Boone Central varsity speech team collected the sweepstakes win in their final regular season meet at Pierce last Saturday, but it was a “nail biter” according to coach Joel Sup.

That makes nine team championships in nine meets this season, including the Mid-State Conference championship.

The Cardinals had a runner-up finish at Wayne and a third place at David City, representing their best finish in those two meets.

Most of the Cardinal speech team traveled to the Pierce meet, competing in a rescheduled event due to the snow storm in January. This was the final regular season meet for Boone Central, and a few team members were missing due to other scheduled activities.

“Some of our speakers were also battling illness,” said coach Sup. “Despite this, the team pulled out a one point win with a true team effort. I was extremely proud of the effort of all of our team members. Our JV team members had their best meet of the year. Grant, Eloise, Molly, Jacob, and Audrey showed why the future of Cardinal speech is bright.”

“On the varsity side, the team win was secured by season best efforts from many team members,” coach Sup said. “Kate Maricle has been an impressive varsity extemp speaker all season. She has been knocking on the door of making finals at nearly every meet. On Saturday, Kate broke through and scored a sixth place finish. Madison Gompert made humorous prose finals and in a stellar performance, came away with her first championship in the event. Taylor Beierman continued to show why she is among the best to ever compete for the Cardinals in speech.”

“The coaches knew this meet would be a tough one to win and we asked our kids to bring their best to all of their events. They responded well, overcoming a 14-11 finalist entry deficit to runner up Wayne.”

Coach Sup again expressed his pride in the entire team.

“We have students who do not make our post season team that would be stars on some other teams,” he said.. “We appreciate their efforts so much, and it is those students who help fuel and maintain our competitive but teambased culture.”

He also again expressed appreciation to all supporters, including bus drivers, coaches and parents.

The Cardinals will compete next in the C1-5 District Tournament at Atkinson West Holt on Monday, March 11.

A date has not yet been finalized for the Cardinal Speech Showcase for the public in Albion.

Following are the Pierce meet results for Boone Central: Varsity Sweepstakes

The Cardinals scored 48 points in the team race, and Wayne wsa only one point behind with 47.

Other team scores in the varsity sweepsakes were: O’Neill 32, Schuyler 30, and Humphrey 26.

Junior Varsity Sweepstakes O’Neill, first with 56 points; Pierce 43, Humphrey 34, Boone Central 20, Schuyler 10.

Boone Central Event Results • JV Duet Acting - Molly Harris and Audrey Meyer, fifth.

• Varsity Duet Acting - Brittany Sup and Katelyn Curry, third.

• JV Extemporaneous - Grant Kuta, champion.

• Varsity Extemporaneous - Edwin Naranjo, runner up; Taylor Beierman, third; Kate Maricle, sixth.

• JV Informative Speaking Eloise Martinez, champion; Grant Kuta, runner up.

• Varsity Informative Speaking Taylor Beierman, runner up.

• JV Humorous Prose - Jacob Smith, sixth.

• Varsity Humorous Prose Madison Gompert, champion.

• Varsity OID: “The Father” (Nathan Devine, Madison Gompert, Myranda Nelson, Emma Lordemann and Eloise Martinez), third.

• Varsity Poetry - Emma Lordemann, champion; Jordan Patzel, runner up.

• Varsity POI - Jordan Patzel, third.

• Varsity Persuasive Speaking Taylor Beierman, third.