MCC forensics team heading to state.

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Central forensics team is heading to state finals the end of this month. The team recently competed at regionals in Cadillac where 20 out of 22 students advanced to the state level.

“This regional has capped off an amazing year of competition that has seen many newcomers and old-timers find great individual success,” according to head coach Tom Richert, who has manned the team since 1990.   “We are in a rebuilding year, yet you wouldn’t know it as MCC has racked in team trophies as well as many individual trophies.”

MCC dominated regionals with regional champs: Hana Smith, Penny Petersen, Allie Johnson, Kayla Berringer, Hanna Jaworski, Aaron Hathaway, Amber Forbes and Katelyn Carr, Issac Messeder, and Preston Gigante. Second place finishers were: Riley Kruer, Jared Woods, Natalie Linnefelser, Michael Wilbur, and Ryan Rush. Third and fourth places in the regional: Chance Iles, third; Jason Mickevich, third; Michael Stewart fourth; Mirand Flores, thrid and Lauren Keller, third.

Richert said MCC started the year in January at the Avondale tournament. “We entered as a small school division only bringing nine events. The team placed first place overall and second against 19 other teams. Chance Iles was first place in broadcasting,  Hana Smith was second; Jason Mickevich was sixth place in extemporaneous; Hannah Jaworski finished fifth in Oratory 9/10, and Preston Gigante was first place in Prose 9/10.

Seaholm results placed MCC fourth out of 28 teams. Hana Smith, second place; Chance Iles third; Jason Mickevich, third; Isaach Messeder in Prose open first place; Preston Gigante, third; Riley Kruer Prose 9/10 sixth place.

Birch Run results were MCC third  out of place 25 teams competing. Hana Smith, second place; Chance Iles, third place; Penny Petersen Impromptu speaking fifth place; Kayla Berringer Sales, fifth place; Hana Jaworski third place; Issac Messeder, first place; Preston Gigante, firstt place; Riley Kruer, third and Ryland Gigante, prose 9/10, fifth place.

North Brance results were MCC finished second out of 15 teams. Hana Smith, first place; Chance Iles, sixth;  Allie Johnson, oratory open, sixth place; Hannah Jaworski, fourth; Issac Messeder, second; Preston Gigante, first, and Ryland Gigante, fifth.

Battle Creek results were MCC fourth place out of 15 teams. Chance Iles, second; Hana Smith, third; Hannah Jaworski, fourth; Issac Messeder, first, and Preston Gigante, third.

Alma results were MCC first place out of 18 schools. Hana Smith, first; Chance Iles, second; Jason Mickevich, first; Michael Stewart, extemporaneous, third; Penny Petersen, second; Michael Wilbur Informative, second place; Kayla Berringer, second; Hannah Jaworski;, Amber Forbes, Katelyn Carr, duo, third;  Jarret Smith, Poetry, seventh; Issac Messeder, first; Lauren Keller, storytelling, fourth; Preston Gigante, first; Riley Kruer, second, and Ryland Gigante, fourth.

MCC took a small team to Portage Northern tournament and placed first in small school and finished sixth overall out of 19 teams.  Hana Smith, fourth; Penny Petersen, fifth;  Issac Messeder, third; and Preston Gigante, second.

Holland results: MCC finished sixth out of 17 teams. Hana Smith, third;  Chance Iles, fifth; Jason Mickevich, third; Michael Stewart, seventh; Ryan Rush, impromptu, sixth; Issac Messeder, second, and Preston Gigante, second.

MCC will compete April 29 and 30 at Central Michigan University for the state finals. In the last two years the team has been state runners-up and Coach Tom Richert said he hopes this powerful team can finally bring home a state championship. Richert’s assistant coaches are Nate Petersen and Rebekah Lane.