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The Northeast Range Speech Team had an impressive showing at the Section 7A Speech Tournament on Saturday, April 12. Coached by Jennifer Kaufenberg, the team is part of a co-op with the North Woods and Ely speech programs. The team includes both junior high (grades 5-8) and varsity (grades 8-12) speakers.
“It was great having several new speakers join our team this year,” said Kaufenberg. “We’ve been working hard all season, and our success at the section tournament is a testament to everyone’s dedication.” She also credited Ruthy and Beth Morgan for their help with practices and judging, adding, “Their support has made a big difference, especially with Ely joining our team this season.”
Looking ahead, the team hopes to recruit six–12 more students next year, boosting the roster to over 20 speakers - enough to consider hiring an assistant coach.
For now, the focus is on the 2025 State Tournament. Four NER speakers will compete in Shakopee on April 25. The team placed third overall at Sections with 31 points, just behind Cherry High School with 32 points and Marshall School with 41.
Individual results from the Section 7A Tournament: Extemporaneous Reading: Makenzie Little (10th grade) – 3rd place. Humor: Jackson Kaufenberg (8th grade) – 6th place. Informative: Trevor Zaitz (10th grade) – 4th place. Prose: Sydney Orcutt (9th grade) – 2nd place, Alison Poppler (10th grade) – 4th place. Poetry: Amber Sopoci (12th grade) – 1st place. Storytelling: Eva Morgan (10th grade) – 1st place, Alice Sopoci (9th grade) – 4th place.
“With a third-place team finish and multiple state qualifiers, the Northeast Range speech team has shown that hard work, collaboration, and passion for performance truly pay off. As they prepare for the State Tournament and look ahead to next season, the team continues to grow - not just in size, but in skill, confidence, and community spirit,” said Kaufenberg.
