Speech students Jada Schmidt, Kaden Hookom look forward to this weekend’s section competition
Jada Schmidt and Kaden Hookom have both qualified for the Section 3A Speech Meet, which will be held Saturday in Redwood Falls.
Both Schmidt and Hookom compete in Extemporaneous Reading, which is a category that involves speaking on predetermined cuttings from a book selected by the Minnesota State High School League.
Students draw to determine what three stories they will work from, and different cuttings can be drawn at each meet throughout the year.
The introduction should be memorized, and use of the chosen book is required when reading.
“We pick one of those to perform, and we do that for three different rounds, so it’s kind of a different topic every time we draw,” Schmidt said. “There are 15 different stories that we draw from — they let us know what those stories are so we can go through and read them and get to know the stories.”
The students focus on the same book throughout the year, and every two years, another book is chosen. This year, the book is “The Moth Presents All These Wonders,” a compilation of 45 true stories about risk, courage and facing the unknown.
Schmidt, a junior, said she’s been in speech since the eighth grade, so she’s used to the stress of speech, even at this level.
“Most people there are very welcoming and nice,” she said. Hookom is in the same category as Schmidt. This is the sophomore’s first year in speech.
“At the start, it was stressful, but there wasn’t any added pressure in sub-sections,” he said. “It was easier because I have been doing this all year.”
Hookom said he’s looking forward to a step up in competition that the section tournament brings.
“I’m excited for sections because it’s a new experience,” he said. “I’ve never done speech, so it’s nice to get this far. I’ve witnessed the skill of other people, so I don’t know if I can get to State, but that doesn’t mean there’s not a chance.”
The top three students in each category advance to State on April 25-26.
