Bowling Green, Ky. - The Kentucky High School Speech League, Inc. hosted its Senior Division State Tournament March 24-26 on the campus of Western Kentucky University.

Fifty-two schools from around the Commonwealth competed at this year's State Tournament. The following high schools placed in Team Sweepstakes: first, Knott County Central; second, Danville; third, Graves County; fourth, Calloway County; fifth, Bethlehem; sixth, Assumption; seventh, Boone County; eighth, Paducah Tilghman; ninth, Hazard; 10th, Lafayette.

The following schools placed in Debate Sweepstakes: first, Boone County; second, North Oldham; third, Calloway County; fourth, Henry Clay; fifth, Scott County.

The Horizon Awards are given to schools with smaller entries that show excellence. The top five were: first, Kentucky Country Day; second, LaRue County; third, Paul Laurence Dunbar; fourth, Scott County; fifth, Trinity.

Individual awards were as follows:

Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate: state champion, Chelsea Darnell (Calloway County); second, Mike Lutz (Henry Clay); semifinalists, Derek McMahon (North Oldham), Harrison Holcomb (North Oldham); quarterfinalists, Jacob Krouse (Henry Clay); Brice Acree (LaRue County); Nathan Flethcher (North Oldham); Sierra Enlow (LaRue County).

Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate: co-state champions, Ali Robbins and Brian Huot (Boone County); semifinalists, Roman Terentiev (Henry Clay), Aubrey Chase (North Oldham); quarterfinalists, Ashley Winkler (Calloway County); Mike Sowell (North Oldham); Josh Hodges (Calloway County); Chris Vincent (Fern Creek Traditional).

Student Congress: state champion, Chad Reese (Scott County); second, David Stroup (Danville); third, Joe Gallenstein (Boone County); fourth, Spencer Greenhalgh (Boone County); fifth, Jared Ryker (Scott County); sixth, Mickey Raney (Boone County); seventh, Sebastian Pyrek (Danville); eighth, Matt Litsey (Daviess County).

Broadcasting: state champion, Tyler Medaris (Hazard); second, Elise Reed (Assumption); third, Lauren Fibel (Lafayette); fourth, Valerie Crowder (Calloway County); fifth, Michael Gossum (Graves County); sixth, Ryan Duke (Graves County).

Dramatic Interpretation: state champion, Seth Wiggins (Graves County); second, Dawn Schulz (Danville); third, Jarrod Portwood (Knott County Central); fourth, Alex Gayheart (Knott County Central); fifth, Katherine Nelson (Danville); sixth, Stacy Callahan (Knott County Central).

Duo Interpretation: state champions, Seth Brashear and Bria Stacy (Knott County Central); second, Mauricus Lofton and Dawn Schulz (Danville); third, Beth Amburgey and Jeremy Sparkman (Knott County Central); fourth, Tiffany Amburgey and Nick Smith (Knott County Central); fifth, Richie Foy and Candace Johnson (Graves County); sixth, Elise Reed and Kim Mahaffey (Assumption); seventh, Lauren Villanueva and Jenny Villanueva (Assumption).

Extemporaneous Speaking: state champion, Courtney Otto (Kentucky Country Day); second, Rebekah Allen (Bethlehem); third, Spencer Greenhalgh (Boone County); fourth, Chelsea Darnell (Calloway County); fifth, Kim Milburn (Danville); sixth, Ben Hodson (Knott County Central).

Humorous Interpretation: state champion, Nick Smith (Knott County Central); second, Bria Stacy (Knott County Central); third, Shy Underhill (Calloway County); fourth, Candace Johnson (Graves County); fifth, Luke Arterburn (Paducah Tilghman); sixth, Austin Tronzo (Bethlehem).

Impromptu Speaking: state champion, Chad Reese (Scott County); second, Rebekah Allen (Bethlehem); third, Brice Acree (LaRue County); fourth, David Stroup (Danville); fifth, Michael Randy (Boone County); sixth, Michelle Manni (Assumption).

Improvisational Duo: state champions, Ralph Morrison and Mason Scisco (Danville); second, Fan Zhou and Miles Hopgood (Paul Laurence Dunbar); third, Ilse Zoerb and Matt Brown (Franklin-Simpson); fourth, Vic Mazzone and Alex Seabrook (Paducah Tilghman); fifth, Jarrod Portwood and Nick Smith (Knott County Central); sixth, Audrey Blackburn and Christin Lavender (Pikeville).

Original Oratory: state champion, Elise Reed (Assumption); second, Ryan Brown (Rowan County); third, Prya Murad (Hazard); fourth, Christine Eklund (North Oldham); fifth, Tyler Medaris (Hazard); sixth, Fan Zhou (Paul Laurence Dunbar).

Poetry Interpretation: state champion, Ashley Litsey (LaRue County); second, P.J. Sexton (Knott County Central); third, Mauricus Lofton (Danville); fourth, Angel Veza (Central Hardin); fifth, Robert Weickel (Lafayette); sixth, Megan DeAraujo (Danville).

Prose Interpretation: state champion, Valerie Wink (Warren East); second, Alex Seabrook (Paducah Tilghman); third, P.J. Sexton (Knott County Central); fourth, Courtney Givens (Danville); fifth, Peter Drance (Boone County); sixth, Jeremy Sparkman (Knott County Central).

Solo Acting: state champion, Katie Nedvidek (Danville); second, Mason Scisco (Danville); third, Timmy Barron (Daviess County); fourth, Alex Seabrook (Paducah Tilghman); fifth, Fan Zhou (Paul Laurence Dunbar); sixth, Audrey Blackburn (Pikeville).

Storytelling: state champion, Bria Stacy (Knott County Central); second, Mauricus Lofton (Danville); third, Alex Gayheart (Knott County Central); fourth, Miles Hopgood (Paul Laurence Dunbar); fifth, Mark Fields (Hazard); sixth, Dustin Caudill (Campbell County).

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For information, contact Jace Lux at (270) 745-6340.

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