Coming up roses: Moorhead takes first in final regular season tourney

Post date: Mar 20, 2016 10:00:50 PM

In just hours, the Moorhead speech team will be forced to reduce its roster to 52 speakers in preparation for the postseason.

But for today, the squad of more than 70 is celebrating a team victory in their regular season finale, earning a first place finish for the second consecutive year at the Roseville Rosebowl tournament. It also marks the first win of the year over Apple Valley, a team which has already collected seven first place team trophies this year.

It was a collective effort for the Spuds as two busloads of speakers made the trip, totaling 93 entries in all. Several Spuds were double or even triple entered. Leading the way for Moorhead was junior Sarah Schulz who placed third in dramatic interpretation and first in informative speaking. Schulz was also awarded third place in overall individual sweepstakes points.

Senior Levi Seidel also advanced to finals in two categories, finishing 7th in drama and 6th in Duo with his brother Luke Seidel. Fellow senior Delana Haglund accomplished the same feat, earning 7th in Prose and 3rd in Extemporaneous Reading; junior McKensie Bedore won her second Storytelling title of the season and also finished fourth overall in Original Oratory.

Junior Alex Church was the only speaker to triple break, taking 3rd place in Humor while also advancing to the next-in rounds of Creative Expression (5th) and Duo with his partner Annie Nickell (2nd).

Informative speakers led the way, sending Schulz and Casey Quaife (5th) to finals, as well as Lance Morlock (5th), Jennie Hastings (2nd) and Anna Larson (1st) to the next-in final round. Val Chavez was also named an honorable mention in the category.

Great Speeches and Storytelling each had three Moorhead speakers in the final round.

The Spuds now turn their attention to the postseason, beginning a week from Thursday with the 8AA North Subsection tournament. The 52-speaker roster will be announced tomorrow afternoon and will be posted here. Moorhead advanced 48 speakers to the 8AA section tournament in 2015; a record 29 competitors reached the state tournament, with 22 students (19 entries) earning final round medals, also a state record.