Chase Kallhoff Advances To Quarterfinals At National Speech

VIDEO: Watch Chase's state championship speech

A Neligh-Oakdale junior competed in a national speech contest this weekend and made his way into the quarterfinals.

Chase Kallhoff, Class C2's State Speech Champion in Humorous Prose, presented his state-winning speech, "Graduation For Dummies," at the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions.

Kallhoff finished his first three rounds on Friday, and continued to the fourth round on Saturday morning before being named a quarterfinalist - one of the top 30 in the nation - later that day. 

He did not advance further, as the field was narrowed down to 12 national semifinalists on Saturday afternoon. Bianca Nkwonta from Eagan High School in Eagan, Minn. was named the champion on Sunday.

The 6th annual tournament is being held at Southwest High School in Lincoln this year. Hundreds of students were registered to compete in the national contest, May 8-10.

Students could qualify for the national event in one of three ways:
* Being a semifinalist and finalist at last year’s national event or two other main events, or finishing in top 3 at a state event;
* Earning a bid at a regional event;
* Qualifying as an at-large entry based on a series of results at events.

Chase is the son of Tim and Jane Kallhoff of Neligh. His speech coach is Tammy Marshall.