One Last Full Team Run-Through

Last week, the Riverdale Speaking Rams had their Top of State Tournament in Rockford, IL. This was their last regular season tournament for the whole team, the next few weeks will be for the regional team. All 22 of the rams competed this week, with 35 total entries in the 14 events. There were many novice finalists, next-in finalists and varsity finalists. The Novice Finalists were Emery Walston, 5th place in Impromptu Speaking, Ruthie Lessman, 4th place in Impromptu Speaking, Braden Body placed 2nd in Extemporaneous Speaking, Lillian Bitler placed 3rd in Humorous Interpretation, and then Amelia Rasmussen and Macy Gitchel placing 1st in Humours Duet Acting. 

There were many of our Rams that also placed in next-in and varsity finals. Your Next-in finalists were Micheal Kelley placing 7th in Poetry, Aubrey McGinity placing 6th in Poetry, and she also placed 4th in Informative Speaking. Ruby McClaine made 2 final events in Next-in for Dramatic Interpretation and Oratorical Declamation both placing 5th in those categories. Amanda Shadrick placed 4th in Original Oratory, Brenna Montgomery placed 4th in Prose Speaking, Yashvi Patel placed 2nd in Radio Speaking, and then Shelby Hohenadel placed 1st in Poetry. Many of the rams broke 2 events in either Next-in and Varsity Finals! The varsity finalists were Trey Stoddard placing 8th in Impromptu Speaking and 1st in Radio Speaking. Bella Baltisberger placed 5th in Dramatic Interpretation, Carter Orr placed 5th in Extemporaneous Speaking, Alice Schmidt and Miraya Patel placed 5th in Humorous Duet Acting, Ruthie Leesman placed 3rd in Radio Speaking, Yashvi Patel placed 3rd in Special Occasion Speaking, Caroline Kreiter and Caitlin Mumma placed 2nd in Humorous Duet Acting, Caroline Kreiter also placed 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation, Micheal Kelley then placed 2nd in Humorous Interpretation, Claire Arnold and Bella Baltisberger placed 1st in Dramatic Duet Acting, Claire Arnold also placed 1st place in Prose, Carter Orr placed first in Impromptu Speaking and then, Micheal Kelley placed 1st in Original Comedy. The team finished 4th out of 15 schools, they are doing an excellent job this year and are ready to keep it going at Regionals in Sterling, Illinois.

By: Amelia Rasmussen