The 2026 MSHSL State Speech Meet kicks off at Park Center High School on Friday morning, and the listening area is well represented.
82 students representing 22 area schools will compete for State championships across the 13 different speech categories: Creative Expression, Discussion, Duo, Extemporaneous Reading, Extemporaneous Speaking, Great Speeches, Humor, Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, Drama, Poetry, Prose, and Storytelling.
Students will compete in three rounds before being whittled down for the State Championship Round at 3:30 that afternoon.
The Class AA meet begins on Friday, with the Class A State Speech Meet being held on Saturday.
Here are the Class A students competing this weekend:
Creative
Dani LaVine Gunning, Hawley
Joshua Cushing, Staples-Motley
Ava Wensmann, Melrose
Clodarl Seeman, Perham
Walker Johnson, Staples-Motley
Ella Erdmann, Melrose
Lil Corbett, Pequot Lakes
Discussion
Abigail Stephens, Albany
Mason Hoyt, Underwood
Nelson Hubert, Battle Lake
Aidan Kluempke, Melrose
Makenzie Mack, Park Rapids
Duo
Milah Hall/Madeline Guanella, Minnewaska
Samuel Asmus/Eli Rindle, Browerville
Julia Wehrman/Olivia Marsh, Sauk Centre
Faith Kalina/Tessa Starzl, Perham
Breanna Pexa/Landon Hermanson, Parkers Prairie
Extemporaneous Reading
Evelyn Heinze, Bertha-Hewitt
Rebecca Welle, Melrose
Meredith Hoemberg, Staples-Motley
Esther Kapsner, Melrose
Katrina Lindstrom, Underwood
Emily Sand, Melrose
Extemporaneous Speaking
Hailey Hammond, Melrose
Ryder Schultz, Pequot Lakes
Norah Froslee, Parkers Prairie
Jonathan Lofgren, Hawley
Rylan Knutson, DGF
Ramona Lurken-Tvrdik, Melrose
Grant Schlagel, Pequot Lakes
Great Speeches
Sandra Cordes, Alexandria Community Christian School
Isabelle Langager, Parkers Prairie
Aria Hammond, Melrose
Trevor Kuechle, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Teague Dusha, Melrose
Oliver Ollmann, Perham
Humor
Isaiah Gilk, Melrose
Frederick Scott, Battle Lake
Claire Thole, Park Rapids
Elijah Geiser, New York Mills
Trezden Cox, DGF
Jada Rausch, Melrose
Maria Stumbo-Ruiz, Pillager
Informative Speaking
Mara Bestge, Lake Park-Audubon
Brinley Ritter, Melrose
Sofia Pulju, United North Central
Madison Cochran, Pequot Lakes
Drew Moser, Perham
Elsi Halvorson, Albany
Brooklyn Hanson, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Original Oratory
Stacy Timp, Melrose
Lilliana Shippee, Perham
Isaias Jimenez McMurrin, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Graycie Cameron, Battle Lake
Brooke Ruoff, Melrose
Cass Ahonen, DGF
Amelie Deisz, Perham
Drama
Zoe Cox, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Sage Broback, Pequot Lakes
Brynn Bestland, Staples-Motley
Jayme O’Brien, Parkers Prairie
Owen Armstrong, Minnewaska
Lola Dusha, Melrose
Addison Lynde, Lake Park-Audubon
Poetry
Asia Hillukka, United North Central
Catie Baker, Alexandria Community Christian School
Layla, Krueckeberg, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Tobi Millard, Pequot Lakes
Rowan Kalal, DGF
Prose
Elaina Dascalos, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Annabele Lester, Melrose
Elijah Cox, Walker-Hackensack-Akeley
Antje Northway, Pequot Lakes
Tristan Rendon, Staples-Motley
Laykin Martodam, Hawley
Nora Thompson, Sauk Centre
Lexi Ann Fishman, Staples-Motley
Storytelling
Jack Robinson, Battle Lake
Maddock Harvey, Staples-Motley
Liz Eiden, Sauk Centre
Henry Thell, Pequot Lakes
Zoe Hoeschen, Melrose