AMBOY – It’s true.

A lot of us get wrapped up in junior high and high school sports and we forget, there may be other things going on or available to join.

One option is the Amboy Junior High School speech team.

Since 2010, Yvonne Vicks has helped kids do their best as they receive a script, memorize it, act it out, and then put on a small play without props.

Over the last 14 seasons, Vicks has had more than 15 performances earn top ranking including on Friday, Nov. 1 in Ladd at the IESA Area 6 Speech Contest.

Kylee Zellhofer, Leah Bonnell, Amelia Kant and Caiddie Phelps formed the quartet which won the small group competition and Vern Patterson and Jack McCoy won the duet classification.

“Our numbers have gone down over the last few years. It’s difficult when we compete with volleyball, basketball, and football to get student’s interest, but we have a pretty strong team with the kids we have,” Vicks said. “They are dedicated and willing to take direction. The speech team is kind of misunderstood because people think speech team members just stand up and give a speech. It’s actually an introduction to acting.”

The AJHS speech team winners received medals for their efforts and accomplishments.

The medals were not the only proof of award the team earned as the Kant, Zellhofer, Phelps, and Bonnell received certificates for the Judge’s Choice Award.

Criteria for the Judge’s Choice Award is based on the overall quality of the performance, which includes an understanding of selection, audience participation, and entertainment value.

At the IESA Area 6 Speech Contest there were 93 performances and only 10 received the Judge’s Choice Award.