By Chad Koenen

Publisher

In his first year back in speech since he was in seventh grade, Henning High School sophomore Cade Strege qualified for the state speech meet. Strege took third place in the sub section and won the section meet with his speech about a book entitled “A Child Called It.” The speech is a true story about a young boy’s abusive childhood and based on he book written by Dave Pelzer. 

Strege  advanced to state in the category of prose, which he said “usually your goal is to touch people’s heart.”

Strege said he enjoyed speech in his junior high years, but got too busy and involved in too many different activities in eighth and ninth grade. 

Though he was confident heading into the section meet about his prospects at making it to the state meet, Strege said he was surprised when he won the section meet.

“I was very surprised to get first in the section meet, I was not expecting that at all,” he said. 

The state speech meet for prose was held on Friday at Shakopee High School. Strege competed in the meet, but fell just short of qualifying for the finals.