POLAND — Forensics, not the crime scene kind, the art or study of argumentative discourse and rhetoric, is thriving at Poland Regional High School. The Speech and Debate Team competed recently in the States, the season’s grand finale.
The three students that helped with this article all came to the Speech team for different reasons, but they have skills that will take them far. It takes poise and confidence to speak with a stranger. They are learning more about speaking in front of a roomful of people. The Speech and Debate Team has to raise some of its funds to compete.

Senior Hunter Oehme (say it like “Oh Me”) accidentally came to the Speech and Debate team early. When he was a freshman, the faculty advisor asked him to fill in for an ailing team member; he was hooked. Hunter fell in love with storytelling. Now that this is his last year, he plans to major in theater in college.

Cheyenne Toth, junior, comes to the Speech and Debate team through theater. She fell in love with the community feel of theater. Her specialty is Duo. She and a partner perform a two-person play. Each person has to rely on the other in the performance. Cheyenne plans to go to Colby College and get a teaching degree.

Junior Audrey Fryda took yet another path to forensics; she followed her big sister to the team. Like many little sisters, she wanted to be like big Sis. Once involved with theater, she was excited to stay. Audrey, who also performs in the Duo category, plans to carry her skills to an art degree.

Three different YAs with very different futures pending but all with the poise and confidence of future leaders.

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