Monument sophomore Sophie Pettit and senior Brittani Hays will advance to the April 20-22 OSAA Speech State Championships at Western Oregon University in Monmouth after qualifying at the district competition held April 7-8 at Pine Eagle School in Halfway.

Two Monument High School students will compete at the April 20-22 OSAA Speech State Championships at Western Oregon University in Monmouth.

Successfully defending the district title she earned last year, Monument senior Brittani Hays was a repeat champion in Prose, placing second in Poetry at the April 7-8 district speech and debate competition held at Pine Eagle High School in Halfway where six teams competed.

Monument sophomore Sophie Pettit earned a championship in Expository and placed second in Radio Broadcast.

Pettit also earned third place and a wild card selection in the Lincoln-Douglas Values Debate for state competition.

“Our two competitors scored so well in their events that Monument High School placed third behind Hood River Valley and the host Pine Eagle,” said Monument coach Earl Pettit.

He compared the speech championships to track and field competition, in that the top two in each event qualify for state, with the addition of a few wild card selections.

Hays said she enjoyed competing with a variety of students, from 1A- to 6A-level schools.

“Everybody is so good, you really have to put a lot of drama and acting into it,” Hays said. “It was a tough competition.”

She said coach Pettit is a positive influence, giving advice about “what to do, and what not to do” for the contests.

Hays said with Prose, they take an excerpt from a book and try to tell the story as if it’s their own — she plans to share a gloomy family tale.

Sophie Pettit said Expository involves teaching about a subject using visual aids. She chose to speak about a subject she’s well acquainted with — achieving top speed in sprinting.

She said she’s looking forward to competing in the state speech finals.

“I’m a little nervous, but excited,” she said.