High school speech team places 3rd at Columbia

The Mountain Home Talkin' Tigers speech and debate team placed third among 13 schools at the Columbia Speech Tournament.

Once again it was the first year students that led the Talkin' Tigers as freshman Hayley Paolera and Korie Foster finished first and second in Novice Radio Speaking. Mountain Home swept four of the top six spots in the event as Chasity Custer was fourth with Amanda Raines finished fifth.

All seven of the Mountain Home students in the event won at least one of their rounds.

Custer was also second in Novice Humorous Interpretation while Raines was fifth in Novice Impromptu.

In open Radio Speaking, Raif Armstrong finished second. Armstrong was also fifth in open Impromptu Speaking.

Mountain Home also swept first and second place in Novice Serious Interpretation as Devin Floyd and Melodie Lettkeman took the top two honors.

Miriam Forrest was third in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking while Ben Cumber was third in Novice Impromptu Speaking.

Eli Holland also added to the Talkin' Tigers scoring with his second-place finish in Open Retold Story.

The Talkin' Tigers will next compete in the Blacksnake Invitational Tournament at Idaho State University on Jan. 4-5.