Area students advance to state contest District speech event held Saturday
By Roz Weis
Months of rehearsals paid off for students competing at the District Large Group Speech Contest Saturday in Waukon.
Select students earning the coveted Division 1 rating at districts have the opportunity to advance to state speech contest Saturday, Feb. 6, in Decorah. Thousands of students from across the state will converge on the high school for the event, with top students then advancing to the All-State Speech Contest in Ames Saturday, Feb. 20.
Earning the Division I ranking and a chance to advance to the State Speech Contest Feb. 6 in Decorah were the following students:
Approximately 170 Decorah High School students participated in District Large Group Speech Contest at Waukon High School, and the DHS Varsity Team received 16 Division 1 ratings and and the DHS ninth-grade team earned 12 top ratings. The varsity students are coached by Thomas Houdek, Lisa Roberson, Molly Holkesvik and by Janelle Keune. The ninth graders are coached by junior and senior speech students from the high school.
All of the groups receiving division one ratings will be participating in the state contest.
Contest details will be available online complete with a schedule available after Sunday, Jan. 31. The contest is open to the public. Three dollars is the suggested donation for admission for audience members. Workers and participants will be admitted free. Anyone interested in volunteering to work at the contest should email volunteer coordinator Lisa Roberson at lroberson@decorah.k12.ia.us.
DHS Varsity speech groups advancing include readers theatre, choral reading, one-act play, two group improvisations, one group mime, three musical theatres, three ensemble actings, two radio broadcastings, one solo mime, and television news. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:
• Readers Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson "The Laramie Project" - Erik Bay, Clara Bergan, Eliza Betteridge, Lindsey Bohr, Jenna Bremer, Alex Carney, Becca Eastwood, Jenna Hrdlicka, Eli Klosterboer, Jonathan Knudson, Camille Maker, Johanna Olson, Gabe Smith, John Wener and Jonathon Winter.
• Choral Reading directed by Molly Holkesvik "Defined by Design" - Sarah Amundson, Sarah Brandt, Allie Canoy, Haim Estrada, Kristen Flak, Jessica Franzen, Sarah Hammel, Addie Hansen, Liz Hovden, Devon Hovey, Mollie King, Tessa Kraus, Kari Peterson, Payge Rustad and Emily Sorenson.
• One-Act Play directed by Thomas Houdek assisted by Martin Stalberger "The Bridge Watcher" - Erica Bjelland, Emma Breitenstein, Marea Holkesvik, Madi Johansen, Allison Kephart, Jacob Knobbe, Caroline Krammen, Josh Martin, Breanne Pierce, Gavyn Samuelson and Charlie Vermace.
• Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek - Scotty Hendricks, Josh Martin, Carlee Meyer, Tayler Roberson and Sam Zook.
• Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek - Allie Canoy, Michael Eatwood, Marlon Henriquez, Jacob Knobbe and Emily Wilson.
• Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "The 'Perfect' Date" - Leah Broderick, Alexis Kuennen, Moran Lonning, Lineke Oegema and Karah Shindelar.
• Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Spring Awakening" - Pearl Faldet, Bjorn Gowdy-Jaehnig, Kari Jensen, Ida Rotto, Gabe Smith and Sam Zook.
• Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Chicago" - Lindsey Bohr, Sarah Hammel, Allison Kephart, Caroline Krammen, Kaia Miller and Gavyn Samuelson.
• Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Spamalot" - Becca Eastwood, Michael Eastwood, Allison Fretheim, Aaron Kvale, Tayler Roberson and Charlie Vermace.
• Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "The Diary of Anne Frank" - Bethany Davidson, Gabe Eide, Madi Johansen, Aaron Kvale, Kasi Misseldine and Ida Rotto.
• Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "Who Dunnit...Princess Style" - Tori Dahlen, Emily Harman, Megan Hudson, Annelise Keune, Kristen Malanaphy and Biance Wilbur.
• Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" - Liz Dovenberg, Montana McCabe, Carlee Meyer, Liz Shroyer, Liv Ulring and Emily Wilson.
• Radio Broadcasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "Redneck Radio" - Steph Fadness, Amy Lowery, Chloe Meyer, Tyler Rinken, Tyler Smith and Bianca Wilbur.
• Radio Broadcasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "Human Rights Network" - Gabe Eide, Ethan Hougen, Jackie Hoyme, Gavin Markee, Abby Meirick and Zach Schmelzer.
• Solo Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "The Staring Contest" - Casey Smith.
• Television Newscasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "KUDU" - Sarah Amundson, Zane Blanchard, Emma Breitenstein, Leah Broderick, Kayla Burggraf, Taylor Byrnes, Alex Carney, Grace Dambek, Kate Dougan, Liz Dovenberg, Kristen Flak, Laura Francois, Jessica Franzen, Allison Gomersall, Rachel Haindfield, Addie Hansen, Kilah Hemesath, Marlon Henriquez, Marea Holkesvik, Jackie Hoyme, Dana Jensen, Mollie King, Kylie Kruse, Alexis Kuennen, Thomas Locke, Amy Lowery, Camille Maker, Gavin Markee, Abby Meirick, Olivia Mitchell, Lineke Oegema, Johanna Olson, Martin Pena, Kari Peterson, Breanne Pierce, Nicole Poirier, Ashlie Pool, Tyler Rinken, Payge Rustad, Sara Schloesser, Karah Shindelar, Katrina Shindelar, Tyler Smith, Paige Smutzler, Emily Sorenson, Kaitlyn Svestka, Megan Tappe, Megan Vande Lune, Kelsey Wagner and Kaitlin Yahr.
The DHS 9th speech groups advancing include readers theatre, choral reading, three group improvisations, two musical theatres, one group mime, one radio broadcasting, and three ensemble actings. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:
• Readers Theatre directed by Becca Eastwood, Emily Sorenson, Dana Jensen, and Clara Bergan "Lingoland" - Emily Alcock, Kirsten Arneson, Mitch Burggraf, Ely Cepeda, Teesha Frey, Maddie Grimm, Alice Gullekson, Kayla Ingvalson, Kiersten Jensen, Thomas Knobbe, Kylie Kozelka, Kendra Larsen, McKinleigh McCabe, Brittany McDermott and Katie Whitehill.
• Choral Reading directed by Kristen Flak, Mollie King, and Kari Peterson "Go For The Gold" - Brinn Anderson, Randi-Kate Canoy, Brianna Carlson, Kelsey Einck, Aubrey Ellickson, Krista Fretheim, Jenny Henry, Sarah Horns, Kylie Kozelka, Emily Markee, Brittany McDermott, Emily Walker, Kinsey Whitehill and Katie Whitehill.
• Group Improvisation directed by Jacob Knobbe, Josh Martin, Michael Eastwood, and Allie Canoy: Kayla Ingvalson, Thomas Knobbe, Josh Lee, Michael Peter and Patrick Winter.
• Group Improvisation directed by Jacob Knobbe, Josh Martin, Michael Eastwood, and Allie Canoy - Mitch Burggraf, Erik Dale, Maggie Locke, Drew Schwartz and Anders Wahlberg.
• Group Improvisation directed by Jacob Knobbe, Josh Martin, Michael Eastwood, and Allie Canoy - Peter Kephart, Anna Madrigal, McKinleigh McCabe, James Ostlie and Paul Sullivan.
• Musical Theatre directed by Caroline Krammen, Kari Jensen, and Tayler Roberson "Little Shop of Horrors" - Claire Breitenstein, Aubrey Ellickson, Maddie Grimm, Kierstan Jensen and Noah Klammer.
• Musical Theatre directed by Allison Kephart, Kaia Miller, and Allison Fretheim "The Corpse Bride" - Lucas Blekeberg, Krista Fretheim, Shana Kelly, Bretta Krieg and James Ostlie,
• Group Mime directed by Payge Rustad, Eliza Betteridge, and Rachel Rattenborg "Cheating 101" - Abby Arend, Teesha Frey, Kelsey Einck and Brittany Hudson.
• Radio Broadcasting directed by Amy Lowery "KOOL" - Abby Arend, Alex Bishop, Brianna Carolan, Hans Holkesvik, Noah Klammer and Anders Wahlberg.
• Ensemble Acting directed by Liz Dovenberg and Carlee Meyer "The Complete History of America, abridged" - Ely Cepeda, Tim DeVore, Bretta Krieg, Hannah Leeper, Kayla Peterson and Shelby Varney.
• Ensemble Acting directed by Kasi Misseldine, Bethany Davidson, Madi Johansen, and John Werner "Matilda" - Kirsten Arneson, Lucas Blekeberg, Randi-Kate Canoy, Maggie Locke, Anna Madrigal and Drew Schwartz.
• Ensemble Acting directed by Tori Dahlen, Annelise Keune, and Bianca Wilbur "Courting 101" - Emily Alcock, Claire Breitenstein, Erik Dale, Brittany Hudson, Shana Kelly and Michael Peter.
Other DHS speech groups competing at the district contest included one musical theatre, three group mimes, one solo mime, one group improvisation, and one radio broadcasting. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:
• Musical Theatre directed by Gabe Smith, Becca Eastwood, and Sam Zook "13" - Tim Devore, Peter Kephart, Kendra Larsen, Kayla Peterson, Paul Sullivan and Shelby Varney.
• Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "A 'Merry' Christmas" - Elly Arend, Katie Belay, Steph Fadness, Chloe Meyer, Jenna Rockweiler and Taisha Thornton.
• Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "Love 007" - Julia Bishop, Erin Jones, Amber Kuennen and Colin Zidlicky.
• Group Mime directed by Payge Rustad, Eliza Betteridge and Rachel Rattenborg "The Double Displacement" - Sarah Horns, Jenny Henry, Hannah Leeper, Emily Markee and Emily Walker.
• Solo Mime directed by Payge Rustad, Eliza Betteridge, and Rachel Rattenborg "Kick It" - Hans Holkesvik.
• Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek - Emma Blanchard, Rachel Burras, Tori Dahlen, Moran Lonning and Casey Smith.
• Radio Broadcasting directed by Amy Lowery "KRAZ" - Brinn Anderson, Alice Gullekson, Tyler Lundvedt, Kinsey Whitehill and Patrick Winter.
The South Winneshiek High School Large Group Speech team, coached by Pat Downs and Kurt Straube, took 10 entries to districts in Waukon, receiving nine top Division 1 ratings:
• One Act (coached by Pat Downs): "This is Where We Came In" starring Jon Ameling, Erin Anderson, Matt Meyer, Brett Losen, Alex Massman, Nicole Schroeder, Megan Einck, Devin Brincks, Ryan Kuboushek, Josh Lyons, and Dan Holthaus.
• Readers Theater (coached by Pat Downs): Nickel and Dimed starring Shelby Clamen, Becky Althouse, Brooke Einck, Amanda Ward, AlexSchmitt, Austin Ashbacher and Allison Kulish.
• Ensemble Acting: (three groups coached by Pat Downs) - No. 1 "Tuna Christmas" with Josh Meyer and Jon Ameling; No. 2 "Agnes of God" with Alex Massman, Shelby Clamen and Erin Anderson; and No. 3 "Final Adjustments" with Ashley Oblander, Megan Lien, Kelli Hauber, Kendra Langreck and Allyson Kuboushek.
• Group Improv (two groups coached by Pat Downs - No. 1 featured Josh Meyer, Ethan Adams and Matt Meyer and the second group featured Austin Ashbacher and Josh Lyons.
• Solo Mime (coached by Pat Downs) - "Behind the 8 Ball" with Cory Selig.
• Radio Broadcasting (one group was coached by Pat Downs) - Ryan Kuboushek, Devin Brincks and Nate Fossaan.
Earning Division 2 ratings were the ninth grade one-act team of Blaine Woodson, Allen Anderson, Brittney Gibson, Allison Klimesh, Domenic Boe, Allyssa Davison and Becca Lensing. Their production of "Puberty: The Game Show" was coached by Kurt Straube.
Division 1 ratings and trips to the state contest from went to the following Turkey Valley High School students:
• Ensemble Acting "Cheaper by the Dozen" with Madeline Achen, Robin Kime and Kalissa Kramer.
• Group Improv casts (two in each cast): Madeline Achen and Alison Kriener, and Michael Kuhn and Karl Kramer.
Divison 2 honors went to the Turkey Valley ensemble acting group of Maddy McKone and Karl Kramer in "Halloween Screams"; and the reader's theatre submission "Just Another High School Play" with Adam Best, Helen Brandenburg, Kalissa Kramer, Brian Kuhn, Alison Kriener, Robin Kime, Alex Mdirick, Jordan Mitchell, Olivia Reicks, Jude Buchheit and Macey Winter.
The speech coach at Turkey Valley is Sarah Raymond
