Two weeks ago, Apple Valley High School hosted its annual Minneapple tournament in Minnesota, providing a Midwestern opportunity for credit in this year’s National Points Race.  The tournament allowed extempers to compete in International and United States Extemp.  26 extempers competed in IX while 33 extempers competed in USX.

In International Extemp, Mina Bhargava of Edina High School (MN) defeated teammate Devarsh Borah by one rank to claim the championship.  Bhargava took three of the five available first place ranks in the final round but pulling a fourth and fifth place rank nearly cost her the title as Borah earned four second place ranks, doomed only by a fifth place rank from the last judge.  Bhargava also escaped elimination in the semi-finals, clearing out of her section by one rank.

Eagan High School (MN) dominated the rest of the placings in IX.  Aayush Pandey took third, Anokhi Shah finished fourth, and Mia Werden placed fifth.

Minnesota also held serve in United States Extemp where Paul Fertig of Mounds Park Academy earned a convincing five rank win over Rohan Saarang of Eastview High School (MN).

There was a three-way tie for third place between three Moorhead High School (MN) extempers.  Ella Larson won the tiebreaker for that spot while Jinu Lee placed fourth and Sam Rein-Strutz was fifth.

The only ranked extemper in the field was #9 Daphne Kalir-Starr from the College Preparatory School (CA).  She was eliminated in the semi-finals of International Extemp, missing out on National Points Race points.

As a fifth tier tournament, the top six finishers in each extemp category will receive points.  The winners, Bhargava and Fertig, will receive 40 points.

Here are the results of the 2025 Apple Valley Minneapple (Click here for tab sheet):

International Extemp

Champion:  Mina Bhargava (Edina High School, Minnesota)
2nd:  Devarsh Borah (Edina High School, Minnesota)
3rd:  Aayush Pandey (Eagan High School, Minnesota)
4th:  Anokhi Shah (Eagan High School, Minnesota)
5th:  Mia Werden (Eagan High School, Minnesota)
6th:  Larkyn Kellen (Moorhead High School, Minnesota)

Semi-Finalists

*Michael Ahearn (Eastview High School, Minnesota)
*Madina Elmi (Edina High School, Minnesota)
*Rishita Gupta (Eden Prairie High School, Minnesota)
*Daphne Kalir-Starr (The College Preparatory School, California)
*Sai Rhul Reddy (Eastview High School, Minnesota)
*Sam Waegli (Lincoln East High School, Nebraska)

United States Extemp

Champion:  Paul Fertig (Mounds Park Academy, Minnesota)
2nd:  Rohan Saarang (Eastview High School, Minnesota)
3rd:  Ella Larson (Moorhead High School, Minnesota)
4th:  Jinu Lee (Moorhead High School, Minnesota)
5th:  Sam Rein-Strutz (Moorhead High School, Minnesota)
6th:  Param Thakkar (Eagan High School, Minnesota)

Semi-Finalists

*Alyson Johnson (Willmar High School, Minnesota)
*Jones Kanjirkatte (Eastview High School, Minnesota)
*Peter Klingberg (Eagan High School, Minnesota)
*Hiba Rahman (Eagan High School, Minnesota)
*Valerie Schmitt (Edina High School, Minnesota)
*Nick Zylstra (Eastview High School, Minnesota)

Extemp Central thanks Apple Valley High School for putting the results of the tournament online.