Marking a distinct moment in Antioch Community High School history, two ACHS speech students qualified to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament in Salt Lake City this summer. Senior Gennifer Geer will compete in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, and junior Gabrielle Kalisz will compete in Humorous Interpretation.

“I am super excited because nobody from our school has ever qualified before,” Kalisz said. “Considering it’s a five-day long tournament and there will be thousands of competitors there, I am super intimidated but super excited at the same time.”

This is also a first for theater director Wanda Teddy, who has been coaching speech for twenty years.

“It’s the first time that we’ve ever been represented there,” Teddy said. “I’m always nervous because I want to make sure we’re ready.”

Geer and Kalisz also qualified to compete in the Catholic Forensics League Grand National Tournament two weeks before NSDA Nationals.

“It’ll be good practice for the big-league tournament,” Geer said. “I can’t believe we’re going to both, and I’m so proud of the entire team for coming this far.”