BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - As the St. Mary’s Central High School speech team recently won its fifth consecutive Class A Team State Speech Championship, coach El J. Arntson, who is stepping down as co-coach after 14 years, has been key in building up the program.
“First and foremost, I enjoy working with the students,” Arntson said. “There is joy in the student’s eye when they master a skill. There is awe in the face of a student when they realize that they can be successful. There is something in the body language of a student when they comprehend that being a champion is not about winning but becoming the best that they can be. I really love seeing my students do the very best they can and becoming champions within.”
If that is not useful enough, he underscores a practical aspect as well, the Bismarck Tribune (https://bit.ly/1S8I3ui ) reported.
“It is a skill that every single student needs as they prepare for life in the real world,” Arntson said. “I know that faceless, emotionless communication is the new trend, but the reality is that the human element of oral communication is never going to go away.”
Arntson says he has had the privilege to see tenacity result in success.
“One of my favorite memories is when a young man finally had success in the eyes of others,” Arntson said. “This young man had joined the speech team when he was in eighth grade. He practiced faithfully and went to tournaments without success. Through 4½ years, he never made the finals at any tournament in any event. The first weekend in March his senior year of high school, he won his first trophy and followed that up by placing in every tournament after that, including state. His ability to persevere and compete for the pure joy of speaking is something I will remember forever.”
Then there was the extremely shy girl.
“Another of my favorite memories is helping a young lady who was so shy that she couldn’t stand in front of a room and compete confidently in a number of tournaments. She never won a trophy, but just standing in front and delivering her poem was a victory,” he said.
Arntson say the past 14 years have brought him memories to carry through a lifetime. They include smiling faces, voices of student that still echo and reverberate in his ears, laughter and the job of competition. There were long bus rides, sometimes cold, sometimes early, sometimes late, each filled with a sense of community that he says cannot be duplicated.
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Four years ago, as a freshman, now-senior Katie Mastel, who would like to one day be an attorney, joined the St. Mary’s speech team. She says she has continued, not just because she enjoys it, but because it is easily applicable to so many other activities.
“I have used the techniques and abilities that I gained in speech to be successful in many other clubs and organizations,” said Mastel, adding that her favorite kinds of speech are those that entertain.
“I like to be the reason that someone smiles because I know that may be the only joy they have that day, and life is too short to not enjoy,” she said. “Impromptu is great because you have to basically make the speech up as you go and so it allowed me to be creative.”
Senior Anne Storick, a three-year member of the speech team who would like to one day be a teacher, says she likes the creative aspect as well. Her favorite division is storytelling.
“This is an event in which you are given 30 minutes to memorize the plot line of a story and then you present it in such a way that it comes alive to your audience. I like it because I can put my own twist on stories, act out all sorts of different characters, be crazy and make people laugh,” said Storick, who added that her speech activities allow her to be herself and be accepted for who she is.
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Mastel and Storick say were excited and grateful when they realized their team had won.
“Our coaches at St. Mary’s place a big emphasis on winning graciously and losing graciously,” Mastel said. “Therefore, I definitely had respect for those who took second on down, for the competition was tough and they all did very well.”
Five years ago, when St. Mary’s won its first title, the feelings were similar, according to Arntson.
“I don’t believe in wild celebrations in the auditorium when you win,” Arntson said. “I tell the students that the proper way to celebrate a win is to treat it like it is an everyday occurrence …. We celebrate this way because, if we win, that means someone else has lost. We do not ever want to build ourselves up by making someone else feel bad. We win graciously, and we lose graciously.
“On the bus coming back from the state tournament, we let the joy bubble out of our students. The first year we won, the students sang and chanted all the way from Jamestown. It’s a good thing there were no tournaments after state as the students sang themselves hoarse,” he said.
There are several secrets to the St. Mary’s team’s victories, including work ethic, recruiting, solid coaching and faith, according to Arntson.
“Our program is not about winning. It is helping the students be the best that they can be. If we follow the process, which is the most important part in high school speech, then winning will take care of itself,” Arnston said.
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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, https://www.bismarcktribune.com
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