Wagner Oral Interp has kicked off their season, continuing a tradition of excellence rooted in experienced speakers and performers. Libby Renbarger is in her second year coaching, joined this year by assistant coach Megan Fischer. The program has grown this year to fourteen students from 8th grade to seniors. The first meet was held on October 14th in Brandon Valley, where nine students competed and Reader’s Theatre brought home first place and junior Jackson Rolston made it to the finals round, placing 5th overall for his non-original piece, “The Prison of Your Mind” by Sean Stephenson. Reader’s Theatre consists of senior Trenton Rolston, juniors Presley Slaba, Macee Stimpson, and Jackson Rolston, and 8th grader Taya Stone, as they performed comedy “Bobby Wilson Can Eat His Own Face” by Don Zolidis. Senior Jennifer Barnett was also able to perform her serious piece “Casualties” by Sandrea Dempsy, and poetry pieces by Joe Brainard, Walt Whitman, Emelia Ruth, and Edmund Vance Cooke. Jessica Barnett, a freshman, competed with “The Elephant Man” by Christine Sparks in the serious category and “The Outsider” by HP Lovecraft in storytelling. Presley Slaba also performed in storytelling with her piece “Verity” by Colleen Hoover. Samuel Kafka and Aubrey Kazena also did their Duet “Crisis: My Brothers Ugly Shirt” by Bradley Walton.

While the group is a mixed of novice and experienced performers, the season is looking bright! We have students who will be competing in all categories this year. The theme for storytelling this year is suspense. Coming up, we are taking a small group of speakers to the Circle of Courage on Friday, October 20th at Sioux Falls Washington, a large group to Lennox on Tuesday October 23, and our novice speakers to Yankton on Saturday October 28. Mark your calendars for Wagner’s home event at 6pm on Monday, October 30!

Pictured: October 14th competitors Trenton Rolston, Taya Stone, Jackson Rolston, Samuel Kafka, Presley Slaba, Aubrey Kazena, Macee Stimpson, Jessica Barnett and Jennifer Barnett.Submitted photo.