LT Speech Team ready for regionals

The Lyons Township High School Speech Team finished up its regular season with their third 1st place trophy. The team has had its most successful season in recent history and coaches are optimistic about their chances in next week’s Regional competition.

At the Waubonsie “The Reel Thing” January 17 tournament, LT won a total of 18 medals, including four 1st place awards and a 1st place team trophy. LT beat out 2nd place Richards High School by 15 points.

Deirdre Sheldon - 1st: Dramatic Duet Acting -Senior, Western Springs
Tim O’Malley - 1st: Dramatic Duet Acting - Sophomore, Indian Head Park
Deirdre Sheldon - 1st: Original Comedy - Senior, Western Springs
Gita Golonzka - 1st: Original Oratory -Junior, LaGrange Park
Nick Fuentes - 1st: Extemporaneous Speaking - Junior, LaGrange Park
Riley Carroll - 2nd: Dramatic Interpretation - Senior, LaGrange
Steven Vogel - 2nd: Special Occasion Speaking - Senior, Western Springs
Billie Schaub - 3rd: Dramatic Interpretation - Senior, LaGrange
Julia Staiano - 4th: Prose Reading - Junior, Western Springs
Katie Westrick - 4th: Humorous Interpretation - Sophomore, LaGrange
Melissa Fuentes - 4th: Informative Speaking -Junior, LaGrange Park
Shanti Peterson - 4th: Poetry Reading - Sophomore, LaGrange
Anna Mlynski - 5th: Informative Speaking -Junior, LaGrange
Killian LeClainche - 5th: Impromptu Speaking -Junior, Brookfield
Colleen Fogarty- 6th: Oratorical Declamation - Junior, LaGrange
Danny Kilrea - 6th: Impromptu Speaking - Freshman, LaGrange Park
Hope Chamberlin - 6th:Humorous Interpretation - Freshman, Western Springs
Sean Thomas - Finalist: Oratorical Declamation - Junior, Western Springs
Sarah O’Malley - Finalist: Oratorical Declamation - Sophomore, LaGrange


Last weekend was the last regular season tournament before the State series in February. LT participated in a 31-school tournament at Bolingbrook’s “Tournament of Dreams.” LT’s Speech Team finished with medals in 20 events and won their third 1st place trophy of the season. LT edged out Lemont High School by 27 points for the tournament win.

Deirdre Sheldon - 1st:Dramatic Duet Acting -Senior, Western Springs
Tim O’Malley - 1st: Dramatic Duet Acting -Sophomore, Indian Head Park
Nick Fuentes - 1st: Extemporaneous Speaking - Junior, LaGrange Park
Billie Schaub - 2nd: Dramatic Interpretation - Senior, LaGrange
Melissa Fuentes - 3rd: Informative Speaking - Junior, LaGrange Park
Joe Madden - 4th: Radio Speaking - Senior, LaGrange
Katie Westrick - 4th: Prose Reading - Sophomore, LaGrange
Ryan Byrne - 4th:Humorous Interpretation - Junior, Western Springs
Tim O’Malley - 4th: Dramatic Interpretation - Sophomore, Indian Head Park
Anna Mylnski - 5th: Informative Speaking - Junior, LaGrange
Riley Carroll - 5th: Dramatic Interpretation -Senior, LaGrange
Sean Thomas - 5th: Oratorical Declamation - Junior, Western Springs
Colleen Fogarty - 6th: Dramatic Duet Acting - Junior, LaGrange
Grace Stewart - 6th: Dramatic Duet Acting - Junior, LaGrange
Jacob Collier - Finalist: Impromptu Speaking - Junior, Burr Ridge
Katie Westrick - Finalist: Humorous Interpretation - Sophomore, LaGrange
Steven Vogel - 2nd: Special Occasion Speaking - Senior, Western Springs
Emily Bielski - 3rd: Oratorical Declamation - Junior, Western Springs
Julia Staiano - 3rd: Prose Reading - Junior, Western Springs
Paige Dore - 4th: Informative Speaking - Senior, Western Springs
Julia Staiano - 5th: Dramatic Duet Acting - Junior, Western Springs
Riley Carroll - 5th: Dramatic Duet Acting - Senior, LaGrange
Deirdre Sheldon - 6th: Original Comedy - Senior, Western Springs

According to Speech Team sponsor Kirsten Manthei, “The coaches have very high hopes for the next few weeks as we have some very strong individual events. The team feels prepared for competition and is hoping to perform well at Regionals.”