Staff writer
Sixteen Hillsboro High School students recently qualified to compete against almost 300 other performers from 36 schools at 2A State Speech and Drama tournament Saturday at Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita.
Forensics coach Terry Bebermeyer said he is pleased with the team’s performance so far this year.
“We’ve been doing really well as team,” Bebermeyer said. “When we’ve taken a whole group to a meet we’ve pretty much won first, second, or third sweeps [most team points] for the most part.”
The Trojans placed third at the Central Kansas League, meet finishing behind Sterling and Pratt.
Bebermeyer said his seniors have been leading the team well and several underclassmen performed well.
“They’re all very busy students,” he said. “So many of them are involved in sports and other school activities but they haven’t neglected their forensics. They have been really on top of it. I think many of them have worked harder this year.”
Despite the hard work, some Trojans still battle nerves when it comes time for competition. He said some students have to go from playing very humorous parts to somewhat dramatic roles.
“Nerves are always going to play a part,” Bebermeyer said. “You always hear that forensics people are kind of weird because they talk at the walls. There is a variety of characters. I always tell the kids that they have to go some place and mentally focus and prepare to be that character.”
Senior Allison Gray will perform a humorous solo titled “Complete History of America, Abridged.” Lydia Kliewer will deliver a serious solo called “Scars.” Kalen Moss will perform an original oration called “War on Police?” and an informative speech titled “Opana.” SaRae Roberts will perform an original oration titled “Assault Weapons,” and Madi Sheppard will perform a humorous solo called “I Love Everybody”
Senior Reece Berens will give an informative speech titled “Secret Service.” He also qualified in improvised duet acting with (IDA) with Jon Hinerman, a junior who also will deliver an informative speech titled “3-D Printing.” Taytum Miller, a senior, will interpret a prose piece called “A Little Girl’s Terror.” She also qualified in IDA with her freshman partner, Jenna Hinerman.
Juniors Madi Sheppard and Savannah Unruh will perform prose selections. Sheppard will perform “The Basement” and Unruh will perform “Mrs. Sorkin.”
Sophomore Chloe Pankratz will interpret a poetry piece called “Stop Pretending” and prose selection titled “Sophie’s Choice.”
Freshmen Abigail Driggers and Tucker Moss will perform a duet acting pieces called “Sure Thing.”
Sophomores Shelby Johnson and Dylan Wiens will compete in IDA at festival. Johnson will also perform a prose piece called “The Hiding Place,” and freshman Orin Blecha will perform a dramatic prose “A Child Called It.”