Paris, Tenn.–The Henry County Middle School Speech Team withstood the heat in Phoenix June 12-16 and placed several of their students in the final rounds at the National Speech & Debate Association’s National Middle School Tournament this summer.
The team took eight students to the national contest which featured over 600 students from 150 schools across the U.S. and around the world competing in various acting and public speaking events over the course of three long days.
HCMS had four students make the final rounds of competition during the week. Timothy Tyler from Lakewood placed 19th and Maple Townsend from Harrelson placed 13th in the nation in Declamation. Lane Snow from Lakewood placed 11th in the nation in Program of Oral Interpretation and Joshua Lancaster from Henry School placed 2nd in the nation, out of 53 entries, in Dramatic Interpretation. This marks the first National Runner-Up and the highest placement for a student the team has seen at NSDA in its 10 year history of attending the tournament.
Joshua was the top seeded Dramatic Interpretation performer going into the final round. Other students contributing to the team’s effort at nationals were Natalie Briley, Jacob Hobson and Anna Jo Wardlaw, all of Lakewood School.
The students are coached by David Weatherly, who will also be taking over the role of high school coach from Mrs. Linda Miller at Henry County High School this fall.
Photo by David Weatherly.