Eisenhower wins South Suburban Conference speech tournament

Time and again over the last several years, the Eisenhower High School speech team has set new standards of excellence.

Under the leadership of varsity head coach Mark Urban and the outstanding assistant coaches, the Cardinals started winning individual awards. Coaches recruited more and more students to the program and soon the team started winning.

Cardinal speech team won their first tournament three seasons ago -- soon, the program started producing more state qualifiers.

Last year, Akire Hawkins brought home Eisenhower's first state championship. And on Wednesday night
the varsity speech team won its first South Suburban Conference championship.

It's no small feat: Eisenhower competes in one of the state's best conferences (D218 rivals Richards and Shepard consistently send large groups to state, while Oak Lawn and Reavis have won state championships in speech, Group Interpretation, and Contest Play.)

Highlights at the SSC tournament for Eisenhower included:
Champions
Dinah Clottey & Halle Clottey,Dramatic Duet Acting
Alexcia Lira, Poetry Reading
Lori Ritos, Impromptu Speaking

Second place
Destiny Patino, Humorous Interpretation
Alejandra Acosta, Extemp Speaking
Alejandra Acosta, Original Oratory

Third place
Alexis Trubitt, Original Comedy

Fourth place
Destiny Patino, Dramatic Interpretation
Britany Robinson, Radio Speaking
Brianna Ramirez, Prose Reading
Brianna Ramirez & Travaris Hudson, Humorous Duet Acting
Halle Clottey, Poetry Reading

Fifth place
Dinah Clottey, Oratorical Declamation
Travaris Hudson, Humorous Interpretation
Areiana Richards, Special Occasion Speaking

Sixth place
Erika Contreras, Informative Speaking