4N6. The Forensics season is off to a great start! This past weekend the Valley Heights Forensics team traveled to Belleville for their first competition. The team executed very well with many receiving 1st place and or qualifying for State! Sophomore, Lawson Stryker explains, “I got first in Prose so I qualified for State Champs in that and also qualified for Festivals by getting fourth in informative speech. I have lots of room for improvement but it is rewarding knowing that I'm headed to state!”
You may wonder why someone chooses to put themselves, in most cases, an uncomfortable situation by performing or speaking in front of others but these students find joy in these magnificent learning opportunities and enjoy strengthening their public speaking and acting skills. Freshman, Dawson Vermetten states, “I think people should try forensics because it is a great way to break out of their shell and it also lets you improve on your public speaking skills without it being a grade. There are endless opportunities to pick from, making forensics so much more exciting because you do not have to do the same piece at every meet!”
The forensics team will be very busy these until May traveling for a meet almost every weekend! Their next meet will be February 3 at Nemaha Central in Seneca.
The Forensic team took fourth at the Republic County Meet all together. Audra Steinfort and Liam Shill took 1st in IDA and Harmony and Dino Conti took 2nd. Both groups qualified for State Champs in May. In addition, qualifying for Champs and winning 1st in prose, was Lawson Stryker who also got 4th in informative speech. Finally, Harmony got 6th in Solo Serious and Dino 6th in Solo Humorous.
Article By: Mia Vermetten