Park Rapids Speech Team Sends Two to State Competition

High school students excel at regional tournament, earn spots at upcoming state event.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:43pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated microphone icon in a grid pattern, representing the achievements of the Park Rapids speech team.The Park Rapids speech team's strong regional performance highlights the value of communication-focused extracurricular activities.Park Rapids Today

The Park Rapids Area High School speech team had a strong showing at the regional tournament, with several students placing in the top six of their events. Two students, Claire Thole in humor and Makenzie Mack in discussion, qualified for the upcoming state speech competition by placing second in their respective categories.

Why it matters

Participation in speech and debate activities helps develop important communication skills for high school students, and qualifying for the state tournament is a significant achievement that can open doors for future academic and professional opportunities.

The details

At the regional tournament, the Park Rapids team placed fourth overall out of 17 schools. Other students who earned team points included Charles Demoret (6th in storytelling), Elizabeth Rempfer (6th in prose), Kai James (5th in poetry), Elsie Forbes (4th in humor), and Henry LeMier (4th in creative expression). Claire Thole and Makenzie Mack were the two students who placed second in their events to advance to the state competition, which will be held on April 25 in Brooklyn Park.

  • The regional tournament took place on Thursday, April 16.
  • The state speech competition will be held on Saturday, April 25 in Brooklyn Park.

The players

Park Rapids Area High School

A public high school located in Park Rapids, Minnesota that fields a competitive speech team.

Claire Thole

A Park Rapids Area High School student who placed second in the humor category at the regional tournament, qualifying her for the state competition.

Makenzie Mack

A Park Rapids Area High School student who placed second in the discussion category at the regional tournament, qualifying her for the state competition.

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What’s next

The state speech competition will take place on Saturday, April 25 in Brooklyn Park, where Claire Thole and Makenzie Mack will represent Park Rapids Area High School.

The takeaway

The strong performance of the Park Rapids Area High School speech team at the regional tournament, with two students qualifying for the state competition, demonstrates the dedication and talent of these young communicators and the value of speech and debate programs in developing essential skills for academic and professional success.