selections in 30 minutes. These categories include Storytelling, Extemporaneous Reading and Extemporaneous Speaking.

The Worthington Trojan Speech Team has had a fantastic season. They have been traveling throughout southwest Minnesota and attending meets at Marshall High School, Redwood Valley, Fairmont, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato East, St. Peter, Southwest State University and New Ulm. There have been many standout performances on the team, but the primary ingredient to their success has been the drive to achieve personal bests each Saturday of competition.

The team has had some excellent senior leadership in the co-captaincy of Whitney Prins and Jack Martin. They, along with fellow seniors Kami Vogt and Lexy Teerink, work hard to inspire the team with laughter, encouragement and group warm-ups.

The team has had a wonderful year. We look forward to continuing the proud tradition next season.

Linda Neugebauer is the Worthington High School speech coach.

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