As gracious hosts, Luverne students refrained from competing for the team championship trophy at their invitational tournament Saturday, opting instead to only accept individual honors.
Luverne was among the 16 schools and 266 competitors at the daylong event.
“Our students play double duty on this day as well,” said coach Caroline Thorson. “Not only do they compete, but they, as hosts, welcome their fellow competitors and help them find rooms and answer any questions others have. They represented our school and community very well.”
Twenty-four Luverne High School students earned medals and ribbons.
•Creative expression: Solveig Tofteland, third; Meagan Hansen, fourth.
•Discussion: Melanie Rittenhouse, first; Alexa Chesley, second.
•Drama: Briana Jonas, red ribbon.
•Duo interpretation: Gretchen Jacobsma and Isabel Hoiland, blue ribbon.
•Extemp reading: Courtney Wendland, first; Nicole Hoogland, second.
•Extemp speaking: Chance Tunnissen, second; Parker Carbonneau, third; Shane Berning, fourth.
•Humorous: Seno Chanthalangsy, first; Gunnar Oldre, second; Luke Thorson, fifth.
•Great speeches: Jordan Winter; third.
•Original oratory: Lindsey Roemling, first.
•Poetry: Adriana Gonzalez, second; Naomi Ring, fourth.
•Prose: Josie Golla, third; Sage Ver Steeg, blue ribbon.
•Storytelling: Xavier Carbonneau, fourth; Julia Ferguson, blue ribbon; Jonah Louwagie, red ribbon.
Blue and red ribbons are awarded to individuals and teams placing one (seventh) or two (eighth) places out of the final round.
Minneota was awarded the first-place team trophy, Adrian, second, and Tracy-Milroy-Balaton, third.
“As per tradition, the host team does not take a team trophy,” Thorson said.
Saturday’s event was the largest Luverne has hosted in the past five years.
“To date in my tenure, this is the largest tournament in numbers of competitors and schools attending,” she said. “We want them to have a positive and competitive experience that will make them want to return year after year. And we feel we are doing that.”
Speech students will compete Saturday in Montevideo.
Monday’s junior high meet in Adrian was postponed.