Nebraska’s best high school orators take the stage for the “2025 NSAA Speech Championships: Best of the Best” at 2 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 27, on Nebraska Public Media.
Produced at Nebraska Public Media’s Ron Hull Studio in Lincoln, the more than two-hour program showcases high school students performing their winning state championship speeches.
It is hosted by Lincoln media personality D-Wayne Taylor, an MC, TV and radio host and former Nebraska High School speech champion.
Speech categories, titles, students, hometowns, class and coaches featured on the program include:
— Informative, “Crying,” Brynn Custer of Broken Bow (Class C1), Coach: Morgan Harms
— Interpretation of Drama, “Escanaba in da Moonlight,” Ty Diedrichsen, Jacson King, Karter Lingenfelter, Harrison Thor and Rece Frahm of Plainview (Class C2), Coaches: Michelle Mosel and Averi Diedrichsen
— Persuasive, “The Erosion of Connection,” Emily Otoupal of York (Class B), Coaches: Becky Stahr, Elias Dallmann, Kaitlyn Dallmann, Rachel Fox, and Avie Veldkamp
— Poetry, “The Sorrows of War,” Jack Hunter of Sioux County (Class D2), Coach: Dashiell Rohan
— Interpretation of Serious Prose, “Baby Mama,” Morgan Thieman of McCool Junction (Class C2), Coaches: Cherri Thieman, Trey Perry and Brandy Strope
— Unified Speech Exhibition, “The Titanic,” Carter Dittmer of Bennington (Class A), Coach: James Ginal
— Extemporaneous, “Given Indonesia’s current state, is it accurate to say it is heading down a similar path it was on under Suharto?,” Mariah McDole of Red Cloud (Class D1), Coach: Samantha McDole
— Duo Interpretation, “The Hate You Give,” Rylie Schwarz and Harmony Banwo of Millard North (Class A), Coach: Sabrina Denney Bull
— Program Oral Interpretation, “The Fear of What’s After,” Braydon Hoesing of Wausa (Class D1), Coach: Sheila Hoesing
— Entertainment, “Let’s Be Honest,” Nathan Althouse of Minden (Class B), Coach: Jeffrey Horner
— Interpretation of Humorous Prose, “We’re Not So Different, You and I,” Max Apel of Lincoln East (Class A), Coach: Nick Herink
The annual Nebraska School Activities Association event was held March 26-28 at Kearney High School and included students from Nebraska schools competing in classes A, B, C1, C2, D1 and D2.
“2025 NSAA Speech Championships: Best of the Best” can also be viewed at NebraskaPublicMedia.org and YouTube.