ABOVE: The Fairmont Speech team after placing first at a tournament last month at Mankato West High School. Back row, from left: Gabbie Thoeny, Thomas Hamlet, Leon Yang, Isaiah Lockwood, Dominick Lund-May, Leila Caballero. Third row, from left: Adriana Leiding, Avery Steuber, Clark Hazard, Norah Heille, Levi Loughmiller, Bryanna Petschke, Andrew Haefner, Christian Thom. Second row, from left: Harmony Sutphin, Lea Lyod, Emily Wheeler, Michelle, Esquivel, Ashlynn Pierson, Dhanvi Patel, Zoey Tasseff, Oliver Thedens, Grace Simpson. First row, from left: Alex Ensrud, Kayla Szuberski, Allie Streit, Alayna Haefner, Solveig Senf, Sasha Franzen, Lauren Wheeler, Sydney Blomster, Bel Lutterman, Selvin Forsythe. Not pictured are team members Lilly Laven, Abi Peyman, Season Kotewa, Elias Monroe, Kelsey Hunter, Cheyenne Abel and coaches Kathleen Walker, Erik Walker and Miles Duffey.

FAIRMONT– Fairmont High School’s speech team has successfully kicked off another season with the team placing first at its past three competitions. This year’s team consists of approximately 40 speakers spread across 13 categories. Each category has approximately the same number of speakers.

On Feb. 4 a small group of varsity speakers participated in the Minneapple Speech Tournament in Apple Valley, a large event which attracts speakers from across the Midwest.

“It’s a tough competition; it’s AA competitors … that have teams (with) 80 to 100 competitors and we love to take the kids to that,” said Kathleen Walker, the team’s head coach.

At the tournament. Fairmont senior Solveig Senf placed first in the discussion category.

Later in February the whole team attended three tournaments in Mankato; one at Loyola Catholic School on Feb. 11, one at Mankato West High School on Feb. 18, and one at Mankato East on Feb. 25. The team placed first at all three.

“We’re very proud of that achievement,” said Walker.

While the team’s accomplishments have been impressive, Walker emphasized her primary goal is to promote the personal growth of the team’s members.

“Ultimately what I want to see people in Fairmont speech do is become confident, passionate, public speakers,” said Walker.

Bel Lutterman has been on the team for two years, reads prose and performs an interpretive piece with her speech partner; Selvin Forsythe.

“I just love that success in speech correlates with success outside of speech; people just being a part of speech and being willing to put themselves out there, you can how that correlates to their life outside in academic settings and work settings,” said Lutterman.

“Some day when they’re applying for a job they need to put on a suit and get in an interview and advocate for themselves; their skills in speech have taught them that,” said Walker.

In addition to improving a student’s public speaking skills, speech improves other skills such as self confidence and character acting.

“This year it’s been pushing my comfort zone to do something I think is a little crazy or I might look dumb doing it but (it’s) something my coaches will always encourage,” said Lutterman.

“I got more comfortable going into a room and playing a character … at some point in your career you start feeling (like) that character,” said Forsythe.

Outside of speaking, coaches try and foster good sportsmanship, discipline, acceptance and advocacy.

“The culture of the team is to find our voice and our slogan this year that the captains came up with for the backs of our shirts is ‘be a voice,’ whether that’s be a voice for yourself, be a voice for your team, or be a voice for others, ” said Walker.

The implementation of these aims has made a visible impact for members of the team.

Brianna Petschke has been on the team for two years and reads prose and literature.

“Speech is one of the best communities out there; the people in speech are the kindest people I know and being a newer team member … everyone is so welcoming in speech and I really enjoy all the people and the experiences they’ve given me,” said Petschke.

“You leave speech with so many good tools and … you meet new friends that you maybe would’ve have talked to outside of speech,” said Forsythe.

“I feel like during my speech journey I’ve become much better at speaking in front of people and expressing my emotions in front of people,” said Lutterman.

The team is still in the midst of its speech season; the state tournament won’t be held until the end of April. On Saturday the team will hold its family and friends speech showcase at Fairmont High School. In mid-March, 10 students from the team will attend a National Qualifying Tournament to try and qualify for the National Speech and Debate Association’s national tournament. Last year three seniors attended Nationals.