The Oak Lawn Community High School Speech Team turned in a strong showing at the South Suburban Conference Speech Tournament this past December, taking third place overall in the 14-school competition hosted at their own campus.
Fourteen Oak Lawn students advanced to the final rounds, and six walked away with top-three finishes, earning “All Conference” honors. Among the standout performers, Liam Kalousek finished third in Oratorical Declamation, while Ethan Zumhagen earned third in Original Comedy. Sophie Mathews was the runner-up in Dramatic Interpretation, and Michael Concannon not only took second in Prose Reading but also earned recognition as the top novice in the event.
Two students stole the spotlight with multiple victories. Junior Natalia Gorlicka captured first place in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Original Oratory. Senior Olivia Kobylarczyk was crowned champion in Humorous Interpretation and Original Comedy, giving the team an impressive double win in their events.
Coach Mike Olsson said he was proud of the team’s performance. “Watching these students compete at such a high level is inspiring. Their dedication and preparation really paid off, and it sets a great tone as we head into the second half of the season and the IHSA State Series.”
With the first half of the season behind them, the Oak Lawn speech team looks to build on its momentum and continue making a name for itself in the regional competition circuit.