Downers Grove South won five out of 15 events to claim the Illinois High School Association Speech State title in convincing fashion Saturday in Peoria.
It’s the eighth time in the past nine years and 16th time overall that the Mustangs took the state title and they dominated with 41 points. Downers Grove North tied Oak Lawn for second place with 20 points each. Hinsdale Central took fourth, Wheaton North fifth, Neuqua Valley seventh, Shepard tied for eighth and Wheaton Warrenville South took 10th.
DG South champions were Billy Chengary and Erin Walsh (dramatic duet acting), Dan Leahy and Walsh (humorous duet acting), Dhara Puvar (informative speaking), Walsh (oratorical declamation) and Colleen Derosa (prose reading).
Other area champions included York’s Sarah King in original oratory and Shepard’s Glorielle Williams in poetry reading.
Other top-six finishers from the area:
Dramatic duet acting
Dan Cassin-Gen Carter (Hinsdale Central, second), Julia Rabin-Kelsey Sante (Neuqua Valley, third), Jessia Kreidler-Josh Arshonsky (Prospect, fifth) and Amy Quinlan-Kelly Garner (Shepard, sixth).
Dramatic interpretation
Sante (Neuqua Valley, second) and Onute Jureviciute (Shepard, sixth).
Extemporaneous speaking
Emily Temple-Wood (Downers Grove North, second), Samuel Niiro (Wheaton Warrenville South, third) and Tom Forrest (Schaumburg, sixth).
Humorous duet acting
Dani Mulhearn-David Solberg (Wheaton Warrenville South, third) and Andy Krupin-Murtaza Kapasi (Downers Grove North, fifth).
Humorous interpretation
Michelle McCarthy (Downers Grove South, second), Samm Hilger (Shepard, third) and Rahul Jacob (Sandburg, fifth).
Impromptu speaking
Gen Carter (Hinsdale Central, second), Alex Buckley (Downers Grove North, third), Niiro (Wheaton Warrenville South, fourth), Dennis Lynch (Marist, fifth).
Informative speaking
Lauren Brouwers (Sandburg, third), Renata Wettermann (Fremd, fifth) and Hamsini Rao (Glenbard West, sixth).
Oratorical declamation
Phillip McClure (Wheaton North, second), Ellie Wyant (Glenbard West, fifth) and Katelin Coronado (Cary-Grove, sixth).
Original comedy
Michelle McCarthy (Downers Grove South, third), Michael Maley (Buffalo Grove, fourth), Danny Gonzalez (Wheaton North, fifth) and Hilger (Shepard, sixth).
Original oratory
McClure (Wheaton North, third), Meera Nathan (Naperville Central, fourth), Sarah Batchu (Downers Grove North, fifth) and Maggie Nannenhorn (Glenbard West).
Performance in the round
Wheaton Warrenville South (second) and Downers Grove South (fourth).
Poetry reading
Ellie Wyant (Glenbard West, second), Jena Sugay (Hinsdale Central, third) and Jacqueline Dunderdale (Prospect, fourth).
Prose reading
Laura Nelson (Hinsdale Central, third) and Lauren Rasch (Sandburg, fourth).
Radio speaking
Andy Krupin (Downers Grove North, second), Denielle Zarbin (Oak Park-River Forest, third), Jessica Stroner (Wheaton North, fourth) and Lillie Kase (Downers Grove South, fifth).
Special occasion speaking
Kaveri Sharma (Neuqua Valley, second), Tim Krentz (Wheaton North, fourth) and Heather Johansen (Downers Grove North, sixth).
