Three Bluejays Qualify for State Speech
by Haiden Magnussen
The Pierce High speech team competed in the class B-3 district speech competition on Saturday, March 4, at Wayne High School. The day was highlighted by qualifying three competitors for state and the team placing fourth. To qualify for the state competition, competitors had to place in the top three in their event.
The first state qualifier was Brielle Unseld and her informative speech that finished second.
Unseld comments, “I’m really thankful to have made it this far! I’m really proud of the team and all the hard work we have put in this season, I’m going to work on keeping my energy up and telling my story the best I can!”
Emma Risinger was the next state qualifier with her second place in extemporaneous speaking.
Rounding out the qualifier by placing first and being named district champion in entertainment speaking was Dalton Svoboda. Also competing in entertainment was Bode Hoffmann fell just short with a fourth place finish.
In humorous prose, Kaila Spieker missed the state mark by placing fifth.
Finishing off with district finalists, the team of Nikolas Harvey, Zaylah Pfanstiel, Spieker, Svoboda, and Unseld ended in fifth in oral interpretation of drama.
Head coach Amy Fleer said, “Districts is the best and worst day to be a coach. I am so excited for my three state qualifiers, and yet so sad but very proud of all those who competed and had their season come to an end. Our district is truly against the best of the best and very competitive. At the end of the day, the team performed their best, and that’s all I’ll ever ask.”
The three qualifiers will compete in Kearney at Kearney High School for the state speech competition on Wednesday, March 15.
