Granite City High Speech Team Advances to State Tournament

GRANITE CITY - Granite City High School’s speech team has qualified for the Illinois High School Association State Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 20-21, 2026, in Peoria, according to the Granite City School District #9.

The district congratulated the team on its state qualification and highlighted individual and group results from the qualifying round.

Bug Wise was listed as a state qualifier in extemporaneous speaking, placing second, and in impromptu speaking, placing third.

The district also recognized “Performance in the Round” state qualifiers, who placed third: Landon Phillips, Mackenzie Garcia, Khloe Nicol, Jesus Atilano, Hailey Jensen, Lily Booker, Gabriela Gutierrez, Brooke Babillis, Peyton Shipley, Carleigh Graham, Delaynie Carnahan, Madyson Talley, Kaniyah Hunter, Lily Kupinski, and Ava Ghirardi.

“We are proud of your hard work and wish you the best of luck at State,” the Granite School District said in a statement.

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