Gothenburg speech team members were disappointed they didn’t qualify for the National Forensic League national meet this year but three seniors are alternates.

During a three-day meet, last Thursday through Saturday in Cheyenne, WY, three students made it into the finals round—Makayla Franzen in humorous intepretation, Jeramie VanAcker in dramatic interpretation and Cale Moore in international extemporaneous speaking.

Franzen was then chosen as a first alternate while VanAcker finished as a second alternate.Moore is a fourth alternate.

The top two performers in each event qualify.

Speech team advisor Dan Jensen said the students performed well.

“The contest days were excruciatingly long and late in the day but despite those conditions, the kids remained focused and put as much energy as possible into their events,” Jensen said.

He noted that Cheyenne East High School was especially powerful and took many of the qualifying positions.

Students from Nebraska, Wyoming and South Dakota competed at the meet.

Swedes who competed, their events and rank in each round is as follow:

Duo interpretation—Makayla Franzen and Jeramie VanAcker, 5, 1, 1, 3, 4, semi finals; Carlie Stevens and Kayla Trevino, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, semi finals); Mackenzie Brand and Carlin Daharsh, 6, 6.

Dramatic interpretation—Jeramie VanAcker, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 1, finals fifth place; Betsy Potter, 3, 1, 3, 5, 5; Mackenzie Brand, 2, 3, 5, 5; Ashley Wilkerson, 5, 2, 4.

Humorous interpretation—Kristin Bartlett; 6, 5; Makayla Franzen, 3, 2, 2, 1, 4, 1, finals fourth place; Carlie Stevens, 2, 3, 5, 5.

U.S. extemporaneous speaking—Kristin Bartlett, 6, 5; Ashley Wilkerson, 1, 3, 4, 2, 4; Kayla Trevino, 2, 1, 4, 5.

International extemporaneous speaking—Cale Moore, 1, 3, 3, 5, 1, finals sixth place; Carlin Daharsh, 1, 2, 4, 2, 3, semi finals; Betsy Potter, 1, 4, 2, 4; Jon Rehmert, 4, 1, 2, 5.

Original oratory—Cale Moore, 2, 2, 5, 4; Jon Rehmert, 3, 4, 4.