December 6, 2007

Twelve members of the Hood River Valley High School speech team traveled to Clackamas High School for the Holiday Edge Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 1.

They were joined by 33 speech teams from around the state, competing in four debate events, 13 speech events and student congress.

“Usually we have 20 or more competitors at the Holiday Edge,” team captain Marcus Fridley noted, “but many of our members had other commitments, like the Spectrum concert or SAT testing.”

“In addition, winter weather kept four of our most experienced speakers at home,” assistant coach Kathryn Yasui acknowledged, “but the team had a great showing: We had a fourth place; two third places; a second place and a first place! Clackamas is a big tournament in terms of the numbers of competitors and events, so we felt we did very well.”

Claire Smith, at her first tournament this season — you might have enjoyed her role as a Snake in the recent Hood River Valley High School production of “Children of Eden” — placed fourth in Poetry Reading.

Marcus Fridley, team captain, placed third in the open division with his After Dinner Speech, “Tech Support.”

Lucas Ropek placed third in a very tough division in Prose Reading.

Philip Winkle, a freshman competing in his first-ever speech tournament in the junior division of After Dinner Speaking, earned second place in that event.

Dena Beals, competing in her second speech tournament, took home first place in Dramatic Interpretation of Literature.

“Judges are really impressed with the poise and confidence Hood River competitors bring with them,” Yasui remarked. “Eleven of the 12 team members competing today have less than two years of competitive experience. Philip and Dena have three tournaments between them!”

Only one debate team, the successful duo of Tyler Colesar and Patrick Sadil, competed, winning two of their four debates on the day. (The last press release incorrectly reported their record at the Silverton Triple Debate: The pair won three out of four rounds at Silverton, placing second in the tournament.)

Speech team members travel to Westview on Friday and Saturday of this week to compete in the Westview Invitational, before resting out the remainder of 2007.