The 12-member Homewood-Flossmoor High School speech team is moving closer to state honors after sweeping the competition and winning the title of regional champions at the Feb. 7 Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Regional Tournament.
The team garnered the most points after performing in 14 categories, and each H-F student advanced to the final round competition on Saturday, Feb. 14. Winners from that event will compete for top honors at the IHSA State Tournament in Peoria Feb. 20 and 21.
IHSA honors were awarded to:
- Daj’za Mitchell & Marlene Slaughter – 1st Place: Dramatic Duet Acting
- Edwyn Mitchell – 1st Place: Original Oratory
- Daj’za Mitchell – 1st Place: Poetry Reading
- Mikey Ruiz – 1st Place: Radio Speaking
- Aliaa Eldabli – 2nd Place: Prose Reading
- Kennedy Davis – 2nd Place: Extemporaneous Speaking
- Andre Thomas – 2nd Place: Informative Speaking
- Andre Thomas & Gianmarco Petrelli – 2nd Place Humorous Duet Acting
- Marlene Slaughter – 3rd Place Humorous Interpretation
- DeJanee Callahan – 3rd Place Impromptu Speaking
- Taylor Wicks – 3rd Place: Special Occasion Speaking & 4th Place: Original
Comedy
- Jabari Khaliq – 4th Place: Dramatic Interpretation
- Maya Nakamura – 4th Place Oratorical Declamation
and
- Performance in the Round Cast – 3rd Place
The team is supported by H-F teachers who serve as coaches: Janine Stroemer, head coach, with Aaron Sciford, Brie Hornback, Dawn Edwards, Jamie Gill, Matt Gallagher, Shelly Fields, Steve Guillermo and Warren Sampson.