Champs again: Spuds take title, set team record

Post date: Apr 13, 2018 7:09:02 AM

For the 24th consecutive season, the Moorhead Spuds speech team captured the Section 8AA title with a complete team performance that saw a team-record 27 entries punch their ticket to next Friday's MSHSL State Tournament. In all, Moorhead will represent the section in all 13 categories, with top three sweeps in Extemp. Speaking, Informative and Drama.

Eleven speakers also earned first place finishes, including seniors Ian Bahe (Creative), Bridget McManamon (Ex. Speaking), Izzy Larson (Poetry), and Luke Seidel (Prose); juniors Katherine Leiseth (Ex. Reading), Sophia Klindt (Humor), and Kaden Moszer (Drama); and sophomores Cassidy Wendt & Jonah Hanson (Duo), Anni Yoney (Inform), and Ali Astrup (Storytelling).

Larson advances to state for the fourth time in her speech career while McManamon will make her third consecutive appearance. Leiseth, Klindt, and Moszer join Ariana Grollman (Humor), Jennie Hastings (Drama), and Dylan Stage (Drama) as two-time state participants. Larson will pursue her fourth state medal while McManamon, Seidel, Leiseth, Grollman, Klindt, and Hastings will all vie for their second straight trip to the state final round.

A complete list of section finalists is below. The MSHSL State AA Tournament is Friday, April 20 at Apple Valley High School. Moorhead is the two-time defending state AA champion.

Creative:

Ian Bahe - 1st

Matt Rosson - 4th

Evyn Judisch - 5th

Discussion:

Sydney Anderson - 2nd

Drama:

Kaden Moszer - 1st

Dylan Stage - 2nd

Jennie Hastings - 3rd

Mustafa Ahmed - 4th

Duo:

Cassidy Wendt & Jonah Hanson - 1st

Greta Almlie & Stella Mehlhoff - 2nd

Lily Kjos & Ethan Crompton - 4th

Ex. Reading:

Katherine Leiseth - 1st

Chelsea Bubbers - 2nd

Ex. Speaking:

Bridget McManamon - 1st

Claire Stoltenow - 2nd

Emma Pranger - 3rd

Great Speeches:

Molly Hauf - 2nd

Neva Miller - 3rd

Emma McFeely - 6th

Humor:

Sophia Klindt - 1st

Ariana Grollman - 3rd

Maret Holm - 4th

Ella Halgrimson - 5th

Informative:

Anni Yoney - 1st

Grace Halvorson - 2nd

Anna Larson - 3rd

Ashley Buegel - 6th

Oratory:

Meghan Johnson - 2nd

Jack Entzion - 3rd

Lance Morlock - 4th

Poetry:

Izzy Larson - 1st

Amelia Bjorklund - 3rd

Juli Hanson - 7th

Prose:

Luke Seidel - 1st

Margaret Dickey - 2nd

Storytelling:

Ali Astrup - 1st

Alex Seigel - 2nd

Alyssa Haagenson - 4th