February 12, 2021

Decorah High School speech and drama students participated in a local State Large Group Speech Contest on Monday, February 8th at Decorah High School. The performers had a spectacular showing, earning 22 Division I ratings out of 27 total entries, with the varsity team receiving 19 and the ninth grade team earning four.

“As always, our students rise to the occasion and deliver performances that are truly outstanding. We are intensely proud of the work they put into this season,” remarked the directors. 

All-State nominations will be released next week.

Varsity Team Division I Entries:

Musical Theater

A Chorus Line–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.

Next to Normal­–Directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman

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

Ensemble Acting

Almost, Maine–Directed by Cydney Weitzel 

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

The Whole Shebang–Directed by Cydney Weitzel

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

Solo Mime–Directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman

“Cake Loss”–Kendra Bigler

“Clementine–Ally Bouska

“Level Up”–Junior Battle

Group Mime– Directed by Molly Holkesvik and Carrie Kauffman      

“Get Away”

Participants include Brinley Krivachek, Ellie Luzum, Chloe Chyle, MiKenna Martin, Grace Bachelder, and Paige Lange.

“Pregnancy Pickle”

Participants include Sally Laybourn, Amanda Kavan, Rebecca Anderson, Fiona Buresh, Anja Madsen, and Ruby Sullivan.

“Jumanji”

Participants include Neptune Atwell, Julia Schwarz, Grace Neal, Thea Schissel, Annalise Skrade, and Emily Carolan.

Readers Theater–Directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman

“She Kills Monsters”

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–Directed by Molly Holkesvik

“The Complete History of America Abridged”        

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–Directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks and Cydney Weitzel

Tracks

Participants include Sarah Pedlar, Anna Tallier, Matthew Smith, Rebecca Anderson, Ellen Rooney, Emma Humpal, Dylan Muhlbauer, Simon Mumford, Gabe Anderson, Sam See, Ada Lovelace, and Hogan Smith.

TV News­–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, Neptune Atwell, Max Wilson, Kaia Neal, Annika Franzen, and Drew Berns.

Radio–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–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.

Listen–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.

Varsity Team Division II Entries:

Group Improv–Directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks

Participants include the following:

Group One: Madi Castro, Matthew Smith, Grace Bachelder, and Koryn Bakken

Group Two: Larsson Shockey, Nadia Johnson, Landan Folkedahl, Abby Milburn, and Sally Laybourn.

Ensemble Acting

Rabbit Hole–Directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks

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

Varsity Teams Also Participating in Contest:

Group Improv–Directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks

Participants include the following:

Group Three: Isaac Cooper, Izzie Kingsbury, Julia Alberts, Gabe Anderson, and Alex Irwin.

Ninth Grade Team Division I Entries:

Readers Theater–Directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman

“The Invisible Dragon”

Participants include Evon Leitz, Skylar Cole, Abby Valkosky, Brynn Storhoff, Sydney Kipp, Gabriel Hiner, Lucas Arndt, Nathaniel Roberts, and Braunwyn Darrington.

TV News–Directed by Molly Holkesvik

“Iowa Heroes”

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–Directed by Gabe Twedt

KOZY                     

Participants include Jensen Korsness, Faith Meyer, Kenzie Monk, Simon Kutz, Hannah Gjere, Kelley Gates, and Brenna Parker.

Ensemble Acting–Directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks

“The Santaland Diaries”

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

Ninth Grade Team Division II Entries:

Group Improv–Directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks

Participants include the following:

Group One: Anders Lovstuen, Joe Stammeyer, Hayley Stowe, Cori Timm, and Braunwyn Darrington.