Graves County Senior Michael Black was awarded Regional Champion in Poetry and Runner-Up in Impromptu Speaking in the first ever digital Kentucky High School Speech League Regional Tournament.

This qualifies Black for the state tournament to be held in March.

To prepare for a poetry performance, Black must arrange an original collection of authors based on a theme.

¨It is less about me writing poems and is more about me being able to present poems from other people and make them my own, ” explained Black.

This year, Black received his inspiration from his long-term relationship, choosing poems that express emotions of love and dedication.

Black then performed his collection in front of a panel of judges, who  score his performance based on the tone and deliverance of the poetry. Clearly, they were impressed.

Black has been captain of the GCHS Forensics team since 2019.