For the first time in 20 years, AHS is sending a student to the state championship for Speech and Debate.

Senior Andrew Hendrickson is going to the state competition on Saturday, March 28 from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. at Clover Hill High School.

“You’re no good, no good at all!” This is the sentence that started Hendrickson’s journey to the state competition.

English teacher Lynn Beal who mentors Hendrickson had much to say about his talented attributes.

“It didn’t surprise me that he made it to states. Andrew is an amazing student. He does not have me this year as a student, and I have yet to see his piece,” Beal said.

She added that him competing was completely blind to her.

Hendrickson will be critiqued by 60 students that are all involved in the Speech Communication class. They want to offer him feedback, but it’s up to him if he wants to take it or not.

Beal thinks Hendrickson is naturally gifted in the area of speech.

“Reaching nationals is entirely up to him,” Beal said.

Even with the pressure to compete in the state competition, he feels confident enough to be sure about his skills.

“Overall, I feel really prepared, and I’m ready for the best,” Hendrickson said.

He also said that in order for him to work on his enunciation he always puts a pencil in his mouth and recites his piece with it in.

Hendrickson believes Beal was a huge help and has taught him a lot. Beal has taught him in a class before.

“Any care that I may have had because I only received third place or that I may not make it past states was non-existent: My only thought was that, contrary to the voices in my head, I wasn’t ‘no good at all’,” Hendrickson said.

This is Hendrickson’s last sentence that he used to compete, which won him a place in the states competition, which will take place at  Clover Hill HS.

It is a huge accomplishment for Hendrickson. He doubts nationals will be his next stop, but that won’t stop him from trying.