Schulz, Spuds cap record season in Salt Lake

Post date: Jun 20, 2016 9:26:21 PM

After months of rehearsals, hundreds of rounds of competition and thousands of miles traveled, 18 Spuds speakers bravely and beautifully represented Moorhead and capped their record-setting season at the NSDA national tournament in Salt Lake City. Delivering messages of faith, strength and triumph, the Spuds spoke in each of the eight main events offered, as well as two supplemental and consolation categories.

While the team once again finished as a top 20 speech school, earning the NSDA's "Speech School of Excellence" award, the final round stage belonged to junior Sarah Schulz, who finished in second place in the inaugural NSDA event of informative speaking with her presentation on helium. Schulz became the first Moorhead speaker to advance to finals since Matt Wisenden and Jordan Hartjen won the school's first ever national title in 2014.

Sophomore Ariana Grollman and senior Quinn Kupec also enjoyed a successful tournament, ending impressive runs in the semifinal round. Grollman finished 13th in the nation with her humorous interpretation of "Juno" while Kupec capped his speech career by earning 11th place in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking, by far the best finish by an extemp. speaker in Spuds history.

Additionally, junior Jessica Anderson (Original Oratory) and senior Delana Haglund (Drama) advanced to the quarterfinals (Top 30), while duos Luke Seidel and Levi Seidel and 2016 MSHSL State Champions Izzy Larson and Devon Solwold made it out of preliminary rounds, exiting the tournament after performances in Octafinals (Top 60).

The weeklong tournament officially ends the 2016 speech season and the speech careers of 13 Spud speakers, including NSDA competitors Kupec, Haglund and Levi Seidel, as well as Annie Nickell (POI), Jack Mullally (Oratory), Sean Dahlberg (Duo), and Lexi Francis (Drama). Together with the help of the other traveling underclassmen, Moorhead now finds itself in 7th place for the Bruno E. Jacob team trophy, awarded to the school with the most cumulative rounds at the NSDA tournament.

The full results packet can be found by clicking here.

To watch Schulz' final round performance and the award ceremony, click here.