Forensics team wins state honors

Photo by Randy Moll Gentry’s forensics team has had a winning year. The team, pictured with trophies and awards won, includes Coach Daren Ward (left), freshman Nicole Guntharp, junior Michael Lee, junior Alex Savage, sophomore Ashlyn Riggs, senior Emiley Dilbeck, senior Lexie Clark, junior Rebecca Brown, junior Audra Weathers, junior Colton Little and senior James Fell (not pictured).
Photo by Randy Moll Gentry’s forensics team has had a winning year. The team, pictured with trophies and awards won, includes Coach Daren Ward (left), freshman Nicole Guntharp, junior Michael Lee, junior Alex Savage, sophomore Ashlyn Riggs, senior Emiley Dilbeck, senior Lexie Clark, junior Rebecca Brown, junior Audra Weathers, junior Colton Little and senior James Fell (not pictured).

GENTRY -- The Gentry High School Forensics team capped off its most successful season in school history at the ACTAA State Tournament of Champions earlier this month. The team finished with a school-record-tying nine semifinalists, third place overall in mime, two state runners up and one state champion.

Emiley Dilbeck and Rebecca Brown were state runners up in duet improvisation, and Colton Little became the second forensics state champion in school history when he won first place in storytelling.

"Congratulations to the team on an incredible year!" said forensic's coach and teacher, Darin Ward. "Next year's season looks to be really exciting as seven students return to the team who competed at the state level (this year), including state champion, Colton Little."

"This team is different from all the other teams I have coached before," Ward said. "In the past, most of my really successful teams were composed of true competitors, students that couldn't stand losing, so they were machine-like in their approach to the tournaments. This year's group truly loves performing and, while they obviously want to win as well, it is clearly secondary to their love for acting. When that passion is combined with a great performance, it is amazing to watch. So, it was awesome to see their efforts rewarded this year. I couldn't be more proud of them!"

Community on 04/13/2016