Speech team takes first at weekend tournament

FAIRMONT — On Saturday, Feb. 11, 32 participants of the Fairmont Speech team competed at The “Crusader Classic” Speech Tournament at Mankato Loyola in Mankato, Minn.

In team sweepstakes, Fairmont took 1st place with 122 points, St. Clair took 2nd place with 84 points, and Mankato West took 3rd place with 76 points. Results from the varsity division are: In creative expression, senior Lauren Wheeler took 2nd place and senior Sasha Franzen took 5th place; In discussion, senior Solveig Senf took 1st place; In dramatic interpretation, junior Selvin Forsythe took 3rd place; In duo interpretation, sophomores Grace Simpson and Oliver Thedens took 1st place; In extemporaneous speaking, sophomore Dominick Lund-May took 2nd place, and junior Andrew Haefner took 5th place; In great speeches, Isaiah Lockwood took 1st place; In humorous interpretation, senior Christian Thom took 5th place; In informative speaking, senior Lilly Laven took 5th place; In original oratory, junior Abi Peyman took 2nd place, junior Selvin Forsythe took 3rd place, and sophomore Alayna Haefner took 4th place; In storytelling, sophomore Grace Simpson took 1st place.

Results in the novice division are: 7th grader Adriana Leiding took 4th place; In extemporaneous speaking, freshman Levi Loughmiller took 1st place, and 8th grader Clark Hazard took 3rd place; In informative speaking, sophomore Kelsey Hunter took 1st place, and freshman Leila Caballero took 3rd place; In original oratory, sophomore Alex Ensrud took 2nd place; In prose, freshman Bryanna Petschke took 1st place; In storytelling, 7th grader Avery Steuber took 4th place, and 7th grader Michelle Esquivel took 5th place.

The speech team heads to Mankato West on Saturday, Feb. 18, to compete at the “Scarlet” Speech Invitational. This year, the Fairmont Speech Team has around 40 participants ranging from grades 7-12. The team is coached by Kathleen Walker, Erik Walker, and Miles Duffey.