Speech team talks way into first

The Saratoga speech team took home first place at their first meet of the season at the Bobcat Invitation in Thermopolis Dec. 12. According to head coach Jacob Mickelsen, the Panther Talk Jocks had more points than even the top 3A teams. "We didn't just win the 2A category," Mickelsen said.

Mickelsen said the one-day, shorter meet was a good win to start off with. Roughly a dozen schools were in attendance, up through 3A competition. "We got some really good feedback at the Thermopolis tournament," Mickelsen said. "We have a lot of new people who haven't done it before ... so it's a lot of getting things dialed in for their pieces." Mickelsen said all the students are working on the "final spit and polish."

Mickelsen and assistant coach Kate Sherrod look forward to a promising season. "You could say we dominated," Sherrod said of the tournament. According to Mickelsen, all the students did exceptionally well, even some of the newer competitors. "We had a novice student at her very first tournament take second place," Mickelsen said.

All of the Saratoga debaters took first, Robin Gloss and Larissa Ford in public forum and Nina Ford won the Lincoln Douglas debate. Gloss also took first in extemporaneous speaking. "There was someone on the podium for every event," Mickelsen said. "Sometimes two."

Mickelsen and Sherrod said that one of the most important things for the students to practice is, of course, their speeches, debates, poetry and dramatic interpretation, but also "diction, diction, diction."

The team was supposed to head to Cheyenne last weekend, but because of weather was not able to make it to the meet. For a feat of memorization, timing and dramatic execution, having a longer holiday break may not be a bad thing. "We've added a few more pieces that probably won't be ready until January," Sherrod said, adding that the extra time will help the success of the speeches.

"The raw talent pool that we're working here is really pretty extraordinary," said Sherrod of this year's group, adding that many of the students get practice through community theater and school plays. Mickelsen added that many of the students have been doing this, in some format, their whole lives.

The students study hard for their work and school, with Mickelsen adding that many of the students will help one another with their homework in between helping with speeches. While the older speakers help the younger, newer ones, underclassmen quiz and drill each other on their memorization too.

"We've got a nice mix of brand new kids and experienced hot shots," Sherrod said. "The work effort that these kids show, I'd stack up against any physical athlete."

Raegan Cunningham: Duo Novice - Second Place (w/ Garrett Wallace)

Jacob Dickinson: Drama - Fourth Place, Oratory - Second Place, Student Congress - Third Place, Duo - Second Place (w/ Maya Zeiger)

Larissa Ford: Public Forum Debate - First Place (w/ Robin Gloss)

Nina Ford: Lincoln Douglas Debate - First Place

David Freeman: Student Congress - Fifth Place

Robin Gloss: Extemporaneous Speaking - First Place, Public Forum Debate - First Place (w/ Larissa Ford)

Milo Hunter: Extemporaneous Speaking - Sixth Place, Humor - Fourth Place

Gale Jackson: Humor - Second Place

Nina Jackson: Drama Novice - Sixth Place

Kieran Neville: Humor Novice - First Place

Claribel Oiler: Drama Novice - Second Place

Mariah Scharosch: Poetry - Third Place

Garrett Wallace: Duo Novice - Second Place (w/ Raegan Cunningham)

Maya Zeiger: Drama - Sixth Place, Duo - Second Place (w/ Jacob Dickinson)