The Rochelle Township High School speech team earned first place Saturday, Jan. 17, at the United Township High School tournament.

Individuals who earned finalist honors included:

Varsity division

• Derek Swartz - first place - Humorous Interpretation.
• Matilda Gonser - first place - Informative Speaking.
• Abby Losoya - first place - Poetry Reading.
• Matilda Gonser - second place - Radio Speaking.
• Derek Swartz/Brooklyn Hull - second place - Dramatic Duet Acting.
• Brooklyn Hull - second place - Dramatic Interpretation.
• Alayna Smardo - second place - Original Oratory.
• Bella Biggs - third place - Prose Reading.
• Connor Macklin - third place - Extemporaneous Speaking.
• Daphne Wise - third place - Humorous Interpretation.
• Bella Biggs - third place - Oratorical Declamation.
• Bobbie Henning - fourth place - Original Oratory.
• Theia Venuso - fourth place - Oratorical Declamation.
• Austin Cruz - fourth place - Dramatic Interpretation.
• Bobbie Henning - fifth place - Original Comedy.
• Alex Soto - sixth place - Original Oratory.
• Daphne Wise - sixth place - Special Occasion Speaking.

Next-in division

• Lily Wengelewski - first place - Informative Speaking.
• Austin Cruz - first place - Original Comedy.
• Sophia Losoya - second place - Prose Reading.
• Alayna Smardo - third place - Extemporaneous Speaking.
• Ben Hayes - third place - Informative Speaking.
• Ben Hayes - fourth place - Impromptu Speaking.
• Julian Groves - fourth place - Original Comedy.
• Lydia LeFevre - fourth place - Original Oratory.
• Sophia Stein - fourth place - Special Occasion Speaking.
• Bella Marrufo - fifth place - Special Occasion Speaking.
• Brock Dickey - fifth place - Impromptu Speaking.
• Molly Kedzie/Lily Wengelewski - fifth place - Dramatic Duet Acting.
• Savannah Elshoff - fifth place - Oratorical Declamation.
• Connor Macklin - sixth place - Impromptu Speaking.
• Om Shah - sixth place - Special Occasion Speaking.
• Layla Block - sixth place - Extemporaneous Speaking.
• Gavin Villatoro - sixth place - Informative Speaking.
• Alex Soto - sixth place - Oratorical Declamation.
• Paolo Guijosa - sixth place - Original Comedy.
• Makayla Manarchy - sixth place - Prose Reading.

Novice division

• Lydia LeFevre - first place - Dramatic Interpretation.
• Savannah Elshoff/Makayla Manarchy - first place - Humorous Duet Acting.
• Om Shah - second place - Radio Speaking.
• Molly Kedzie - third place - Prose Reading.
• Brock Dickey/Bella Marrufo - third place - Humorous Duet Acting.
• Barbara Palmer - fourth place - Oratorical Declamation.

Speakers of the week were Matilda Gonser and Daphne Wise.