An hour and a half drive proved worth the time to forensics.

The group traveled to Smith Center on March 27 to compete in the school’s invitational tournament.

“Nine events broke finals and five events qualified for the state championship tournament,” forensics sponsor Zach Butte said.

To qualify for state, competitors must place either first or second in their event.

Senior Megan Zeman placed first in poetry.

“My piece was ‘Half-Hanged Mary’ by Margaret Atwood,” Zeman said. “It’s set during the Salem Witch Trials and a woman who is accused of being a witch is hanged, but survives, which proves to the people in the town that she is a witch.”

Zeman shared her thoughts on making state at her second tournament throughout high school.

“I’m very excited and very proud,” Zeman said. “I’m glad I decided to do forensics this year.”

Senior Alex Green also qualified for state, taking first in extemporaneous speaking and second in impromptu speaking.

“I felt like I did well, but I don’t think I deserved those places, honestly,” Green said.

Green said he discovered a few things at this tournament that will help him succeed later in the season.

“I learned to slow down a lot and organize my thoughts,” Green said. “I also learned that when I walk around, it helps me collect my thoughts better than when I’m sitting down.”

Freshman Griffin Lowry competed in informative speech and impromptu speaking.

“My informative speech was about vinyl records and was called ‘Setting the Record Straight.”

Lowry placed fourth in impromptu speaking.

“I didn’t plan to break finals,” Lowry said. “But once I did, I expected to get fourth, and I did.”

Lowry also learned something in his experiences.

“When it comes to informative, I learned that I need to slow down and have more confidence,” Lowry said.

Butte said this meet was an excellent way to come back from Spring Break.

“We look forward to finishing the season strong in hoping to get more people and events qualified,” Butte said.

Here is the full list of those who placed:

Poetry: senior Megan Zeman, first*; senior Nicole Feyerherm, fourth

Prose: senior Rachel Muirhead, first*

Extemporaneous Speaking: senior Alex Green, first*; junior Ben Rajewski, fourth

Impromptu Speaking: senior Alex Green, second*; freshman Griffin Lowry, fourth.

Humorous Solo: senior Nicole Feyerherm, fifth

Serious Solo: senior Rachel Muirhead, second*

*indicates state qualifier

14nfeyerherm@usd489.com