Two Southland College Prep Speech Team Seniors Make IHSA Finals

RICHTON PARK, IL. — Two Southland College Prep Speech Team seniors earned medals at the Feb. 13 Illinois High School Association Sectional Tournament, and will be competing in the state finals on Friday and Saturday, according to the school.

Senior Nyah Ware placed first in Impromptu Speaking and third in Special Occasion Speaking at the IHSA Sectional Speech Tournament. Her teammate, Bri’Yon Watts, placed second in the tournament’s Dramatic Interpretation event. Both students are now advancing to the IHSA State Finals which will take place in Peoria.

"These two Southland College Prep speech team members have had an extraordinarily successful 2020-21 season," said Cheryl Frazier, head speech coach.

Watts earned a total of 22 first place medals in Dramatic Duet Interpretation and Poetry Reading, including being the champion of both events in the IHSA Regional tournament, the coach said. Ware took first place in ten Impromptu Speaking, Prose Reading and Special Occasion Speaking events to date this season, Frazier added.

"High school speech competition is a wonderful pursuit. It teaches students to organize, to analyze and to be confident speaking in public," said Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, CEO. "The communications skills these young people are learning will stand them in good stead in their professional and personal lives in years to come."