Students from all four District 196 high schools earned medals at the 2025 Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class AA State Speech Tournament, continuing the district’s long tradition of excellence in speech and debate. At the state tournament, 22 district students earned medals in 12 individual speech events, including four state champions. In the team competition, Eastview High School took second place, with Apple Valley High School earning third place. Moorhead took home its 9th consecutive state title.

Eastview High School senior Sahiti Atluri showcased an impressive performance, capturing her third consecutive state championship in Creative Expression with Mismatched. Teammate Joseph Panikkar earned the state championship in Great Speeches by interpreting and analyzing a 1934 address critiquing income disparities: Every Man a King by Huey Long. 

Apple Valley’s Isra Yasin captured first place with an original persuasive speech entitled The Fruits of our Labor in Original Oratory, with teammate Isaiah Craig finishing third and Eagan’s Alex Huang earning sixth place. Apple Valley’s Mahlet Samuel won the state championship in Serious Interpretation of Prose, with a dramatic reading of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas.

In Extemporaneous Speaking, which requires writing and delivering a speech within one hour, Eastview’s Nick Zylstra finished second in the state, and Eagan’s Param Thakkar and Aayush Pandey placed third and fourth, respectively. Apple Valley’s Theo Pollock placed second in Creative Expression. In Duo Interpretation, Apple Valley’s Brandon Vergara Villalobos and Hayden Johnson earned second place, while Eastview’s Maxwell Espena and Nina Galindez placed fourth. In Humorous Interpretation, Eastview’s Tess Douma finished second, and Rosemount’s Solanite Ketema medaled as a finalist.

District 196 students earned medals in other categories as well. Eastview’s Max Huberty placed fourth in Discussion, with Eagan’s Zoe Melakie earning finalist honors. In Serious Interpretation of Drama, Apple Valley’s Rayan Shukri placed fifth, and Eastview’s Amira Omar placed sixth. Apple Valley’s Anna Netto finished sixth in Great Speeches, and Eagan’s Noa Brutinel earned finalist honors in Prose. 

Eleven District 196 seniors were named to the 2025 Minnesota Speech Coaches Association All-State Speech Team: Isaiah Craig, Theo Pollock, and Kenza Benlamlih (Apple Valley); Alex Huang, Param Thakkar, Aayush Pandey, and Peter Klingberg (Eagan); and Max Huberty, Maxwell Espena, Sahiti Atluri, and Nick Zylstra (Eastview). 

To earn All-State Speech honors, students must be seniors who have demonstrated excellence in competition, including at least one appearance at the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) State Speech Tournament. Beyond their competitive achievements, honorees have also demonstrated notable leadership and service within their schools and communities.

“These students are the best of the best,” Minnesota Speech Coaches Association President-Elect Travis Rother said. “As seniors in this activity, they have used their words as powerful tools. We congratulate these students for their achievements and look forward to seeing their skills in use in the wider world.”

Strong individual and team finishes among District 196 students reflect an extraordinary depth of talent, commitment, and hard work. District 196's outstanding speech programs have a long tradition of excellence.