BOONE, Iowa—Eleven speech groups advanced to state at the district large group contest held at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines Saturday. The team’s success comes after two months of preparation in a wide variety of speaking and performance events. Earning Division I ratings and qualifying for state were three ensemble acting groups, two choral reading ensembles, three group improvisation ensembles, a one-act play, a short film, and a solo mime performance. Full results are listed below.
Ensemble Acting – Accused of Comedy: John Ben Bloem, Ryan Anderson, Chelsea Isabell, and Maggy Muller
Ensemble Acting – The True Meaning of Halloween: Brian Bingaman, Katelyn Behm, and Katelyn Mehlhaus
Ensemble Acting – Who Doth Inhabit the Primary Position: Grayson Boggess and Levi Patterson
Choral Reading – The Polar Express: Amber Lozier, Danielle Lozier, Nicole Lozier, Emily Licata, Hope Sundberg, Susanne Byrd, Josie Sharp, Amelia Verkade, Haley Anderson, Spencer Toms, Veronica Spears, Scott Crouse, and Emma Runestad
Choral Reading – “Social Media”: Zander Reed, Cassidy Hasstedt, Cassidy Larrew, Regan Peter, and Alyssa Pierce
Group Improv: Alaney Parker, John Coleman, Abigail Lumley, John Ben Bloem, and Anna Olson
Group Improv: Carlee Carpenter, Halle Wilkening, and Akela Salter
Group Improv: Emily Licata, Kolton Johnson, Connor Vinchattle, and Brian Bingaman
One-Act Play: All the King’s Women, Alaney Parker, Katelyn Behm, Chelsea Isabell, Nick Runestad, Emma Runestad, and Ella Erickson
Short Film: “Project Hope,” John Coleman
Solo Mime: “The Trials of a Painter,” Haley Anderson
Seven other groups earned Division II ratings.
Musical Theatre – Annie Get Your Gun: Katelyn Mehlhaus and Lacoda Collier
Musical Theatre – Shrek the Musical: Jadyn Mortensen, Ella Erickson, and Anna Olson
Musical Theatre – Next to Normal: Zander Reed, Carlee Carpenter, Cassidy Hasstedt, and Akela Salter
Musical Theatre – Disenchanted: Skye Bentson, Regan Peter, and Alyssa Pierce
Radio News Broadcasting – KSBC: Chloe Clauson, Spencer Toms, Kyler Zanoni, and Brayden Hay
Radio News Broadcasting – KJKW: Elinor Wojcik and Skye Bentson
Group Improv: Grayson Boggess, Levi Patterson, Maggy Muller, and Ryan Anderson
State large group contest will be held at Waukee High School on February 3. Speech team participants are also preparing for individual district events, which will be hosted at Boone on Saturday, February 24.
(contributed article, BHS)
