Decorah High School speech students participated in the Northeast Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, February 5th hosted by Decorah High School.

The performers had a great showing, earning 17 Division I ratings out of 22 total entries. The ninth-grade team performed in four entries, and the varsity team performed in 18 entries.

“We are immensely impressed with our students and the performances they delivered on Saturday. They continue to make us proud. We are also so grateful for our community and the work put in by school staff, parents, and other community members to host such a massive undertaking like the State Large Group Speech Contest,” remarked the directors.

All-State nominations will be released late afternoon on Monday.

Cast lists for the varsity groups earning a Division I rating at State Contest:

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

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

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

Participants include Anders Lovstuen, Alex Irwin, Joe Stammeyer, and Annika Franzen.

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

Participants include Nat Roberts, Rebecca Bruening, Adam Jones, and Julia Alberts.

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.

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 varsity groups who received a Division II rating at State Contest:

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.

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

Participants include 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.

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.

Cast lists for the 9th grade groups earning a Division I rating at State Contest:

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.