Leah Acker, a senior who has won awards in almost every level of speech competition during her six years on the Mercer team, added an NFL championship to her resume. She placed first in international extemporaneous speaking at the competition and earned the chance to compete for the second consecutive year in the NFL National Tournament June 14-21 in Atlanta.

Leah won her category by four points and was awarded top rankings in her two preliminary rounds and firsts from her three semifinal judges. Leah received a first, a second and a third in the finals and earned her seventh tournament championship of the year and her third consecutive district title of the season.

She qualified last year for nationals by placing second in the district in international extemporaneous speaking. She went on to place in the top 30 nationally in extemporaneous speaking and in the top 12 in impromptu speaking, which is a consolation event at nationals.

District competition was held Saturday for students from throughout western Pennsylvania who competed for two national qualifying positions in six national categories. Competition also was held in unofficial events of oral and impromptu speaking, which did not qualify speakers for nationals.

Samantha Gathers, a junior, won this year's district title in oral interpretation of prose and poetry. She was awarded three firsts and a second in preliminary rounds. Samantha earned a first, a second and a fifth in the finals. This was her first tournament championship of the season.

Tyler Love, a junior, was named an alternate to the national tournament after placing third in United States extemporaneous speaking. He was one point behind the second-place qualifier.

Five Mercer speakers placed fourth in their categories. Jayson Portman, a junior, placed in humorous interpretation; Melissa Smith, a junior, in original oratory; Wylie Earnhart, a sophomore, and Erica Powell, a junior, in duo interpretation; and Josh Dietrich, a freshman, in impromptu speaking.

Mercer had three dramatic interpretation finalists. Lindsay Kimes, a senior, placed fifth; Becky Lopuh, a junior, sixth; and Alexis Burton, a sophomore, seventh.

Six Mercer speakers advanced to the semifinal round of their categories before being eliminated. Jessica Thompson, a senior, advanced in original oratory; Justine McCullough, a junior, in dramatic interpretation; Polly Kyle and Michael Shomin, both freshman, in duo interpretation; and Deidre Klaiber, a junior; and Kimberly Gathers, a freshman, both in oral interpretation.