Southwest Speech Team Places Third at State

The+team+poses+for+a+picture+after+awards.+Southwest+speech+team+competes+at+State+in+Kearney.+

Photo courtesy of Matthew Heimes

The team poses for a picture after awards. Southwest speech team competes at State in Kearney.

Lillian Bittle, Writer

 

The Southwest speech team competed in Kearney for State Speech on Wednesday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. The team had three people place in their events: senior Amani Al-Hamedi placed first in Entertainment and second in Oratory, senior Amelia Schwensen placed second in Extemporaneous and fifth in Oratory and senior Madison Ramey placed first in Serious Prose. 

 

“It was a big high school goal of mine to win State Champion,” Al-Hamedi said. “It was a very good closing to high school speech.”

 

Prior to State, Southwest had 16 students qualify at Districts: Madison Ramey, Amelia Schwensen, Amani Al-Hamedi, Kevin Amaro, Jackson Waller, Natasja Swanson, Jordyn Davis, Lillian Bittle, Brooklyn Bruggeman, Matthew Killham, Jack McCormick, Kenzie Mattox, Joanita Mensah, Linh Ha, Isabella Skare and Alexa Schell.

 

“The best part about speech is meeting new people and listening to their stories,” Ramey said. “It’s a really good way to learn more about the world.” 

 

The Southwest speech team will also send four seniors to Nationals from June 11-18 in Louisville, KY, Amaro, competing in Humorous Interpretation, Ramey, competing in Serious Prose, Al-Hamedi, competing in Oratory and Schwensen, competing in Extemporaneous Speaking and Oratory.