Speech State Tournament 2024: Class AA Recap

Moorhead claimed three gold medals at the Class AA Speech State Tournament held at Shakopee High School on Saturday, April 20. The Spuds also claimed their eighth consecutive team title - not including the COVID year in 2020. Apple Valley placed second and Eastview was third. 

The 2024 champions are: Sahiti Atluri of Eastview in Creative Expression; Leila Hoeschen Ehrbright of Duluth East in Discussion; Arkhya Arikkath and Maxwell Espena of Eastview in Duo Interpretation; Emerie Schraw of St. Cloud Tech in Extemporaneous Reading; Aaimah Khawaja of Lakeville North in Extemporaneous Speaking; Diya Kayaleh of Wayzata in Great Speeches; Isaac Stokes of Anoka in Humorous Interpretation; Eleanor Culloton of Moorhead in Informative Speaking; Mfaz Mohamed Ali of Apple Valley in Original Oratory; Sanyu Mwassa of White Bear Lake Area in Serious Interpretation of Drama; Davie Judd of Moorhead in Serious Interpretation of Poetry; Mariam Elias-Danjuma of White Bear Lake Area in Serious Interpretation of Prose; and Evan Froslie of Moorhead in Storytelling.

Stokes of Anoka was the only champion to earn a third medal at this year's event. Eight champions were successful in claiming their second medals: Atluri of Eastview; Hoeschen Ehrbright of Duluth East; Schraw of St. Cloud Tech; Kayaleh of Wayzata; Mohamed Ali of Apple Valley; Mwassa and Elias Danjuma of White Bear Lake Area; and Froslie of Moorhead.

Two of the four returning champions were successful in striking gold in the same categories again this year. Eastview’s Sahiti Aturi won in Creative Expression , and White Bear Lake Area’s Mariam Elias Danjuma repeated in Serious Interpretation of Prose. 

Halle Browning of Chaska, who was the defending champion in Great Speeches, placed third in the same event this year. Leif Carlson of Moorhead, who was the reigning champion in Serious Interpretation of Drama, finished third in Serious Interpretation of Prose.

Complete results are posted here: 2024 Speech Results