Cascade Speech students embark on the next step - Nationals

    After scooping up an impressive second place in Dual Interpretation, at the state competition in Tacoma, speech competitors Kelsea Turner, senior, and Tagen Matthews, junior, aren't finished competing. The duo will travel to Omaha, Nebraska May 9 to compete in Nationals.
    "All of our Speech kids are wonderful people.  I am so proud of how hard they work and how encouraging they are of each other.  They are also very smart and fun to be around," said Mandi Wickline, speech and drama advisor.
    The pair, Turner and Matthews, are proof that practice makes perfect after three years of being dual partners and along with taking first in districts every year. At state, there are eight speech events which Cascade students are often drawn toward the interpretive events that are shelved to a ten minute limit.
    "People often assume that Speech and Debate is all about arguing. Our team focuses on the speech events, either performing scripted scenes or monologues, or writing their own persuasive or informational speeches," said Wickline.
    In the Dual Interpretation, there is a difficulty element wedged when competing with a partner like Turner and Matthews. With an array of character options, but eye contact and touch prohibited it can be a tricky art to master. The Nationals bound duo performed "Action News: Now with 10% More Action" where they morphed into the anchors along with the other characters incorporated in the faux newscast setting.
    "Our individual performers and dual teams work so hard to choose strong pieces that showcase their talents," said Wickline.   
    Despite being capped to a smaller population at Cascade High School, Wickline normally takes roughly 12 to 13 students to compete.
    "Anything above 10 students is considered a large team, which is pretty funny considering the schools we compete against," said Wickline. "It's also difficult to succeed at the state level because we are competing against a lot of private schools with strong academic teams. But we are beginning to show what a small public school with a strong Speech and Drama program can do."
 to show what a small public school with a strong Speech and Drama program can do."
    Although Cascade School District always boasts and celebrates their students achievements, they can't fund trips past state level. According to Wickline, Cascade Speech will be hosting car washes at Cashmere Valley Bank along with support from Faith Lutheran Church and local businesses like Munchen Haus and South. If anyone else is looking to contribute, please contact Mandi at itsamandi@gmail.com.