For the third consecutive year, the Boone Central speech team won the team sweepstakes title at a very competitive Mid-State Conference Tournament last Saturday, Feb. 24, at Hartington Cedar Catholic.

Seniors Taylor Beierman and Bella Meyer picked up All-Conference honors. Taylor was the champion in one event and runner-up in two others. Bella was the champion in two events and runner-up in one.

Boone Central won the team competition with 270 points, while Wayne was second with 238.

“The coaches and I were very proud of how we competed at this notoriously tough meet. Every Cardinal that competed scored points for the team, and 17 of our 19 entries broke into finals,” he said. A very tough Wayne squad made each one of those final entries important in the end,” said coach Joel Sup, who also expressed appreciation to parents, friends and families for their support.

“I am so impressed with the abilities, work ethic and drive to compete that our students possess,” he said. “I hope they realize just how difficult it is to win this tournament one time. To secure three of them in a row is something they should look at with a great deal of satisfaction!”

Following are the conference tournament event placings for Boone Central:

• Program Oral Interpreetation (POI) - Bella Meyer, champion; Jordan Patzel, fourth.

• Persuasive Speaking - Taylor Beierman, runner-up.

• Serious Prose - Bella Meyer, champion; Jordan Patzel, fifth.

• Poetry - Bella Meyer, runnerup; Emma Lordemann, third.

• Humorous Prose - Myranda Nelson, runner-up.

• Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID) - “Ben Hur” (Brooke Brengelman, Josh Erickson, Edwin Naranjo, Sydney Spangler and Riley Lordemann), runners-up; “The Father” (Nathan Devine, Myranda Nelson, Madison Gompert, Eloise Martinez and Emma Lordemann), fifth.

• Informative Speech - Taylor Beierman, champion.

• Extemporaneous Speech - Taylor Beierman, runner-up; Edwin Naranjo, fifth.

• Entertainment Speech - Dayna Sharp, fourth; Audra Groth, fifth.

• Duet Acting - Brittany Sup and Katelyn Curry, third; Emma Lordemann and Riley Lordemann, fifth.

The Cardinals are now preparing for the District Speech Tournament to be held Monday, March 11, at Atkinson West Holt.