Southland Speech Finishes Season Strong: 3rd and 5th in IHSA Finals

Peoria, Illinois — February 18, 2023 — Southland College Prep Charter High School's “Performance in the Round” team finished third in state and junior Myka Moore placed 5th in State in “Dramatic Interpretation” Saturday in the Illinois High School Association’s 2023 State Finals Speech Championship tournament.

Southland’s “Performance In the Round” them of "self realization accomplishment at state mirrored its own journey in which every week the 16 member group, along with four coaches, expanded and improved its version.

One week earlier Southland took first place in competitions at the Richards sectional in Oak Lawn, IL. Previously, in the Lemont regional, Southland finished third to advance to sectionals.

Performance in the Round is a unique event exclusive to the IHSA in which a small group of student performers complete a timed interpretation of a script in a finite circular performance area with student direction as vital as student performance.

Improving on its exactly harmonized routine from the previous week was the team’s goal, along with qualifying to reach the finals in Peoria.

The team set a high standard, choosing the Disney film “Moana” about an adventurous teenager who is determined to accept a daring on-the-seas mission of saving her island people. Moana’s journey begins with a chance meeting of the once-mighty demigod Maui and concludes with the lead character’s self-realization during a grueling quest to reach her ancestors.

“This group practiced everyday,” said Cara Aljoe, a Southland speech coach who was a high school student of Head Speech Coach Cheryl Frazier. “Most people are not aware of the hard work it takes to get the Performance in the Round exactly right.

“The level of discipline and tenacity these young people bring at this young age is truly remarkable.”

Moore’s fifth place Dramatic Interpretation finish at state came late into Saturday night after her third performance over the grueling two-day, three-performance effort. The junior - who was “so excited to get downstate and tell my story” – has the opportunity to be back next year.

Dramatic Interpretation requires the student to interpret and present a piece of literature using voice, body and facial expression.

Moore’s selection was from the south side of Chicago author Pamela Montgomery-Bosley’s “Unanswered Prayers” included in the anthology “How Long Will I Cry? Voices of Youth Violence” edited by Miles Harvey with stories told by real people in their own words.

Moore captured and projected a mother’s pain after losing her son to gunfire in a church parking lot. Moore submerged into the mother’s anguish so extreme that the mother brings into question the value of her own life without her beloved son, once a budding artist.

Moore was making her first appearance at the state finals as a speech qualifier, following last year’s 2nd place finish in “Group Interpretation” in which she was a lead.

The 2023 Third Place Finishers in the Illinois State Performance in the Round team are:

Coaches: Cara Aljoe, Javon Smith, Malik Bibbie and Shantina Lowe.

Student Team Cast Members are: Acacia Morton, Asiah Lee, Aubrey Davis, Camyiah Finney, Chase Brown, Dajia Alford, Jacob Smith, Kara Grant, Kylee Grant, Naomi Dagba, Nicholas Harrison, Rain Coleman, Rashad Hyde, Rickaiya Bernard, Tristen Green and Tyler Rush.

“Much like the main character in the Performance In the Round storyline, these young people are experiencing a self-realization one can only achieve from trial and error - failure followed by the effort to succeed,” said Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, CEO of Southland College Prep Charter High School.

“Mrs. Frazier and her coaches have the experience and instincts to guide these young performers to confront obstacles and channel their best into success – just as in life.”