PEORIA, Ill. (WSIL) -- Two southern Illinois students were crowned as state champions as part of the IHSA Speech State Finals over the weekend.
A student with the Benton Community High School Drama club is celebrating after taking 1st place in Impromptu speaking in the finals.
Parker Johnson was crowned as state champion in the Impromptu Speaking on February 22, winning over Skylar Adams from York and Nora Thomber from Lemont.
Johnson is part of the Benton High School team and was celebrated by friends, family and the community coming home after the win. He was joined by Amelia Messersmith and Josie Webb which also made the trip to Peoria.
Another state champion was Bella Teston as she was announced as a state champion by taking home 1st in the IHSA Speech State Final in Prose Reading.
Teston is part of the Harrisburg High School team which sent multiple Harrisburg state qualifiers to the event.
Teston won over Ruby Corral from Reavis and Stella Hoyt from Homewood-Flossmoor.
