Decorah High School speech students participated in State Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, February 3rd, held at Dubuque Senior High School.

The performers had an excellent showing, earning 24 Division I ratings out of 27 entries. The ninth-grade team performed in 6 entries, while the varsity team performed in 22 entries. 

“Our students did a wonderful job representing our school. They worked hard and performed with poise, professionalism, and personality. We are extremely proud of them. They continue to bring so much to the speech program and our community,” remarked the directors.

All-State nominations will be released later this week.

Cast lists for the varsity groups who received a “I” rating at state contest are as follows:

Choral Reading “The Eras of Taylor Swift” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Annika Krieg.

Participants include Alex McGohan, Julia Severtson, Lexy Walker, Paige Wrightsman, Hannah Arendt, Natalie Goodner, Kaylie Wemark, Caden Branum, Bethany Hanson, Evon Leitz, Nathan Swarbrick, Liz Pritchard, Grace Blikre, and Caleb Johnson.

Ensemble Acting “The Day the Internet Died” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks.

Participants include Davis Coppola, Karmyn Bakken, Kathryn Kelly, Klaara Short, Liam Chamberlain, and Lucas Hanson.

Ensemble Acting “The Yellow Boat” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Annika Krieg. 

Participants include Anders Lovstuen, Evon Leitz, Ezra Harman-Wood, Klara Kelly, Peter Essa, and Grace Blikre.

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

Participants performed in three groups. 

Group One: Anders Lovstuen, Henry Weis, Oliver Brummel, and Beau Newhouse

Group Two: Joe Stammeyer, Tommy Hammel, and Jack Sovern

Group Three: Liam Chamberlain, Greta Jones, Ansel Kowitz, and Nat Roberts

Group Mime “Night at the Art Museum” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks and Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Brynn Storhoff, Kathleen Delphey, Anopa Mtisi, Evynne Downing, Camryn Holland, and Ariana Albert.

Solo Mime “Midnight Madness” by Jensen Korsness was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.

Solo Mime “Magnificent Malvolio’s Mishaps” by Nat Roberts was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, and Carrie Kauffman.

Musical Theater “Newsies” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.

Participants include Mikayla Hiner, Jameson LaBelle, Caleb Johnson, Andy Krueger, Abbie Valkosky, Gabriel Hiner, June Breitenbach-Dirks, and Elsa Christman.

Musical Theater “Tick, Tick…Boom” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman.

Participants include Connor Evelsizer, Bethany Hanson, Ezra Vorvick, Libby Phillips, Hayley Stowe, Oliver Brummel, Gwen Thompson, and Lucas Hanson.

One Act Play “She Kills Monsters” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks and Gabriel Twedt.

Participants include Kathryn Kelly, Elliana Brodbeck, McKenzie Riley, Ezra Vorvick, Gabriel Hiner, Libby Phillips, Julia Severtson, Hayley Stowe, Annika Keefe, Andy Kruger, June Breitenbach-Dirks, Nora Lesmeister, Kaylie Wemark, and Cody Carolan.

Radio Broadcasting “KWAK” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Tommy Hammel, Camryn Holland, Lily Sandhorst, Addison Wicklund, Alex McGohan, Hannah Arendt, and Jerald Thompson.

Radio Broadcasting “KZZZ” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Grant Zilka, Ezra Harman-Wood, Faith Meyer, Lyla Lovstuen, Sam Cline, and Joe Stammeyer.

Readers Theater “The House in the Cerulean Sea” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie

Kauffman. 

Participants include Sydney Kipp, Abbie Valkosky, Henry Weis, Greta Jones, Annika Keefe, Nora Lesmeister, Simon Kutz, Davis Coppola, Ansel Kowitz, McKenzie Riley, Mikayla Hiner, Jameson LaBelle, Klara Kelly, Luke Arendt, and Elliana Brodbeck.

Short Film “Not Gone, But Forgotten” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, and Annika Krieg.

Participants include Corina Timm, Jerald Thompson, Mara Branum, Patrick Gallagher, and Lyla Lovstuen.

Short Film “Almost Gone” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, and Annika Krieg.

Participants include Klaara Short, Evynne Downing, Ariana Albert, Anopa Mtisi, Livia Dix, Jorja Folkedahl, Sage Fornasiero, and Dakotah Teepe.

TV News “Close Encounters: Strangers from Space” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabriel Twedt. 

Participants include Naomi Pedlar, Caden Branum, Braunwyn Darrington, Simon Kutz, Brynn Storhoff, Nathan Swarbrick, Sam Cline, Peter Essa, Gwen Thompson, Eily Hegdahl, Liz Pritchard, Paige Wrightsman, Mara Branum, and Natalie Goodner,

TV News “Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Girls Wrestling” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabriel Twedt.

Participants include Jack Sovern, Kamryn Steines, Will Robinson, Beau Newhouse, Annaleissa Arnold, Karmyn Bakken, Grant Zilka, Jensen Korsness, Naomi Simon, Ana Simon, Leah Holland, Kelby Kerndt, and Lauren Luzum.

Cast lists for other varsity groups who performed at state contest and received a “II” rating:

Ensemble Acting “In a J.A.M.” was directed by Lyra McKnight.

Participants include Corina Timm, Luke Arendt, Alex Mercado-Arneson, and William Duder.

Short Film “Tik Tok Boom” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, and Annika Krieg. 

Participants include Kathleen Delphey, Leah Holland, Will Robinson, Annaleissa Arnold, Kamryn Steines, Marri Feuerhelm, and Kelby Kerndt.

Cast lists for the 9th grade groups who received a “I” rating at state contest are as follows:

Choral Reading “Walt’s Guide to a Happily Ever After” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Annika Krieg.

Participants include Lulu Bellrichard, Thatcher Brown, Clarence Nimrod, Lawrence Christman, Emma Cline, Ava Hanson, Naomi Kutz, Myla Leitz, Jayden Lundtvedt, Carter Riley, Oliva Rissman, Isis Timm, and Jillian Volz.

Musical Theater “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” was directed by Gabriel Twedt, Carrie Kauffman, and Annika Krieg.

Participants include Emma Cline, Jackson Irwin, Noah Potvin, Vivian Searcy, Grace Stockman, Colin Thompson, Isis Timm, and Jillian Volz.

Radio Broadcasting “KRTR” was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. 

Participants include Elliot Berland, Spencer Christensen, Sawyer Courtney, Jayden Lundtvedt, Teagan Menke, Kyan Oftedahl, and Claire Storhoff.

TV News “Iowa Roots: Indigenous Heritage” was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabriel Twedt. 

Participants include Lulu Bellrichard, Thatcher Brown, Sawyer Courtney, Thomas Davis, Ava Hanson, Kaelyn Kuhn, Clarence Nimrod, Kyan Oftedahl, Carter Riley, Oliver Rissman, Nina Sessions, Claire Storhoff, and Colin Thompson.

Short Film “Growing Up” was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, and Annika Krieg.

Participants include Kaelyn Kuhn, Naomi Kutz, Myla Leitz, Nina Sessions, and Oskar Swanson.

Cast lists for other 9th grade groups who performed at state contest and received a “II” rating:

Ensemble Acting “Toy Tale: A Toy Story Knockoff” was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. 

Participants include Grace Stockman, Margaret Hahn, Teagan Menke, Noah Potvin, and Oliva Volkmann.