January 13, 2025
Features | Herald-News
Features

Joliet West speech team wins 4th consecutive conference championship

By The Herald

Front row from left: Gabriela Reyes, Diamond Reaves, Kiera Posteluk, Alexis Wajda, Anna Polacek, Tiffany Trizna, Zinnia Manning, Lilia Villaflor, Kailey Staniszewski, Maddison Wascom Middle row from left: niya Davis, Araceli Sotelo, Marlie Potocki, Jemma Newby, Tabitha Barowsky, Teresa Hudgens, Julianna Byrne, Katie Munson, Kennedy Dorris, Molly White, Hadia Masood, Amaris Gamez, Julia Slowakiewicz, Crismali Garcia Back row from left: Erika Balbuena, Coach Galli, Maya Dittert, Jarrin Griggs, Coach Blake, Mason Schlegel, Xavier Long, Isabelle Zingsheim, Savion Long, Hank Eichstaedt, Hannah Nordquist, Gabriel Finks, Benji Cappel, Sela Viamonte, Megan Krok, Hannah Finks (Photo provided)

The Joliet West Speech Team won its fourth consecutive conference championship title on Jan. 25 at the Southwest Prairie Conference tournament hosted at Joliet Central High School.

The team advanced 27 out of 28 entries to the final round of competition. Joliet West also had eight individual event champions and seven runners up.

The following students were individual event champions: Alexis Wajda, original oratory; Anna Polacek, impromptu speaking; Kiera Posteluk and Diamond Reaves, dramatic duet acting; Hannah Nordquist, extemporaneous speaking; Anna Polacek, special occasion speaking; Diamond Reaves, prose reading; Kennedy Dorris, poetry reading; and Tiffany Trizna, radio speaking.

The following students were individual event runner ups: Aniya Davis, original comedy; Julianna Byrne, special occasion speaking; Kailey Staniszewski, impromptu speaking; Katie Munson, original oratory; Kiera Posteluk, dramatic interpretation; Lilia Villaflor, prose reading; and Molly White, informative speaking.

Thus far this season the team has had three team tournament championships, one second place win, and three third place team trophies.

The Joliet West Speech Team is coached by Kristin Blake, with assistant coach, AJ Galli. Joliet West Speech includes the following members: Erika Balbuena (DDA), Tabitha Barowsky (OO), Julianna Byrne (DEC/SOS), Benji Cappel (HDA), Aniya Davis (DI/OC), Maya Dittert (PR), Kennedy Dorris (PO), Hank Eichstaedt (ES/SOS), Gabriel Finks (HDA), Hannah Finks (RS), Amaris Gamez (HDA), Crismali Garcia (DDA), Jarrin Griggs (DEC), Teresa Hudgens (ES/INF), Megan Krok (INF), Savion Long (HDA), Xavier Long (HDA), Zinnia Manning (HI), Hadia Masood (HDA/HI), Katie Munson (OO/PO), Jemma Newby (DEC), Hannah Nordquist (ES), Anna Polacek (IMP/SOS), Kiera Posteluk (DDA/DI), Marlie Potocki (ES), Diamond Reaves (DDA/PR), Gabriela Reyes (DDA), Gianna Ronchetti (PO), Mason Schlegel (OC), Araceli Sotelo (PR), Sara Spreitzer (RS), Kailey Staniszewski (IMP), Julia Slowakiewicz (HI), Angelina Tijan (DI), Tiffany Trizna (RS), Sela Viamonte (IMP), Lilia Villaflor (PR), Alexis Wajda (OO), Maddison Wascom (DDA), Molly White (INF) and Isabelle Zingsheim (OC).

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