In a stunning display of talent and dedication, the Moorhead High School Speech Team secured their eighth consecutive Minnesota Class AA State Championship at Shakopee High School on April 20. Moorhead finished a dominant day at the state tournament with more than twice as many sweepstakes points (98) as their closest competitors (Apple Valley, 46).
The team's remarkable performance was further exemplified by the individual success of three standout students who claimed state titles in their respective categories: Eleanor Culloton in Informative Speaking, Evan Froslie in Storytelling and Davie Judd in Serious Interpretation of Poetry.
Other Spud top finishers included:
Creative Expression - Miriam Culloton (4th), Sophia Dehmer (7th)
Discussion - Nicholas Dahmen (2nd)
Duo Interpretation - Luc duCharme and Menkayla Kruah (4th), Sienna Lee and Ubin Kim (6th)
Great Speeches - Elise Halvorson (2nd), Macy Larson (5th)
Humorous Interpretation - Ashlyn Kanuch (4th)
Informative Speaking - Karena Christenson (5th)
Original Oratory - Sam Schaefer (3rd)
Serious Interpretation of Drama - Emma Anderson (2nd), CeCe Bedore (3rd), Nirvana Robertson (7th)
Serious Interpretation of Poetry - Lucie Swanson (5th)
Serious Interpretation of Prose - Leif Carlson (4th), Tim Gabbard (8th)
Moorhead claimed sweepstakes points in 11 of the 13 events at the state tournament; no other school finished with points in more than seven events.
The team's success is a testament to the tireless efforts of both students and coaches who have dedicated countless hours to honing their craft and perfecting their performances. Moorhead High School's Speech Team continues to set the standard for excellence in speech competition, inspiring future generations of students to pursue their passions and strive for greatness.
Speech will wrap up the 2024 season at the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, June 16-21.