The Free State Speech team poses with the state championship plaque in this contributed photo.

Updated at 2:23 p.m. Thursday

The Free State High School speech team has won the state speech championship for the third year in a row.

The team competed in the Kansas State High School Activities Association State Speech & Drama Championship on May 7 at Olathe East High School. Free State won the overall championship for the 6A category, with several students winning or placing in their events.

Free State Director of Speech and Debate Kelly Thompson said the students are “exceptionally hard-working and talented.” and confirmed that this year’s win was the team’s third in a row. And as the Journal-World reported, the Free State debate team of seniors Serena Rupp and John Marshall recently won the National Championship at the Tournament of Champions hosted by the University of Kentucky.

Following Free State in the state tournament for speech and drama was Washburn Rural High School in second and Blue Valley High School in third, according to KSHSAA results. Lawrence High School placed fifth overall. There were 30 schools that competed.

Results for Free State are as follows:

John Marshall, senior, Lincoln Douglas Debate, state champion

John Marshall, senior, Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, state champion

Emma Hefty, junior, Informative Speaking, state runner up

Ezra Joseph, senior, International Extemporaneous Speaking, 3rd place

Cella Allison, sophomore, Dramatic Interpretation, 3rd place

Molly Roecker, senior, Program of Oral Interpretation, 3rd place

Lily Otter, junior, Prose, 3rd place

Cella Allison, sophomore, Prose, 4th place

Emma Hefty, junior, Oratory, 5th place

Molly Roecker, senior, Poetry, 5th place

Anwen Williams, senior, Informative, 6th place

Semifinalists:

Cici Hunter, junior, Humorous Interpretation and Program of Oral Interpretation

Ava Ayala, sophomore, Humorous Interpretation

Results for Lawrence High are as follows:

Giulia Ventello, freshman, Dramatic Interpretation, 1st place

Jake Shew, senior, Lincoln Douglas Debate, 2nd place

Thomas Lushington, junior, Lincoln Douglas Debate, 3rd place

Clara Bode, senior, and Dominic Moore, junior, Duo Interpretation, 4th place

Frances Parker, junior, Program of Oral Interpretation, 6th place

Jake Shew, senior, United States Extemporaneous Speaking, 6th place

Semifinalists:

Kate O’Keefe, senior, Dramatic Interpretation

Rose Allgeier, freshman, and Adelaide Sivits, freshman, Duo Interpretation

Clara Bode, senior, Impromptu Speaking

Caitlin Sand, junior, Informative Speaking

Jack Stutler, junior, Informative Speaking