ENGELS EARNS TRIP TO STATE SPEECH MEET

Performing virtual speeches didn't interest Alyssa Engels last year as pandemic restrictions did not allow for "live" performances. So, she took her junior year off.
Engels had been on the speech team since sixth grade but had never qualified for the state meet until Saturday when the senior placed first in Original Oratory in the Section 3A meet at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall.
Engels was the lone Minneota team member to qualify for state out of the 10 that competed in the section meet.
"I was kind of surprised I won," she said. "I'm not always confident. I'm happy, but I've never been to state before so I'm nervous, too."
This was the fourth first-place finish of the season for Engels, including the sub-section meet.Engels began her speech career in Creative in sixth grade, then added Extemporaneous Reading in seventh grade, and has been performing in Original Oratory since eighth grade.
"(Original Oratory) fits her well because she has an analytical mind," said Minneota coach Kim Gades, who also announced the section winners on Saturday. "Her outlines are the best I've ever seen here."
Unlike other categories, Original Oratory, students must deliver an original, factual speech on a subject of their choosing. The speech is frequently highly persuasive and is normally about a slightly controversial topic. An orator is given free choice of the subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.
Engels' topic is entitled "Flip the Switch" and discusses failure and how we as a society fail badly. Included in her speech is how we can move on and start to see the value in failing and to fail the correct way.
"Kim had suggested that topic when I was a sophomore, but I didn't use it then," Engels said. "Then I wrote a paper for school on it last year and decided to use it for speech this year."
Engels, a full-time PSEO student, put in a lot of time researching and refining the topic.
"Alyssa is a super hard worker," said Gades. "She really put in a lot of work to make this a great speech. She includes a lot of information and sources to back up her points. I am so proud of her."
Despite having a small squad this year, Minneota orator performed admirably all season.
"They all did a great job and I am proud of every one of them," said Gades.
The top three orators in each category advanced to the state meet April 23 at Eastview High School in Apple Valley.
Minneota had three team members that were just one place out of advancing. Joe Voit was fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking, Emma Lipinski was fourth in Prose, and Reagan Bierschenk, fourth in Informative. Also in the finals was Cora Fischer, who was fifth in Great Speeches; Noah Harms, fifth in Humorous; and Joey Clark, sixth in Storytelling.
Thomas Belaen, Wyatt Pohlen and Melanie Engels also qualified for the section meet, but did not advance to the finals.