Johnson-Brock Speech Experiences Success at Virtual MUDECAS Meet

Nine Johnson-Brock speech team members competed in the season-opening MUDECAS meet. Coach Karen Wolken notes the meet, which was conducted virtually, was a chance for the students to get their first critiques of the year.

Each Eagle entry medaled earning the unit fourth place overall.

Kade Davis, Alex Greiner, Audrey Sandfort and Skylar Witte: First in oral interpretation of drama (OID).

Christina Lillenas: First in serious prose.

Greiner: Second in entertainment.

Jenna Brocker, Charity Bulmer, Lillenas and Kinsley Oestmann: Fifth in OID.

Abigail Hodges: Sixth in informative.

Oestmann: Sixth in poetry.

“Luckily we came in on Saturday, Jan. 23 to tape (the first place OID). Entries were due on Thursday (Jan. 28) and the snowstorm forced several other contestants to do their recording of their individual event at home,” Wolken states.

The coach continues she uploaded the recordings. Students were judged in two preliminary rounds followed by a final round for qualifiers.

“These girls have shown remarkable improvement since Day One, and I know we can keep adding new ideas and polishing,” the coach says of the fifth place OID.

Lillenas’ gold medal entry is a monologue of a female tightrope walker who has to overcome tragedy.

“It was my first virtual meet, but I have to admit it had its perks. I was able to multitask on Saturday and help our youngest son move and still watch for event results,” Wolken recalls.

She relates each student has an online account giving him/her access to watch the competitors in their round and see the e-ballot critiques.

The next meet for the Eagles will be in-person at the Auburn Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 13.

“We will take a handful of entries that day as students must split between powerlifting, basketball and speech obligations. It’s definitely starting to seem like a normal year when you have this much going on,” Wolken concludes.