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HARTINGTON — The title defense is about to begin.
Hartington-Newcastle won the Class C2 state title at the 2024 Nebraska School Activities Association State Speech contest by sending 11 of its school-record 18 entries to finals and earning three event State champions.
Many of those performers return this season to help the 2025 HNS speech team attempt a repeat.
The HNS season will begin with a home meet, the HNS/CCHS Invite, on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The team is filled with veterans and promising newcomers, said coach Kyle Stevens, who resigned as Wausa's speech coach to return to his alma mater and help long-time coach A.J. Johnson with the team.
Returning state medalists include the state champion OID team of Austin Sudbeck, Carter Kelly, Dane Gotch, Issac Santiago and Trevon Hopping.
Cole Heimes will be defending his state championship in Entertainment as well.
Dane Gotch, Issac Santiago, Hazel Hochstein, Jason Heimes and Lainey Morten are also returning state medalists from last year.
Ryell Haug and Trynity Zach are also returning state qualifiers.
'We have a great core of students with state experience coming back. Our returning state qualifiers will be taking on the same events,' Stevens said. 'A few students will be picking up an additional event to help balance the team competitively. We are really excited to have such a strong group returning and a great group of talented young kids coming in.'
Stevens said the coaching staff has been impressed with the students' work ethic and approach to practice and preparation.
'Each person on this team has goals and is dedicated to trying to achieve them. It will be fun to see how these kids develop as public speakers and performers throughout the season, Stevens said.
After the home meet, the HNS team then travels to Wayne for the Wayne High/Wayne State Classic on Saturday, Feb. 8 and to the Wausa Invite on Feb. 15. The team travels to Crofton on Feb. 22.
In March, they have a triangular with David City and Columbus Scotus on Saturday, March 8. The GNAC Conference Meet is Monday, March 10 at Laurel-Concord-Coleridge. Hartington- Newcastle hosts districts on Thursday, March 20.
The season winds up at the C2 State Speech meet in Kearney, at Kearney High School, Thursday, March 27.
