Tyrone’s oldest team concluded its season with its first ever home meet on Tuesday, May 9, collecting seven individual awards. Williamsburg took the top team honors, besting Tyrone and Juniata Valley by a margin of 1.3 and 2.4 points, respectively.

“It was really exciting to host our first ever Speech Team meet at Tyrone,” said Head Coach Leah Deskevich. “And we couldn’t have done it without help from Mr. Merryman, Mr. Tanner, Ms. McLarren, Mrs. Makdad, Mrs. Golden, and Mrs. Carper. Teamwork!”

Once again, Tyrone featured a wide variety of speeches, ranging from critiques of the ever-popular “13 Reasons Why” to religious pieces to monologues and songs from movies such as The Dark Knight, La La Land, and Network. Tyrone speakers also boasted a noteworthy wardrobe, donning kilts and flamingo suits among other items of clothing.

“The suit was on sale and my mom had Khol’s cash, so it was an easy choice,” remarked Kenny McKernan on his decision to wear a flamingo suit.

In their final meet as Golden Eagles, Austin Shuey, Paige Umholtz, Nathan Hormell, and McKernan won some of the top prizes.

Shuey won the award for Best Senior High Poetry for his original poem, “Light at the End of the Tunnel.” Umholtz and Hormell tied for Best Senior High Serious for their speeches, “14 Lines from Suicide Notes and Love Letters” and the “Freedom” speech from Braveheart. And finally, for his rendition of the Joker’s hospital room speech from The Dark Knight, McKernan earned the award for Best Overall Speech at the meet.

“I was very excited to have won at my last Speech Team meet,” said Umholtz. “I’ve enjoyed the time that I’ve spent over the past five years competing with some awesome speakers.”

Underclassmen Meghan McMullen, Nick Vasbinder, and Sarah Meyer also were recognized for their speeches. McMullen was rewarded for her Senior High Humorous Speech entitled “Short,” Vasbinder  for his original Junior High Humorous Speech arguing that the thumb is a finger, and Meyer for her original poem, “Conscience.”

While graduating Umholtz, Hormell, McKernan, and Shuey as well as Riean Minnich, Hunter Jackson, Haley Butina and AJ Grassi, the Speech Team hopes to have continued success after a year full of record numbers and ample successes. Some students have already begun to prepare speeches for next fall.

“This was my first year in Speech Team, and it was an exciting experience,” said junior Jonathan Clifton. “I’m ecstatic to do some great speeches next year.”