Spuds go back-to-back in first ever Minneapple win

Post date: Feb 9, 2016 12:41:02 AM

For the first time in team history, the Moorhead speech team left Apple Valley High School with the Minneapple top prize: a first place team sweepstakes marble apple. Eight individual speakers, including a team high seven varsity members, also left with the additional produce.

The top three finishers in each varsity category and the first place novice speaker in each category take home an apple.

The sweepstakes victory was a complete team effort as the Spuds earned points from 12 different categories, just enough to edge Eagan for the second-consecutive week. A single varsity semifinal break was the difference between the top two spots.

28 schools from 7 states brought competitors to the tournament, totaling nearly 1,000 novice and varsity speakers.

Leading the way for the Spuds were juniors Devon Solwold and McKensie Bedore, as well as sophomore Izzy Larson, all three of whom advanced to a varsity final round in two categories. Solwold and Larson paired up to take first place in Duo; Solwold also took 3rd place in drama and Larson earned 5th place in POI. Bedore brought home two apples, taking top honors in Storytelling and 3rd place in the largest category of the day, original oratory. More than 100 varsity competitors entered that event.

The Spuds will split the squad this week as 13 speakers will travel to Boston for the Harvard invitational. Meanwhile, the remainder of the team will travel to East Ridge where the team took second place last year.