Several local high school students will be advancing to state with their individual speech pieces after receiving a “I” or “Excellent” rating at the Iowa High School Speech Association’s (IHSSA) district competition this past weekend. Ar-We-Va CSD has three students advancing: Noelia Gonzalez, Claire Geake, and Elaina Geake. Five students from Audubon CSD performed in various events, with three students earning top ratings: Lena-Elaine Johnson-Rieman, Mason Steckler, and Sophia Nelsen. East Sac County (ESC) sent five students to compete in six categories, with Liam Daggett, Grant Golwitzer and Paige Hout advancing on for their pieces. IKM-Manning had 20 events perform with twelve students earning a (I) rating: Emily Albertsen, Audrey Beermann, Sarah Christensen, Catherine Conner, Josiah Conner, Nathanael Conner, Olivia Greving, Laura McCarville, Ma’Kai Prothro, Olivia Robinson, Linda Valentine, and Katelyn Wittrock. Students from Coon Rapids-Bayard, including Lucas Obert, Ella Heithoff, Trevor McNelly, Maddy Mason, and Ava LaRue will all be moving on for various categories. South Central Calhoun CSD is advancing two students: Annabelle Snyder and Kelsie Hejtmanek. Glidden Ralston had no students perform over the past weekend. Students will participate at the IHSSA State Competition on Saturday March 15. Pieces receiving a (I) rating at the state level then have a chance to perform for the All-State Individual Speech event on March 31 at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. A list of all individual speech participants from the surrounding schools can be found included below.
Ar-We-Va:
Noelia Gonzalez: Musical Theater (I)
Claire Geake: improv (I)
Elaina Geake: poetry (I)
Emily Vagness: storytelling (II)
Audubon:
Lena-Elaine Johnson-Rieman Division I – Acting “Till”
Lena-Elaine Johnson-Rieman Division I -Musical Theatre “Dead Mom” from Beetlejuice
Mason Steckler-Division I – Radio News
Sophia Nelsen-Division I – Improv
Students earning Division II ratings:
Cameron Klever-Review “Chromakopia”
Lola Fernandez-Storytelling “Cuddly Duddly”
Lola Fernandez-Lit. Program
Mason Steckler-“Wait for It” from Hamilton
Sophia Nelsen-“Burn” from Hamilton
ESC:
Jillian Pope: solo musical (II)
Paris McCrea: Improv (II)
Paige Hout: Prose (II)
Liam Daggett: Solo musical (I)
Grant Golwitzer: Acting (I)
Paige Hout: Poetry (I)
IKM-Manning:
Emily Albertsen: 1 ratings In original oratory & Improvisation
Audrey Beermann: 1 rating In prose
Jayden Bunker: 2 rating In poetry
Sarah Christensen: 1 ratings In lit program & solo musical theatre
Catherine Conner: 1 ratings in both poetry and prose
Josiah Conner: 1 ratings in both poetry and prose
Nathanael Conner: 1 rating in original oratory & 2 rating in lit program
Olivia Greving: 1 rating in after dinner speaking
Laura McCarville: 1 rating In reviewing
Ma’Kai Prothro: 1 rating In solo musical theatre
Olivia Robinson: 1 rating In after dinner speaking
Linda Valentine: 1 rating In poetry
Katelyn Wittrock: 1 ratings In storytelling and prose
Kennah Woebke: 2 rating In reviewing
Coon Rapids-Bayard
Solo musical theater:
-Lucas Obert – division 1 rating
-Ella Heithoff – division 1 rating
Radio broadcasting:
-Trevor McNelly – division 1 rating
Poetry:
-Maddy Mason – division 2 rating
Storytelling:
-Maddy Mason – division 1 rating
Prose:
-Ella Heithoff – division 1 rating
After dinner speaking:
-Katie Wiskus – division 2 rating
Original oratory:
-Ava LaRue – division 1 rating
SCC:
Annabelle Snyder: original oratory “Do Re Me: Don’t Forget About Me” (I)
Kelsie Hejtmanek : Poetry “Anxiety” (I)
