By Shawn Hogendorf, Correspondent 

The Prior Lake High School speech team finished its most successful season ever, placing fourth out of 13 schools, in the Section 1AA meet Tuesday night.

The team also sent two individuals to the state meet.

Chloe Radcliffe and Sarah Wente advance to the state meet, set for April 19 at South St. Paul High School.

Radcliffe finished second in the prose category and Wente finished third in the extemporaneous-reading category.

Ten other speech team members made it to the final round of the sections meet, placed in the top seven overall and earned the team points.

Justine Sharkey finished fourth in poetry. Allie Lawler finished fifth in great speeches. Sam Bartel and Abby Schwingler placed fifth in the duo-interpretation category. Jacquelyn Rupp placed sixth in the original-oratory category. The following students placed seventh: Ashley Bican in prose, Becca Dymit in humorous, Josh Riddle in poetry and Jessica Young in original oratory.

This is the first time in five years Prior Lake High School sent a speech team member to the state meet, said speech team advisor Carol Ottoson. It is also the first time in five years the school had anyone make it to the section final round, she added.

The speech team will host a showcase from 7 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium at Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St., Savage on Tuesday, April 15, where the two state participants, Radcliffe and Wente, along with several conference finalists and champions will perform speeches from seven of the 13 speech categories.

The showcase will be a fund-raiser for the speech team as well as an event to generate interest and support for the speech team. The showcase is open to the public and will cost $3, or $2 with a student ID.

 Shawn Hogendorf can be reached at (952) 345-6374 or shogendorf@swpub.com.