Ranger Voices, Park High’s speech, drama, and debate team, kicked off practices on October 3 in preparation for the first meet on November 11 in Miles City. The team has over 30 competitors competing in at least 15 events this year, compared to last year’s 29 competing in 12 separate events. The team has been slowly gaining momentum and members since Keaton Ramm took over as head coach in 2018, growing from five members who had to compete virtually in 2020 to a team over 30 strong this year with many new freshmen included in the roster.
Last year, the Voices placed in speech overall and with Victoria Gasparakis placing first in memorized public address, Matthew Melin and team Leo Mitchell and Lola Frykberg placed second in Humorous Solo and policy debate respectively at state divisionals.
Several competitors will compete in at least four different speech events this year alongside defending state champion Vicki Gasparakis who will be competing in memorized public address and dramatic oral interpretation.
Senior Fiona Shinn has been competing since her freshman year and is hopeful of her prospects in the coming season. “I would love to win state, but I don’t mind if I don’t,” Shinn said. Starting out as the only freshman on a team of five, Shinn was not discouraged by the small team or the hardships of virtual competitions. Four years later she will spend her last high school season competing in humorous oral interpretation and impromptu. She’s confident in getting top three in humorous interpretation and top eight in impromptu, as this is the first year she will compete in impromptu. Shinn has stuck with the team through many hardships including the virtual season in 2020 and the bus driver shortages, but none of these obstacles have discouraged her from competing every year of her high school experience.
As the only member that has competed all four years, Shinn has watched the team grow from humble beginnings into a powerhouse with the potential to place at state for speech this year. High hopes for the team’s overall placement is not where The Voices’ ambitions end. Five competitors including Victoria Gasparakis, Leo Mitchell, and Fiona Shinn are hoping to take top three in the state in their respective events.
Senior Leo Mitchell will be competing in policy debate for the third year in a row with partner junior Alice Addicott. After Mitchell placed top eight in state last year with her partner Lola Frykberg, and took third in state with partner Nadia Kirk two years ago, they are determined to place first this year.
With 17 returning competitors and at least 17 new members adding to the team, The Voices are anxious to start the new season and see what successes this year will bring. As they prepare for the five month season with 10 meets on the calendar, dedication and ambitions are high.
