Though speech competitions do not start until January, the speech team has already swung into full rehearsal mode, with large group events now taking precedence.

More than 20 categories constitute the full range of speech events, ranging from large groups like one-act play, choral reading and musical theater to individual events like poetry, prose and original oratory.

A quartet of coaches leads the students involved in these events. English teachers Emma Hantelmann, Jessica Osterhaus, Julene Felice and Kara Sulzer share the responsibilities for scheduling and directing rehearsals and critiquing kids’ preparations.

This year, the coaches find themselves in the enviable position of having a team that’s filled with seniors, offering the overall group a wealth of experience and leadership.

All events are subject to an audition process because space is limited within the various events.

Coaches say they encourage students to audition for several of the categories because "the only way that we cut is if they only audition for one event," Hantelmann says.

One of the perennially popular categories is Group Improvisation, in which two to five students are given a situation from which they develop a scene. The cast gets only two minutes to prepare and three to five minutes to act it out.

"You have to think fast and make up the situations," senior Belinda Nguyen said. "You’ve got to roll with the flow."

The unpredictability is exhilarating for some kids. "I kind of like making stuff up on the spot," senior Travis Cory said.

Although coaches run them through some practice, in "improv you just do it," Hantelmann said. "Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t."

A new category for this year is Short Film, in which up to 15 students form a group and write, shoot and edit a five-minute video.

This event has brought in a lot of prospective competitors who are willing to try something new. With time, the category will become really popular, Hantelmann predicts.

The team is seeing its largest numbers this year with many new students who want to try something new coming on board.

"I had a friend of mine encourage me to do it," freshman Jack Larkins said. "I feel like I’m good at it."

Some members are looking for that perfect event that really can fit their interests.

"I’m just kind of trying it out right now," sophomore Michael Winans said.

Along with the speech team, there is also a debate team that has been practicing since September and is just now getting deep into its competition season.

Members research and prepare one specific resolution, then travel to other schools to argue points on that theme. Each contest requires that the team be able to argue either side of the controversy.