Tilghman junior Jensen Knudsen placed second in the state, in
Humorous Interpretation, at the 2022 Kentucky High School Speech League
State tournament held Friday and Saturday, March 11 and 12, 2022 at
Northern Kentucky University. She performed in three
rounds of preliminary competition Friday, advancing to quad and
semifinals on Saturday, eventually earning one of the six spots in
finals where she was named state runner-up.
Her strong finish was backed up by 5 other Tilghman team members
who had advanced to the state competition. Together the 6 competitors
scored numerous high placings, subsequently winning one of five School
of Distinction awards, given to schools with small teams with the highest rates of success.
Paige Kight, 12, and Fiona Caywood, 10, advanced to semi-finals
placing in top 12; Lois Akpabio, 12, and Kate Bidwell, 11, made it into
quarterfinals, placing among the top 24; Kadie Raber, 11, earned points
in each of her three preliminary rounds.
The state tournament featured 470 entries from 36 schools which had
advanced to the event from around the state. Special mention was made
honoring 1988 Texas Speech Team competitor and Original Oratory National
Champion Ketanji Brown Jackson on her nomination
to the Supreme Court.
Knudsen, Bidwell, and Caywood will compete in the Tournament of Champions to be
hosted at the University of Kentucky April 4-23 to 4-25 and featuring
both online and on-site divisions from around the nation.
Team members from left to right: Jensen Knudsen,
Kadie Raber, Fiona Caywood, Lois Akpabio, Paige Kight and Kate Bidwell