Editorial: Speech winners make us proud

Talk about it

The Ellsworth boys’ basketball team came up just short last month in its quest for a third straight state title. Worthington, Pipestone Area and Adrian all qualified for state in girls basketball, yet couldn’t add to what already were strong seasons.

The same can’t be said for two southwest Minnesota students who competed at the state level Saturday. Adrian High School’s Chris Reisdorfer and Windom Area High School’s Brady Ysker-Giefer each won first place at the state speech tournament at St. Peter (see today’s story on page A1), an exciting end to a season that is a significant part of many lives throughout our region.

While high school students who participate in sports get plenty of glory — look at how rural communities not just around here, but around America, rally around their high school sports teams, for example — the efforts of students who participate in other extra-curricular activities consistently flies under the radar in comparison. But that doesn’t mean students in speech, for instance, don’t work hard at honing their craft — far from it.

Take the case of Reisdorfer, a senior. In his final speech meet, he became the first Adrian student to win at the state level, an achievement certainly worth celebrating. And, in the case of Ysker-Giefer, it’s an example of a a mere freshman who just happened to take first place for the first time all year when it mattered most — at the state meet. Talk about a great underdog story.

We salute these and all other fine young people who competed at the state meet this past weekend — and throughout the season.

Tags: opinion, editorials, speech