Eagan High Student Takes First in State Speech Tournament

Emerald Egwim of Eagan High School and three other District 196 students won almost a third of the 13 first-place titles in this year’s State Speech Tournament for Class AA schools.

Egwim won in the serious interpretation-prose category of the competition, which took place April 19 at Blaine High School. Eagan students won a total of six medals, Apple Valley High took 12 and Eastview six.

Eagan is second only to Apple Valley in total state speech titles won since 1969. Apple Valley now has 81 titles and Eagan has 65 first-place finishes at state.

District 196 students won 23 of the 104 total medals awarded at this year’s tournament.

But despite the strong performance, District 196 won fewer medals than might have been expected. The past several years, district students have won a majority of state titles awarded in the 13 categories of competition and about a third of all medals awarded at state each year.

This year, Moorhead High School upset Apple Valley to win the most medals.

District 196 has more about its students' performances in a press release:

State champions are Stephanie Lenertz of Apple Valley High School in great speeches; Georgia Schmitt of Apple Valley in informative speaking; Emerald Egwim of Eagan High School in serious interpretation-prose, who won in serious interpretation-drama last year, and Ashesh Rambachan of Eastview High School, who successfully defended his state title in extemporaneous speaking.

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In addition to the four state titles, four District 196 students were state runners up: the team of Andrew Friedman and Nat Cobbett of Eagan in duo interpretation; Rebecca Crepeau of Apple Valley in extemporaneous reading, and Patricia Reeves of Apple Valley in serious interpretation-poetry. Third-place medals were awarded to Apple Valley’s Sara Reagan in great speeches and Jacob Voss in informative speaking; Eagan’s Sophie Callahan in discussion and Justin Wirsbinski in serious interpretation-drama, and Eastview’s Erica Floding in extemporaneous reading and Alex Leehan in humorous interpretation.

District 196 students who medaled in places four through eight are as follows:

• 4th Place – Three medals, Apple Valley’s Morgan Potter in discussion and Nader Helmy in original oratory, and Jacob Guzior of Eagan in creative expression.

• 5th Place – Two medals, Eagan’s Carly Mau in extemporaneous reading and Olivia Schiffman of Apple Valley in storytelling.

• 6th Place – One medal, Apple Valley’s Max Courtright in creative expression.

• 7th Place – Three medals, Apple Valley’s Jordan Larson in great speeches and Miriam Kelberg in informative speaking, and Cuong Duong of Eastview in serious interpretation-drama.

• 8th Place – One medal, Eastview’s Jack Kurila in extemporaneous speaking.