Area schools will be well-represented at the All-State Speech Festival later this month in Ames.
Decorah High School speech students participated in State Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, Feb. 4, at Waterloo West High School.
The performers earned 24 top Division I ratings out of 28 entries. The ninth-grade team performed in 5 entries, and the varsity team performed in 23 entries.
“We are overwhelmingly proud of the performances our students brought to the contest. It has been a wonderful season watching these students work together to create unique works of art,” remarked the directors.
The coveted All-State nominations were released late Monday afternoon, and DHS students earned 10 nominations. The DHS students comprising these groups will travel to the Iowa State University campus in Ames to perform at the All-State Festival on Saturday, Feb. 18. Complete results and ticket information can be found on the IHSSA website at https://www.ihssa.org/contests/large-group/all-state/.
“We are incredibly proud of our students’ accomplishments so far this season. Their talent and hard work are reflected in their nominations. We can’t wait to see them be recognized at the All-State Festival,” remarked the directors following the release of the All-State nominations.
The All-State nominations are as follows:
Ensemble Acting “The Complete History of America (Abridged)” was directed by Lyra McKnight. Participants include Libby Phillips, Evon Leitz, Ezra Vorvick, Grace Blikre, Rebecca Kane, and Lucas Hanson.
Ensemble Acting “The Spot” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. Participants include Leslie Campbell, Peter Essa, Ethan Stravers, Danielle Rix, Gwen Thompson, and Elliana Brodbeck.
Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Lyra McKnight. Group One: Adam Jones, Anders Lovstuen, Ansel Kowitz, Jack Sovern, and Alex Irwin. Group Two: Henry Weis, Abbie Valkosky, Joe Stammeyer, Tommy Hammel, and Brynn Storhoff.
Solo Mime “The Assis-STUNT” by Ramsey Zilka was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.
Musical Theater “Come from Away” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Gabriel Hiner, Libby Phillips, Jake Magner, Max Wilson, Rebecca Kane, Ezra Vorvick, Alex Kane, and Sally Laybourn.
One Act Play “New Normal” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks and Gabe Twedt. Participants include Bella Bishop, Jenna Hartz, Alex Kane, Ada Lovelace, Ellen Rooney, Kathryn Kelly, Hayley Stowe, Elliana Brodbeck, McKenzie Riley, Margret Zook, Camryn Holland, and Danielle Rix.
Readers Theater “Starcatcher” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Bella Bishop, Sophia Christman, Carter Kowitz, Jake Magner, Michael Njus, Ethan Stravers, Sydney Kipp, Abbie Valkosky, Henry Weis, Oliver Brummel, Greta Jones, Ramsey Zilka, McKenzie Riley, Grant Zilka, and Rebecca Anderson.
TV News “Iowa Wild: Off the Grid” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt. Participants include Simon Kutz, Corina Timm, Paige Wrightsman, Easton Luzum, Liz Pritchard, Annaleissa Arnold, Lillian Jensen, Caden Branum, Jack Sovern, Brynn Storhoff, Luke Arendt, Ansel Kowitz, Paige Werner, Daniel Skrade, and Andy Kruger.
TV News “Vanished: The Search for Jodi Huisentruit” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt. Participants include Diep Doan, Kaeley Downing, Lily Iverson, Karmyn Bakken, Grace Neal, Ellen Rooney, Kamryn Steines, Thea Schissel, Kealy Hines, Bridget Bentley, Braunwyn Darrington, Sydney Kipp, Rebecca Bruening, and Addison Wicklund
Also earning Division I honors
Cast lists for the other varsity groups who received a “I” rating at state contest in Waterloo are as follows:
Choral Reading “The Power of Words” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. Participants include Aya Hawthorn, Junior Battle, Elsa Johnson, Margret Zook, Annika Keefe, Sylvia Sandhorst, Julia Schwarz, Luke Arendt, Bethany Hanson, Gabriel Hiner, Jensen Korsness, Simon Kutz, Grace Blikre, Corina Timm, and Natalie Goodner.
Ensemble Acting “Bullies Anonymous” was directed by Lyra McKnight. Participants include Rebecca Bruening, Kathryn Kelly, Lexy Walker, Davis Coppola, Klaara Short, and Nathan Swarbrick.
Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Lyra McKnight. Group Three: Liam Chamberlain, Greta Jones, Lily Sandhorst, Oliver Brummel, and Beau Newhouse.
Group Mime “Rumors” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Jensen Korsness, Sophia Christman, Grace Neal, Thea Schissel, Max Wilson, and Sally Laybourn.
Musical Theater “Mean Girls” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Ella Grouws, Jenna Hartz, Hayley Stowe, Elsa Johnson, Ada Lovelace, Gwen Thompson, Annalise Skrade, and Elayna Hook.
Radio Broadcasting “KOLD” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Amelia Dugger, Grace Hoyland, Sylvia Sandhorst, Anders Lovstuen, Alex McGohan, Britann Mettille, Karmyn Bakken, and Lillian Jensen.
Radio Broadcasting “KQNA” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Evynne Downing, Camryn Holland, Davis Coppola, Easton Luzum, Lily Sandhorst, Nathan Swarbrick, Addison Wicklund, and Hannah Arendt.
Short Film “Run, Hide, Fight” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Liam Chamberlain, Annalise Skrade, Annaleissa Arnold, Bethany Hanson, Faith Meyer, Liz Pritchard, Beau Newhouse, Caden Branum, Amelia Dugger, Ella Grouws, Grace Hoyland, Mya Redenius, Caleb Krieg, Evynne Downing, and Evon Leitz.
Short Film “Reflections” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Kamryn Steines, Hannah Arendt, Chloe Chyle, Klaara Short, Diep Doan, Braunwyn Darrington, Lucas Hanson, Paige Werner, Andy Kruger, Annika Keefe, Ryan Sibley, Kealy Hines, Joe Stammeyer, and Daniel Skrade.
Short Film “Soar” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Nev Harper, Bailey Donaldson, Adam Jones, Thomas Esslemont, and Jakob Maret.
Cast lists for other varsity groups who performed at state contest in Waterloo are as follows: Group Mime “Jen’s Big Day” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Chloe Chyle, Brinley Krivachek, Mya Redenius, Lily Iverson, Kaeley Downing, and Jorja Folkedahl. Group Mime “Paycheck Please” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Britann Mettille, Paige Wrightsman, Natalie Goodner, Faith Meyer, and Julia Schwarz. Solo Mime “Oh Snap!” by Rebecca Anderson was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.
Cast lists for the 9th grade groups receiving a “I” rating state contest are as follows:
Musical Theater “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Ariana Albert, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Elsa Christman, Caleb Johnson, Ezra Harman-Wood, Mikayla Hiner, and Jameson LaBelle.
Radio Broadcasting “KLRS” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Carson Bohner, Trevor Kuennen, Madysen Lippe, Caden Malanaphy, and Mitchell Stemper.
Readers Theater “The Complete Works of Harry Potter (Abridged)” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Gabe Twedt. Participants include Ariana Albert, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Elsa Christman, Caleb Johnson, Ezra Harman-Wood, Mikayla Hiner, Klara Kelly, Nora Lesmeister, Kaylie Wemark, and Willow Shroyer.
Short Film “Alone” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. Participants include Carson Bohner, Karlee Bullerman, Marri Feuerhelm, Madysen Lippe, Lyla Lovstuen, Caden Malanaphy, Will Robinson, Annika Schmelzer, Kaylie Wemark, Mara Branum, and Alina Tallier.
Cast lists for other 9th grade groups who performed at state contest are as follows:
TV News “Breaking Barriers: The Extraordinary Life of Chris Norton” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt. Participants include Will Duder, Karlee Bullerman, Trevor Kuennen, Jameson LaBelle, Nora Lesmeister, Lyla Lovstuen, Will Robinson, Naomi Pedlar, Kendal Quam, Willow Shroyer, Annika Schmelzer, Mara Branum, and Mitchell Stempe,
Other area schools advance
The Readers Theatre troupe from South Winneshiek High School captured a top Division I rating at State Speech Contest last weekend in Waterloo, and also earned a non-performing All-State nomination earlier this week with their performance of “A Breath Too Late.”
The Readers Theatre cast members from South Winn are Josie Tieskoetter, Rachel Meyer, Annie Ondrashek, Aubrey Willey and Hannah Pahl.
The Postville High School All-State nominated speech teams include the following: Radio Broadcasting “XMRS”- Emily Frey, Katelyn Frey, Kole Heins, Claire Martins, Deyby Muxin, Hannah Nielsen and Audrey Ruff; and Short Film “Identifying Danger in Your School”- Dennis Hernandez, Jesus Hernandez, Josue Hernandez, Will Linderbaum, Ilvana Loyes, Jessi Maldonado, Claire Martins, Hannah Nielsen, Angie Sarazua, Haley Soy-Chuy, Helen Soy-Chuy, and Jacob White.