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Wheeling Park Speech Team Wins 40th Consecutive Tourney

Wheeling Park Speech Team Wins 40th Consecutive Tourney

WHEELING -- Was there ever any doubt? Probably not. But for members of the Wheeling Park High School Speech Team, winning the 40th consecutive state championship still is very sweet.

The team's domination of the West Virginia Speech and Debate State Speech Tournament for the past four decades culminated Saturday with their 40th win during the event held at Marshall University.

Coach Bill Cornforth said he was proud of his team and his fellow coaches Kayla Nelson, Isabella Droginske and Brigitte Mazure.

"The kids put a lot of hard work into it. I just told them on the bus if they want to savor the moment and have it again they need to start work tomorrow," Cornforth said. "They need to work throughout the summer."

Cornforth said the state meet is the final tournament of the year. But annually the team competes in about 10 other tournaments in other states during the school year. Doing so helps them prepare for the West Virginia event.

"I tell new groups, you know what this is about and you want to be a part of it -- you have to put work into it," Cornforth said. "Forty is a nice round number. … It's a symbol of the totality of each group contributing to this longevity."

Cornforth said his cell phone was filling up with congratulatory messages from parents and alumni.

"We had parents come down and alums were here. My phone is getting one text after another, all the way back to Steve Thomakos -- he was in class one," Cornforth said.

To celebrate the 40th win the team is scheduled to host a reunion at 6:30 p.m. April 13 at the Wheeling Park High School food court. He said all past members of the speech team are invited.

Some may wonder what the secret to the team's success really is. Cornforth said it simply is hardwork and preparation by each member. The title win truly is a team effort as each time a member wins a separate point, it adds to the team's total, similar to scoring in a track and field tournament, he said.

Cornforth considers speech and debate a competitive sport, which is why he teaches the students good sportsmanship. He encourages them to befriend other schools' teams.

"We applaud loudly for other teams when they win awards. … It's a good atmosphere. These are smart, hardworking students who appreciate each other's work," Cornforth said.

He also credits the team's founding coach, Fran Schoolcraft, for setting the tone for the team. She also led the first 25 wins.

Continuing such a legacy comes with some pressure, but Cornforth said the students always help and support each other.

"I think there is always pressure on them in the last week. It's a very big event for them and emotional. … They were also led by the senior members of this team," he said.

Cornforth added he wanted to thank the school district administration for their support and his coaches' work and "all the students who put in a wonderful year of hardwork and committment to a great goal."

Wheeling Park High School Speech Team's 2019 West Virginia Speech and Debate State Speech Tournament Results:

Speech and Debate Overall Sweepstakes: 1st place;

Luke Ochsenbein, 1st place Prose Interpretation; 1st place Informative Speaking;

Adam Marquart, 1st place Oral Interpretation of Literature; 1st place Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation;

Vance Mazure, 1st place Broadcasting; 1st place Poetry Interpretation; 2nd place Duo Interpretation;

Tino Kayafas, 1st place Program Oral Interpretation; 1st place Original Oratory; 3rd place Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation;

Morgan Marquart, 1st place Impromptu Speaking; 3rd place (tie) Extemporaneous Speaking;

Lillian Bischof, Top Speaker in Public Forum Debate, 2nd place Public Forum Debate; 2nd place Congressional Debate;

Teresa Albert-Siebieda, Top Speaker Lincoln-Douglas Debate (tie); 3rd place Lincoln-Douglas Debate;

Afton Aulick, 4th place Broadcasting; 2nd place Oral Interpretation of Literature;

Lydia Bischof, 2nd place Informative Speaking;

Jillian Blair, 3rd place Impromptu Speaking;

Tori Blanton, 3rd place Program Oral Interpretation;

Collin Connor, 3rd place Public Forum Debate;

Tyler Faulstick, 3rd place Prose Interpretation; 2nd place Duo Interpretation;

Maria Goudy, 2nd place Impromptu Speaking;

Jacqueline Heil, 3rd place Public Forum Debate;

Alexis Hoskins, 3rd place (tie) Extemporaneous Speaking;

Reese Kefauver, 4th place Poetry Interpretation;

Lydia Kellas, 2nd place Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation;

Perry Maness, 3rd place Congressional Debate; 5th place Lincoln-Douglas Debate;

Lauren Marquart, 2nd place Extemporaneous Speaking; 5th place Informative Speaking;

Amanda McGovern, 4th place Prose Interpretation; 2nd place Declamation;

Marian Moss, 2nd place Lincoln-Douglas Debate;

Lucia Perri, 2nd place Duo Interpretation;

Ryan Quickel, 3rd place Poetry Interpretation;

Faith Richter, 2nd place Original Oratory; 2nd place Duo Interpretation; 5th place Program Oral Interpretation;

Brenden Sands, 2nd place Public Forum Debate;

Laura Tighe, 4th place Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation;

Tessa Ullom, 3rd place Declamation; 5th place Prose Interpretation;

Dailey Ward, 3rd place Oral Interpretation of Literature; 4th place Declamation;

Veda Wheeler, 4th place Original Oratory;

Paige Williams, 2nd place Broadcasting;

Natalya Wood, 6th place Humorous/Dramatic Interpretation; and

Additional students who contributed to the team: Nataya Bartlett, Daisy Reasbeck, Logan Annet, Adesh Urval.