The speech team has grown exponentially over the past year from a team of about five to now 26. The team is essentially public speaking in different categories like prose, impromptu speaking , and even informational speaking.
Diego Mateo, the coach for the speech team, has only been coaching one year at South and has already seen improvements in the speech team.
“From what I have known from the past at Plainfield South, the speech team has been pretty small, very tight-knit and small with some really good successes so even though their small but mighty, and this year we have more than two coaches. We have a coaching staff, and some guest coaches,” said Mateo.
The speech team captain is Jaxon Garrison, a senior who has been doing speech team since his freshman year, who joined because of a family friend who enjoyed it very much and he decided to join.
“Speech is the most amazing and important activity there is. My favorite thing about speech is the people. The people who do speech are the most inclusive, diverse, and intelligent people you will ever meet. Being surrounded by them not only motivates me to be a better speaker, but a better person,” said Garrison.
The team has competitions on Saturdays at different schools throughout the school year. The many categories require different skill sets, most being public speaking and acting.
The team also allows for members to go through personal growth and improvement.
“I love how speech team allows for personal growth. It is so rewarding to work with a piece for a season and watch how you improve and change things to continue to get better. With feedback from judges, we know exactly how to get better,” said Megan Beintum, a senior who has been doing the speech team for four years.
The speech team is welcoming to any new members that join the speech team and support each other to help each other grow.
“The team members in the speech are very supportive. Public speaking can be a very scary thing, but because speech people are so friendly, it helps people practice without as much pressure. Who cares if you crashed and burned and forgot your whole speech? No one judges you, even the judges at competitions themselves give good advice and see the potential, not the mishaps. As the season has progressed, the speech team has also gotten a lot closer, so every time someone places at a competition or wins something, the team are D1 supporters,” said Victoria Tran, senior.
Mateo has stated that there are four openings still on the speech team for any potential new members. Anyone interested can email him at [email protected].
