Holden Mohs

Staff Reporter

The Orono High School speech team has celebrated momentous success this year. They rose to the top quickly and, this year, they have become champions. OHS has had a speech team for many years, but has never won at such a high level.

“We [the Orono speech team] are truly a force to be reckoned with,” stated junior team member Joey Bacon.

Last year the team consisted of a mere 28 members, but this year it’s nearly doubled with an impressive 45 members and has been dominating competitions.

The team placed second in the Wright County conference meet and first at the Buffalo meet. “Orono speech has never experienced success like this,” explained junior Matt Smaron.

On top of that, the team has had the honor of celebrating individual awards. Among those winners are Erika Wichmann, Whitney Magnuson, Danica Andersen, David Cook, and  Ben Engler. Of those, both Magnuson  and Andersen placed first at the conference meet.

“I am vey pleased with the level of high competitiveness, intelligence, and class our team has shown,” stated team coach and language arts teacher Julie McMerty.

On Apr. 7, the members of the speech team held a showcase at the high school for friends and family to come see their talents.  This was a chance to have fun and “showcase” their skills as well as get in some good practice before sectionals.

Sectionals began Apr. 9 and the team is hoping for a good turnout, which would advance them to State.

If the team places in the top three teams at the Sectionals, they will be headed to State.

“We hope to have several students at the State tournament,” McMerty said.