The Luverne speech team beat its competition in the small schools division March 18 during the Big South Conference virtual meet.
Nine Luverne students on the first-place team also received individual honors.
Earning all-conference speech honors by placing first or second in their category were Luke Thorson, Chance Tunnissen, Burke Johnson, Brianna Kinsinger and Bethany Behr.
Honorable mentions (earning third place) were Xavier Carbonneau, Destiny Matthiesen, Mia Wenzel and Josie Golla.
“We are so proud of them and how they have adapted and worked hard to achieve their goals and represent Luverne Public Schools and their community,” said Caroline Thorson, who co-coaches the team with Gavin Folkestad.
Local students competed alone in front of Chromebooks set up in various rooms at Luverne Middle-High School as students from the other eight schools competing in the small school division met at their own home schools also in front of computers, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Students competed virtually in three competitive rounds with multiple judges.
“Sixteen Cardinal speakers competed and 13 advanced to the final round of competition,” Thorson said.
Students competing in dramatic duo, however, are not competing in hybrid competitions as students in other categories. They pre-record a single performance for the judges to watch.
The following students placed in the final round:
•Dramatic duo: Brianna Kinsinger and Bethany Behr, second; Mia Wenzel and Josie Golla, third.
•Extemporaneous reading: Destiny Matthiesen, third.
•Discussion: Burke Johnson, second; Maddy Schepel, fifth.
•Extemportenous speaking: Chance Tunnissen, second; Parker Carbonneau, fourth.
•Storytelling: Xavier Carbonneau, third; Roselyn Hartshorn, fifth.
•Serious poetry: Zoe Perkins, fourth.
•Humorous: Luke Thorson, first.
“The students have competed every weekend through February and March and we will begin subsection competition on April 6,” Thorson said.
“The students have persevered through a very different season of hybrid and virtual competitions.”