The Salem High School Forensics team / Photo courtesy of coach Mark Ingerson

The Salem Forensics team was led by its six seniors, who all won Region IV individual championships, defeating second place Tazewell 55-18. Salem won 8 of 10 events in taking its ninth straight region trophy. Salem placed 15 of 21 students into the state championships, which will be held on March 23 at Harrisonburg High School. You can see all the state competitors at our annual Forensics Night at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21 in the Salem Auditorium.

Placing for Salem and moving on to states:

• First place: Impromptu Speaking, senior Austin Peters; Serious Dramatic, senior Katelyn Barker; Prose, senior Savannah Stevens; Humorous, senior Dylan Wade; Poetry, senior Ryan Nolen; Original Oratory, senior Zach Staton; Storytelling, freshman Ben Lewis and Serious Duo, junior Taylor Barker and freshman Ben Kennedy.
• Second place: Impromptu, freshman Jack Beedle; Original Oratory, Hannah Bryant; Prose, Amy Kuhlmeier; Storytelling, Freshman Caleb Turner and Humorous Duo, sophomores Lauren Wygal and Monica Sexton.
• Alternates for states (4th place): Humorous Duo, sophomores Jordi Brown and Emily Shelton and Poetry, junior Dylan Halstead

The Forensics team is managed by Lindsey Irby and Holly Schlecht.

–Submitted by Mark Ingerson, Forensics coach.