MCPHERSON — Sophia Heim’s quick thinking brought her another top honor Saturday.
The Marmaton Valley High School senior brought home second place overall in extemporaneous speaking at the Class 1A State Speech and Drama Championships, hosted by McPherson High School.
Extemporaneious speaking involves students presenting an argument on a question they receive just minutes before they are to perform.
Heim was required to speak about President Trump’s opposition to renewable energy, and its impact on climate change regulation.
This is Heim’s second consecutive runner-up finish in extemporaneous speaking at the state competition.
Heim also competed in original oration, placing 12th, and impromptu speaking, finishing 14th.
OTHER state competitors for Marmaton Valley:
Colin Ard also competed in extemporaneous speaking, placing 16th. He finished 18th in original oration.
Brendon Newman and Mason Ferguson took 26th and 32nd, respectively, in prose.
Marmaton Valley finished 19th as a team.
Heim and Ard will have one more competition to wrap up the year when they travel to the Grand National Tournament in Washington, D.C., May 23. Heim will compete in extemporaneous speaking; Ard in original oration.
THE MARMATON Valley contingent had a busy 2026 season.
A synopsis of their placings follows:
@ Iola:
— Heim, fifth in United States Extemporaneous, 14th in Original Oration, seventh in Informative Speaking
— Ard, 12th in Original Oration
