Ten LT Speech Team members competed at Sectionals School on Feb. 10 at Elk Grove High. LT’s sectional is known for being the most competitive in the state. The entire tournament was a rollercoaster of emotions, because for some students this would be their last high school competition.  

Four LT members broke into the final round of their respective events: Charlotte Trecartin ‘18 in Oratorical Declamation (DEC), Colleen Kirby ‘18 in Dramatic Interpretation (DI), Miles Hession ‘18 in Extemporaneous Speaking (EXT) and Pilar Valdes ‘19 in Special Occasion Speaking (SOS).

Emotions running high, Hession and Valdes qualified for state, the first state qualifiers since 2014.  

“Over the past four years I’ve been building up to that moment and finally advancing felt spectacular,” Hession said. “It’s such an amazing opportunity to speak on such a huge platform with so many professional judges.”   

Hession qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking (EXT), Valdes said. In this event, participants have 45 minutes to write a six-minute speech that answers a question based on current events.  Valdes qualified in the Special Occasion Occasion Speaking (SOS).  Participants write an eight-minute humorous speech at the beginning of the season that is targeted toward a specific audience, and given “in character”.

“I was holding my teammates hands waiting for the rankings to be announced and when I found out I was in the top three, which you needed to be in to qualify for state, I was so excited,” Valdes said. “I went on stage to get my award and looked out in the crowd and my team and coaches were all smiling and it just made me so happy to make them proud.”

Excitement from the advisor is similar to that of the students.

“The whole state series is a highlight [of the season] because the level of effort and commitment from that group of kids is a really cool experience, and I am so proud of them, even the ones who aren’t going to state because honestly this year we had such a strong group,” Advisor Kirsten Manthei said. “I would have not have been surprised if any of them had qualified.”

The state competition is held at the Peoria Civic Center on Feb. 16 and 17.