Orono/Delano Speech Team

Calendar

Lettering Requirements

Handbook

Speech Categories

SPEECH PIECES

DI SYATP

Breaking Open

This is a Recording

Blood Red State

Toothless

You Mother

FALL KICK OFF MEETING

Our annual Kick Off Meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 21st at 6PM in the Orono HS Media Center - all students and parents are welcome to attend to learn more about the Speech Team.

Interested in the Speech Team?

If you are interested in joining the Speech Team, please reach out to Coach Shofner at speechteam@orono.k12.m.us

feel free to contact us (below) with questions

8 Speakers Qualify for State!

Creative Expression Oliver Berg

Discussion Hannah Stegemann

Extemp Reading Sophie Middleton

Extemp Speaking Owen Marks

Great Speeches Sydney Sloneker

Humor Jane Stavitzski

Storytelling Maya Haugen

Storytelling Meg Arneson

Metro West 2025 Conference Champions!

ALL CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Meg Arneson Storytelling

Oliver Berg Creative Expression

Anna D’Alessandro Poetry

Simon Forbes Discussion

Ruby Gehrman Duo

Maxwell Haugen Great Speeches

Maya Haugen Storytelling

Owen Marks Ex. Speaking

Mckenna Monger Prose

Sophie Middleton Duo & Ex. Reading

Sidney Sloeneker Great Speeches

Addie Stavitzski Creative Expression & Prose

Jane Stavitzski Humor

Hannah Stegmann Discussion

RECENT NEWS

Team takes 4th Place at Prior Lake Tournament - 40 attending schools

Team takes 1st Place at Laker Tournament

Team takes 3rd Place at Centennial Tournament

Team takes 1st Place at Shakopee Tournament

Team takes 2nd Place Scarlet Tournament

Team takes 1st Place Dassel-Cokato Tournament

Team takes 2nd Place at Minnesota Online Speech Series #2

Team takes 1st Place at Minnesota Online Speech Series #3

Middle School Squad takes 2nd Place at: South St Paul Tournament, New Prague Tournament, Jordan Tournament and at the Watertown Tournament

Team competes at NSDA National Qualifying Tournament

Owen Marks broke to Semi Finals in International Extemporaneous Speaking

Jane Stavitzski broke to Quarter Finals in Humorous

McKenna Monger qualifies her Program Oral Interpretation (POI) Entry to the National Speech and Debate Tournament -

She will be competing at the National Tournament in June.

2025-2026 CAPTAINS PRACTICES

Held at Orono HS

November 17th - Drama Room

December 9th - Media Center

January 6th - Media Center

January 13th - Full Team Showcase*

Additional dates to be determined

TBD April- Full Team Showcase*

** Showcases will start in Cafeteria and then breakout to small rooms

KICK OFF MEETING INFORMATION:

Link to Recording

2025-2026 Kickoff Meeting Slides

CONTACT US:

Email: speechteam@orono.k12.mn.us

Instagram: @oronospeechteam

Orono Minnesota State High School League Speech Team

Parents and Team Members,

Please keep in mind that our speakers who are competing in other in other MSHSL activities or school clubs or community events, are still allowed to compete on our team. We realize these speakers may not be able to compete in all of the tournaments. We accommodate varying schedules as long as these speakers’ desire to compete is sincere and their practices with coaches are consistent.

2024-25 Team Captains

Captains and Council

CAPTAINS

Maya Haugen, Miles Radatz, Owen Marks, Max Haugen

CAPTAINS COUNCIL

Simon Forbes, Sebastian Pikula, Ruby Gehrman, Sophie Middleton, Keagan Klaers

2025-26 Coaching Staff

Head Coach

Barb Shofner (speechteam@orono.k12.mn.us)

Assistant Coaches

Nicolle Berg

John Siracusa

Tex Ostvig

Kristen Pardun Johannsen

Tim Wheatley

Sasha Rathke

...and judge trainer/ judge placer/transportation coordinator - Deb Ludowese.

The Odyssey

We are excited to announce that we are co-hosting the 9th annual Odyssey Tournament at Orono on Saturday, January 24th, 2026!