Waterloo High School Speech Team Shines at State Tournament

Students from the long-running program earn multiple top finishes at the state competition.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Waterloo High School Speech Team concluded another successful season, sending several students to the state tournament and earning a number of top finishes. Led by longtime coach John Rickert, the team had an undefeated regular season and saw 12 of its members place in the top 25 among all Southern Illinois speech students. Several Waterloo students placed highly at state, including Sydney Kuergeleis who finished 5th in impromptu speaking.

Why it matters

The Waterloo High School speech program has a long and proud history, producing skilled young public speakers who develop valuable life skills like emotional resilience, teamwork, and the ability to handle criticism. The team's continued success highlights the importance of extracurricular activities that go beyond just sports and provide unique opportunities for students to grow.

The details

The Waterloo High School Speech Team is led by longtime coach John Rickert, who participated in speech himself as a student at the school in the 1990s. Rickert highlighted the immense amount of work and preparation required for speech competitions, noting that students not only have to craft their speeches, but also edit them throughout the season and support one another through peer practices. The team had an undefeated regular season and won a regional title, with 12 Waterloo students placing in the top 25 among all Southern Illinois speech competitors.

  • The speech team's season runs from late October to early March.
  • Waterloo High School sent several students to the state tournament in February 2026.

The players

John Rickert

The Waterloo High School English teacher who has served as the speech team's coach for many years, having participated in speech himself as a student at the school in the 1990s.

Sydney Kuergeleis

A Waterloo High School senior who placed 5th in impromptu speaking at the state tournament, after initially joining the speech team on a whim as a shy freshman.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's an activity that lets students who might otherwise not be heard use their voice. They not only use their voice, but they do so in a way that can, in some capacities, institute change.”

— John Rickert, Speech Team Coach (Republic-Times)

“I never imagined that I would find myself in a state final one day, but I've put a lot of work into speech over the last four years, so it really meant a lot to see my name on that poster when they dropped them, and it meant a lot to have all my teammates come out to support me.”

— Sydney Kuergeleis (Republic-Times)

What’s next

The Waterloo High School speech team will look to build on its successful season and continue developing skilled young public speakers in the years to come.

The takeaway

The Waterloo High School speech program demonstrates the value of extracurricular activities that go beyond traditional sports, providing students with unique opportunities to develop essential life skills like public speaking, teamwork, and emotional resilience.