In State Speech Competition, District 196 Schools Have Top Teams

District 196 students have a long tradition of excelling at speech competitions.

Apple Valley High School has won more medals than any school in the state, and Eagan High School boasts the third-highest statewide medal count. And 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.

It's looking like this year won't be too different. District 196 students won 35 of the 39 spots in the qualifying tournament on April 4 at East Ridge High School.

Students will compete for state titles on April 19 at Blaine High School.

Here's a list of qualifying students provided by the district:

Apple Valley High School had 15 students qualify for 15 spots at the state tournament, including five first-, six second- and four third-place finishes:
• Nader Helmy in Original Oratory – 1st place
• Max Courtright in Creative Expression – 1st place
• Stephanie Lenertz in Great Speeches – 1st place
• Georgia Schmitt in Informative Speaking – 1st place
• Patricia Reeves in Poetry Reading – 1st place
• Moti Begna in Original Oratory – 2nd place
• Ian McKeag in Creative Expression – 2nd place
• Morgan Potter in Discussion – 2nd place
• Rebecca Crepeau in Extemporaneous Reading – 2nd place
• Sarah Reagan in Great Speeches – 2nd place
• Miriam Kelberg in Informative Speaking – 2nd place
• Jordan Larson in Great Speeches – 3rd place
• Kelly Fix in Prose Reading – 3rd place
• Olivia Schiffman in Storytelling – 3rd place
• Jacob Voss in Informative Speaking – 3rd place

Eagan High School had 16 students qualify for 13 spots at state, including five first-, two second- and six third-place finishes:
• Sophie Callahan in Discussion – 1st place
• Justin Wirsbinski in Dramatic Interpretation – 1st place
• Cole Scheller and Quincy Nkwonta in Duo Interpretation – 1st place
• Reid Emmons in Prose Reading – 1st place
• Tarryn Michaelson in Storytelling – 1st place
• Andrew Friedman and Nat Cobbett in Duo Interpretation – 2nd place
• Emerald Egwim in Prose Reading – 2nd place
• Jacob Guzior in Creative Expression – 3rd place
• Yodahe Heramo in Dramatic Interpretation – 3rd place
• Alyssa Oakman and Nick Martin in Duo Interpretation – 3rd place
• Carly Mau in Extemporaneous Reading – 3rd place
• Ben Heying in Humorous Interpretation – 3rd place
• Laura Hanzal in Original Oratory – 3rd place

Eastview High School had six students qualify for six spots at state, including three first-, two second- and one third-place finishes:
• Alex Leehan in Humorous Interpretation – 1st place
• Erica Floding in Extemporaneous Reading – 1st place
• Ashesh Rambachan in Extemporaneous Speaking – 1st place
• Cuong Duong in Dramatic Interpretation – 2nd place
• Perry Abdulkadir in Extemporaneous Speaking – 2nd place
• Jack Kurila in Extemporaneous Speaking – 3rd place

Rosemount High School:
• Nicole Hutchinson qualified for state by taking second place in Storytelling.