Danville High School placed first of twenty-six schools from nine states at the Western Kentucky University Hilltopper Speech Tournament on Saturday, Dec. 9. The victory was especially sweet after three consecutive years of being that tournament’s runner-up. Bardstown Bethlehem was a close second with 114 points behind Danville’s 120; Rowan County was third, Ravenwood (TN) fourth, and Huntington (WV) fifth.

Twelve DHS entries advanced through three large preliminary rounds to compete in the final round for the top six awards in each event. Earning honors for the Speaking Admirals were Emma Merryman (second Impromptu and fourth Informative), Haley Hopkins and Joseth Warner (second Duo Interpretation), Sara Barringer (third Storytelling), Becky Mohr (fourth Oratory and fifth Impromptu), Samantha Sallee (fourth Declamation), Charlie Hall (fifth Storytelling), Natalie Grubbs (fifth Prose), Sara Barringer and Kelsie Steber (fifth Duo Interpretation), Joseth Warner (sixth Dramatic Interpretation), and Virginia Harp and Samantha Sallee (sixth Duo Interpretation). The largest two events, Prose and Poetry, included a Semifinal round between Prelims and Finals.  Danville’s Lina Morales (Poetry) and Libby Hale (Prose) advanced into Semis but not Finals.

DHS previously took honors this season at the Dunbar Fall Classic November 11 with a third place finish behind Henry Clay and Bethlehem, winning awards in Declamation (Summer Quinn, second); Dramatic Interpretation (Joseth Warner, fourth); Duo Interpretation (Haley Hopkins and Joseth Warner, first; Virginia Harp and Samantha Sallee, fourth); Extemporaneous Speaking (Caroline Bugg, third);  Impromptu Speaking (Emma Merryman, third; Caroline Bugg, fourth); Improvisational Duo (Haley Hopkins and Joseth Warner, first); Informative Speaking (Emma Merryman, first; Claire Strysick, fourth); and Storytelling (Charlie Hall, first; Sara Barringer, second).

At the LaRue County Ruth Blair Invitational November 4, returning members of the Speaking Admirals (no rookies) placed fourth overall with thirteen awards after three preliminary rounds. Tournament Champions Joseth Warner (Dramatic), Charlie Hall (Humorous), and Becky Mohr (Impromptu) were joined by Samantha Sallee (fourth Declamation), Haley Hopkins and Joseth Warner (fourth Duo Interpretation), Virginia Harp and Samantha Sallee (fifth Duo Interpretation), Katie Critchfield (sixth Extemporaneous), Haley Hopkins (sixth Humorous), Emma Merryman (fifth Impromptu and fourth Informative), Natalie Grubbs (third Informative), Becky Mohr (fourth Oratory), and Charlie Hall (fourth Storytelling) in the awards rounds.

DHS next competes at Bardstown High School December 16.