Speech Team finds success in Section and National Qualifying Tournaments
Junior Josie Ross practices her speech with Speech Head Coach Maura Brew.
Every year members of the BSM Speech Team compete in the Minnesota State High School Speech League Section Tournament. This year, the team was placed in a new section against much larger schools. Despite the steeper competition, BSM managed to make it to sections thanks to the tireless efforts of head coach Maura Brew. “I coach the team for the entirety of the season, 10 hours a week, along with tournaments on the weekends” Brew said.
BSM sent 39 students to the state sectional tournament this year. Competitors were assigned a category and then wrote their own speech. Out of the 39 students, juniors Leo Driessen and Sam Luo both made it to the State Tournament. “I am really excited to compete on the state level. I have never made it to the State Tournament. I was proud to have done so well in such a competitive section,” Driessen said.
Sometimes members of the BSM Speech Team will qualify for the National Speech and Debate Tournament. In the past several years, BSM alum Parker Breza was the only student who qualified. This year, another student, junior Josie Ross, earned a spot for the tournament. “Simply to get to the National Tournament is a big deal especially because our section was really tough this year. The competition is actually really difficult,” Ross said.
After such a successful season, members of the BSM Speech Team look forward to the upcoming competitions. “We had an awesome season, and I think we have a great opportunity for success in the next tournaments,” Ross said.
