Orono speech team racks up accolades

Team captain Madeleine Dore earned All-Conference Honors in two categories, Creative Expression and Humorous Interpretation; while McKenna Monger and Ruby Gehman were honored in Dramatic Interpretation; Simon Forbes and Sebastian Pikula in Discussion; Maya Haugen in Storytelling; Sophie Middleton in Prose; and captain Sydney Sloneker in Original Oratory.

Earning Honorable Mentions were captain Addie Stavitzski and Oliver Berg in Creative Expression and Axel Duke in Drama.

Head coach Barb Shofner announced the honors and revealed the Conference Trophy at the recent Orono Speech Showcase. She commended the Speech Team, their parents, and their coaches for the outstanding 2024 season.

SECTIONS

The Orono High School Speech Team competed in the MSHSL 2AA Section tournament, where five Orono speakers qualified for State.

Three Orono students were crowned Section Champions: Madeleine Dore in Creative Expression, McKenna Monger in Dramatic Interpretation, and Maya Haugen in Storytelling.

Also qualifying for State were junior Sydney Sloneker who placed 2nd in Original Oratory and 7th grader Oliver Berg who placed 3rd in Creative Expression.

Other members of the team who broke to Finals at Sections were Addie Stavitzski who placed 4th in Creative Expression, Ruby Gehrman who placed 4th in Dramatic Interpretation, Harrison Stenback who placed 5th in Prose Interpretation, and Hannah Stegemann who went to Finals in Discussion.