2023/2024 Murray High School Speech Team
2023/2024 Tournament Schedule
November 18, 2023 Calloway County High School Speech Tournament
TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS - 1st Place Overall
BROADCASTING - 1st Place Marli Mehta; 3rd Place Ayamei Willett; 5th Place Aidan Wild
DECLAMATION - 1st Place Alexandria Nuwagaba; 3rd Place Ellie Klarer; 4th Place Gavin Gorman
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION - 2nd Place Olivia Watson; 3rd Place Xiomara Eugenio
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING - 1st Place Ayamei Willett; 2nd Place Aidan Wild; 5th Place Gavin Gorman
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION - 2nd Place Adeline Pitman; 6th Place Alexis Ray
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING - 2nd Place Marli Mehta
IMPROVISATIONAL DUO - 5th Place Alexis Ray/Olivia Watson
ORATORY - 1st Place Anastasia Arkova; 3rd Place Auni Hale
POETRY - 1st Place Payton Dawson; 2nd Place Anastasia Arkova
PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION - 1st Place Payton Dawson; 2nd Place Wednesday Roberts; 3rd Place Laney Like
PROSE - 1st Place Ellie Klarer; 2nd Place Wednesday Roberts; 3rd Place Bella Wilson
STORYTELLING - 1st Place Laney Like; 2nd Place Marli Mehta; 3rd Place Mira Kinsley
December 2, 2023 West Kentucky University Speech Tournament
SWEEPSTAKES - 1st Place
BROADCASTING - 2nd Place Marli Mehta; 4th Place Aidan Wild
DECLAMATION - 1st Place Ellie Klarer; 2nd Place Alexandria Nuwagaba; 4th Place Gavin Gorman; 5th Place Carrie Mills (MMS)
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION - 2nd Place Olivia Watson; 6th Place Ali Yarali
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING - 2nd Place Ayamei Willett; 3rd Place Aidan Wild; 4th Place Ali Yarali
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION - 2nd Place Alexis Ray; 5th Place - Adeline Pitman
IMPROVISATIONAL DUO - 3rd Place Mira Kinsley/Adeline Pitman; 6th Place Alexis Ray/Olivia Watson
ORATORY - 2nd Place Anastasia Arkova; 3rd Place Ava Podrovitz
POETRY - 1st Place Payton Dawson; 4th Place Anastasia Arkova; 7th Place Mira Kinsley
PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION - 2nd Place Payton Dawson; 5th Place Laney Like
PROSE - 2nd Place Ellie Klarer
STORYTELLING - 2nd Place Marli Mehta; 3rd Place Mira Kinsley; 4th Place Laney Like
December 9, 2023 South Oldham Speech Tournament
2nd Place Overall
BROADCASTING - 2nd Place Marli Mehta; 4th Place Aidan Wild
DECLAMATION - 3rd Place Alexandria Newagaba; 4th Place Ellie Klarer
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION - 4th Place Olivia Watson; 6th Place Ali Yarali; 7th Place Xiomara Eugenio
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING - 2nd Place Ali Yarali; 4th Place Aidan Wild
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING - 6th Period Marli Mehta
ORATORY - 4th Place Anastasia Arkova; 5th Place Aidan Wild
POETRY - 3rd Place Anastasia Arkova; 4th Place Payton Dawson; 5th Period Mira Kinsley
PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION - 5th Period Payton Dawson
PROSE - 3rd Place Ellie Klarer; 5th Place Bella Wilson; 7th Place Vanessa Oster
STORYTELLING - 6th Place Laney Like
January 27, 2024 Mark Etherton Invitational at Murray State University
2nd Place Overall
BROADCASTING - 1st Place Ayamei Willett
DECLAMATION - 1st Place Alexandria Nuwagaba; 2nd Place Ellie Klarer
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION - 5th Place Ali Yarali
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING - 2nd Place Ali Yarali; 5th Place Ayamei Willett
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION - 4th Place Adeline Pitman
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING - 2nd Place Ava Podrovitz; 4th Place Ali Yarali
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING - 3rd Place Alethea Irvin
ORATORY - 1st Place Anastasia Arkova; 2nd Place Ava Podrovitz; 4th Place Auni Hale
POETRY - 4th Place Anastasia Arkova; 5th Place Mira Kinsley
PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION - 5th Place Laney Like
PROSE - 1st Place Ellie Klarer
STORYTELLING - 3rd Place Laney Like; 4th Place Mira Kinsley
Raegan Settle
2023 Kentucky District Student of the Year
Raegan Settle - 2023 Kentucky District Student of the Year - From the NSDA website: “Each NSDA District has the opportunity to name a District Student of the Year. Coaches may nominate a graduating senior who best represents the tenets of the Association’s Code of Honor: humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service. Each year, the top students who win the district award are selected as finalists for the William Woods Tate, Jr., National Student of the Year award. Finalists interview with an esteemed panel, and the National Student of the Year is announced during the National Awards Assembly.” The Murray High Speech Team is so proud of Raegan and how well she represents our school, our community, and our Commonwealth!!!
2022/2023 Murray High School Speech Team
2022/2023 Tournament Schedule
November 5, 2022 Henry County High School Speech Tournament
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 1st - Raegan Settle 4th - Payton Dawson
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING 1st - Raegan Settle
IMPROV DUO 2nd - Gabriel Crass and AnnaBelle Mills 6th - Ali Khatib and Madi Vigil
POETRY 2nd - Bailey Derby
PROSE 1st - Wednesday Roberts 2nd - Bella Wilson
STORYTELLING 1st - Madi Vigil
December 10, 2022 South Oldham Invitational
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle 4th - Gabriel Crass
DECLAMATION 3rd - Anastasia Arkova
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 1st - Raegan Settle 2nd - Payton Dawson
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING 4th - Aidan Wild
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING 1st - Raegan Settle
IMPROVISATIONAL DUO 4th - Gabriel Crass and AnnaBelle Mills
PROSE 3rd - Wednesday Roberts
January 14, 2023 Paducah Tilghman Speech Tournament
OVERALL SWEEPSTAKES - 1ST PLACE
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle 3rd - Aidan Wild 5th - Gabriel Crass
DECLAMATION 1st - Wednesday Roberts 2nd - Anastasia Arkova
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 1st - Raegan Settle 2nd - Payton Dawson
DUO INTERPRETATION 1st - Aidan Wild and Payton Dawson 2nd - Marli Mehta and Madi Vigil
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING - 1st - Aidan Wild 2nd - Ali Khatib 6th - Alethea Irvin 7th - AliYarali
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION 2nd - Madi Vigil 5th - Selvam Antony
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING 2nd - Raegan Settle 5th - Marli Mehta
IMPROVISATIONAL DUO 2nd - Gabriel Crass and AnnaBelle Mills 5th - Selvam Antony and Ali Yarali
POETRY 1st - Payton Dawson 2nd - Bailey Derby 4th - Anastasia Arkova
PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION 2nd - Wednesday Roberts
PROSE 1st - Wednesday Roberts 2nd - ellie Klarer 5th - Bella Wilson
STORYTELLING 1st - Madi Vigil 2nd - Laney Like 5th - Ali Yarali 6th - Mira Kinsley
January 21, 2023 Calloway County High School Speech Tournament
OVERALL SWEEPTAKES - 1ST PLACE
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle 4th - Gabriel Crass 5th - Marli Mehta 6th - Aidan Wildon
DECLAMATION 1st - Wednesday Roberts 2nd - Anastasia Arkova 3rd - Madelyn Myers 4th - Collin Zellmer 7th - Alethea Irvan
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 1st - Raegan Settle 3rd - Payton Dawson 4th - Ellie Klarer
DUO INTERPRETATION 1st - Aidan Wild and Payton Dawson 2nd - Gabriel Crass and AnnaBelle Mills
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING 2nd - Aidan Wild 5th - Ali Khatib 6th - JaylynnVarneke
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION 5th - Bailey Derby
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING 1st - Raegan Settle 4th - Marli Mehta
IMPROVISATIONAL DUO 2nd - Gabriel Crass and AnnaBelle Mills
IMFORMATIVE SPEAKING 2nd - Will Church
ORATORY 1st - Amelie Johnson
POETRY 1st - Payton Dawson 2nd - Bailey Derby 3rd - Anastasia Arkova
PROGRAM ORAL INTERPRETATION 1st - Wednesday Roberts
PROSE 3rd - Wednesday Roberts 5th - Ellie Klarer
STORYTELLING 3rd - Mira Kinsley 4th - Laney Like
February 11, 2023 KHSSL Regionals
REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
BROADCASTING - Regional Champion - Raegan Settle
DECLAMATION - Regional Champion - Wednesday Roberts
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION - Regional Champion - Raegan Settle Runner-up - Ellie Klarer
DUO INTERPRETATION - Regional Champion - Payton Dawson/Aidan Wild Runner-up - Marli Mehta/Madi Vigil
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING - Runner-up - Ali Yararli
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING - Regional Champion - Raegan Settle
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING - Runner-up - Payton Dawson
ORATORY - Regional Champion - Marli Mehta
POETRY - Regional Champion - Payton Dawson
PROSE - Regional Champion - Wednesday Roberts
STORYTELLING - Runner-up - Madi Vigil
February 18-19, 2023 KESDA at Georgetown College
MURRAY HIGH SPEECH TEAM WINS AWARDS AT KESDA STATE TOURNAMENT
TEAM AWARDS
2nd place - Greynolds Small Team Sweepstakes
2nd place - Team Efficiency Award
5th place - OVERALL TEAM SWEEPSTAKES
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
BROADCASTING STATE CHAMPION - RAEGAN SETTLE
DECLAMATION 4th place - Anastasia Arkova
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION STATE CHAMPION - RAEGAN SETTLE
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING 3rd place - Raegan Settle
POETRY 6th place - Payton Dawson
SEMIFINALISTS - Anastasia Arkova
March 9-11, 2023 KHSSL State at NKU
BROADCASTING - Raegan Settle - STATE CHAMPION Marli Mehta - 4th
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION Raegan Settle - STATE CHAMPION
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING Raegan Settle - 4th
POETRY Payton Dawson - 5th
SEMIFINALISTS Gabriel Crass (Broadcasting, Improv Duo), Wednesday Roberts (Declamation), Aidan Wild (Duo Interp), Payton Dawson (Duo Interp), Ali Yarali (Extemp), and Madi Vigil (Storytelling)
QUARTERFINALISTS AnnaBelle Mills (Improv Duo and Impromptu), Gabriel Crass (Improv Duo), Selvam Antony (Improv Duo), Ali Yarali (Improv Duo), Wednesday Roberts (Prose), and Ellie Klarer (Prose)
Other team members contributing to the effort: Mira Kinsley, Laney Like, Bailey Derby, Madelyn Myers, Bella Wilson, Anastasia Arkova, Jaylynn Varneke, and William Church.
Also of note, Gabriel Crass was named the 2023 Blyton Book Award winner for his work in speech and debate in our community and the Commonwealth during his four years at Murray High School.
March 17-18, 2023 KYNSDA National Qualifier at Centre
MURRAY HIGH SPEECH TEAM QUALIFIES FOR NATIONALS
The Murray High Speech Team competed at the Kentucky Chapter of the National Speech and Debate Association District Tournament held at Centre College on Friday and Saturday. Two Murray High students qualified for national competition at the district tournament. Raegan Settle won first place in Dramatic Interpretation and will represent Kentucky in Phoenix. Aidan Wild qualified to compete at nationals in International Extemp.
Payton Dawson advanced to the final round of competition and placed sixth in Program Oral Interpretation.
Other students also competing for Murray High over the weekend were Anastasia Arkova, Gabriel Crass, and Wednesday Roberts.
The National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament will be held June 12-16 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Murray High Speech Team is coached by Michael Robinson.
March 24-25, 2023 KHSSL State Debate at Transylvania
May 26-29, 2023 NCFL Nationals in Louisville
June 10-17, 2023 NSDA Nationals - Phoenix, AZ
2022-2023 MHS Speech Team
2021/2022 Murray High School Speech Team
2021/2022 Tournament Schedule
October 23, 2021 Henry Clay Speech Tournament ONLINE
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle 2nd - Skylar Swalls
October 30, 2021 Ryle Speech Tournament ONLINE
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle
PROSE 3rd - Raegan Settle 5th Skylar Swalls
November 6, 2021 Krider Invitational Speech Tournament in Paris, TN
PROSE 1st - Raegan Settle 4th - Skylar Swalls
STORYTELLING 1st - Joshua Eaton
November 6, 2021 LaRue County Ruth Blair Invitational Tournament
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle 2nd - Sklyar Swalls
IMPROV DUO 2nd - Joshua Eaton and Wyatt Hampton
PROSE 6th - Raegan Settle
November 13, 2021 Murray MS & HS Speech Tournaments ONLINE
MURRAY HIGH SPEECH TEAM - 3RD PLACE
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle 2nd - Skylar Swalls 6th - Gabriel Crass
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING 3rd - William Imes
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING 4th - Evie Wathen
POETRY 7th - Bailey Derby PROSE 1st - Raegan Settle 3rd - Skylar Swalls
STORYTELLING 2nd - Joshua Eaton
November 20, 2021 Speech Tournament ONLINE
BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle
IMPROV DUO 5th - Joshua Eaton/Wyatt Hampton
INFORMATIVE 7th - Evie Wathen
STORYTELLING 1st - Joshua Eaton
December 4, 2021 Dragon Invitational Speech Tournament in Collierville, TN
MURRAY HIGH SPEECH TEAM won the tournament's Efficiency Award for strongest overall performance in ratio to number of entries.
DRAGON'S HOARD AWARD Caroline Koenig for strongest overall performance by an individual competitor
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 5th - Caroline Koenig 6th - AnnaBelle Mills
DUET IMPROV 1st - Caroline Koenig/Amanda Peiffer 3rd - Joshua Eaton/Wyatt Hampton
EXTEMP 1st - Wyatt Hampton
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION 1st - Amanda Peiffer 2nd - Sage Mize-Harper
IMPROMPTU 1st - Caroline Koenig 2nd - Joshua Eaton 3rd - Sage Mize-Harper
PROSE 2nd - Raegan Settle
STORY 1st - Madi Vigil 2nd - Joshua Eaton
TV BROADCASTING 1st - Raegan Settle
December 4, 2021 Boone County High School Invitation Speech Tournament
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 5th - Skylar Swalls 7th - AnnaBelle Mills (next out from finals)
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING 4th - William Imes
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION 3rd - Amanda Peiffer
INFORMATIVE SPEAKING 5th - Evie Wathen
PROSE 1st - Raegan Settle
STORYTELLING 1st - Joshua Eaton
December 11, 2021 WKU Speech Tournament ONLINE
MURRAY HIGH SPEECH TEAM - 3RD PLACE
BROADCASTING 1st - Skylar Swalls 2nd - Raegan Settle
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION 7th - Skylar Swalls
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING 1st - Sage Mize-Harper 3rd - Caroline Koenig 5th - Joshua Eaton
IMPROVISATIONAL DUO 2nd - Joshua Eaton/Wyatt Hampton 6th - Gabriel Crass/Tryp Fox
PROSE 4th - Raegan Settle
STORYTELLING 1st - Madison Vigil 3rd - Joshua Eaton
December 18, 2021 Rowan County Speech Tournament ONLINE
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