Mitchell's Boehmer takes fourth at state speech and debate tournament

MITCHELL — The South Dakota State Debate and Individual Events Tournament was held in Mitchell this weekend, drawing in roughly 100 competitors from 24 schools across the state.

Eight Kernels competed across five events at Mitchell High School on Friday and Saturday, drawing to a close the months-long season that runs from November through early-March.

Shawn Boehmer placed fourth in Class AA U.S. extemp out of a total of 23 entries. In that event, Boehmer was given a choice of three questions related to current events in the United States, and given 30 minutes to prepare and deliver a seven-minute speech.

Other Kernels who competed at the state tournament in various events included: Katelyn Ahlers, Morgan Klinger, Alexis Korzan, Kennedy Lofgren, Sophie Parsons, Kandice Suarez and Camryn Swanstrom.

Here’s a look at the full results from the tournament:

Class AA
Champion: Aberdeen Central.
Runner-up: Sturgis Brown.
Third-place: Sioux Falls Jefferson.

Class A
Champion: Spearfish.

Class AA
Champions: Abiah George & Sami Hegge, Aberdeen Central.

Runners-up: Beneyam Hassen & Josiah Stolz, Sioux Falls Jefferson.

Semifinalists: Lucy Walker & Josee Compton, Watertown; Emily Hua & Igen Nyawanda, Brookings.

Quarterfinalists: Abigail Johnson & Bono Buchtel, Sturgis Brown; Reagan Blackburn & Katelyn Ryan, Aberdeen Central; Angeth Mayen & Rebekah Kane, Sioux Falls Jefferson; and Alex Shore & Albert Shore, Brookings.

Class A
Co-Champions: Bethany Kobes & Anna Netjes, Sioux Falls Christian; and Carson Weiner & Blake Hoogeveen, Sioux Falls Christian.

Semifinalists: Maddie Cross & Donald Werner, Spearfish; and Will Scharf & Levi Taglioli, Spearfish.

Quarterfinalists: Debbie Campbell & Arianna Georgescu, Vermillion; Rachel Bryan & Brayden Karkalik, Dakota Valley; and Qualon Grant & Elexia Quintanilla, Milbank.

Class AA
Champions: Kira Waldhalm, Harrisburg.

Runners-up: Martin Jones, Sturgis Brown.

Semifinalists: Breanna Wollman, Aberdeen Central; and John Hinrichs, Sioux Falls Washington.

Quarterfinalists: Sophia Meyer, Douglas; Landon Whittle, Watertown; Amanda Rothe, Douglas; and Heidi Pan, Harrisburg.

Class A
Champions: Gunnar Geiken, Lennox.

Runners-up: Max Schuelke, Milbank.

Semifinalists: Ava Gooch, Spearfish; and Sam King, Spearfish.

Quarterfinalists: Hedy Perez Paulin, Vermillion; McKenzie Ritenour, Lennox; and Jack Vitt, Vermillion.

Original Oratory
Champion: Breanna Wollman, Aberdeen Central.

Runner-up: Beneyam Hassen, Sioux Falls Jefferson.

Third-place: Meridian Hailu, Sioux Falls Jefferson.

Finalists: Abiah George, Aberdeen Central; Carlie Johnson, Sturgis Brown; and Aadil Ali, Harrisburg.

U.S. Extemp
Champion: Kira Waldhalm, Harrisburg.

Runner-up: Sami Hegge, Aberdeen Central.

Third-place: Breanna Wollman, Aberdeen Central.

Finalists: Shawn Boehmer, Mitchell; Noah Johnson, O’Gorman; and Bono Buchtel, Sturgis Brown.

International Extemp
Champion: Kaleb Ringgenberg, Aberdeen Central.

Runner-up: Abiah George, Aberdeen Central.

Third-place: Aadil Ali, Harrisburg.

Finalists: Martin Jones, Sturgis Brown; Igen Nyawanda, Brookings; and Sophia Meyer, Douglas.

Informative
Champion: Kayla Waltman, Aberdeen Central.

Runner-up: Paige Lewis, O’Gorman.

Third-place: John Hinrichs, Sioux Falls Washington.

Finalists: Ian Candy, Brandon Valley; Bekah Kane, Sioux Falls Jefferson; and Ashley Crouch, Aberdeen Central.

Original Oratory
Champion: Laney Andrews, Beresford.

Runner-up: Emma Andrews, Beresford.

Third-place: Sophie Matsuda, Spearfish.

Finalists: Carlos Olivares Zuniga, Milbank; Noah Sayler, Lennox; and Ava Gooch, Spearfish.

U.S. Extemp
Champion: Ava Gooch, Spearfish.

Runner-up: Nina Jordre, Vermillion.

Third-place: Max Schuelke, Milbank.

Finalists: Max Josko, Beresford; Rylen Frerichs, Milbank; and Will Scharf, Spearfish.

International Extemp
Champion: Sam King, Spearfish.

Runner-up: Gunnar Geiken, Lennox.

Third-place: Donald Werner, Spearfish.

Finalists: Shane Spiering, Milbank; Jack Vitt, Vermillion; and Laney Andrews, Beresford.

Informative
Champion: Rylee Nordyke, Vermillion.

Runner-up: Emma Andrews, Beresford.

Third-place: Qualon Grant, Milbank.

Finalists: Maria Eisenbraun, Spearfish; Abbi Johnson, Spearfish; and Ixtal Macias, Milbank.