The team came out on top in the Pennsylvania High School Speech League District 1 championship for the 28th consecutive year. The students opened speech playoffs Feb. 23 by winning the top honors in this state qualifying event in Pine-Richland High School, Gibsonia, Pa.

First- and second-place winners in seven of nine individual events categories and the top three winners in prose interpretation and informative speaking earn trips to the state tournament. The event will be March 22 and 23 at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa.

Mercer placed first in team sweepstakes with 114 points. Lakeview High School placed second with 82 points.

Mercer's Alison Earnhart won her first tournament championship of the year for humorous interpretation. She earned first-place rankings and two seconds from her three preliminary round judges. She earned two firsts and a second to win the category over her team mate sophomore Woody Dixon. He was given three firsts, a pair of seconds and one third.

Samantha Gathers, a sophomore, in poetry interpretation won her first district championship with three firsts, a second and two thirds from six judges. Stephanie Morimando, a senior was one point behind in the category and was named top performer in all three of her preliminary rounds. She was given a second, third and fourth in the finals, which placed her second overall.

Leah Acker, a junior, earned first-place rankings from all six of her judges in extemporaneous speaking. This was her third consecutive District 1 championship in the category.

Tom Adams and Courtney Urey, both juniors, took top honors in duo interpretation. They received top rankings in all three preliminary rounds. They also earned two firsts and a third in the finals.

Jessica Thompson, a junior, won her first district championship in informative speaking. Five of her six rankings were first or seconds.

Alexis Burton, a freshman, picked up the second-place award in dramatic interpretation. She was given two firsts and one second during the event.

Andrew Hazi, a senior, placed second overall in persuasive speaking. His rankings included three firsts and a pair of seconds.

Tyler Love, a sophomore, claimed the runner-up award in commentary. He received first- or second-place rankings from all six judges.

Emma Waterloo, a sophomore competing in her first year of forensics, won third-place honors in prose interpretation. Her rankings included one first, a second and three third-place marks.

Three other Mercer entries are listed as alternates to the state tournament. Jonathan and Jayson Portman, both juniors, in duo interpretation; Deidre Klaiber, a sophomore, in prose interpretation; and Melissa Smith, a junior, in informative speaking.

Emily Boal, a senior, was a finalist in persuasive; Lindsay Kimes, a junior, in dramatic interpretation; and Molly McElrath, a freshman, in extemporaneous speaking.

The group also won its 10th Erie Diocesan championship in 11 years as Catholic Forensic League of Erie held its annual national qualifying tournament in Palumbo Center on the campus of Gannon University, Erie.

Competition was held in six individual events categories with the top four winners in each category earning a trip to Catholic Forensic League's Grand National Tournament, set for Memorial Day weekend in Pittsburgh. Fourteen Mercer entries, a total of 16 speakers, earned trips to the nationals. Mercer qualified at least one speaker in each individual category.

Mercer also won three sweepstakes awards, capturing the overall team title with 83 points. The group won the rhetorical sweepstakes award for overall excellence in the "speaking" categories of original oratory and extemporaneous speaking; and the interpretation sweepstakes award for outstanding performance in the "interpretation" categories of dramatic, duo and oral interpretation and declamation.

Mercer swept the top four national qualifying spots in dramatic interpretation for the second consecutive year. Woody Dixon won his first Diocesan championship as he was named top performer on five of his nine judges' ballots. Alexis Burton, a freshman, won second-place honors with first-place rankings on five ballots. Justine McCullough and Becky Lopuh, both sophomores, finished in an unbreakable tie for third place as each received first- or second-place ranks from eight of nine judges. Woody and Becky also were national qualifiers last year.

Mercer speakers won three of the four qualifying spots in original oratory. Jessica Thompson received top rankings from eight of her nine judges to win her first Diocesan championship. Melissa Smith won the third-place award with first or second places from six of nine judges. She was a national qualifier last year for declamation. Emily Boal won fourth-place honors and was top speaker on three ballots.

Mercer won the top two places in extemporaneous speaking with Leah Acker winning her second consecutive Diocesan championship and Tyler Love placing second. Leah was named top speaker on eight of nine judges' ballots. Three of Tyler's nine ranks were firsts, as he earned his second straight trip to nationals.

Mercer won qualifying spots in three other categories. Samantha Gathers turned in a solid performance, winning second-place honors for oral interpretation of prose and poetry. She received six first-place rankings and three seconds from her 12 judges in four rounds of competition.

Jayson and Jonathan Portman earned their second trip to nationals with a third-place finish in duo interpretation. They received five firsts and two seconds on the day, including firsts from all three judges in the third round.

Eric Mount and Stephanie Morimando captured the category's fourth-place qualifying position by winning a runoff for the last spot. The team received firsts or seconds from seven of nine judges in earlier rounds.

Wylie Earnhart, a freshman, won the third-place award in declamation. Sarah Hazi, a sophomore, placed fourth in the category open only to freshman and sophomores. Wylie was named the best speaker on five of nine ballots. Sarah was given either firsts or seconds by six of nine judges.

In addition to winning plaques, each national qualifier is eligible to receive annually renewable scholarships from Gannon University. First-place winners receive $2,000; second-place, $1,500; third-place, $1,000; and fourth-place, $750.