The North heads South: Spuds to send 12 to Nationals

Post date: Mar 19, 2017 8:02:26 PM

After two long days of competition at the NSDA Northern Lights national qualifier tournament, the Spuds are set to send twelve speakers to the national tournament this June.

With double entry allowed across all categories this year, Moorhead qualified a total of twelve entries and will take nine to nationals, held this summer in Birmingham, AL. Speakers are not allowed to compete in more than one main event at the NSDA tournament.

It was a big weekend for senior Devon Solwold and junior Izzy Larson: both earned first place finishes in two categories, with the pair winning duo for the second straight year; Solwold also won in Drama and Larson took first in POI for the second consecutive year. It is her team record fourth first-place finish at Nat Quals.

All three duos from the district are from Moorhead, including three-time NSDA qualifier Abby Dahlberg and two-time qualifier Skyler Klostriech. The two seniors advanced to nationals in Dallas two years ago. Dahlberg went in 2016 with her brother Sean.

Also clinching their second trip to nationals are seniors Alex Church (2016-Humor) and McKensie Bedore (2016-Oratory) and juniors Ariana Grollman (2016-Humor), Bridget McManamon (2016-US Extemp.), Simon Beach (2016-International Extemp.).

Senior Jessica Anderson will compete in her third NSDA national tournament, all in Oratory. Anderson was ninth in the nation in 2015.

A full list of qualifiers can be found below.

The Spuds now look to the final tournament of the regular season: a trip to St. Cloud Tech this Saturday. Then, Moorhead will trim its roster in time for the 8AA North Subsection tournament, which will be held in Baxter, MN on Thursday, March 30.

NSDA Qualifiers and Alternates:

Qualifiers listed in BOLD

NSDA selection for double qualifiers marked with *

Drama:

Devon Solwold (1st Place)

Duo:

*Izzy Larson & Devon Solwold (1st Place)

*Sophia Klindt & Kenan Stoltenow (2nd Place)

*Abby Dahlberg & Skyler Klostriech (3rd Place)

Humor:

Sophia Klindt (1st Place)

*Alex Church (2nd Place)

Abby Dahlberg (3rd Place)

Skyler Klostriech (1st alternate)

*Ariana Grollman (Auto-Qual)

Informative:

*McKensie Bedore (1st Place)

Anna Larson (1st alternate)

Lance Morlock (2nd alternate)

Anni Yoney (4th alternate)

International Extemp. Speaking:

*Simon Beach (2nd Place)

Bridget McManamon (1st alternate)

Oratory:

*Jessica Anderson (2nd Place)

Alex Church (3rd alternate)

POI:

Izzy Larson (1st Place)

Alyssa Haagenson (2nd alternate)

US Extemp. Speaking:

*Bridget McManamon (1st alternate)

Simon Beach (2nd alternate)