The 2AA Section Speech Tournament on April 9 at Mankato West featured 12 Mound Westonka High School students competing in 10 events. After preliminary rounds, the top six speakers in each category advanced to a final round, where the top three earned their way to state. MWHS had five students advance to final rounds at Sections in three events: junior Ilana Andrev in Informative Speaking; and the pairings of juniors Connor Houston/Wade Carlin and seniors Izzy McCullough/Ella Rose Walters in Duo Interpretation.

Andrev placed third at Sections and earned her way to compete at the MSHSL Class AA State Speech Tournament. The Duo of McCullough/Walters narrowly missed state, finishing fourth, and the Houston/Carlin Duo finished fifth. 

MWHS is excited to return to an in-person state tournament for the first time since 2018 due to the Covid pandemic. The tournament will be held at Eastview High School on April 22. Andrev will be competing in a field of the top 24 competitors in the state from AA schools in Informative Speaking.

Andrev is coached in this category by Kelsey Rausch. She will be accompanied at the state tournament by coaches Rhys Jones (who was elected to judge the tournament) and Megan Lhotka (who will be a room manager). All of Andrev's coaches can attest to the countless hours she has devoted to this activity and know she is ready for this challenge!