Syrena Rexroat, daughter of Doug and Jozell Rexroat of Lake Leelanau, was named the fifth best speaker of 500 competitors at a national oratory contest in St. Louis.

Syrena Rexroat

Rexroat placed third in the nation in “Speech to Persuade” and made it to the quarterfinals and semifinals in two other events leading Northwood University’s forensics team to a 14th place out of 48 teams including teams from the United States Air Force Academy and the University of Pennsylvania.

In state competition the prior week, Northwood took fourth place out of 12 teams at the Michigan State Championship held at Hillsdale College. There, Rexroat became the first state champion in the history of the team, taking two first places, two second places and second “best speaker” in the entire tournament.

Syrena qualified for the Interstate Oratorical Contest to be held this month in Madison, Wis. The competition is considered the oldest speech event in the nation. Many prominent Americans, such as Herbert Hoover and Eisenhower, have competed in it. Only the top two competitors in “Speech to Persuade” are sent from each state. Rexroat is the first Northwood competitor to qualify for this tournament.

The team’s next challenge will be the National Forensics Association championships in Tennessee also in April.

Northwood has competed at 10 tournaments since September and has compiled a 90-61 record.