Hatchet high schoolers earn accolades in State Speech competition

Pictured, back row, from left: Payton Loka, Sadie Ruder, Aubrey Graeber, Jayden Dellinger, Lydia Shaney, Galen Schmidt; middle: Abbigail Doleshal, Phoebe Hrdina, Tobias Schumacher, Alena Cerkas, Madeline Long, Finnian Colburn; front: Avi Kromm, Avery Suchomel, Skylar Hernandez, Gabby Ulrich, Matilda Vanasten, coach Molly Kollath. Not pictured: Skye Scheffler.

Photo courtesy of Molly Kollath

Posted Friday, May 1, 2026 8:36 am

For the Tomahawk Leader

TOMAHAWK – Despite the State Speech competition pivoting to a virtual format hours before the competition due to severe weather, Tomahawk High School students still earned numerous accolades.

Tomahawk results are as follows:

Copper: Abbigail Doleshal, Poetry.

Bronze: Skye Scheffler and Matilda VanAsten, Group Interpretation.

Silver: Galen Schmidt, Farrago; Avielle Kromm and Avery Suchomel, Group Interpretation; Skylar Hernandez, Gabby Ulrich, Finnian Colburn and Tobias Schumacher, Group Interpretation; Phoebe Hrdina, Poetry; Lydia Shaney, Prose.

Earning a perfect score of 20/20 for Gold: Alena Cerkas, Farrago; Sadie Ruder, Jayden Dellinger and Payton Loka, Group Interpretation; Madeline Long, Prose; Aubrey Graeber, Prose.

The team was coached by Molly Kollath, Michele Balda and Katie Pritzl.