The Union individual speech team gathered for a team photo at the district competition in Mediapolis on Feb. 27. Pictured from left, bottom row: Emma Deaton, Dolores Cicio; middle row: Hunter Schaefer, Caitlyn Wylie, Margery Miller, Rebekah Dickerson; top row: coach Dean Bostian, Ninah Williams; not pictured: Rylee Sash. Photo provided

The Union Individual Speech Team travelled to Mediapolis on Feb. 27 to compete in the IHSSA District Speech competition. The team took a total of eight individuals that performed in 11 different events. Members of the team include Rylee Sash, Dolores Cicio, Emma Deaton, Margery Miller, Ninah Williams, Rebekah Dickerson, Caitlyn Wylie, and Hunter Schaefer.

It was a strange year with speech contests, as the team was able to perform anywhere in the state for district contest, if there was a school site hosting one.

“We were lucky enough to hook-up with Mediapolis for contest, as my sister, Jane, who was running the contest, already had it set up, and was able to slip us in easily,” Union speech coach Dean Bostian said. “The drive was a little long, but we had a great time talking and laughing all the way down. I think it really set the tone for the day.”

State contest will be in Wapello on March 13. Due to Union’s musical performance of “Into the Woods” that evening, the team will leave early, with plans to return mid-afternoon, so those who are in the musical will have time to get where they need to be. “What strikes me most is how so many of these kids are involved in other activities, and yet they give their time to be part of the speech team and get involved in the competitions,” Bostian said.

Those advancing to state and their categories include Dolores Cicio for Poetry and Literary Program, Emma Deaton for Storytelling, Rebekah Dickerson for Prose, Ninah Williams for Poetry, Cailtlyn Wylie for Original Oratory and Hunter Schaefer for Prose.