Speech team is an activity students join to improve on their public speaking or just try it out. This year’s speech team season has had a successful start. There are 20 students that joined the speech team this year. Melanie Gustafson, Schuyler Community High School Speech teacher is the head coach for the speech team. Mrs. Gustafson has coached the SCHS Speech team for 5 years. Mrs. Gustafson is very excited about the speech season beginning this year. “We have 10 returning members on our team, so we have some strong experience coming back this year,” Mrs. Gustafson explained. Hope Pedersen, SES Art teacher and SCHS One Act Director, Chase King, SCHS English Teacher, Riley Haug, SCHS Science teacher, and Aimee Sigler are assistant coaches this year. 

Junior, Marleny Diaz de Leon, is starting her first year as a speech member. Marleny enjoys the team work, and loves the way the speech team members work together to help each other get better. Marleny’s first competition was nerve racking to her. Marleny explained that she ended up doing well for the first time. “The thing that motivates me most for putting in the work are my teammates, because I see how hard they work and it helps me put in all the effort I need for my speech,” Marleny explained. The speech team had their first competition at Twin River, January 8, earning fifteen medals and finishing third place.