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Tunnissen places seventh in tight state speech competition

By
Mavis Fodness

Junior Chance Tunnissen was the sole medal earner from Luverne High School during Saturday’s Minnesota State Speech Tournament.
Competing virtually, Tunnissen was selected by judges for the finals, which comprise the top eight students in each of the 13 speech categories.
Also competing in Saturday’s event from LHS but not competing in the final rounds were first-time state participants Josie Golla, Xavier Carbonneau, Luke Thorson, Parker Carbonneau and Zander Carbonneau.
“State is very tough,” said coach Caroline Thorson. “Especially for first-time participants, even though they did compete at home.”
Tunnissen competes in extemporaneous speaking, a category he’s competed in since seventh grade.
The 2021 event was his third time qualifying for the state tournament. The coronavirus pandemic canceled the 2020 event.
He entered Saturday’s event looking to improve his previous appearances of 19th place in 2018 and 12th in 2019.
“I want to do better than I did the year before. My goal is definitely to beat the 12th place finish I had last time,” Tunnissen said.
At Saturday’s state meet, he did just that, taking seventh place in extemporaneous speaking.
Tunnissen said he’d added humor into his speeches this year.
He focuses on the domestic categories in extemporaneous speaking, where he draws a topic and prepares a speech in 30 minutes. Topics are either domestic or international in nature and center on politics, economics or current affairs.
“A lot of time (my) extemp is trying to present really boring information in a really funny, digestible way,” he said. “I have always been a big fan, more than other people, of funny intros.”
Tunnissen frequently cited song lyrics such as Jason Aldean’s “Big Green Tractor” this season. He recently added lyrics from rapper Snoop Dog to the ideal speech length of seven minutes.
Each extemporaneous speech includes an introduction, three major topic points and a formed conclusion.
Caroline Thorson coaches the LHS speech team with adviser Gavin Folkestad.
“Kids in speech have to be self-motivators,” she said.
The white board in Thorson’s classroom was filled with extemporaneous speaking topics and speaking points this week, as Tunnissen and sophomore Parker Carbonneau and Zander Carbonneau prepared for the state competition.
Tunnissen is passing on the knowledge he gained from other student mentors, LHS graduates Dylan Thorson and Shane Berning, who both medaled at previous state tournaments in extemporaneous speaking.
From experience Tunnissen knew coming into the state competition that judges pay attention to more than a funny introduction.
“At the state level, the judges are looking at the content,” he said. “The judges really know the topics and you really have to know your sources and stuff.”
Tunnissen said he is proud the LHS team claimed the top three extemporaneous speaking placings for the Section 3A speech championship.
“We’ve always had at least two,” he said. “This is the first year with three.”

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