Fifteen large group speech teams from Carroll and Kuemper Catholic are advancing to state after earning top scores over the weekend. The District Speech Contest was held Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Denison High School and hosted teams from around the region. Three ensemble acting teams from Carroll earned I ratings: “Grief is the Thing with Feathers,” featuring Zach Shook, Joe McCartan, Owen Perring and Gabe Pettitt; “The Odd Couple,” with Taydem Shoesmith and Mishy King; and “You’re in my Thoughts,” by Alyssa Brant, Gracie Brincks, Evan Nelson and Caden Stageman. Three group mime teams advanced. From Kuemper, “Crowned,” by Britney Bruch, Haley Heithoff, Hannah Irlbeck, Kate Raemaekers and Liz Trent and “My Other Half,” by Jemma Hoffman, Molly Kasperbauer, Kiley Trecker and Hannah Mescher. Carroll’s group mime team, whose members include Julia LaRue, Ashlynn Brant, Grace Reising, Sammie Walsh, Kaylee Schulte and Ashley Brincks, also advanced with a I rating for “How the West was Won.” In readers theatre, Carroll advanced two teams: “Out of the Quiet,” by Kara Seidl, MaKayle Bueltel, MaKenna Aschinger, Wyatt Henson, Grace Friel, Rachel White, Valerie Ramos, Parker Anderson, Nolan Landauer, Mitchel Owen, Lauren Snyder, Hannah Bush and Keaton Shoenfeld, and “This is Your Brain on Social Media,” with Elsie Dirkx, Emersyn Walsh, Elijah Lee, Brody Boell, Hayli Van de Walker and Gracie Brinks. Kuemper’s team also advanced, “Love, Loss and What I Wore,” by Britney Bruch, Haley Heithoff, Liz Trent, Kate Ramaekers, Kira Parkis, Tempi Hathcock, Megan Bauer, Nicole Seidl, Britnee Irlbeck and Brianna Lux. Kuemper’s one act play, “Chaired,” by Kysa Auen, Brianna Lux, Britnee Irlbeck, Paige Higby, Anna Langel, Emma Harrington, Max Meyers, Isaac Meyers, Kira Parkis, Joshua Tigges Kyle Danner and Michael Schreck, also earned a one rating. Carroll advanced two group improv teams, whose members include Emma Nelson, Collin Schultes, Joe McCartan, Owen Perring and Eliot Tidgren, and a short film entry “Almost There,” by Alexandria Klein and Samantha Tidgren, also moved on to state. A radio broadcasting team from each school also earned scores to advance, Kuemper’s production of “98.7—The Dust,” by Joshua Tigges, Michael Schreck, Paige Higby and Isaac Meyers and Carroll’s rendition of “92.5—The Hive,” with Parker, Anderson, Collin Schultes, Nolan Landauer and Mitchell Owen. These teams will travel to Spencer on Saturday, Feb. 2 to compete in the state contest. Scores from other Carroll and Kuemper teams can be found included with this story on our website.
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Teams listed below earned a “II” rating
CHS
9th Group Improvisation: Caden Stageman, Alexandria Klein and Micah Henderson
9th Group Improvisation: Alyssa Brant, Samantha Tidgren and Evan Nelson
Group Improvisation: Mishy King, Hannah Casebeer, and Helen Kimball
Ensemble Acting: “Santa Vs. The Garden Gnomes” by Carter Kovarna, Jadon Henderson, Joelle Cheney, Julia LaRue, Ashley Brincks, and Lauren Snyder
Musical Theatre: “Hercules” by Zach Shook, Jadon Henderson, Joelle Cheney, Lexi Ragaller, Taydem Shoesmith and Kaylee Schulte
Short Film: “Teacher Planet” by Markie Madsen, Emma Nelson, Makayla Schleisman, Grace Reising and Hannah Casebeer
Short Film: “Third Floor” by Lexi Ragaller, Ben Stangl, Carter Kovarna, Sammie Walsh, Ashlynn Brant and Keaton Schoenfeld
KHS
Musical Theatre: “All Shook Up” by Kysa Auen, Max Meyers, Theresa Borkowski and Anna Langel
Ensemble Acting: “Playwriting 101” by Emma Harrington, Katrina Carpenter and Riley Rotert
Short Film: “Dit-y Boss” by Taylor Harrington, Kyle Danner, Katrina Carpenter and Kendra Riesberg
