Watson earns IHSA state title

East Peoria Community High School has a current Illinois High School Association state champion in its ranks.

Speech team member Brant Watson, a senior, won the title in the humorous interpretation category Feb. 20 at the Civic Center.

Performing a piece called “How We Talk in South Boston,” Watson topped five other finals contestants to win the school’s first individual title in speech since 1971.

“I was shocked, excited. I wasn’t nervous,” Watson said of finding out the judges’ results. “I got to perform in front of well over 1,000 people.”

The champions of all 15 categories perform in front of the audience in a congratulatory ceremony.

“I’m excited to be the first to kind of get it going again,” said Watson.

Third-year teacher Jill Spear, who restarted the speech team after arriving at EPCHS, said she was thrilled when Watson finished first.

Spear fought through anxiety attacks to enjoy the celebration with Watson.

“I’m proud of all his accomplishments,” she said. “Winning state was the cherry on top of the sundae.”

Watson said it was neat how some of the other local competitors said they were excited to have someone from Central Illinois win.

One of the finals judges told Spear, “That’s one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.”

The other humorous interpretation finalists all were from north of Interstate 80, an area from which most of the winners come.

“(Speech) is just as competitive as sports. It’s even more competitive in some aspects,” said Watson.

Unlike nearly all IHSA sports, speech is an activity in which there are no classes based on enrollment.

Despite getting a late start to his season, Watson integrated seven characters into his story, using different voices and poses, for “How We Talk in South Boston.”

“It’s fun to play all those different characters. I really like that,” said Watson.

The EPCHS Student Council president was the regional and sectional champion. The top four regional and top three sectional placers moved on to the next level.

Watson had to get through two preliminary rounds at state in Peoria as the field was narrowed from 19 to six.

Watson said he definitely leaned toward the funny events and really worked on memorization, getting the characters down and taking into account the judges’ critiques of past performances.

Watson will perform in front of a completely new audience March 15 when he stands up at the school board meeting.

In his first year at state as a junior, he participated in preliminaries in humorous interpretation and humorous duet. 

That first experience in the St. Louis area was valuable.

“I definitely learned a lot from going last year,” he said.

Spear said Watson’s championship should help the Raider speech team, which consisted of 26 members this year.

“I think it will get more kids involved,” she said. “The past couple years, the team has really grown.

“I have great hopes for our future kids here at our school.”

Before its revival, the East Peoria speech program was dormant for 39 years, Spear said.

Being part of the speech team is a considerable commitment.

East Peoria took part in 12 Saturday tournaments, with individuals giving up about 14 hours per day, in a season that stretched from August through February.

Speech, which he took part in for three years, is just a portion of what encompasses Watson’s school year.

He is a member of the Raider boys cross country and track and field teams.

Watson also is involved in the school play, is the yearbook editor and part of SLT, a leadership organization.

This fall, Watson will attend Iowa State University and major in architecture.

Although he is not going to study theatre in Ames, Iowa, Watson said getting involved in it in some way is a definite possibility.