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   On February 21st, the WHA Speech Team competed at the Laporte “Mini” Varsity Speech meet. This tournament was new to the speech schedule this year. With an open weekend, the Laporte head coach offered to host a small varsity competition in which only schools belonging to Subsection 29A would attend. The speech teams from Walker, Blackduck, Cass Lake-Bena, Fosston Bagley,  Laporte, and Park Rapids were all in attendance. While the tournament was small in size, the competition was mighty. Walker entered 16 speakers into the competition

   The Walker Talkers earned the following ranks: Selah Bullivant placed 5th in Creative; Angelique White placed 8th in Discussion; Zoe Cox placed 2nd in Drama; Alexandra Cain placed 5th in Extemp. Reading; Lola Krueckeberg placed 6th in Extemp. Reading and 3rd in Informative; Trevor Kuechle placed 2nd in Great Speeches; Jace Ungerecht placed 3rd in Humor; Isaias Jimenez McMurrin placed 2nd in Oratory; Matthew Koch placed 3rd in Oratory; Sophia Undem placed 3rd in Poetry; Anna Tinker placed 5th in Poetry; Elijah Cox placed 3rd in Prose; Ava Diekmann placed 6th in Prose; Ziinaa White placed 7th Prose; Elaina Dascalos placed 1st in Prose; and Brooklyn Hanson placed 1st in Informative. 

   In the team awards, Walker placed 2nd behind Fosston/Bagley. The teams from Laporte, Blackduck, Park Rapids, and Cass Lake-Bena placed 3rd through 6th respectively. 

   The Walker Talkers will compete at the Laporte Junior High tournament this Thursday. This Saturday, the team will travel to Bemidji to compete in the 21st Annual Bemidji Lumberjack Invitational.

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