Speech Team Competes at JWP

Published On: April 13, 2026Categories: News
The speech team competed at JWP on Saturday, April 11. We had 4 competitors Senior Nathan Barbosa, Sophomore Harmony Kreel, Freshman Elizabeth Karau and Freshman Cora Lehman.
Harmony Kreel performed in Creative Expression with a spoken word piece she built from the ground up. In a category that demands both vulnerability and a clear message, she spoke her truth all the way to the final round, earning 4th place. Watching her own words resonate with an audience proves who powerful she is as writer and performer.

Cora Lehman tackled a collection of 15 stories this season, mastering the lessons and themes within each. When the moment came to draw her story and bring it to life, she performed with grace and skill. While she didn’t move into the final round, the work she put into her craft was evident in every moment she spent working on her delivery.

Elizabeth Karau stepped into the world of a Drama and made it entirely her own. She performed with a depth that invited the audience into her character’s journey, carrying that performance through to the finals. Her dedication earned her 5th place in a room full of talent.

Our senior, Nathan Barbosa, took the stage one last time this weekend in the Prose category. After five months of pouring his heart into writing and refining his script, Nathan delivered a performance that truly emphasized his growth and dedication. Though he didn’t move on to the final round in a very tough field of competitors, we couldn’t be prouder of the work he put in to make his final MSHSL appearance so meaningful.

As we finish this MSHSL speech season, saying I am proud of this team would be an understatement. These students have poured months of dedication into their craft, but more importantly, they have conducted themselves with remarkable strength and integrity. Watching them transform critical feedback into fuel for growth—approaching every judge’s critique with grace and every round with renewed competitive spirit—has been the true highlight of the year. They have not only become better speakers; they have become leaders.

Chalina Forstner, Advisor

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