PSD Communications Specialist

In an activity where students enjoy performing and sometimes interacting in groups, high school forensics teams have made many modifications in order to compete at a high level and shine a light on their individual or group talent(s). Prescott High School’s 22member team has adapted to the new process of videotaping their selection asynchronously and awaiting results.

Since the pandemic, WHSFA judges are sent videos earlier in the competition’s week and have a couple of days to watch the videos and provide feedback. At the end of a normal competition (prior to COVID), approximately 300 students would gather in the host school’s auditorium for an exciting awards ceremony. Today, an individual team gathers in a classroom and watches the awards via Google Meet. “By submitting videos, students have lost the thrill and power of having an audience with live feedback,” stated Head Forensics Coach, Tanya Sponholz (assisted by Coach Nicky Jodarski).

So far, the team has competed in four tournaments and have placed well as a team and in individual entries: January 30 Prescott High School Tournament Team Place: 2nd February 6 Menomonie High School Tournament Team Place: 1st February 6 44th Annual UW Tournament Team Place: 3rd February 13 Steve Sparks Memorial Tournament Team Place: 7th (of 24) Next up, the team faces sub-district competition which is another step closer to State. The members are looking to repeat their 2019 season where they reached a school record for number of Golds at the WHSFA State Tournament and won the Excellence in Speech Award.

The state tournament was cancelled last year due to COVID so there are a number of team members working towards earning a 4-year-Gold medal award at this year’s tournament. Sophia Tibayan is going for #4 this year, and four juniors are working towards that prestigious award as well: Kyle Holtan, Kira Chesney, Shayla Rein, and Grace Gale.