FREEPORT — After winning regionals, the Freeport High School speech team is prepping for sectionals. The team held their annual event "The Buzz" on Thursday to help get them ready.
At "The Buzz," 12 members of the team took to the stage to deliver the same speeches they would deliver at the regional competition, which was Saturday at Freeport High School.
Going up against 12 schools at regionals, the FHS speech team was declared the winner and are headed to the sectional competition this Saturday in Huntley.
“I have full confidence in this team, and we are a senior-dominated team. This has been four years in the making, and we are primed for state competition," said Justin Pasch, one of the speech team coaches.
With 36 members on the team, 12 will compete at sectionals. Tim Connors, one of the coaches, said the team will take all 14 winning categories to the sectional competition.
"We have had a good season with a bunch of hardworking kids who get up early each Saturday and really enjoy each other. Speech team changes their lives and they develop communication skills that will carry with them forever," Connors said.
"The Buzz" event has been held the past 15 years as a way to give the public a chance to see what the team is about.
“We created 'The Buzz' to give the students a chance to perform before a larger audience as we get ready for regionals,” Connors said. “It gives them an opportunity to tune up their skills, and it gives the coaching staff a last look as we take the road to state.”
Connors said he is proud of the performances given by each team member during the regular season in which they competed with suburban schools from the Chicago area.
Daniel Rials, a senior, said being part of the speech team has given him the confidence he needs to take the next step toward college and a professional career. At “The Buzz” he performed in the category of Original Declamation and Special Occasion Speaking. He will perform at sectionals and is hoping to make state finals.
“We have such a great team this year and I am proud to be with my peers as we get ready for sectionals, and hopefully state,” Rials said. “Being a part of speech team has helped me get out of my comfort zone in (a) small setting. It will definitely help me with college and future employers.”
Henry Connors, a junior, said, “Speech team is a small community. When you fail, you get back in the saddle and work toward the next week. Now we are in the finals and it feels great.”
These team members will compete at sectionals: Kya Eckert, Jeffry Apodaca, Farrah Sands, Daniel Rials, Elizabeth Julius, Katelynn McIlwain, Esther Xiang, Ellie Kurtz, Garrett McDonald, Brynn Schiffman, Henry Connors and Sara Heiden.
Jane Lethlean: jlethlean1210@gmail.com; @DOGWMN2