MONROE - The students covered everything from President George Bush to Shel Silverstein as they practiced for their trip to the state competition.
Members of the Monroe High School forensics team participated in the Spring Showcase, allowing them an opportunity to perform before parents, teachers and school board members in preparation for the State Forensics Festival April 18 in Madison.
Students broke into four groups of six entries. Each participant performed in a separate classroom before friends and family.
The groups represented a wide range of topics and categories of forensic competition. In one group, for example, Theresa Wyss performed her Solo Acting Humorous entry about a young actress addicted to giving flowers. Madeline Arnold, storytelling, related the "fractured fairy tale" of Cinderfella, a modern-day rocker who "walks into rock-star fame," while on the other end of the forensics spectrum, Reuben Arnold shared his extemporaneous speech explaining why Bush will not have a lasting impact on the peace process between Israel and Palestine. Jenni Buol told a collection of poetry centered on the theme of loneliness and Julie Hartwig, for Moments in History, related the impact of the Flapper in the 1920s. The ensemble of Laura Chopp, Katelyn Lee, Coree Lee and Melissa Rufer brought Silverstein's tongue-in-cheek "Uncle Shelby's ABZs" to life in Group Interpretation.
Competing in forensics offers an opportunity to develop her acting and public speaking skills, explained Flannery Steffens, a co-captain of the team.
"I always liked public speaking, theater and acting," said the senior, who has competed in forensics for four years.
Steffens plans to study art education at UW-Milwaukee after graduation. Once she's teaching, she wants to still be involved in forensics.
"I hope to be a forensics coach someday," she said.
For co-captain Wyss, forensics is also a way to hone communication skills.
"I enjoy expressing myself in a different way than I do every day," she said.
The senior has competed in forensics for three years. She plans to study art education and music education at UW-Whitewater, and foresees forensics helping her in her future.
"It's helped a lot," she said of forensics. "Now I can get up in front of a crowd and not be afraid."
Twenty-seven members of the MHS forensics team competed in the District Forensics Meet at UW-Platteville March 29. All entries earned qualifying scores to compete at state. They include: Hartwig (Moments in History), Nick Hendrickson (Oratory), David Parr (Extemporaneous), Steffens (Solo Acting Serious), Elizabeth VanNatta (Public Address), Wyss (Solo Acting Humorous), Reuben Arnold (Extemporaneous), Elizabeth Eiseman (Poetry), Christina Mellenberger (Oratory), Matthew Peterson (Poetry), Blake Antos (Moments in History), Madeline Arnold (Storytelling), Lindsey Buehler (Prose), Stephanie Cline (Farrago), Patrick Gellings (Prose), Nicole Heinen (Solo Acting Humorous), Carlee Latimer (Farrago), Gail LaVoie (Farrago), Clarissa Liimatainen (Moments in History), Taylor Weis (Prose), Eleanor Nesimoglu (Solo Acting Serious), Haley Sinklair (Oratory), and the group of Katlyn Lee, Rufer, Coree Lee, and Chopp (Group Interpretation).
Members of the Monroe High School forensics team participated in the Spring Showcase, allowing them an opportunity to perform before parents, teachers and school board members in preparation for the State Forensics Festival April 18 in Madison.
Students broke into four groups of six entries. Each participant performed in a separate classroom before friends and family.
The groups represented a wide range of topics and categories of forensic competition. In one group, for example, Theresa Wyss performed her Solo Acting Humorous entry about a young actress addicted to giving flowers. Madeline Arnold, storytelling, related the "fractured fairy tale" of Cinderfella, a modern-day rocker who "walks into rock-star fame," while on the other end of the forensics spectrum, Reuben Arnold shared his extemporaneous speech explaining why Bush will not have a lasting impact on the peace process between Israel and Palestine. Jenni Buol told a collection of poetry centered on the theme of loneliness and Julie Hartwig, for Moments in History, related the impact of the Flapper in the 1920s. The ensemble of Laura Chopp, Katelyn Lee, Coree Lee and Melissa Rufer brought Silverstein's tongue-in-cheek "Uncle Shelby's ABZs" to life in Group Interpretation.
Competing in forensics offers an opportunity to develop her acting and public speaking skills, explained Flannery Steffens, a co-captain of the team.
"I always liked public speaking, theater and acting," said the senior, who has competed in forensics for four years.
Steffens plans to study art education at UW-Milwaukee after graduation. Once she's teaching, she wants to still be involved in forensics.
"I hope to be a forensics coach someday," she said.
For co-captain Wyss, forensics is also a way to hone communication skills.
"I enjoy expressing myself in a different way than I do every day," she said.
The senior has competed in forensics for three years. She plans to study art education and music education at UW-Whitewater, and foresees forensics helping her in her future.
"It's helped a lot," she said of forensics. "Now I can get up in front of a crowd and not be afraid."
Twenty-seven members of the MHS forensics team competed in the District Forensics Meet at UW-Platteville March 29. All entries earned qualifying scores to compete at state. They include: Hartwig (Moments in History), Nick Hendrickson (Oratory), David Parr (Extemporaneous), Steffens (Solo Acting Serious), Elizabeth VanNatta (Public Address), Wyss (Solo Acting Humorous), Reuben Arnold (Extemporaneous), Elizabeth Eiseman (Poetry), Christina Mellenberger (Oratory), Matthew Peterson (Poetry), Blake Antos (Moments in History), Madeline Arnold (Storytelling), Lindsey Buehler (Prose), Stephanie Cline (Farrago), Patrick Gellings (Prose), Nicole Heinen (Solo Acting Humorous), Carlee Latimer (Farrago), Gail LaVoie (Farrago), Clarissa Liimatainen (Moments in History), Taylor Weis (Prose), Eleanor Nesimoglu (Solo Acting Serious), Haley Sinklair (Oratory), and the group of Katlyn Lee, Rufer, Coree Lee, and Chopp (Group Interpretation).