MHS students excel at speech and drama

On March 27 and 28, students from Maryville High School Competed in the Tennessee High School Speech and Drama League (THSSDL) District IV Tournament, held at Heritage High School. The MHS Forensic Team came in 2nd, with six individual first-place winners and 21 students receiving trophies. Nineteen students qualified to advance to the State THSSDL Tournament in Nashville on April 24 and 25, hosted by St. Cecelia Academy and Independence High School. The Maryville High School results for the District IV tournament are as follows:

Impromptu Speech: first place, John Schmidt

Poetry: first place, Chris Jones; fifth place, Jenny Wu

Original Oratory: first place, Dallas (Chip) Woods

TV Broadcasting: first place, Jonathan Hair

Storytelling: first place, Shane Redman; second place, Raine Palmer

Humorous Interpretation: first place, Tim Weal; second place, Lauren Freeman

Duet Acting: second place, Mark Wadham and Anna Henry; fourth place, Casey Johnson and Emily Isaacs; sixth place, Libby Weitnauer and Emily Shepherd

Extemporaneous Speech: second place, Loren Long

After Dinner Speech: fourth place, Patrick Quinn

Pantomime: fourth place, Jordan Young

Duo Interpretation: fourth place, Candice Huffstetler and Charley Hurley

Dramatic Interpretation: fourth place, Rachel Evans

Hannah Harper also competed at state in Technical Theatre: Costume Design.

At the State THSSDL competition, the MHS Forensic Team took home four individual trophies, including Sophomore John Schmidt’s for 1st place and State Champion in Impromptu Speech.

Also placing were:

Jordan Young (Junior): 4th place, Pantomime

Chris Jones (Sophomore): 6th place, Poetry Interpretation

Shane Redman (Freshman): 6th place, Storytelling

The MHS Forensic Team is coached by drama instructor Leslie Capozzoli, who has been a member of the THSSDL for 16 years.