The hidden gem of Minnesota high school activities was on display Friday afternoon. 

At Blaine high school, 328 talented high school speakers took part in the AA state speech tournament with 14 who left as state champions in their respective categories. The Lakeville North speech team sent 20 competitors after being named the Old Dutch high school team of the week for winning the 1A section tournament for the 14th year in a row. 9 of North's 20 speakers received medals. Included in these medalists was poetry state champion, Nyambura Muiruri; North's first state champion since the 2010 speech season.

"It's incredible," Muiruri said of being North's first state champion in four seasons. "I did not expect it. I'm at a loss for words."

As the speech tournament got underway, in the first round of prelims, the eventual 6th place medalist in Informative Speaking, junior Jack Mettlach, gave his speech "It Actually Grows On Trees" informing his audience about paper. Throughout his speech he continued to emphasize how much our daily lives truly depend on paper.

"In the past, we’ve always talk about, 'what's a topic everybody knows about, but yet nobody knows about'," said Mettlach. "We're all surrounded by paper."

Later in the first round of prelims, senior captain Sarah Mason performed her Prose piece "Sickened," the story of a mother constantly having her child pretend she was sick. The speech that would eventually win Mason third in state was composed of Mason vividly depicting a young girl in surgery, panicking because the girl wasn’t actually sick.

"Becoming the character that you're trying to perform makes it easier to do it every week," Mason said of keeping her composure.

Up next, in round two starting at 11:45, senior Will Preachuk gave his Creative Expression speech titled "Good Old Martin" that told the story of a young boy named Martin Schmelzle who changes into an older man to get the girl of his dreams. Martin may have been unsuccessful in getting the girl, but Will Preachuk was extremely successful in getting the room to constantly burst into laughter, ultimately winning him second in state.

"I can do as well as I can, but if the audience doesn't respond, I still don't feel confident," Preachuk said. "The audience definitely responded this time."

Toward the end of round 2, Sean Mullin and Stephanie Butler put on their duo interpretation speech titled "Apartment 3A" that ended up winning 7th in state. Throughout the performance, Butler and Mullins continued to show the range of emotions Annie Wilson and her neighbor Donald Peterson experienced.

"It takes a lot of self control, and it takes a lot of mental to focus to keep going during laughs of the audience," Mullin said. "And to also kind of be this suave guy that makes jokes all the time but also has a really good interpretation of how she's feeling and being able to convey that to her."

"(Our coach) gave us this one because it fit the roles that we play, and played to our strengths," Butler added.

Lakeville North's other third place in state went to Noah Omdal for the category of Great Speeches for the speech titled "Rippel Of Hope" by Robert F. Kennedy. At the beginning of the third round, Omdal gave and analyzed Kennedy's 1949 Apartide speech that specifically talked about the human condition of inequality.

"You hear some of the speeches that other people do, and they pick speeches that had really no historical impact that didn't really do anything," said Omdal. "I just look for speeches that have an impact on society in a positive way."

Closing out the third round of prelims, after drawing three Grim's story tales, senior Sami Peick brought the story of "Farmer Little" to life, telling the story as seven different characters, including the narrator.

"I would probably say this is the best time I've ever done this story," said Peick. "I'm excited, and if I don't make it to finals, this will be my last story and that's cool."

Come time for finals, Nyambura Muiruri spoke her way into the history books through her Poetry piece titled "My voice" which caused her to become emotional toward the end.

"I felt my piece was really powerful," Muiruri said. "Speaking up is very important, especially when so many people are telling you to be this way, or that way. But then to be able to stand up and speak up and say 'no' is very important."

And for Nyambura Muiruri, it was speaking up that made all the difference.

Lakeville North Speech State Medalists:

Nyambura Muiruri: 1st Poetry

Will Preachuk: 2nd Creative Expression

Noah Omdal: 3rd Great Speeches

Sarah Mason: 3rd Prose

Natalie Zavoral: 4th Extemporaneous Reading 

Melissa Mason: 5th Prose

Jack Mettlach: 6th Informative Speaking

Stephanie Butler and Sean Mullin: 7th Duo Interpretation 

Leyu Getachew: 7th Original Oratory