Lawrence students take state championships in Speech and Drama; Free State takes 3rd consecutive title

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Updated to add photo at 8:53 p.m. Sunday, May 8:

Students from Free State High School, Lawrence High School and Bishop Seabury Academy all have state champions to celebrate following a successful weekend.

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The Firebirds have become “Back-to-Back-to-Back 6A State Champions,” as coach Kelly Thompson put it, with first place in the sweepstakes. In addition, John Marshall took first in Lincoln Douglas Debate and U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking.

Lawrence High’s Chesty Lions, coached by Jeff Plinsky, took fifth place in the sweepstakes. Giulia Ventello took the state championship in Dramatic Interpretation.

Thirty of the state’s largest high schools participated in the 6A competition.

These Lawrence High School Chesty Lions placed in the top 6 in their events at the Kansas State Speech and Drama Championships, May 7, 2022. Left to right: Dominic Moore, Jake Shew, Thomas Lushington, Clara Bode, Frances Parker, and Giulia Ventello, who won the state championship in Dramatic Interpretation. (Jeff Plinsky/Contributed Photo)

In Class 2A, Bishop Seabury Academy students took 10th place in the sweepstakes. Ivan Calderon and Owen Ross took the championship in Improvised Duet Acting.

Teams from 33 schools participated in the Class 2A competition.

Here are the full lists of results, from the coaches and/or the results pages on Tabroom:

Free State High School

1st place overall, Class 6A

John Marshall, 1st place, Lincoln Douglas
John Marshall, 1st place, U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking
Emma Hefty, 2nd place, Informative Speaking
Molly Roecker, 3rd place, Program of Oral Interpretation
Cella Allison, 3rd place, Dramatic Interpretation
Lily Otter, 3rd place, Prose
Ezra Joseph, 3rd place, International Extemporaneous Speaking
Cella Allison, 4th place, Prose
Emma Hefty, 5th place, Oration
Molly Roecker, 5th place, Poetry
Anwen Williams, 6th place, Informative Speaking
Cici Hunter, semifinalist, Humorous Interpretation
Ava Ayala, semifinalist, Humorous Interpretation
Cici Hunter, semifinalist, Program of Oral Interpretation
More state qualifiers: Kaitlynn Sedich, Emma Holsclaw

Lawrence High School

5th place overall, Class 6A
The Lawrence High School Chesty Lions placed fifth overall in the Kansas State Speech and Drama Championships, May 7, 2022. (Jeff Plinsky/Contributed Photo)

Giulia Ventello, 1st place, Dramatic Interpretation
Jake Shew, 2nd place, Lincoln Douglas
Clara Bode and Dominic Moore, 4th place, Duo Interpretation
Jake Shew, 6th place, U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking
Frances Parker, 6th place, Program of Oral Interpretation
Thomas Lushington, semifinalist, Lincoln Douglas
More state qualifiers: Kate O’Keefe, Rose Allgeier, Adelaide Sivits, Rose Kennedy, Caitlin Sand, Jack Stutler, Bryce Erickson and Olie Proctor-Alberding

Bishop Seabury

10th place overall, Class 2A
Bishop Seabury Academy speech and drama students came in 10th overall in the Class 2A Kansas state championship. From left: Owen Ross, David Klimiuk, Ivan Calderon, Pancho Metz, Cambill Garlock, Marie Brockhoff and Eliza Brockhoff. (Doug Weaver/Contributed Photo)

Ivan Calderon and Owen Ross, 1st place, Improvised Duet Acting
Cambill Garlock and Pancho Metz, 5th place, Improvised Duet Acting
Ivan Calderon and David Klimiuk, 6th place, Duet Acting
Marie Brockhoff, 6th place, Informative Speaking
More state qualifiers: Eliza Brockhoff

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