Being able to convey messages in front of a crowd is a skill Luverne High School speech students are successfully applying to other extra-curricular activities.
Senior Nicole Hoogland is one of three team captains for the 2020 season and is completing her fifth year on the speech team.
“I want my teammates to know that speech is an important part of your life and you’re going to need it,’ she said.
Hoogland was drawn to participating in speech as an eighth-grader, following sister Hannah in participating in the extemporaneous reading category.
A shy Hoogland felt comfortable following her sister in the demanding category but soon found herself gaining confidence in front of people.
“Instead of being a listener, it allows you to have an opinion and put it out there,” she said.
The confidence built from participating in speech propelled Hoogland to participate in One Act plays, along with spring and fall plays.
As the school’s FCCLA Chapter president Hoogland was required to give a speech in front of 1,000 people at a recent conference to select state officers.
The completion of a speech in front of such as large group brought even more confidence as she gave the speech her best effort.
“I didn’t get it (a state position) but it was better to run and not make it than not try at all,” she said.
Hoogland teams with classmates Gunnar Oldre and Alexa Chesley as speech team captains.
The three want to build on the team’s success last year, where they won three first-place trophies in the large school division.
They also placed fourth as a team in subsection competition.
This year they want to improve on last year’s team finish by also placing as a team at sections, a feat no LHS speech team has accomplished recently.
Oldre said the goal will take the majority of the 40 team members performing at their best to accumulate points by placing high in their respective speech categories.
“Placing at sections would be cool,” said Chesley.
This is the third year speech team coaches Gavin Folkestad and Caroline Thorson have had team members chose team captains.
“We emphasize that captains shouldn’t be students who place well, but students who are leaders,” Folkestad said.
Added Thorson, “It’s about how they support the team, work with the younger and newer members, provide support and encouragement, and are a positive voice for the speech team.”
The team kicks off the 2020 season Saturday. The schedule includes:
•Feb. 1, Worthington
•Feb. 8, Minneota
•Feb. 15, Luverne
•Feb. 22, Adrian
•Feb. 29, Redwood Falls
•March 7, Montevideo
•March 19, Big South Conference, Marshall
•March 21, Pipestone
•March 24, Sub-section 10, Adrian
•April 4, sections, Marshall
•April 17, state tournament, Wayzata.
Middle school tournaments are scheduled for:
•Feb. 11, Tracy
•Feb. 20, Luverne
•March 2, Adrian.