By Christal Ruppert
April 16, 2024 | 8 p.m.
Three PACT students are advancing to the MSHSL State Speech Tournament after finishing in the top three at the Section 4A tournament on Saturday, April 6.
Abigail Thomas ‘25 will be competing at the state tournament in the category of Extemporaneous Reading, a draw category in which one selects at random a different short story to perform each round. Thomas has competed in four different categories in her three years on the team; her skills in Drama, Prose, and Duo have prepared her well for an extemporaneous category, evidenced by her second-place finish at the section tournament. Thomas, a junior and a captain on the team, and her leadership, consistency, and hard work have been invaluable this season in preparing not only the varsity team but also the middle school team.
Four-year competitor Gracen Schmid ‘26 claims her own and the team’s first state appearance in the category of Serious Drama. Schmid’s piece condenses a full-length drama into ten minutes, and her effort and consistency have served her well as she has brought home a medal from every tournament this season, including a first-place finish at the Staples-Motley invitational and a third-place finish at the section tournament. Her exponential growth from the time she joined as a seventh grader to her state advancement as a sophomore speaks to her dedication and determination.
After competing last season in Creative Expression, Levi Wood ‘26 advances to the 2024 state tournament in the category of Storytelling. Like Extemporaneous Reading, Storytelling requires competitors to select and perform different stories each round, though the selections are folk tales from around the world. Wood’s creativity, sense of humor, and impressive writing skills have allowed him to flourish in this category as he puts his own spin on classic tales. This is his second year on the team and first state appearance.
Twenty-five PACT students competed in the section tournament, with seven students breaking into the final round of competition. Though four students who broke finals did not advance to state, their finals performances contributed to the team’s overall points, placing the team third in the section overall.
The Class A State Tournament will be held at Shakopee High School on Friday, April 19. Rounds begin at 10:15 a.m. and are free and open to the public. Follow the team and results on the PACT Speech Facebook page.