SPEECH PIECES
RECENT NEWS 2026
Team takes 3rd Place at Shakopee Tournament
Team takes 1st Place at Minneapple Tournament
Team takes 2nd Place at Minnesota Online Speech Series #1
Team takes 2nd Place at Minnesota Online Speech Series #2
Team takes 3rd place at Odyssey Tournament
Team takes 3rd place at River Park Tournament
Middle School Squad takes 2nd Place at S St Paul Tournament
Middle School Squad takes 2nd Place at the New Prague Tournament
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.
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
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
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
Maya Haugen, Miles Radatz, Owen Marks, Max Haugen
CAPTAINS COUNCIL
Simon Forbes, Sebastian Pikula, Ruby Gehrman, Sophie Middleton, Keagan Klaers
2025-26 Coaching Staff
Barb Shofner (speechteam@orono.k12.mn.us)
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!