In the debate tournament, Danville won for the first time with three of the top six placings in congressional debate and additional honors in public forum. Larry J. Ryle High and Lexington Henry Clay placed behind the Admirals to take second and third in school placings overall.
DHS took home state champion honors in four events. Dylan Crow and Nate Johnson took home the state title in improvisational duo while the duo interpretation team of Sarabeth Marlowe and John Thompson also won first. Also winning state titles were Johnson in congressional debate and first-year senior Waylon Duff in storytelling.
Additional state finalists include: Marc Manheim, sixth in broadcasting; Joe Weston, fourth in congressional debate, fifth in extemporaneous speaking and fourth in impromptu speaking; Jono Beto, sixth in congressional debate; Madeline Salinas, fourth in declamation; Sarabeth Marlowe and Drew Lane, second and fourth respectively in dramatic interpretation; Isabelle Ballard and Dylan Crow, fifth in duo interpretation; Drew Lane, fourth in humorous interpretation; John Thompson and Wright Williams, second in improvisational duo; Andrew McKinney, second in oratory; Nate Johnson, third in oratory; Isabelle Ballard, fifth in prose; Laurel Payne, fifth in storytelling.
Danville students who made it past the preliminary rounds into the top 18 in their events were: Mary-Scott Bugg and Andrew McKinney in congressional debate; Sue Cook and Emma Jackson in declamation; Kolton Winfield in dramatic interpretation; Jack Graham and Tyler Whitehouse in duo interpretation; Jono Beto in extemporaneous speaking; Jack Graham in humorous interpretation; Jono Beto and Nate Johnson in impromptu speaking; Madeline Salinas in oratory; Wright Williams in storytelling.
The Ads will conclude their regular season with a performance 7 p.m. Tuesday in Gravely Hall. Several of the state winners will perform. DHS will resume competition in late May and mid-June with students who earned spots in the two national tournaments earlier this month.
The Speaking Ads are coached by Head Coach Steve Meadows; assistants Christel Belcher, Beth Marlowe, Logan Scisco and Terri Branson; recent graduates Maggie Tirey, McKay Nelson, Jared Rehberg, Ali Gautier, Olivia Allen and Jamie Mohan; and honorary coach James Murphy.
