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HARTINGTON – Cedar Catholic High School speech team members are prepared to put their competitive speaking skills to the test this season.
Cedar Catholic co-hosted the Hartington-Newcastle/Cedar Catholic Invitational on Jan. 27 and saw its students compete at the 2024 edition of the meet.
Two Cedar Catholic students placed in the Champs Final – the top six individual finishers – of the varsity division of Poetry: Senior Elizabeth Rokusek, first, and senior Madison Kuchta, sixth. Junior Ben Kleinschmit placed first in the junior varsity division of Serious Prose.
“This weekend, I was so very proud of all the members of my small but mighty team,” Cedar Catholic head speech coach Jennifer Kleinschmit said. “Everyone on the team worked hard and got some positive feedback that we can build on for this coming weekend when we travel to Wayne.”
Kleinschmit has taken over the role of Cedar Catholic’s head speech coach from Beth Sindelar.
“I was assistant coach for five years, and this is my sixth year with my first as being head coach,” Kleinschmit said. “My assistant is Audrey Freeman, and I am blessed to have her help.
“I am optimistic that we will have a successful season, although it has gotten off to a slow start with the (winter) weather,” she said. “Even though I do have some nervous feelings about being the head coach, I am feeling blessed that God has led me to this new chapter of my career.”
She began meeting in early December with her speech students.
“This year, I have eight students,” Kleinschmit said. “Although we are small in numbers, my students are talented and work very hard.
“My students have been working hard, especially since they are involved in so many other school activities, and many have jobs outside of school as well,” she said.
The Cedar Catholic speech team is made up of the following students this season: - Elizabeth Rokusek, senior: Poetry, Humorous Prose and Oral Interpretation of Drama.
- Anneliese Kleinschmit, senior: Serious Prose and Entertainment Speaking.
- Madison Kuchta, senior: Poetry, Program of Oral Interpreation and Oral Interpretation of Drama.
- Grace Wortmann, senior: Oral Interpretation of Drama.
- Kristine Becker, senior: Oral Interpretation of Drama.
- Ella Bowers, senior: Oral Interpretation of Drama.
- Ben Kleinschmit, junior: Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking and Serious Prose.
- Breah Steffen, sophomore: Poetry and Persuasive Speaking.
- Ava Stewart, sophomore: Informative Speaking.
“Elizabeth is a returning twotime State qualifier in Poetry,” coach Kleinschmit said. “Madison medaled at Districts in POI last year, and we have our eyes on State this year. Ben was a fourth-place medalist at Districts in Extemp last year, (and is) working hard for a State qualification this year. Ava was a District medalist in Informative last year so she has her eyes on State as well.”
Cedar Catholic is competing in Class C2 this season.
“Every year, I want the kids to medal more than they did the year before, but also, and more importantly, I want them to gain confidence in themselves and have fun using their God-given talents,” Kleinschmit said. “I hope that they learn they are amazing and capable of more than they realize. Hard work, determination and faith pay off.”
She explained what she enjoys about coaching speech.
“I love seeing the kids use their God-given talents of public speaking,” Kleinschmit said. “Speech is not for the faint of heart, and many are too nervous to put themselves out there to get judged. This is truly a life skill that is valuable for a lifetime.
“Since I teach at the elementary school, it is also fun for me to get the chance to work with students again that I taught when they were young,” she said. “Additionally, I am blessed to be coaching my son Ben for the third year in a row. My oldest daughter graduated last year and it’s just so great to be able to share activities with your kids in this way.”
After co-hosting its own meet on Jan. 27 to open the speech season, Cedar Catholic hit the road to Wayne on Feb. 3 for the Wayne High/ Wayne State Classic.
Cedar Catholic then will compete at Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family on Feb. 9, at Wausa on Feb. 10 and at Crofton on Feb. 17, followed by the Mid-State Conference Speech Meet on Feb. 24 at Cedar Catholic and the Pierce speech competition on March 2.
The District C2-3 speech contest has been scheduled for March 11 at Hartington-Newcastle. The 2024 Nebraska School Activities Association State Speech Championships for Class C2 are set for March 21 at Kearney High School.
Kleinschmit noted she is looking forward to seeing her fellow coaching colleagues at speech meets this season, as well as celebrating successes with her speech students and watching them have fun.
“I’m grateful for all of my students, my assistant coach Audrey Freeman and the support we get from our administrators, Dr. Dan Hoesing and Chad Cattau, as well as parents and community members,” Kleinschmit said.
She noted she also is looking forward to Cedar Catholic’s speech team growing in the future.
“I still work with sixth-grade speech students at Holy Trinity (Elementary), and the first group that I worked with will be freshmen next year,” Kleinschmit said. “I look for our team numbers to start increasing quite a bit over the next two to four years.”
