Tyler Love, a junior, placed first out of 77 contestants in radio announcing at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League state tournament Friday and Saturday at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

Tyler, who participates in extemporaneous speaking at regular-season competition, became the school's second consecutive state champion in radio and became Mercer's third state champion radio announcer. The title was earned last year by Eric Mount and in 1984 by David Hogue.

Seven Mercer speakers placed in the top 12 to 14 in their categories, earning them semifinal round spots. Three advanced to the finals by placing in the top six in their categories.

The competition featured students who qualified by ranking in the top two or three of their categories at 12 district qualifying tournaments throughout the state. Tyler was given three second-place rankings and a fourth from his four judges. After receiving a second-place overall ranking from his three semifinal-round judges, he was the dominant speaker in the finals and was given four first-place rankings and a third to win the tournament by seven points.

Lindsay Kimes, a senior, placed third in the state for dramatic interpretation. After being ranked in the top half of her competition by half of her preliminary round judges, she received a third-place overall ranking in the semifinals. Lindsay was given one first, three fourths and a fifth in the finals. Woody Dixon, a junior, was a state finalist for the third consecutive year in humorous interpretation. He was ranked in the top three by four of his six preliminary round judges. Woody dominated the competition's semifinals with first-place rankings from all three judges. He received a fourth and four sixth-place marks in the category's finals to place sixth overall in the state. Four Mercer speakers were recognized for placing in the top 12 of their categories and all came within one speaker ranking of advancing to the final round.

Samantha Rock, a senior, had two firsts, three seconds and a third from her six preliminary-round judges in impromptu speaking. She was given a second, third and sixth in the semifinals and missed qualifying for the finals by one point.

Erica Powell, a junior, and Wylie Earnhart, a sophomore, had four third-place rankings and five fourths in duo interpretation. They came up just short of placing in the elite six in the category. Leah Acker, a senior, received a first, three seconds, a third and a fifth from six preliminary round judges in extemporaneous speaking. She then was given a second, third and six in the semifinals to miss qualifying for the finals by one rank. Two Mercer speakers narrowly missed qualifying for elimination rounds. Alison Earnhart, senior was one point short in humorous interpretation. Megan Zigo, a sophomore, came up two points short of semifinal-round qualification in informative speaking.