The Mighty Panthers Speech Team capped their regular season with a strong runner up finish at the Lincoln High School Speech Tournament on Saturday, January 24, adding another impressive performance to an already standout year.

Delavan brought home three event championships and a total of 20 individual awards, underscoring both the team’s depth and its competitive edge heading into the postseason.

Leading the way were the Panthers’ three first place medalists:

Gwen Tierney, champion in Varsity Humorous Interpretation

Jaylyn Diekhoff, champion in Varsity Prose

Hayden Koehler, champion in JV Poetry

In addition to those top finishes, the Panthers earned 17 more individual awards across multiple categories, reflecting consistent strength throughout the roster.

Saturday’s tournament marked the final regular season meet for Delavan, who now turn their attention to the IHSA postseason. The Panthers will open regional competition on February 7 at Pekin High School, where they’ll look to carry their momentum into the post season.