January 24, 2022

Decorah High School speech students participated in a local District Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, January 22nd held at Waterloo West High School.

The performers had a great showing, earning 22 Division I ratings out of 30 total entries. The ninth-grade team performed in six entries, and the varsity team performed in 24 entries. Each ninth-grade and varsity entry receiving a Division I rating will perform at State competition on Saturday, February 5th, at Decorah High School.

Cast lists for the varsity groups moving to State contest are as follows:

Choral Reading “Fly Away” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks.

Participants include Leslie Campbell, Wyatt Hackman, Karen Henriquez, Mikiah Krieg, Nolan Jacobson, Sam Reilly, Haywood Stowe, Ruby Sullivan, Julia Alberts, Sophia Christman, Ellen Rooney, Annalise Skrade, Daniel Skrade, Libby Phillips, and Ethan Stravers.

Ensemble Acting “Good on Paper” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks.

Participants include Evon Leitz, Jake Magner, Max Wilson, Paige Lange, Rebecca Bruening, and Ruby Sullivan.

Ensemble Acting “Fake News” was directed by Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Danielle Rix, Gabriel Hiner, Jenna Hartz, Kathryn Kelly, Michael Njus, and Simon Kutz.

Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Lyra McKnight. 

Participants performed in three groups. 

Group One: Anders Lovstuen, Alex Irwin, Joe Stammeyer, and Annika Franzen.

Group Two: Nat Roberts, Rebecca Bruening, Adam Jones, and Julia Alberts.

Group Three: Koryn Bakken, Madi Castro, and Carter Kowitz.

Group Mime “Into the Storybook” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Julia Schwarz, Danielle Rix, Evon Leitz, and Lexy Walker.

Group Mime “The Daydream” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Leslie Campbell, Liz Clement, Sally Laybourn, Hayley Stowe, and Grace Neal.

Solo Mime “Steaming Hot” by Rebecca Anderson was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.

Musical Theater “Hadestown” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.

Participants include Haywood Stowe, Drew Chamberlain, Ada Lovelace, Alex Kane, Nolan Jacobson, and Dylan Muhlbauer.

Musical Theater “Now. Here. This.” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.

Participants include Annalise Skrade, Max Wilson, Libby Phillips, Jake Magner, Mikiah Krieg, and Ella Grouws.

One Act Play “Things Fall…(Meanwhile)” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks.

Participants include Nadia Johnson, Dylan Muhlbauer, Ella Grouws, Alex Kane, Ada Lovelace, Ellen Rooney, Ethan Stravers, Gabriel Hiner, Kathryn Kelly, Jensen Korsness, Abbie Valkosky, Lexy Walker, Mara Holland, Hogan Smith, and Larsson Shockey.

Radio Broadcasting “KCTS” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Drew Berns, Morgan Dlhy, August Witt, Sylvia Sandhorst, and Nat Roberts.

Radio Broadcasting “KLIF” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Elizabeth Pritchard, Corina Timm, Henry Weis, Mara Pankow, Aidan Nalean-Carlson, and Cody Carolan.

Readers Theater “Puffs” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Brielle Buresh, Karen Henriquez, Rebecca Anderson, Junior Battle, Michael Njus, Carter Kowitz, Sydney Kipp, Jensen Korsness, Anders Lovstuen, Ramsey Zilka, Abbie Valkosky, Henry Weis, Nadia Johnson, and Bella Bishop.

Short Film “Until You Can’t” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. 

Participants include Koryn Bakken, Drew Berns, Brielle Buresh, Drew Chamberlain, Liz Clement, Annika Franzen, Mara Holland, Wyatt Hackman, Ellie Luzum, August Witt, Amelia Dugger, Landan Folkedahl, Anya Lovstuen, and Elizabeth Pritchard.

TV News “Dangerous Disinformation” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt. 

Participants include Anya Lovstuen, Hogan Smith, Amelia Dugger, Peter Essa, Britann Mettille, Sylvia Sandhorst, Nathan Swarbrick, Corina Timm, Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Sam Reilly, Landan Folkedahl, and Morgan Dlhy.

TV News “Iowa Adventures: Haunted Roadtrip” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt.

Participants include Brynn Storhoff, Sophia Christman, Paige Lange, Braunwyn Darrington, Kailyn O’Gara, Annaleissa Arnold, Simon Kutz, Caden Branum, Chloe Chyle, Bella Bishop, Easton Luzum, Thea Schissel, and Paige Werner.

Cast lists for other varsity groups who performed at District contest are as follows:

Ensemble Acting “Confessions of a High School Bathroom” was directed by Lyra McKnight. 

Participants include Alex Irwin, Annaleissa Arnold, Grace Bachelder, Hayley Stowe, Mya Redenius, and Sally Laybourn.

Group Mime “Takeout Please” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Chloe Chyle, Grace Bachelder, Brynn Storhoff, Brinley Krivachek, and Ellie Luzum.

Solo Mime “Sittin’ for Cerberus” by Ramsey Zilka was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.

Solo Mime “The Call” by Junior Battle was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.

Short Film “just speak.” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. 

Participants include Abby Woosley, Grace Neal, Kendall Holland, Kailyn O’Gara, Paige Werner, Jaxon Williams, Braunwyn Darrington, John Baldridge, Caden Branum, Joe Stammeyer, and Adam Jones.

Short Film “SMILE” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Lyra McKnight. 

Participants include Larsson Shockey, Julia Schwarz, Britann Mettille, Arlo Hayes, and Miranda Miller.

Cast lists for the 9th grade groups moving onto State contest are as follows:

Ensemble Acting “Tammy: A Coming of Age Story About A Girl Who Is Part T-Rex” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. 

Participants include Elliana Brodbeck, Oliver Brummel, Greta Jones, Rebecca Kane, McKenzie Riley, and Ezra Vorvick.

Radio Broadcasting “KDNA” was directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Karmyn Bakken, Liam Chamberlain, Natalie Goodner, Leah Holland, Kamryn Steines, and Amelia Wadsworth.

Choral Reading “Macadamia Mayhem” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt.

Participants include Karmyn Bakken, Elsa Johnson, Rebecca Kane, Annika Keefe, Ansel Kowitz, Caleb Krieg, McKenzie Riley, Liam Chamberlain, Grant Zilka, Margret Zook, and Gwenyth Thompson.

TV News “Breaking Barriers” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabe Twedt. 

Participants include Evynne Downing, Natalie Goodner, Leah Holland, Annika Keefe, Caleb Krieg, Andy Kruger, Beau Newhouse, Kamryn Steines, Amelia Wadsworth, Margret Zook, Chloe Sheffield, Maran Martin, Rylin Sibley, and Mikael Havens.

Cast lists for other 9th grade groups who performed at District contest are as follows:

Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Elliana Brodbeck, Oliver Brummel, Klaara Short, Davis Coppola, and Jack Sovern.

Group Mime “Do or Die” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Carrie Kauffman, and Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Grace Blikre, Elsa Johnson, Klaara Short, Jack Sovern, and Gwenyth Thompson.