District 281's High School Speech Sensations

Andrew Urevig, a sophomore at , captured top honors at the Section 6AA Speech competition March 22 at Valley View Middle School in Edina and became a section champion in Extemporaneous Speaking. 

Gregory Lewis, a junior at Robbinsdale Cooper High School, captured second place in Great Speeches. 

Both are advancing to the State Speech Tournament. This is the first time in several years that both schools had teams qualify during one season.

“We are very proud of Greg and his accomplishments,” Cooper Head Coach Lisa Jacobson Flood said.  “He is a remarkable leader for our team, as he has a tremendous work ethic and helps his peers to do their best.”

Greg has been on the Cooper Speech team for three years and is currently one of the captains. 

“Speech students are some of the most dedicated students there are,” Coach Flood said. “Speech is an activity that has the potential to really make a difference in their lives.”

Andrew has placed as a finalist seven out of eight tournaments this season, four of those in first place. His speeches focus on current events and issues facing nations around the globe. This year alone, he won first alternate to nationals in Student Congress, third alternate to Nationals in Speech and took second place at state in debate.

“Andrew’s win was an exciting moment for our entire team!  His dedication and leadership drive our whole team to excel,” said Armstrong Head Coach Kaia Peters.  “His understanding of foreign policy exceeds that of most adults. But his humility and his sense of humor are what make him loved by the whole team.”

New to the Armstrong Speech team this year is Ben Anderson, a freshman who has grown very much in his skill level on the speech team, earning honorable mentions and a second place finish earlier this season. Ben, competing in the humorous category, also made it to the finals at the 6AA Section Tournament which “to do this as a freshman is amazing,” said Coach Peters. 

The state tournament is April 21 in Chanhassen.