Greta Kunene (Musical Theater 2025) Wins State Speech Title

April 30, 2025

Congratulations to Greta Kunene (Musical Theater 2025) who won the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class A State Championship for Serious Interpretation of Drama at the 2025 State Speech Tournament! The event took place on April 25, 2025 at Shakopee High School. This was Greta’s third year on the speech team for her home district of Chatfield, MN and her second year in the dramatic interpretation category.

Greta Kunene (Musical Theater 2025) is the Minnesota State High School League Class A State Champion for Serious Interpretation of Drama in Speech

“At the beginning of the season, if you’d have told me that I would end my senior year being state champion, I definitely would have laughed at you,” said Kunene. “Everyone that I have met and had the opportunity to watch this season has been so kind and so incredibly talented. I truly feel so grateful to all of the people who have helped me this year.”

Greta spent the spring traveling back and forth from Perpich to Chatfield, about two hours away, so she could practice and compete with her teammates in Chatfield. As a sophomore, she competed at the state level two years ago and made it to the final round of the tournament, coming in second in a tie-break.

Rebecca Bullen, Perpich Arts High School Principal, was thrilled for Greta’s success. “Greta is on fire! Winning the championship is proof of her incredible talent, hard work, and pure awesomeness,” said Rebecca. “As she wraps up her senior year, I couldn’t be more proud of everything she’s persevered through and achieved. Greta brings light to everything she does, and I’m beyond excited to see where her journey takes her next!”

Tory Peterson, Theater Instructor, has seen Greta’s hard work up close this year, even helping her practice at times. “To quote the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.’,” said Tory.

Greta’s dramatic interpretation has also qualified her for NIETOC, the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions, a prestigious speech and debate competition. It’s a highly competitive event for students who have qualified through regional and other tournaments. Still glowing from the state title win, she now turns her preparations for the national tournament near Kansas City, Missouri, May 16-18, 2025.

Greta Kunene is from Fountain, MN and is the child of Brenda and Calvin Kunene. She previously attended Chatfield High School in Chatfield, MN.

The 2025 MSHSL Speech State Tournament featured competitors from 161 teams. The Class A events were April 25. Events in Class AA were April 26. The Tournament results are listed here. The National Speech & Debate Association is commemorating its 100th anniversary in 2025 with an ongoing belief that “a speech and debate program in every school creates a better civil society.” The MSHSL, with its own proud speech and debate history, agrees.