Speech earns second at Regionals; send 10 to Sectional Competition

Photo Courtesy of: Ms. Jacqueline Zeman

Community’s Speech team advanced 10 competitors in 11 events to the 2023 IHSA Sectional. Seniors Riya Prasade and Ciara Wallace look to repeat last season’s Sectional success and return to State.

Community’s Speech team proved their mettle at the IHSA Regional competition at Olympia High School on Feb. 4, taking second as team and sending 10 medalists to compete at this weekend’s Sectional.

Community finished team sweepstakes scoring with 56 points, trailing Regional Champions Normal U-High by 17.

Seniors Avani Rai and Riya Prasade led the team, each earning a first- and second-place finish in their two events.

Rai claimed first in Impromptu Speaking and second in Extemporaneous Speaking, while Riya Prasade took home first in Radio Speaking and second in Informative Speaking.

Ciara Wallace hopes to repeat last year’s Sectional success where she competed at State in Poetry; she took second in the event last Saturday.

Community saw second place finishes from Anushi Kiribamune (’25) in Oratorical Declamation, Ojas Shah (’24) in Original Oratory, Pranathi Ganti (’24) in Prose and Nikitha Philip (’25) in Special Occasion Speaking.

The sophomore/senior team of Laya Venkatasubramanian and Libby Price finished fourth in Dramatic Duet Acting.

Freshman Nihar Jagadeeswara Krishna placed fourth in Humorous Interpretation.

The team compete at the Belleville West Sectional tournament this weekend where each event’s top three competitors will advance to State.

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