HHS forensics team earns nine gold medals at state

• Forensics team members from left, Abbie Scheiderer, Lindsey Rindo and Sam Otten

Three members of the Hudson High School forensics team have fun during a stop in Tomah. It is a forensics tradition to stop there for lunch every year on the way to Madison. The group advancing to Madison included 17 students. Pictured are, from left, Abbie Scheiderer, Lindsey Rindo and Sam Otten.

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The Hudson High School forensics season ended the season with nine gold medals and many silver and bronze medals Friday, April 17, at the state forensics tournament in Madison. The team is coached by Nikki Benson and Craig Lewis.

Hudson’s state team consisted of 17 students and of those, nine earned a gold medal, earning a perfect score of 25 in all five categories. “It’s not an easy feat,” said Benson.

Earning gold medals were Stephen Dahle and Lindsey Rindo in Play Acting, Bjorn Saterbak and Susanne Bushman in Play Acting, Jamie Coulson and Allison Hawthorne in Group Interpretation, Kyle Featherstone in Solo Acting, Abbie Scheiderer in Poetry Reading, and Ana Martin in Demonstration Speaking.

Earning silver medals at state with a score of 24 were Drew Lueneburg in Radio Speaking, Hailey Karlovich in Prose Reading, Jackie Greeney in Prose Reading, and Sam Otten in Extemporaneous Speaking.

Earning bronze medals with scores of 22 or 21 were Shannon Cox in Prose Reading, Ronni Schoenherr in Solo Acting, and Jenny Schrock in Radio Speaking. Cody Brunelle earned a baby bronze, with a score of 17, in Radio Speaking.

Before heading to the state tournament, the HHS students practiced their skills at the Menomonie and New Richmond Invitationals, with students winning awards at each. Students then moved on to the Sub-District Tournament in Luck, where they needed to earn a score of 16 or higher, out of 25, in two of their three rounds.

Students who accomplished the 16 or higher level moved to the district tournament March 28 at Hudson High School.

“Hudson takes pride in hosting this tournament almost every year, welcoming about 400 students, coaches and judges from numerous schools around the area,” Benson said. At the district tournament, students must earn two scores of 20 or above in two out of their three rounds to move on to state.

Many of this year’s forensics members are seniors, so Benson dubbed the 2009-10 season one of “rebuilding.”

“The students on the team who are not seniors, however, are very strong and will serve as good mentors for new members,” Benson added.

Both Benson and Lewis said they are “extremely proud of the talented team and are looking forward to next year’s season.”

Tags: education, hudson, forensics, team, medals