Osmond Wins D2 State Speech Championship, Chambers Finishes Runner-Up

St. Mary's takes 3rd place as KBRX area schools earn 28 total medals at the NSAA State Speech Championships

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:30am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric planes of high school students passionately delivering speeches, debating, and performing dramatic interpretations, conveying the raw emotion and competitive drive of a state speech championship.The vibrant energy and competitive spirit of the NSAA State Speech Championships is captured in a cubist, geometric deconstruction of the event.Kearney Today

The D1 and D2 NSAA State Speech Championships were held on March 28, 2026 at Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska. Osmond High School won the D2 Team Sweepstakes title with 128 points, followed by Chambers High School in 2nd with 92 points and St. Mary's High School in 3rd with 80 points. KBRX area schools collectively won 28 individual event medals across the two divisions.

Why it matters

The NSAA State Speech Championships represent the culmination of the high school speech season in Nebraska, showcasing the top student orators, performers, and debaters from across the state. Strong performances at this event can lead to college recruitment and scholarship opportunities for talented students.

The details

In the D2 division, Osmond High School claimed the team title with 128 points, led by individual event champions Ava Reikofski in Extemporaneous Speaking and Donovan Heiman in Entertainment Speaking. Chambers High School finished as the D2 runner-up with 92 points, paced by Rose Woeppel's trio of medals in Oral Interpretation events. St. Mary's High School took 3rd place in D2 with 80 points, highlighted by Ben Pongratz's two 1st place finishes in Informative Speaking.

  • The D1 & D2 NSAA State Speech Championships were held on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The event took place at Kearney High School in Kearney, Nebraska.

The players

Osmond High School

The D2 state champion team that scored 128 points, led by individual event winners Ava Reikofski and Donovan Heiman.

Chambers High School

The D2 runner-up team that scored 92 points, paced by Rose Woeppel's trio of medals in Oral Interpretation events.

St. Mary's High School

The D2 3rd place team that scored 80 points, highlighted by Ben Pongratz's two 1st place finishes in Informative Speaking.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

The strong performances by KBRX area schools at the NSAA State Speech Championships demonstrate the depth of speech talent in this region of Nebraska, with multiple schools and individual students earning top honors and medals across a variety of competitive events.