Latest news, weather, high school sports for Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

MARQUETTE -- Are you glossophobic; that is, afraid of speaking in public?

A group of middle school students from across the U.P. spent Wednesday afternoon being judged on their public speaking abilities at a forensics competition.  Glossophobic, they are not.

"We're trying to encourage them to develop and strengthen their speaking skills because almost every profession needs a strong speaking skill in order to grow in that area," said Bothwell Middle School teacher, Ron Strazzinski.

One of the events coaches aspiring speakers in the field of broadcasting.  Lauren Judd from Negaunee Middle School and Grant Daignault from Father Marquette both compete in the broadcast event.

"It'll help me in high school when I need to do essays in front of other people," said Judd.

"When you do your performance and you find out you get a good place, you feel really good about yourself, and it builds your confidence," said Daignault.

There are three competitions over the course of the season.  Wednesday's meet at Bothwell was this year's last.

"It's great to see the kids at the first meet when they're all kind of shy and they're not really sure what's going on, and by this event, they're very straightforward, really out there, and they're developing into who they are," Strazzinski said.

Are Lauren and Grant developing into news broadcasters?

Lauren: "No." 

Grant: "I probably won't become a broadcaster."

That's too bad, because they both impressed the judges.