FAIRMONT — On Friday, April, 8, Fairmont competed at the MSHSL Section 2A Speech Tournament at JWP High School in Janesville, Minn. The Section 2A teams competing were Fairmont, Maple River, River Valley, Madelia, Blue Earth Area, Alden-Conger, Lake Crystal-Wellcome-Memorial, Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton, LeSueur-Henderson, Mankato Loyola, Minnesota New Country School, Minnesota Valley Lutheran, St. Clair, Tri City United, Waseca, and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown.

Fairmont was the MSHSL Section 2A Team Champion with 142 points. St. Clair was in 2nd place with 66 points, and Minnesota Valley Lutheran was in 3rd place with 62 points. The Fairmont Speech team has been the Section 2A team champion for five years running with the exception of 2020, when the tournament was not held.

Among the 24 members of Fairmont Speech competing at sections, 18 earned top 6 in their individual speech categories helping the team win 1st place. Fairmont Speech had 10 state speech qualifiers by placing in the top 3 of their individual speech category.

Advancing to the state tournament: In 1st place, Section 2A champions, senior Vanessa Schultze in creative, junior Solveig Senf in discussion, senior Eleanor Hamlet in great speeches, junior Lilly Laven in informative speaking, and sophomore Abi Peyman in original oratory. In 2nd place, freshman Dominick Lund-May in extemporaneous speaking, senior Kara Fischer in drama, and sophomore Sydney Blomster in informative. In 3rd place, freshman Grace Simpson in storytelling and senior Kaycie Brookens in prose.

Non-advancing section medalists: In 4th place, freshman Alayna Haefner in original oratory, 8th grader Ella Krahmer in informative, junior Lauren Wheeler in creative, and 8th grader Thomas Hamlet in humorous. In 5th place, freshman Oliver Thedens in extemporaneous reading, and sophomore Selvin Forsythe in drama. In 6th place, freshman Andrew Haefner in extemporaneous speaking and 8th grader Megan Wheeler in storytelling.

For the 10 advancing to state, each will compete among the top 24 individuals in their category spanning from all eight Class A sections in Minnesota. The Class A State Speech Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April 23, at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minn.

The Fairmont Speech Team is coached by Kathleen Walker, Erik Walker, and Miles Duffey.