The 2025 SDHSAA state oral interp festival took place from Watertown on Friday and Saturday, December 5-6, this past week. Here are the superior award recipients from the event.
AA Non-Original Oratory
| School | Student(s) |
| Aberdeen Central | Sydnei Heinzen |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Learys Mercado-Castello |
| O'Gorman | John Kovash |
| Harrisburg | Brooklynn Mayland |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Adem Ballew |
| Brookings | Finn Bartlett |
| Brandon Valley | Olive Eggers |
| Rapid City Stevens | Sakurako Tinant |
| Sioux Falls Washington | Amen Tereda |
A Serious Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Rapid City Christian | Tenley Joswiak |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Lydia Fjerstad |
| Bon Homme | Reese Hejna |
| Webster Area | Jocelyn Rumpca |
| Hamlin | Harper Nebel |
| Flandreau | Isabel Kulm |
| Stanley County | Edward Duffy |
| Vermillion | Thea Jennewein |
| Little Wound | Devin Brown |
| Sioux Falls Christian | Faith Brouwer |
| West Central | Ana Victoria Underwood |
| Hill City | Anderson Frandsen |
B Reader's Theatre
| School | Student(s) |
| Parkston | Mason Travis , Hilary Polreis, Rylee Heinrich , Gabe Ehlers, Lexis Fleshner , |
| Avon | Kate Swier, Abby Gretschmann, Hope Kemnitz, Lexi Vanderlei, , |
| Gregory | Dani Timanus, Madisan Graber, Ella Sperl, Piper Bartlett, Bo Brozik, Ryler Stevicks |
| Kimball | Samantha Pringle, Cully Assman, Delilah Rasmussen, Dawson Eimers, Esther Schultz, Bridget Thomas |
| Rosholt | Madisen Pohl, Emma Shelstad, Alexis Vermillion, , , |
| Alcester-Hudson | Chase Ver Mulm, Torry Serck, Heidi Swanson, Katie Patrick, Madalyn VanDusen, |
| Arlington | Lincoln Hill, Irlynd Schultz, Aimslee Bunker, , , |
| Estelline | Sidney Court, Whitney Court, Samantha Hauschild, Lita Fryer , , |
| Castlewood | Kaden Davis, Lilly Jacobson, Gabbie Raasch, Emily Jensen, , |
AA Serious Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| O'Gorman | Camryn Mages |
| Aberdeen Central | Haley Speer |
| Huron | Isabella Schafer |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Chloe Bowers |
| Brandon Valley | Bella Reif |
| Brookings | Poppy McElroy |
| Harrisburg | Kian Leyro |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Edom Hiruy |
| Sioux Falls Washington | Damien Deen |
A Reader's Theatre
| School | Student(s) |
| Custer | Wyatt Alfson, Melody Bolen, Kevin Crowe, Maggie Lewison, Cohen Lykken, Holly Nielsen |
| Hamlin | Clara Carstensen, Guillermo Cruz Arroyo, Harper Nebel, Elvera Carstensen, Abby Loban, Evalyn Gustafson |
| Miller | Isaiah Gortmaker, Gabby Werdel, Olivia Nye, Allie Gortmaker, Isabelle Poindexter, Cassen Nye |
| Tri-Valley | Danika Fluth, Kerry Christensen, Rain Anglin, Gracie Pedersen, Ava Whitehead, Mallory Madsen |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Teresa DeVries, Sam Powers, Kaylen Dahlberg, , , |
| Little Wound | Nikolas Yellow Boy, Melody Mercado, Alexandra Martinez, Jayden Old Horse, Jarel Rodriguez, |
| Flandreau | Justin Haugen, Isabel Kulm, Abigail Lewis, Jillian Knippling, Fawn Frias, |
| Elk Point-Jefferson | Austin Clercx, Carter Heckathorn, Jaxon VandeVegte, Stella Bonnema, Alexis McDermott, |
| Britton-Hecla | Carter Chapin, Paisley Bray, Amelia Ingvalson, , , |
| Vermillion | Eleanor Holdhusen, Catie Naber, Henry Mollman, Isaac Mayrose, , |
| Sioux Falls Christian | Nathan Rayhons, Faith Brouwer, Amara Sinkgraven, Brian Hoogwerf, Judah Mosley, |
B Humorous Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Hoven | Ava Griese |
| Alcester-Hudson | Katie Patrick |
| Lemmon | Liam McCartney |
| Ethan | Coltyn Raymond |
| Northwestern | Lisanne de Hesselle |
| Sioux Falls Lutheran | Lydia Warden |
| Gayville-Volin | Sarah Messler |
| Freeman | Thor Aanenson |
| Mitchell Christian | Auston Twiggs |
| Arlington | Lincoln Hill |
| Florence | Mia Jaeger |
| Kadoka Area | Jace Fernandez |
AA Reader's Theatre
| School | Student(s) |
| Aberdeen Central | Jasper Longoria, Kyle Duarte, Haley Speer, , , |
| Harrisburg | Kian Leyro, Katelin Larson, Ella Simonich, Ella Mattson, Brooklynn Mayland, Shylah Hansen |
| Watertown | Sonny Rader, Tysen Canfield, Emily Kallemeyn, Abby Kruger, Chloe Ofstehage, Silas Masar |
| Sturgis Brown | Lane Culver, Haiden Culver, Rowan Lutz, Lucy Secrest , Abigail Smith , Eric Schneller |
| Brandon Valley | Olaf Lindquist, Bella Reif, Garrison Truckenmiller, Leighton Guetter, Issac Corbin, Daniel Wanstrath |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Edom Hiruy, Kai Rivera, Learys Mercado-Castello, Elise Klein, Kiera Chambers, |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Adem Ballew, Chloe Bowers, Jack Garrett , Conner Lehr, Harper Reichling, |
| Sioux Falls Washington | Yar Awuol, Janet Sarah, Damien Deen, Olivia Hulscher, Hayat Alemu, Amen Tereda |
| O'Gorman | Adud Arop, Molly Johnson, John Kovash, Camryn Mages, Owen Tschetter, |
A Storytelling
| School | Student(s) |
| Tri-Valley | Danika Fluth |
| Miller | Olivia Nye |
| Flandreau | Fawn Frias |
| St. Thomas More | Gabi Johnson |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Kaylen Dahlberg |
| Britton-Hecla | Carter Chapin |
| Winner | Jocelyn Soles |
| Rapid City Christian | Tenley Joswiak |
| Beresford | Isabelle Beeson |
| Elk Point-Jefferson | Austin Clercx |
| Deuel | Miles Decker |
| Vermillion | Catie Naber |
| Milbank | Colton Roark |
B Storytelling
| School | Student(s) |
| Marion | Harli Ross |
| Avon | Katherine Swier |
| Northwestern | Allie Hoekman |
| Mitchell Christian | Arabella Potter |
| Florence | Aleah Jaeger |
| Langford Area | Daniel Jesz |
| Chester Area | Makenzie Cacho |
| Arlington | Lincoln Hill |
| Ethan | Anna Mellegaard |
| Gregory | Madisan Graber |
| Kimball | Evangelyn Schultz |
AA Humorous Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Brookings | MacKennzie Anderson |
| Harrisburg | Macy Kooiman |
| Brandon Valley | Olaf Lindquist |
| Aberdeen Central | Faith Waldner |
| Sioux Falls Washington | Damien Deen |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Conner Lehr |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Kai Rivera |
| O'Gorman | Owen Tschetter |
AA Storytelling
| School | Student(s) |
| Brookings | Daria Koromyslova |
| Aberdeen Central | Joey Johnson |
| Watertown | Sonny Rader |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Logan Griffith |
| Yankton | Memory German |
| Brandon Valley | Mya Lloyd |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Elise Klein |
| Huron | Emmersyn McGillvrey |
| O'Gorman | Adud Arop |
A Duet Interpretation
| School | Student(s) |
| Wagner | Braelyn Jones, Portlyn Jones |
| Miller | Klea Qoqaj, Polina Artiukh |
| Madison | Isla Hennings, Jay Lynn Mackert |
| Bon Homme | Reese Hejna, Olivia Kaul |
| Rapid City Christian | Noah Fiester, Kierra Williams |
| Little Wound | Quade Levaldo, Louis McBride |
| Flandreau | Isabel Kulm, Justin Haugen |
| Hill City | Andee Frandsen, Ysabella Love |
| Deuel | Amelia Giese, Caden Hourigan |
| Britton-Hecla | Carter Chapin, Paisley Bray |
| West Central | Mason Kennedy, Ashton Lutter |
| Sioux Falls Christian | Brian Hoogwerf, Judah Mosley |
| Vermillion | Eleanor Holdusen, Henry Mollman |
A Non-Original Oratory
| School | Student(s) |
| Little Wound | Melody Mercado |
| Deuel | Gabriel Mattson |
| Britton-Hecla | Baylee Bender |
| Custer | Wyatt Alfson |
| Winner | Amanda Edwards |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Sam Powers |
| Vermillion | Eleanor Holdhusen |
| Flandreau | Abigail Lewis |
| Milbank | Keira Steffen |
B Duet Interpretation
| School | Student(s) |
| Dell Rapids St. Mary | Rylee Klein, Sophia McNaughton |
| Ethan | Anna Mellegaard, Drew Mellegaard |
| Chester Area | A'nijah Emery, Makenzie Cacho |
| Florence | Mia Jaeger, Aleah Jaeger |
| Colman-Egan | Vada Johnson, Emilia Mays |
| Estelline | Whitney Court, Sidney Court |
| Kadoka Area | Jace Fernandez, Austin Schofield |
B Poetry Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Centerville | RyLee Sullivan |
| Kimball | Delilah Rasmussen |
| Bridgewater-Emery | Alaina Olson |
| Waverly-South Shore | Elizabeth Meyer |
| Freeman Academy | Estelle Waltner |
| Gregory | Dani Timanus |
| James Valley Christian | Belle Niederbaumer |
| Clark | Oliver Reitz |
| Colman-Egan | Sharlee Costine |
| Howard | Ellie Connor |
| Canistota | Malachi Weber |
AA Duet Interpretation
| School | Student(s) |
| Aberdeen Central | Joey Johnson, Hayden Magee |
| Harrisburg | Shylah Hansen, Kennedy Bouza |
| Rapid City Stevens | Spenser Harris, Mason Schumacher |
| Watertown | Tysen Canfield, Silas Masar |
| Sioux Falls Washington | Yar Awuol, Janet Sarah |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Chloe Bowers, Harper Reichling |
| Brandon Valley | Bella Reif, Garrison Truckenmiller |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Kai Rivera, Joel Merritt |
| O'Gorman | Sarah Jamous, Owen Tschetter |
AA Poetry Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Sturgis Brown | Wynter Thomason |
| Tea Area | Kylia Voigt |
| Harrisburg | Shylah Hansen |
| Aberdeen Central | Jasper Longoria |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Harper Reichling |
| Watertown | Cash Hoppe |
| Brandon Valley | Julia Tinker |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Edom Hiruy |
| O'Gorman | Adud Arop |
A Humorous Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Britton-Hecla | Charles Schuller |
| Little Wound | Quade Levaldo |
| Wagner | Matthew Kokes |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Hannah Johnson |
| Sioux Falls Christian | Judah Mosley |
| Bon Homme | Olivia Kaul |
| West Central | Avaya Carlson |
| Webster Area | Jocelyn Rumpca |
| Deuel | Miles Decker |
A Poetry Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Redfield | Summit Sjurseth |
| Little Wound | Nikolas Yellow Boy |
| Madison | Jay Lynn Mackert |
| Chamberlain | Toree Mosel |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Sam Powers |
| West Central | BreAnn Heider |
| Garretson | Elizabeth Roth |
| Flandreau | Abigail Lewis |
| Britton-Hecla | Paisley Bray |
| St. Thomas More | Gabi Johnson |
B Non-Original Oratory
| School | Student(s) |
| Gregory | Charissa Ring |
| Northwestern | Abby Schnell |
| Canistota | Ellie Becker |
| Ethan | Drew Mellegaard |
| Lemmon | Will Penfield |
| James Valley Christian | Audri Hohm |
| Colman-Egan | George Havold |
| Estelline | Samantha Hauschild |
B Serious Reading
| School | Student(s) |
| Avon | Abby Gretschmann |
| James Valley Christian | Belle Niederbaumer |
| Bison | Channing Rieff |
| Menno | Ervin Schrock |
| Gregory | George Timanus |
| Arlington | Irlynd Schultz |
| Kimball | Samantha Pringle |
| Chester Area | Ainsley Breu |
Team Excellence Awards
| School | Class |
| Brookings | Class AA |
| Watertown | Class AA |
| Aberdeen Central | Class AA |
| Pierre T.F. Riggs | Class AA |
| Brandon Valley | Class AA |
| Harrisburg | Class AA |
| Sioux Falls Jefferson | Class AA |
| Sioux Falls Washington | Class AA |
| O'Gorman | Class AA |
| Tri-Valley | Class A |
| Great Plains Lutheran | Class A |
| Bon Homme | Class A |
| Britton-Hecla | Class A |
| West Central | Class A |
| Winner | Class A |
| Webster Area | Class A |
| Sioux Falls Christian | Class A |
| Vermillion | Class A |
| Custer | Class A |
| Little Wound | Class A |
| Rapid City Christian | Class A |
| Hamlin | Class A |
| Flandreau | Class A |
| Miller | Class A |
| Madison | Class A |
| Hill City | Class A |
| Elk Point-Jefferson | Class A |
| Deuel | Class A |
| St. Thomas More | Class A |
| Milbank | Class A |
| Wagner | Class A |
| Kimball | Class B |
| Estelline | Class B |
| Lemmon | Class B |
| James Valley Christian | Class B |
| Avon | Class B |
| Gregory | Class B |
| Arlington | Class B |
| Florence | Class B |
| Colman-Egan | Class B |
| Canistota | Class B |
| Ethan | Class B |
| Chester Area | Class B |
| Alcester-Hudson | Class B |
| Northwestern | Class B |
| Kadoka Area | Class B |
| Mitchell Christian | Class B |