Three return as proud state speech medalists

PaNhia Vang, Sarita Hook and Noah Tiegs all took home medals at the Class A State Speech Tournament on Saturday.

By Per Peterson

Senior Noah Tiegs called his performance at the Class A state speech meet this past weekend his best ever. And Tiegs’ best resulted in a second-place medal in Poetry. What’s more, Tiegs was one of three Tracy Area High School students to medal: PaNhia Vang and Sarita Hook also broke into final round at the speech tournament on Saturday.
Tiegs and Hook were both finalist returners from last year, with Tiegs earning his third state speech medal of his career.
“I feel like I did very well,” said Tiegs. “My performance in the final round was the best I’ve ever performed my piece, and I really don’t think there’s any reason for me to dwell on things that might’ve gone wrong. I got second in the state — things must’ve gone pretty well.”
It was a fitting end to Tiegs’ high school speech career. This was his fourth trip to the state meet.
“State was absolutely fantastic,” he said. “Everyone on the team, everyone from our section of the state, and even all of my competitors were all so supportive of me. Spending the weekend with the team was also a lot of fun; we were all just so excited the whole weekend. It was a great way to end my speech career.”
Vang, making her second state appearance, took seventh in Drama, garnering her first state medal, and Hook earned her second medal, finishing in sixth in Extemp. Reading.
Hook, a junior, said she was glad Class A competitors were able to watch Class AA speakers on Friday.

For more on this article, see this week’s Headlight-Herald.