Jackson County Central will have five participants and Fairmont 14 in the Minnesota State High School League state speech tournament Friday at Shakopee High School.
Three preliminary rounds are held in each event at 10:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. The championship rounds are at 3:30 p.m., followed by the awards ceremonies at 5:30 p.m.
Jackson County Central
Olivia Almodovar’s participation in Serious Interpretation-Poetry marks her third time at the state meet. She placed fifth in the same category last year when she earned JCC’s first state tournament medal since the team picked up two in 2016.
Anna Hedstrom is also a third-time participant for the Huskies as she is a participant in Original Oratory. She competed in Informative Speaking in 2022 and Original Oratory in 2023.
Aralia Ruby and Sarah Hedstrom both qualified for state for the second time.
Ruby competes at state in Informative Speaking this year after taking part in Great Speeches last year. Hedstrom will participate in Storytelling this year after being an entrant in that event in 2023.
Here is the list of JCC entries this year:
Informative Speaking: Aralia Ruby, Horses in Warfare
Original Oratory: Anna Hedstrom, The Monster Under the Bed
Serious Interpretation-Poetry: Olivia Almodóvar, A Poetry Program about Addiction by Breathe by Johnny Osi, Addiction by Prentice Powell, and Unsaid by Amin Law
Serious Interpretation-Prose: Hope Almodóvar, The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller
Storytelling: Sarah Hedstrom
Fairmont
Fairmont has a traditionally strong speech program under coach Kathleen Walker and 2025 is no different.
The 14 participants for Fairmont ranks third among Class A teams, trailing only two-time defending champion Mounds Park Academy (20) and Russell-Tyler-Ruthton (15).
Fairmont has two returning state champions, Leon Yang (Humorous Interpretation) and Alayna Haefner (Original Oratory).
The Cardinals have three other place winners back.
Belinda Lutterman was second in Original Oratory for a 1-2 Fairmont finish in that category, Dominic Lund-May was second in Extemporaneous Speaking and Grace Simpson/Oliver Thedens were third in Duo Interpretation.
Here is the list of Fairmont entries this year:
Creative Expression: Zoey Tasseff, No Laughing Matter
Duo Interpretation: Annie Reyelts/Evan Reyelts, John & Jen by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald
Duo Interpretation: Grace Simpson/Oliver Thedens, Fifteen Million Merits by Charlie Brooker and Konnie Huq
Extemporaneous Speaking: Levi Loughmiller
Extemporaneous Speaking: Dominick Lund-May
Humorous Interpretation: Isaac Thomas, Controlling Interest by Wayne Rawley
Humorous Interpretation: Leon Yang, Hot Rod by Pam Brady
Original Oratory: Alayna Haefner, Me, Myself & Why
Original Oratory: Belinda Lutterman, Wickedly Helpful
Serious Interpretation-Drama: Allie Streit, Red Hot Patriot by Margaret and Allison Engel
Serious Interpretation-Prose: Cooper Gudahl, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers
Storytelling: Michelle Esquivel
State place winners
Following is the list of place winners in state competition from Jackson High School and Jackson County Central according to the website statespeech.com.
Listed are year, category, student(s) and placing.
Jackson
1982
Discussion: Amy Dunker, 3rd
1984
Serious Interpretation-Poetry: Joy Peterson, 2nd
1985
Serious Interpretation-Poetry: Joy Peterson, 1st
1986
Extemporaneous Reading: Darla Roggow, 1st
1991
Informative Speaking: Kaylana Halm, 3rd
1991
Humorous Interpretation: Char Garber, 6th
Jackson County Central
2013
Humorous Interpretation: Nick Reed, Mary Choppins, 2nd
2014
Duo Interpretation: Natalie Schlager/Nick Reed, 4th
2015
Storytelling: Nick Reed, 4th
Creative Expression: Sofia Stumpf, 5th
2016
Duo Interpretation: Nick Reed/Josephine Nunez, 2nd
Extemporaneous Reading: Rebecca Dose, 3rd
2024
Serious Interpretation-Poetry: Olivia Almodovar, 5th
Fairmont
I’m not going to lie. The list of Fairmont place winners at state was way longer than I was willing to tackle right now.
There are about 130 all-time place winners, including approximately 20 state champions. Maybe another day.
It’s worth pointing out though, that assistant coach Miles Duffey is a four-time state place winner with two firsts and two seconds, all in Humorous Interpretation.
Thanks Lee! Great write up!!