The Salem Forensics team rolled to its 10th straight district speech championship at home on Saturday, defeating second place Blacksburg 69-15. Salem placed first and second in seven events, while winning nine of ten events. Senior captains Savannah Stevens and Katelyn Barker each won their fourth consecutive district titles. Savannah won Prose Interpretation after three consecutive championships in Humorous Duo. Katelyn won her second Serious Dramatic Interpretation championship to go along with two in Poetry. Also leading Salem were seniors Zach Staton (Oratory) and Ryan Nolen (Poetry), who won first place ranks from all four judges.

Also placing for Salem and moving on to the Region IV competition on Feb. 23 in Salem:

First place:

• Freshman Jack Beedle (Impromptu)
• Freshman Ben Lewis (Storytelling)
• Freshman Ben Kennedy and junior Taylor Barker (Serious Duo)
• Senior Katelyn Barker (Serious Dramatic)
• Senior Dylan Wade (Humorous)
• Sophomores Emily Brown/Jordi Shelton (Humorous Duo)

Second place:

• Freshman Caleb Turner (Storytelling)
• Sophomores Maya Cooke/Anne Elise Jenkins (Serious Duo)
• Sophomore Hannah Bryant (Oratory)
• Sophomore Elly Goldstein
• Sophomores Lauren Wygal/Monica Sexton (Humorous Duo)
• Junior Dylan Halstead (Poetry)
• Senior Austin Peters (Impromptu)

Third place:

• Sophomore Amy Kuhlmeier (Prose)

The Salem Forensics team will host its annual “Forensics Night” in the Salem High School auditorium on Thursday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. $2 for adults/$1 for students.

Submitted by Coach Mark Ingerson.