Nathan and Ryan Hill have been competing as a duo in Speech and Debate since their freshman year. Their senior year is on track to be their most rewarding yet. Their duo interpretation consists of a ten-minute dialogue routine in which the actors cannot look at each other or make physical contact.
As of the beginning of 2023, the Hills have placed either first or second in every competition they attended, and have four bids for states. Their speech this year is taken from the movie “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.”
The twins have always worked together on their duo speech since freshman year, though in middle school Ryan competed solo in humorous interpretation. “We know the best ways to annoy each other, explained Ryan, “but our ‘twin telepathy’ helps us do better. Our timing and jokes flow better because of how well we know one another.”
Nathan agrees saying, “Although we sometimes fight about who’s at fault in situations, we always agree on what we want from the piece and our goals.”
Their efforts were rewarded in the 2021-2022 season, as they ended up winning the state competition in their category. They also endured virtual competitions as a result of the pandemic, but ultimately came out on top.
Their years of experience have led to them being voted squad leaders for all the other interpretation competitors at CFHS. Their role includes scheduling and helping newer members with their speeches.
“I love giving feedback on others’ speeches because I’ve grown so much in understanding and knowing what makes a great speech,” said Nathan Hill.
Additionally, their records have improved immensely since they started. “I’m more confident now,” said Ryan, “and I have better communication skills that help me as a leader in the team.”
When asked what makes him keep participating in speech every year, Ryan said, “it’s fun and a good challenge, and a great way to meet people in other grades and from other schools.”
The Hill twins’ acting talents have proved themselves over the years, and Nathan would love to continue to improve in college. “If there’s an opportunity for performance and making people laugh, I’d definitely be interested,” he said.
The Hills plan to compete in this year’s state competition in March and represent the Chagrin Falls speech and debate team. They hope that their winning record will continue this year, and they will come out on top in their last year competing.
“We are working harder than ever to perfect our performance, and we hope that it will pay off!”