Revival of Chaney speech team nets tourney berths

YOUNGSTOWN

The first season of the revived Chaney High School Speech and Debate Team netted two students earning alternate status for the state tournament and others looking forward to next year’s season.

“I love speech,” said freshman La’Rayja Hill, 14. “I miss it.”

La’Rayja and her partner, Chiray Chew, 14, and also a freshman, competed in the duo interpretation category. Two people act out a scene or scenes from a play or show, portraying different characters, actions and emotions. Each person may act out more than one character, but props are prohibited.

La’Rayja and Chiray placed fourth at the tournament at Poland Seminary High School and their performance throughout the season made them alternates for the state tournament last weekend.

This school year was the first the city schools fielded a team since 2006 when the program faded.

It was revived last year when Attys. Alan Kretzer and Carl James, who is involved with the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods, worked with the Youngstown Foundation to create the Youngstown City School District Speech and Debate Fund which initially totaled $10,000.

The fund raises money from the community to support the team.

Read more about the program and the foundation in Saturday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.