Harvey-Wells County Speech Team

And just like that, the 2024 chapter has been written. We laughed some, shed a few tears, and through it all, had a fabulous weekend. THANK YOU to the Harvey Fire Department and Mr Hase for the fabulous send-off to start our weekend and THANK YOU Speech parents for the goodies! We kept the kids on their toes with an escape room on Friday night (THANK YOU HWC Booster Club) - luckily, they all broke out with time to spare. Saturday brought the normal nerves and excitement but these kids did AWESOME! With all the activities these kids have been involved in the last two weeks we couldn’t be more proud of their hard work.

STATE — April 27, 2024

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - Superior Medalist (tied to break into finals)

Inform: Abby Loen - Superior Medalist (tied to break into finals)

Serious: Simone Joubert - 7th

Persuade: Ava Haldorson - 7th

Entertain: Maddix Martinson - 5th

Storytelling: Maddix Martinson - 4th

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 3rd

Radio: Grant Anderson - STATE RUNNER-UP

AND YOUR NEW 2024 STATE CHAMP IN EXTEMP SPEAKING … Ava Haldorson!

TEAM SWEEPS: 4th place

Congratulations to the All-State winners: Ava Haldorson, Maleina Joubert, Maddix Martinson, & Abby Loen!!

In order to receive this honor, the kids needed to receive top 20% in 4 events throughout the year - a difficult feat to say the least. Well done!

Flight B finals: Ava Haldorson in Persuade, Maleina Joubert in Dramatic, Maddix in Storytelling & Entertain, & Simone Joubert in Serious.

Good luck!

Flight A finals: Ava Haldorson in Extemp & Grant Anderson in Radio.

Good luck!

Today’s the day! Good luck at State, Hornets! You got this!

Regionals run a little different than normal with the top 2 - sometimes top 3 - competitors qualifying. This is always extremely helpful for the kids who have been so close during the season. As a team, we had eighteen kids compete & each one of them contributed to the first place finish!! Qualifying aside, we wish everyone could see the growth in these kids from day one until regionals - holy canoli!

REGIONALS -- April 13, 2024

Entertain: Katelyn Faul - 6th; Daizee Loen - 5th; Maddix Martinson - 4th

Poetry: Simone Joubert - 6th

Humorous: Crew Martinson - 5th

Inform: Abriella Wagner - 7th; Abby Loen - 6th; Elise Weckerly - 4th

Radio: Brinlee Hase - 7th; Ian Haldorson - 6th; Grant Anderson - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED

Storytelling: Abriella Wagner - 5th; Alexa Green - 3rd; Maddix Martinson - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED

Serious: Simone Joubert - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED

EPR: Samantha Meckle - 7th; Lily Bjorgen - 6th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED; Crew Martinson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Persuade: Daizee Loen - 5th; Elise Weckerly - 3rd AND STATE QUALIFIED; Abby Loen - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED; Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Dramatic: Katherine Casserly - 4th; Alexa Green - 3rd; Lily Bjorgen - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED; Maleina Joubert - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Extemp: Elliot Krenzel - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED; Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Team Sweeps: FIRST

It’s a beautiful day to listen to some talented speakers!

**Regional results coming later today!

Come hang out with us next Sunday!

Come hang out with us next Sunday!

Over half the state is competing at Regionals this week, so it makes it a little difficult to find a close meet. After a week off for Easter, though, we wanted one more meet before our Regionals. Thankfully, Park River was hosting so the kids grabbed their pillows and blankets and buckled down for a nice little bus ride.

PARK RIVER — April 6, 2024

Poetry: Samantha Meckle - 8th

Radio: Abby Loen - 7th; Ian Haldorson - 5th

Inform: Abby Loen - 5th; Elise Weckerly - 4th

Serious: Simone Joubert - 3rd

Humorous: Crew Martinson - 6th; Ava Haldorson - 3rd

Entertain: Maddix Martinson - 2nd

Persuade: Abby Loen - 8th; Elise Weckerly - 6th; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Dramatic: Alexa Green - 7th; Lily Bjorgen - 5th; Maleina Joubert 1st

Storytelling: Alexa Green - 5th; Abriella Wagner - 4th; Maddix Martinson - 1st

Extemp: Ava Haldorson - 1st

Impromptu: Maleina Joubert - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Team Sweeps: 2nd

For awhile, we thought Mother Nature might have had different plans for our weekend, but turns out, the odds were in our favor! This past weekend, we were able to travel to Cando to compete in the North Star Invitational. With only one more meet before Regionals, it was helpful to see some regional match-ups!

NORTH STAR -- March 23, 2024

Poetry: Abby Loen - 8th; Lily Bjorgen - 6th; Katherine Casserly - 5th

Inform: Grant Anderson - 7th; Abby Loen - 2nd

Impromptu: Katherine Casserly - 5th; Maleina Joubert - 3rd; Grant Anderson - 2nd

EPR: Samantha Meckle - 7th; Lily Bjorgen - 3rd; Maleina Joubert - 1st

Dramatic: Alexa Green - 7th; Katherine Casserly - 6th; Lily Bjorgen - 4th; Maleina Joubert - 1st

Storytelling: Alexa Green - 4th; Maddix Martinson - 1st

Humorous: Crew Martinson - 5th; Maddix Martinson - 1st

Persuade: Daizee Loen - 2nd; Abby Loen - 1st

Serious: Maleina Joubert - 1st

Entertain: Maddix Martinson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Radio: Grant Anderson - 1ST AND STATE QUALIFIED

The HWC speech team took a small group of kids and traveled to Mandan. While most of the competition was Class A, it allowed us to hear and learn from individuals we don’t see normally.

Mandan — March 16, 2024

Persuade: Abby Loen - 7th

Radio: Grant Anderson - 5th

Entertain: Maddix Martinson - 4th

Inform: Abby Loen - 3rd

Storytelling: Maddix Martinson - 2nd

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - 3rd AND STATE QUALIFIED

After a week+ preparation, our home meet has come & gone. Thankfully, the weather was AWESOME for the first time in a few years & we are extremely grateful! We also loved seeing so many families come to watch their kids and other teammates speak – great support! With that …

THANK YOU parents for your donations to the hospitality room! It’s safe to say no coach/judge/bus driver went hungry but we couldn’t have done that with you!

THANK YOU coaches & teams for attending our meet! You brought your A game and were as polite and respectful as always.

THANK YOU judges for spending your Saturday with us and giving helpful feedback – we hope we made it difficult for you to rank because the competition was just that good.

THANK YOU HWC Speech kids for all your help throughout the week. To say we had some great help is a large understatement – wow!

THANK YOU Magician Karen for scheduling & calming the chaos. We say this every year, but we couldn’t run a successful meet without you!

And now .. the results!

Storytelling: Alexa Green – 7th

Radio: Ian Haldorson – 7th

Humorous Duo: Daizee Loen & Crew Martinson - Top Novice; Abby Loen & Maddix Martinson – 6th

Dramatic: Katherine Casserly – 7th; Lily Bjorgen – 6th; Maleina Joubert – 5th

Poetry: Simone Joubert – 3rd

Entertain: Maddix Martinson – 2nd

EPR: Samantha Meckle – 7th; Izaak Richter – 6th; Lily Bjorgen – 4th; Maleina Joubert – 2nd

Persuade: Katelyn Faul – 8th; Daizee Loen – 4th; Abby Loen – 3rd; Ava Haldorson – 1st

Extemp: Elliot Krenzel – 6th; Brian Casserly – 5th; Maddix Martinson – 4th; Ava Haldorson – 1st

Impromptu: Ava Haldorson – 1st

Inform: Abby Loen – 1st

This weekend continues to be a favorite for HWC Speech. Not only are we lucky enough to attend a meet this weekend that allows us to leave “later,” it’s also a weekend where we can get most of our team to attend. A large number of our kids are involved in other extracurricular activities, so it’s rare we have a full team before Regionals. Still missing a handful yesterday, but we were close to full force and definitely left the meet proud and impressed.

CARRINGTON – March 2, 2024

Radio: Brinlee Hase - Top Novice; Abby Loen - 8th; Ian Haldorson - 5th

Impromptu: Maleina Joubert - 5th

Poetry: Katherine Casserly - 5th; Simone Joubert - 4th

Serious: Simone Joubert - 4th

Humorous: Crew Martinson - 3rd; Maddix Martinson - 2nd

Persuade: Katelyn Faul - Top Novice; Daizee Loen - 4th; Elise Weckerly - 3rd; Abby Loen - 2nd; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Storytelling: Alexa Green - 8th; Maddix Martinson - 1st

Extemp: Robbie Casserly: 3rd; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Inform: Elise Weckerly - 5th; Abby Loen - 1ST AND STATE QUALIFIED

EPR: Izaak Richter - 7th; Lily Bjorgen - 3rd; Maleina Joubert - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Dramatic: Lily Bjorgen - 2nd; Maleina Joubert - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Humorous Duo: Crew Martinson & Daizee Loen - Top Novice; Maddix Martinson & Abby Loen - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Class B Sweeps: 1st

Without a meet nearby, the HWC speech team made the trek to Beulah for their invitational. A very fast paced day, the kids were constantly moving from room to room. We had some great breaks and a few kiddos who were so close!

Beulah -- February 24, 2024

EPR: Lily Bjorgen - 7th

Storytelling: Maddix Martinson - 3rd

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - 3rd

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 3rd

Inform: Abby Loen - 3rd

Radio: Grant Anderson - 3rd

Persuade: Daizee Loen - top novice; Abby Loen - 6th; Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Humorous: Maddix Martinson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Extemp: Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Another weekend, another road trip for the Speech team. This past weekend, the wind blew the team to Nedrose. Even though our team was smaller with the four-day weekend, we still had a great turnout from everyone while we competed with 19 other teams!

NEDROSE -- February 17, 2024

Dramatic: Lily Bjorgen - 7th

Serious: Simone Joubert - 6th

Humorous: Maddix Martinson - 7th; Crew Martinson - 5th

Radio: Ian Haldorson - 4th

Persuade: Daizee Loen - 7th; Abby Loen - 3rd

Inform: Abby Loen - 3rd

Poetry: Simone Joubert - 3rd

EPR: Lily Bjorgen - 1st

Storytelling: Maddix Martinson - 1ST AND STATE QUALIFIED

It’s not abnormal for kids to write their introductions or prepare their final touches on the bus ride to the meet. It is, however, not very often you have a student bring a printer to a meet. The outside the box thinking has us chuckling continuously (it is important to note that the student’s event was a last minute add to help with state qualifying numbers). Moments like these make our early morning departures a little easier. That said, the kids had a wonderful day at our first regional meet of the season!

ROLETTE — February 10, 2024

Humorous Duo: Crew Martinson & Daizee Loen - 6th

Radio: Ian Haldorson - 5th

Humorous: Maddix Martinson - 4th

Serious: Simone Joubert - 3rd

Storytelling: Maddix Martinson - 3rd

Inform: Elise Weckerly - 5th; Abby Loen - 2nd

Dramatic: Alexa Green - 7th; Katherine Casserly - 5th; Lily Bjorgen - 4th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Poetry: Katherine Casserly - 5th; Simone Joubert - 1st

EPR: Izaak Richter - 4th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd; Lily Bjorgen - 1st

Extemp: Abby Loen - 1st

Persuade: Daizee Loen - 5th; Maleina Joubert - 3rd; Abby Loen - 2nd; Elise Weckerly - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

The HWC Speech team traveled through the fog to Central Campus. Whenever we attend a large meet, we know we can expect great competition from around the region and yesterday did not disappoint! We even had our two junior high kids receive Top Novice in their category!

CENTRAL CAMPUS -- February 3, 2024

Entertain: Ava Haldorson - 7th

Humorous: Crew Martinson - Top Novice; Ava Haldorson - 5th

Dramatic: Katherine Casserly - 8th; Lily Bjorgen - 4th

Storytelling: Daizee Loen - Top Novice; Maddix Martinson - 4th

EPR: Lily Bjorgen - 6th; Maleina Joubert - 3rd

Persuade: Elise Weckerly - 8th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Extemp: Crew Martinson - 6th; Abby Loen - 5th; Ava Haldorson - 2nd

Inform: Elise Weckerly - 6th; Abby Loen - 2nd

Although our season starts around the same time every year, it always seems to creep up on us somehow! This year, the HWC Speech team started their season with a meet at Hazelton. What a great start!

Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock — January 27, 2024

Serious: Simone Joubert- 8th

Humorous: Maddix Martinson - 5th

Inform: Elise Weckerly - 5th; Abby Loen - 4th

Extemp: Abby Loen - 3rd

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 3rd

Persuade: Elise Weckerly - 2nd

Storytelling: Daizee Loen - 8th; Maddix Martinson - 1st

EPR: Maleina Joubert - 3rd; Lily Bjorgen - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Poetry: Simone Joubert - 2nd; Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Impromptu: Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Off to the first meet of the year! Good luck, Hornets!

What a weekend! We can honestly say that there was never a dull moment! From the Friday send-off to the return home, these kids kept us engaged with their singing abilities, secret birthday planning skills, and bowling talents. A shout out to the parents for the goodie bags, es**rt out of town, and Friday’s supper as well as to Mr. Hase, the fire department, and the police department for helping make this successful for the kids! An additional shoutout to the HWC Booster Club for their support for an evening of bowling fun!

It’s no secret Speech is a long season. We ask kids to put time and effort toward their events and the weeks before state are no different. Each of these kids helped each other throughout the last few weeks in various ways and we couldn’t be more proud of them. Without further ado, the state results …

Storytelling: Maddix Martinson - 8th

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - 4th

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 3rd

Extemp: Ava Haldorson - 3rd

Radio: Grant Anderson - 3rd

Persuade: Ava Haldorson - 3rd

Team Sweeps: 5TH PLACE

All-state is an award students can receive for placing in the top 20% in four events or receiving Superior Actor in One Act.

Congratulations to Ava Haldorson, Maleina Joubert, and Grant Anderson! What an awesome accomplishment!

FINAL BREAKS: Ava Haldorson in Extemp & Persuade; Grant Anderson in Impromptu & Radio; Maleina Joubert in Dramatic; Maddix Martinson in Storytelling

GOOD LUCK, HORNETS!

Today’s the day: last competition for this season! Give it your all!! We’re proud of you! Good luck - go do your thing! 🥔

Although it’s the end of the season for some, we are fortunate enough not to have any seniors to say “goodbye” to. These kids have worked hard all season and we’re beyond proud of their accomplishments! A great group of kids!

Regionals — April 15, 2023

Serious Duo: Ellamae Richter & Katelyn Faul - 5th

Serious: Halie Hoffer - 9th; Simone Joubert - 4th

Poetry: Katelyn Faul - 7th; Halie Hoffer - 5th; Simone Joubert - 3rd

Radio: Grant Anderson - 3rd

Entertain: Andrew Seibel - 3rd

Humorous: Maddix Martinson - 3rd AND STATE QUALIFIED; Andrew Seibel - 1st

Impromptu: Ashley Keller - 6th; Ty Jenner - 4th; Grant Anderson - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED

EPR: Blayze Krueger - 7th; Lily Bjorgen - 4th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Dramatic: Ellamae Richter - 6th; Lily Bjorgen - 5th; Maleina Joubert - 1st

Extemp: Christian Swang - 5th; Ty Jenner - 4th; Abby Loen - 2nd; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Inform: Ashley Keller - 6th; Abby Loen - 1st

Storytelling: Elise Weckerly - 5th; Maddix
Martinson - 1st

Persuade: Elise Weckerly - 3rd; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Team sweeps: REGION CHAMPS!

Mark your calendars for April 11th - it's bound to be a great evening!

It’s a tough decision to postpone a meet with the hopes of rescheduling. It’s a great thing, however, to have the opportunity to reschedule. This could definitely not have happened without a few different factors …

Other teams, coaches, and bus drivers: Thank you for getting your teams here safely and being ready and willing to compete one more time before regionals. We are extremely glad we were able to fill the halls with your passion for the activity. An additional shoutout to any sacrificial lambs - thank you for being willing to try a new (or old) event and still give it your all.

Judges and behind the scene workers: Thank you for being flexible and for your willingness to roll with the punches last minute. Your support for our activity does not go unnoticed.

Scheduler Karen: Thank you for your patience the last few weeks and for listening to alllll the crazy (mostly unrealistic) ideas. The tournament could not run smooth without your help.

Parents: Thank you for your contributions for the hospitality room - a few even having to purchase/bake/cook twice without even batting an eye. We appreciate knowing we can count on you and always helping us have tasty food in the hospitality room.

Kids: Thank you for hanging on board for two crazy speech meet weeks. It's safe to say we could have asked you to help with anything and it wouldn't have been a problem. Also, the flowers .. definitely a 1-30

HARVEY -- April 1, 2023

Serious: Halie Hoffer - 6th

Inform: Abby Loen - 2nd

Extemp: Christian Swang - 8th; Abby Loen - 7th; Andrew Seibel - 6th; Ty Jenner - 3rd; Ava Haldorson - 2nd

Dramatic: Lily Bjorgen - 6th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Impromptu: Ashley Keller - 6th; Ty Jenner - 4th; Grant Anderson - 2nd

EPR: Lily Bjorgen - 4th; Maleina Joubert - 1st

Persuade: Elise Weckerly - 4th; Abby Loen - 3rd; Grant Anderson - 2nd; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Radio: Grant Anderson - 1st

Entertain: Andrew Seibel - 1st

Humorous: Andrew Seibel - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Poetry: Simone Joubert - 6th; Ava Haldorson - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

For the last two weeks, the weather has impacted our season. Often times, it tends to be difficult to get back into the groove of things after an unexpected break. That was not the case with these kids - they had a great day!

North Star — March 25, 2023

Poetry: Simone Joubert - 3rd

EPR: Blayze Krueger - 7th, Maleina Joubert - 3rd, Lily Bjorgen - 2nd

Persuade: Abby Loen - 2nd

Inform: Abby Loen - 2nd

Entertain: Andrew Seibel - 2nd

Dramatic: Ellamae Richter - 5th, Lily Bjorgen - 4th, Maleina Joubert - 1st

Humorous: Christian Swang - 8th, Andrew Seibel - 1st

Serious: Simone Joubert - 1st

Extemp: Christian Swang - 7th, Simone Joubert - 4th, Andrew Seibel - 3rd, Abby Loen - 2nd AND STATE QUALIFIED

Impromptu: Maleina Joubert - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED

Next up .. our rescheduled meet April 1st!

Each year, the Carrington meet allows us to see some new competition and this year was no different. An added bonus is always leaving after 7 am. Overall, it was a great day! Still lots to work on but so much improvement from the beginning. Next weekend, we host our home meet!

CARRINGTON — March 4, 2023

Poetry: Simone Joubert - 7th

Storytelling: Elise Weckerly - 8th; Maddix Martinson - 4th

Serious: Simone Joubert - 6th; Halie Hoffer - 4th

Persuade: Elise Weckerly - 8th; Abby Loen - 6th; Grant Anderson - 3rd

Extemp: Abby Loen - 4th; Grant Anderson - 3rd

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - 3rd

Humorous: Andrew Seibel - 6th; Maddix Martinson - 3rd; Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Inform: Abby Loen - 2nd

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 1st

EPR: Lily Bjorgen - 4th; Maleina Joubert - 1st

Entertain: Andrew Seibel - 1st

Class B Sweeps: 1st Place

The HWC speech team competed in the Velva Invitational yesterday. Hard to believe this meet indicates that we're at our halfway mark. Nevertheless, it was a full day complete with great competition both during rounds and while waiting for awards!

VELVA -- February 25, 2023

Persuade: Grant Anderson - 4th

Radio: Ava Haldorson - 3rd

Impromptu: Ty Jenner - 5th; Grant Anderson - 2nd

Extemp: Abby Loen - 5th; Grant Anderson - 2nd

EPR: Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Poetry: Ava Haldorson - 2nd

Entertain: Andrew Seibel - 2nd

Humorous: Andrew Seibel - 5th; Maleina Joubert - 2nd

Inform: Ava Haldorson - 7th; Abby Loen - 1st

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 1st

In a whirlwind of a morning (shout out to Brad Arnold for his spectacular driving), the HWC speech team traveled to a week day meet. We were able to see some new competition and are thankful to Washburn for putting on a meet in such a short amount of time! Because we left before awards to get back in daylight (shout out to Bev Rudnick for recording awards and grabbing them for us and to Connie Loen for meeting up and bringing the awards back with her), a picture was unfortunately forgotten. Flexibility is so important with speech and, of course, ND weather; the kids rolled with the punches and handled everything so well!

WASHBURN — February 20, 2023

Humorous: Andrew Seibel - 7th; Maleina Joubert - 5th

Persuade: Abby Loen - 7th; Grant Anderson - 4th; Ava Haldorson - 3rd

Storytelling: Elise Weckerly - 6th; Maddix Martinson - 3rd

Serious: Simone Joubert - 2nd

Poetry: Ava Haldorson - 2nd

Impromptu: Grant Anderson - 2nd

Entertain: Andrew Seibel - 2nd

EPR: Blayze Krueger - top novice; Lily Bjorgen - 7th; Maddix Martinson - 6th; Maleina Joubert - 1st

Extemp: Robbie Casserly - 7th; Abby Loen - 3rd; Ava Haldorson - 1st

Radio: Grant Anderson - 1st

Dramatic: Maleina Joubert - 1st

Inform: Abby Loen - 1st AND STATE QUALIFIED