MHS performs well at State Forensics, taking 7th place overall
Not everyone can say they are the best in the state, but Moundridge High School senior Ella Schrag can.
Schrag and her team of fellow actors and speakers competed at the Kansas State High School Activities Association Class 2A Forensics Tournament May 2 at Sedgwick High School.
After a nearly 12-hour day, Schrag emerged as the top speaker in the state.
She won extemporaneous speaking, which requires participants to draw a topic and craft a speech within 30 minutes before delivering it to judges.
The win, which was announced during the awards ceremony, caught Schrag off guard.
“They kept calling more names off. As they were getting closer to first place and my name wasn’t being called, I was surprised, and I was feeling more shocked the longer it went,” she said. “And then it was just really exciting when they announced second place, and it wasn’t me. I think my jaw dropped.”
Kendall Vogts, in her second year as MHS forensics coach, was happy for Schrag.
“I was so excited for Ella,” she said. “It is much deserved.”
For transparency’s sake, it should be noted that Vogts is the wife of Plains Pilot publisher Todd R. Vogts, and she is a co-owner of the publication.
Taking first in extemporaneous speaking wasn’t her only success at the state tournament.
Schrag also took second place in original oration, which is a prepared persuasive speech, and she and her brother, sophomore Cole Schrag, came in at eighth place in duet acting.
“With oration, a lot of times content really matters. It’s a speech that everyone has memorized, and everyone can do it perfectly and polished. So, oration is a lot more difficult it feels like because everyone is really, really good, and I’m about at the same level,” Ella Schrag said.
Over the course of the day, Schrag took part in three events, each requiring performances during the three preliminary rounds, one semi-finals round, and one finals round. In total, Schrag performed 14 times.
With such a grueling schedule, Schrag barely had time to enjoy the day.
“I was just trying to get my events done like every other round,” she said. “Make it on time and do them well.”
Kendall Vogts said Schrag having success wasn’t a surprise.
“She is one of the hardest workers I know,” she said. “She puts in the work during school and outside of school. She definitely had a goal of improving on her last three state tournament appearances. She wanted to go out with a bang, and she made it happen.”
Schrag attributed her work ethic to her parents, who always encourage her to try new things and put forth her best effort.
“I would say that my parents have made me a very hard worker, but all the pressure that I put on myself has never been from them. They are very supportive and want me to be happy,” she said. “So, at whatever level, they want me to do my best, but there’s not necessarily a specific standard that I’ve been expected to meet from them. So just wanting to do my best and put my best work out there motivates me, not necessarily defined by a specific placing. I think that mindset has been really important to be able to actually place well, just not expecting a specific number.”
Part of that hard work included practicing her speeches on the way to swim practice in McPherson, where the 18-year-old was part of the McPherson High School team through a cooperative agreement and ended up qualifying for the state swim meet representing Moundridge in the 100-yard butterfly race.
“If I like something, I need to put a lot of time into it. I don’t really want to do something and only put half my effort into it. It would feel like a waste of time,” she said. “Forensics is really fun. I found a lot of enjoyment in it, and then it’s also fun to see successes from all the hard work you put in.”
Schrag seems to find enjoyment in a lot of activities.
During her high school career, in addition to forensics and swim, she was a cheerleader, on the two-time state championship scholar’s bowl team, participated in art, worked as a lifeguard at the local pool and played in the band, among others.
Next year, Schrag will attend Kansas State University and major in human resources management.
Schrag said forensics has prepared her for her future.
“I got a lot more confident just with speaking and having interactions and being able to think on the spot,” she said. “Also, it helped me as a person. Now, when I’m not necessarily meeting the standard that I hold for myself, I am able to recognize that and work past it, and I’m more able to take critiques and hear from others to work to improve instead of just being disappointed in myself when things don’t turn out how I want.”
In addition to Schrag, other members of the MHS forensics team saw success.
Overall, the team took seventh place, coming up one point short of a three-way tie for fifth place.
“The team had a great showing at the state tournament,” Vogts said. “We had some really high highs and a couple of low lows.”
In addition to Schrag and her brother, numerous students placed individually.
Senior Lela Winsor took fourth in extemporaneous speaking, seventh in impromptu speaking and 13th in informative speaking.
Juniors Gavin and Andrew Porter placed 4th in the state for improvised duet acting.
Sophomore Laila Samland was 12th overall in oral interpretation of prose.
Freshman Kassydi Martens took 13th solo humorous acting.
“I am pleased with the performances. I’m proud of the kids,” Vogts said. “But, as a coach and a competitor, you always want more, and this year set us up quite nicely to continue to have success at the state tournament.”
Other students who competed at state included senior Jack Knoll, who won the 2026 Edwin R. Stucky Debate Scholarship; sophomores Joshua Seeger, Kayden Yost and Kippley Lintecum; and freshman Zoey Fiedler.
With the season over, Vogts said she will miss students like Schrag.
“I’m losing four seniors who scored us a lot of points, and who had a lot of success. Their leadership will be missed,” she said.
Still, the future looks bright, according to Vogts.
“I have a lot of returners who will continue to grow and work us toward a top-three team finish in years to come,” she said. “The program is growing in general, so that opens a lot of doors.”
