Jayden Iverson, State Speech Champion
Tue, 04/23/2019 - 10:05am
admin
By:
Isaiah Aquino
Red Lake County Central junior Jayden Iverson was honored to win the state championship in Poetry at the Minnesota State Speech Tournament held April 12 at Wayzata High School. She is a member of the Red Lake County Speech Team. Iverson advanced to state by placing third at the Section 8A competition held in Fosston.
In the tournament there were eight sections that sent students to state. There were 13 categories and 24 students in each category, so roughly 300 students competed in the tournament. It is very competitive.
When Iverson got back to school her speech coaches, Ms. Jessie Hamrum and Mrs. Bobbi Aakhus, told the story of Iverson’s trip to state. Hamrum started telling about how they left early due to storms and bad weather. When the weather cleared they were able to go to a mall. At the hotel they had the chance to visit and play games with other schools’ speech members that were also attending the State Speech Tournament. The next day they travelled to Wayzata High School to begin the tournament.
Speech competitors had to present their speech three times. Each time was for a different judge who rated each competitor in the category. After these three rounds, Iverson, Hamrum and Aakhus found out Iverson had advanced to the final eight when they watched the placing on the monitors in the lobby.
The coaches watched Iverson give her final round speech. They said it was the best speech she had ever given this year! During the announcing of the winners, those attending do not cheer when names are announced. When they found out Iverson won the Poetry category, they had to hold their excitement until everyone was able to cheer.
Iverson is the first state winner ever from the RLC Speech Team (Oklee, Plummer, and Red Lake Falls.) Students and staff are excited for Jayden. Congratulations!