Members of the Lebanon High School Speech Team received their state championship rings last week in a special ceremony before the Lebanon-Marion football game.
The 2026 championship marks the fifth in a row for the Sarah Stoots-led team.
State Senator Todd Pillion and Delegate Israel O’Quinn were on hand to present the rings.
“Honored to join Delegate O’Quinn at tonight’s football game to present the Lebanon Pioneers Speech Team with a resolution commending their fifth straight State Championship,” Pillion stated. “We are incredibly proud of these students for representing Southwest Virginia across the Commonwealth.”
Team members winning individual state titles include: Alexis Potts – Prose; Brock Keen – Impromptu Speaking; and Chloee Dillon – Serious Dramatic Interpretation.
Runners-up include: Kali Saltz – Prose; Landon Owens – Extemporaneous Speaking; Sara Griffith- Poetry; Ali Beck and Ethan Powers- Humorous Duo; and Autumn Brickman and Lilly Garrett- Serious Duo.
Those who placed third in their individual categories include: Abby Amos – Original Oratory; Olivia Sizemore and Lily Webster – Humorous Duo; Mercedes Raguz – Humorous Interpretation.
Other team members include: Macie Ferguson- Original Oratory; Keaton Stallard- Humorous Interpretation; Hailey Smith- Storytelling; Saylor Sykes- Serious Dramatic Interpretation; Audra Dalton- Impromptu Speaking; Elliott Breeding- Poetry ; and Hailey Artrip- Poetry.
