BLACKDUCK DRAKES SPEECH
DRAKES SPEAKER OF THE WEEK
Freshman Freyja Herzog is this week’s Blackduck Drakes Speaker of the Week. Freyja
transferred to Blackduck from Justice Page Middle School in Minneapolis, where she
gained experience in Debate. That experience helped her in earning quick success at a
Speech Team member in the category of Discussion. Since Freyja is a quick talker and
quicker thinker, she has been able to rise to the top of nearly every tournament attended
in her first season. The Discussion topic from the MSHSL this season is “Finding
Connection in an Increasingly Fragmented World.” Freyja’s commitment to long hours of
research into the social, political, religious, and global fragmentation is serving her well
as a competitor, where she has racked up 7 medals in 7 tournaments, including three
championships, one second place finish, two fourth, and one sixth, even defeating the
2025 State Champ on February 7 th at DGF High School. The coaches are expected an
incredible speech career for Freyja and wish her continued success!
Freshman Freyja Herzog is this week’s Blackduck Drakes Speaker of the Week. Freyja
transferred to Blackduck from Justice Page Middle School in Minneapolis, where she
gained experience in Debate. That experience helped her in earning quick success at a
Speech Team member in the category of Discussion. Since Freyja is a quick talker and
quicker thinker, she has been able to rise to the top of nearly every tournament attended
in her first season. The Discussion topic from the MSHSL this season is “Finding
Connection in an Increasingly Fragmented World.” Freyja’s commitment to long hours of
research into the social, political, religious, and global fragmentation is serving her well
as a competitor, where she has racked up 7 medals in 7 tournaments, including three
championships, one second place finish, two fourth, and one sixth, even defeating the
2025 State Champ on February 7 th at DGF High School. The coaches are expected an
incredible speech career for Freyja and wish her continued success!
Past Speakers of the Week
DRAKES PLACE WELL IN SUBSECTON SPEECH PREVIEW TOURNAMENT
The Laporte Wildcats hosted a Subsection 29A Preview Tournament on February 21 st ,
to give the six teams in the subsection a chance to see who they will have to face in the
post season in late March and April. In addition to Blackduck and Laporte, teams
competed for Walker, Park Rapids, Cass Lake-Bena, and Fosston/Bagley.
Fosston/Bagley steamrolled everyone for a first-place finish.
Blackduck ended up in fourth, although the points were tight for second-fourth between us, Walker, and Laporte.
More importantly, individual Drakes Speakers performed very well and brought home an
array of awards from the day. Blackduck had three champions: Abby Mackey in serious
Drama, and Cora Lien and Hailey Haberle in Duo Interpretation. Freyja Herzog tied for
first in Discussion but ended up in second place on a tie-breaking procedure. Emma
Grover and Alyssa Camacho each won their first varsity medals, with Emma placing
second in Creative Expression and Alyssa placing second in Informative Speaking.
Maci Dufseth took the bronze in Discussion, right behind Freyja. Shiloh Steele finished
fourth in Original Oratory and Anna Nolden placed fourth in Prose. In 5th place were Max Norris in Drama and Addi Bradseth in Informative Speaking. James Spencer placed
sixth in Informative and Alaina Reiplinger took sixth in Creative Expression.
Keep up the amazing work Drakes! Onward and upward!
The Laporte Wildcats hosted a Subsection 29A Preview Tournament on February 21 st ,
to give the six teams in the subsection a chance to see who they will have to face in the
post season in late March and April. In addition to Blackduck and Laporte, teams
competed for Walker, Park Rapids, Cass Lake-Bena, and Fosston/Bagley.
Fosston/Bagley steamrolled everyone for a first-place finish.
Blackduck ended up in fourth, although the points were tight for second-fourth between us, Walker, and Laporte.
More importantly, individual Drakes Speakers performed very well and brought home an
array of awards from the day. Blackduck had three champions: Abby Mackey in serious
Drama, and Cora Lien and Hailey Haberle in Duo Interpretation. Freyja Herzog tied for
first in Discussion but ended up in second place on a tie-breaking procedure. Emma
Grover and Alyssa Camacho each won their first varsity medals, with Emma placing
second in Creative Expression and Alyssa placing second in Informative Speaking.
Maci Dufseth took the bronze in Discussion, right behind Freyja. Shiloh Steele finished
fourth in Original Oratory and Anna Nolden placed fourth in Prose. In 5th place were Max Norris in Drama and Addi Bradseth in Informative Speaking. James Spencer placed
sixth in Informative and Alaina Reiplinger took sixth in Creative Expression.
Keep up the amazing work Drakes! Onward and upward!
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DRAKES PERFORM WELL AT HUGE DETROIT LAKES TOURNAMENT
The Drakes traveled to Detroit Lakes for the Loquacious Lakers Tournament made up of
26 teams and nearly 400 speakers. The Blackduck team, consisting of just 11 members on the day—all of them in grades 7 through 9, pulled off a 16th place finish against all odds!
Maci Dufseth earned an award for excellence in the category of Discussion and Freyja
Herzog placed 6th in Discussion. The Duo Team of Hailey Haberle and Cora Lien received the 6th place award in Duo Interpretation. Former Drakes Speaker, now competing for the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers placed 5 th in Great Speeches!
The Drakes traveled to Detroit Lakes for the Loquacious Lakers Tournament made up of
26 teams and nearly 400 speakers. The Blackduck team, consisting of just 11 members on the day—all of them in grades 7 through 9, pulled off a 16th place finish against all odds!
Maci Dufseth earned an award for excellence in the category of Discussion and Freyja
Herzog placed 6th in Discussion. The Duo Team of Hailey Haberle and Cora Lien received the 6th place award in Duo Interpretation. Former Drakes Speaker, now competing for the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers placed 5 th in Great Speeches!
DRAKES SPEAKERS BRING HOME HARDWARE FROM DGF TOURNAMENT
The Blackduck Drakes Speech Team travelled to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School on February 7th to compete against more than 350 speakers from 22 schools. Freyja Herzog won the tournament championship in Discussion with her teammate Maci Dufseth bringing home the 5 th place medal in the same category. Three Blackduck Speakers earned ribbons for Superior Performance: Abby Mackey in Serious Interpretation of Drama, and Hailey Haberle and Cora Lien in Duo Interpretation. Shiloh Steele earned a Ribbon for Excellence in Original Oratory. The majority of the team finished in the top half of the competitors in their categories,
and the outlook is excellent as we continue our 2026 season!
The Blackduck Drakes Speech Team travelled to Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton High School on February 7th to compete against more than 350 speakers from 22 schools. Freyja Herzog won the tournament championship in Discussion with her teammate Maci Dufseth bringing home the 5 th place medal in the same category. Three Blackduck Speakers earned ribbons for Superior Performance: Abby Mackey in Serious Interpretation of Drama, and Hailey Haberle and Cora Lien in Duo Interpretation. Shiloh Steele earned a Ribbon for Excellence in Original Oratory. The majority of the team finished in the top half of the competitors in their categories,
and the outlook is excellent as we continue our 2026 season!
Drakes Speakers earn awards at Early Tournaments!
The Blackduck Drakes Varsity Speech Team earned several awards in the first two tournaments of the 2026 season in Cass Lake-Bena on January 17th and in Pequot Lakes on January 24th. At the CL-B Panthers Tournament, Maci Dufseth earned an 8th place finish in Discussion. Shiloh Steele placed 4th in Original Oratory and Freyja Herzog finished in 4th place in Discussion.
Results got even better in Pequot Lakes as the Eagles hosted a larger tournament and the Drakes had even more success in the first tournament of the season with Finals! The Drakes had one speaker in Honor Final, Maci Dufseth, who placed 4th in Discussion. Four Blackduck Speakers earned a spot in the prestigious Eagles Final Round, with Cora Lien and Hailey Haberle placing 6th in Duo Interpretation, Abby Mackey placing 4th in Dramatic Interpretation, and Freyja Herzog taking 4th place in Discussion. Former Drakes Speaker, Olivia Miettinen, now competing for Cass Lake, placed 3rd in Great Speeches!
Congratulations to the Blackduck Drakes Speech Team, and best of luck as the season continues!
The Blackduck Drakes Varsity Speech Team earned several awards in the first two tournaments of the 2026 season in Cass Lake-Bena on January 17th and in Pequot Lakes on January 24th. At the CL-B Panthers Tournament, Maci Dufseth earned an 8th place finish in Discussion. Shiloh Steele placed 4th in Original Oratory and Freyja Herzog finished in 4th place in Discussion.
Results got even better in Pequot Lakes as the Eagles hosted a larger tournament and the Drakes had even more success in the first tournament of the season with Finals! The Drakes had one speaker in Honor Final, Maci Dufseth, who placed 4th in Discussion. Four Blackduck Speakers earned a spot in the prestigious Eagles Final Round, with Cora Lien and Hailey Haberle placing 6th in Duo Interpretation, Abby Mackey placing 4th in Dramatic Interpretation, and Freyja Herzog taking 4th place in Discussion. Former Drakes Speaker, Olivia Miettinen, now competing for Cass Lake, placed 3rd in Great Speeches!
Congratulations to the Blackduck Drakes Speech Team, and best of luck as the season continues!