January 24, 2021

Decorah High School speech and drama students participated in a local District Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, January 23rd held at Decorah High School.

The performers had a spectacular showing, earning a perfect 27 Division I ratings out of 27 total entries. The ninth-grade team performed in five entries, and the varsity team performed in 22 entries. As a result of the Division I ratings, each ninth-grade and varsity entry will perform at State competition on Thursday evening, February 4th, also at Decorah High School, to a very limited audience.

“We were so pleased with our ability to host a safe and efficient contest in person for our hardworking students,” remarked the directors. 

All DHS varsity speech groups received Division I Ratings at district contest. Cast lists for these groups are as follows:

Musical Theater A Chorus Line was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.

Participants include Ally Bouska, Ella Grouws, Tyler Irwin, Sierra Kruger, Ada Lovelace, Noah Lovelace, Jake Magner, and Haywood Stowe.

Musical Theater Next to Normal was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.

Participants includeAmber Hussain, Leila Johnson, Mikiah Krieg, AJ Morrow, and Dylan Muhlbauer.

Ensemble Acting “Almost, Maine”was directed byCydney Weitzel. 

Participants include Nadia Johnson, Simon Mumford, Wyatt Hackman, Jake Magner, Tyler Irwin, and Anja Madsen.

Ensemble Acting “Rabbit Hole” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks.

Participants include Jenna Hartz, AJ Morrow, Ethan Stravers, Rebecca Bruening, and Anya Lovstuen.

Ensemble Acting “The Whole Shebang”was directed byCydney Weitzel.

Participants include Alex Kane, Max Wilson, Alex Irwin, Mya Numedahl, Izzy Kingsbury, and Maggie Kane.

Solo Mime performances, directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman, include “Cake Loss” by Kendra Bigler, “Clementine” by Ally Bouska, and “Level Up” by Junior Battle.

Group Mime performances, directed by Molly Holkesvik and Carrie Kauffman, include the following: “Get Away” was performed by Brinley Krivachek, Ellie Luzum, Chloe Chyle, MiKenna Martin, Grace Bachelder, and Paige Lange. “Pregnancy Pickle” was performed by Sally Laybourn, Amanda Kavan, Rebecca Anderson, Fiona Buresh, Anja Madsen, and Ruby Sullivan.

Readers Theater “She Kills Monsters” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Junior Battle, Kendra Bigler, Karen Henriquez, Sierra Kruger, Noah Lovelace, Sarah Pedlar, Peter Wilson, Sofie Grouws, Mya Numedahl, Amber Hussain, Ramsey Zilka, David Olson, Ethan Stravers, and Carter Kowitz.

Choral Reading “The Complete History of America Abridged” was directed by Molly Holkesvik.Participants include Peter Wilson, Luke Walter, Ellen Rooney, Maggie Kane, Leslie Campbell, Julia Alberts, Amanda Kavan, Clara Rooney, Sophia Christman, Michael Njus, Ella Grouws, Drew Chamberlain, Nolan Jacobsen, Lydia Ihde, and Alex Kane.

One Act Play Tracks was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks and Cydney Weitzel.

Participants include Sarah Pedlar, Anna Tallier, Matthew Smith, Rebecca Anderson, Ellen Rooney, Emma Humpal, and Dylan Muhlbauer.

Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. Participants performed in three groups. Group One: Madi Castro, Matthew Smith, Grace Bachelder, and Koryn Bakken. Group Two: Larsson Shockey, Nadia Johnson, Landan Folkedahl, Abby Milburn, and Sally Laybourn. Group Three: Isaac Cooper, Izzie Kingsbury, Julia Alberts, Gabe Anderson, and Alex Irwin.

TV News was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt. “Transformation” participants include Mya Redenius, Liz Clement, Rebecca Bruening, Sofie Grouws, Wyatt Hackman, Jenna Lundtvedt, Koryn Bakken, Anya Lovstuen, Fiona Buresh, Morgan Dlhy, Karen Henriquez, Franklin Lesmeister, and Sophia Christman. “Destination Driftless” participants include Abby Milburn, Britann Mittelle, Amelia Dugger, Samantha Reilly, Karter Einck, Ashley Schneberger, Lydia Ihde, Anna Tallier, Emma Nierengarten, Edwin Holyoake, Kriya Atwell, Max Wilson, Kaia Neal, Annika Franzen, and Drew Berns.

Radio Broadcasting was directed by Gabe Twedt. “KOOP” participants include Abby Moen, Katelyn Christensen, Alysa Hanson, Easton Luzum, Luke Walter, Sylvia Sandhorst, and Morgan Moen. “KEEP” participants include Izaak Eichinger, Daniel Skrade, Liz Clement, Morgan Dlhy, Michael Njus, Kailyn O’Gara, and Ruby Sullivan.

Short Film “Lanterns” was directed by Molly Holkesvik. Participants include MiKenna Martin, Rachel Bower, Samantha See, Clara Rooney, Annika Franzen, Paige Lange, Morgan Moen, Brielle Buresh, Mara Holland, Kailyn O’Gara, Ellie Luzum, Abby Halverson, Sylvia Sandhorst, Amelia Dugger, and Samantha Reilly. Short Film “Listen” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. Participants include Isaac Cooper, Karter Einck, Arlo Hayes, Grace Thompson, Britann Mettille, Chloe Chyle, Easton Luzum, Emily Carolan, Grace Neal, Julia Schwarz, Cai Brevig, Hogan Smith, Brinley Krivachek, and Annalise Skrade.

All DHS ninth-grade speech groups also received Division I Ratings at district contest. Cast lists for these groups are as follows:

Readers Theater “The Invisible Dragon” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Evon Leitz, Skyler Cole, Abby Valkosky, Brynn Storhoff, Sydney Kipp, Gabriel Hiner, Lucas Arndt, Nathaniel Roberts, and Braunwyn Darrington.

TV News “Impact: Reconstructing the American Justice System” was directed by Molly Holkesvik. Participants include Elizabeth Pritchard, Simon Kutz, Joe Stammeyer, Faith Meyer, Cody Carolan, Alex McGohan, Henry Weis, Peter Essa, Jorja Folkedahl, Alexis Walker, Kathryn Kelly, Jensen Korsness, Anders Lovstuen, Hayley Stowe, and Cori Timm.

Radio Broadcasting “KOZY” was directed by Gabe Twedt. Participants include Jensen Korsness, Faith Meyer, Kenzie Monk, Simon Kutz, Hannah Gjere, Kelley Gates, and Brenna Parker.

Ensemble Acting “The Santaland Diaries” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks.

Participants include Gabriel Hiner, Kathryn Kelly, Libby Phillips, Danielle Rix, Lucas Arndt, and Peter Essa.

Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. Participants include Anders Lovstuen, Joe Stammeyer, Hayley Stowe, Cori Timm, and Braunwyn Darrington.