HENRY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Susan Burton, Communications Director
Murray, KY – November 10, 2025 – The Henry County Middle and High School Speech Teams continued their dominant season over the weekend at the Racer Classic tournament hosted by Murray State University. The High School squad earned a 3rd Place Overall finish, while the Middle School team took home the 2nd Place Overall trophy in their division.
The High School team was powered by several individual champions and high-ranking finalists. The team celebrated two 1st place finishes: Timothy Tyler and Joshua Lancaster in Duo Interpretation, and Maple Townsend in Impromptu Speaking. Townsend also placed 3rd in Extemporaneous Speaking, demonstrating exceptional versatility. Additional top placements included:
Canaan Barrow: 1st in Prose and 2nd in Poetry.
Joshua Lancaster: 2nd in Prose and 3rd in Dramatic Interpretation.
Timothy Tyler: 4th in Humorous Interpretation.
AJ Wardlaw: 4th in Dramatic Interpretation and 4th in Poetry.
The Middle School team’s remarkable 2nd place overall finish was highlighted by two double-event winners. Madison Duncan (Lakewood) swept both Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking, earning 1st place in both categories. Parker Vowell (Lakewood) also secured a 1st place win in Poetry, along with a 3rd place finish in Storytelling and 4th in Radio Broadcasting.
Other notable Middle School finalists included Anna Weber (Harrelson) who placed 3rd in Declamation and Benjamin Herrera (Harrelson) who earned 3rd in Poetry.
Coach David Weatherly commended the students on their efforts, stating, "This tournament brought out the best in our students across all events. To achieve 2nd and 3rd place overall against such strong competition is a true testament to their dedication, countless hours of rehearsal, and passion for communication. We are incredibly proud of how they represent Henry County."
The Middle School team will enjoy a brief break with the next weekend off. Meanwhile, the High School team will send a small squad to compete at Dickson County on November 15th.
High School Results Summary
Event Student(s) Place
Duo Interpretation Timothy Tyler/Joshua Lancaster 1st
Impromptu Speaking Maple Townsend 1st
Prose Canaan Barrow 1st
Prose Joshua Lancaster 2nd
Poetry Canaan Barrow 2nd
Dramatic Interpretation Joshua Lancaster 3rd
Extemporaneous Speaking Maple Townsend 3rd
Middle School Results Summary
Event Student(s) Place
Extemporaneous Speaking Madison Duncan (Lakewood) 1st
Impromptu Speaking Madison Duncan (Lakewood) 1st
Poetry Parker Vowell (Lakewood) 1st
Declamation Anna Weber (Harrelson) 3rd
Poetry Benjamin Herrera (Harrelson) 3rd
Storytelling Parker Vowell (Lakewood) 3rd
Photo by David Weatherly