PTHS Speech Students Earn Regional Championship

Grace Raber, Paducah Tilghman sophomore, earned the regional championship title in Prose Interpretation at the 2017 KHSSL Murray Regional Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 4. Points earned from her win advanced her to a National Speech and Debate Association Degree of Excellence.
 
Five additional team members earned podium finishes at the tournament, placing them among the top six competitors in the region.
 
Senior captain John Holtgrewe earned a 4th place overall designation in Extemporaneous Speaking. Sophomore teammate Addie Rogers captured the 5th place overall win in the same competition category. Points earned from her win advanced Rogers to her NSDA Degree of Excellence.
 
Freshman Kate Criner was named 4th overall in the region in Prose Interpretation. Criner advanced to a National Speech and Debate Association Degree of Honor
 
Earning 5th place overall wins were senior Nina Brown, Dramatic Interpretation, and freshman Travis Trimble, Broadcast Announcing.
 
Senior Reagan Davidson earned her NSDA Degree of Distinction at the regional competition. She also earned two top-three rankings in preliminary rounds (2nd, Impromptu Speaking; 3rd, Storytelling).
 
Additional teammates claimed top three rankings in preliminary rounds: Brown (3rd, Duo Improv), junior Ella Bailey (2nd, Humorous Interpretation; 3rd, Duo Improv), junior Anna Shelton (2nd, Storytelling), Rogers (3rd, Impromptu Speaking; 3rd, Informative Speaking), sophomore James Smiley (3rd, Prose), Raber (2nd, Poetry; 2nd, Original Oratory), freshman Julie Mohs (3rd, Declamation), and Criner (3rd, Dramatic Interpretation).
 
Also earning points for the team at the regional competition were junior Emery Wainscott and freshmen Shioneka Farr, Joseph Gillituk, and Sammy Lambert. Farr earned her NSDA Degree of Merit for points earned at the competition.
 
Tilghman’s Speech Team earned 28 berths in the Kentucky High School Speech League’s State Tournament in March at the University of Kentucky.
 
The team is coached by Tony Cardon.