The unspoken rule of competition is simple. Beginner competitors are supposed to watch, learn, and lose. They are not supposed to dominate the district stand, outperform seasoned members, or secure a spot at the State competition; yet that is exactly what happened for this year’s speech group. The high school’s team, known as Speechless, currently consists of 34 students, 14 of whom are brand-new to the activity. Even though over a third of the members have never even stepped foot on a district stage before this season, nine groups out of 12 made it to the State level.
The program features 11 fairly diverse events, which attract students with a wide range of interests and talents. Among these, musical theater, ensemble acting, and improv stand out as favorites and draw in the largest number of participants each year. Flexibility is just one of the team’s main attractions. Practice schedules have no mandatory times, allowing students to fit rehearsals around their own academic and family commitments. The three coaches are notably dedicated and regularly offer guidance during M-block, prep periods, or whenever students need extra support in their performance. Additionally, specialized practice sessions for mime and improv groups are scheduled on Mondays and Wednesdays to provide focused time for these unique categories.
The one leading the team is head coach Paige Junge, along with Rachel Cannon and Melissa Champion, whose commitment extends far beyond just simple technical direction. She actively seeks out and motivates each member, fostering a positive, inclusive environment. Coach Junge’s main responsibilities include directing performances, seeking out captivating scripts, organizing workshops, and offering emotional encouragement throughout the season. She said, “I help new members by staying enthusiastic and upbeat. I like to have a supportive culture for speech.” Junge explained that the most important aspect to her throughout competing is simply to see a student’s growth from the beginning to the end. She said, “My goal for speech is never to win all the competitions or make it to State, it is to just have fun and learn something new.” Her extreme passion for the art of speech is evident in the team’s growth and success. This year’s group has achieved such big accomplishments that the upcoming individual speech team is the largest in Junge’s 13 years of coaching. Through good word of mouth, many classmates have decided to board the train and gain new and exciting experiences.
One student in particular made it to State for musical theater. Logan Ficek, senior, joined Speechless just this year with some of his close friends to perform scenes from the musical Les Misérables. The preparation stage took about one month to complete, with each practice lasting around 15 to 30 minutes. Ficek said, “The availability for practicing was not a problem since most of us are all in the same clubs and activities.” The group consists of shining members of the high school’s choir and show choir, along with some in the Glee Club. Ficek remembers his time in speech as among the most gratifying of high school. He initially went out for it because his friends asked him to, and because it would admittedly look good on a resume. However, since then, he has realized that there is so much more to it. He said, “I have learned to stay humble at competitions and to just thank God for getting this far.” Overall, he had a good experience with his newfound friends and teammates, and highly recommends others join in.
While the idea of a speech club might have a mundane and slightly nerdy reputation, the reality is a lively environment, with valuable lessons to be learned. One can be whoever they desire and simply let loose. Beyond the competitions and success, the program fosters student collaboration and growth. The true value of it lies in the lessons learned between the lines of a script.
