Three Perry County students are state speech champions following a recent competition at the University of Kentucky.
A.B. Combs Elementary’s speech team, in only its second year of existence, concluded their 2011-2012 season during the last weekend of March at the Kentucky High School Speech League (KHSSL) state speech competition. The school was honored to have 15 contestants advance to the state level of competition: Kristen Feltner, Tucker Jett, Madeline Sluss, Kennedy Bailey, Breann Suffridge, Tyler Fugate, Dagen Combs, Hannah Melton, Ben Melton, Makayla Burris, Isabella Suffridge, Caitlynn Fugate, Cassidy Eversole, Katie Moore, and Mahala Walker. Many of these contestants competed in multiple categories against schools from across the state.
After three rounds of competition on Friday, March 30, eight entries advanced to semi-finals: Tucker Jett (Broadcasting, Improvisational Duo), Kennedy Bailey (Declamation, Solo Acting, and Interpretation of Literature), Madeline Sluss (Extemporaneous Speaking), Mahala Walker (Improvisational Duo), Katie Moore (Prose), and Hannah Melton (Solo Acting). Among these, five team members advanced to finals and placed among the top six in the state. Katie Moore, in her first year of competition, placed 6th in the state in Prose. Kennedy Bailey placed 5th in the state in Solo Acting. Tucker Jett placed 4th in Broadcasting.
Three of the school’s team members are now state champions. Mahala Walker and Tucker Jett won the state championship in Improvisational Duo. Hannah Melton won the state championship in Solo Acting. A.B. Combs’ team was awarded 6th place overall in sweepstakes points at the KHSSL state tournament.
School officials and coaches expressed thanks to all parents who worked so hard throughout the year to help make the team a success.









