Decorah Speech Teams Advance 30 Entries to State After Strong District Performance

You'll want to remember this moment. Help us record what's happening in Decorah. DECORAH — Decorah High School speech students participated in a District Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, January 24, held at Cedar Falls High School. The performers had an excellent showing, earning 30 Division I ratings out of 32 total entries. The ninth-grade team performed in eight entries and the varsity team performed in 24 entries. Each ninth-grade and varsity entry receiving a Division I rating will perform at the State Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, February 7, at Waterloo West High School. "We are extremely proud of our students and their showing on Saturday," said the speech coaches. "They brought their best to the contest, sharing their talent and poise to each event. We have so many great leaders and artists in our program." Cast lists for these varsity groups moving to state contest are as follows: Choral Reading "Fly Away" was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Allysen Lovstuen. Participants include Poppy Bellrichard, Isaac Bentley, Lulu Bellrichard, Brody Darling, Kira Dowden, Ava Hanson, Kaelyn Kuhn, Myla Leitz, Raelyn Newhouse, Ryan Northup, Nils Peterson, Eden Scheidel, Lauren Severtson, Cassie Stammeyer and Alex Mercado-Arneson. Ensemble Acting "The Uprising" was directed by Lyra McKnight. Participants include Alex Mercado-Arneson, Jillian Volz, Jayden Lundtvedt, Charlotte LaBelle and Emma Neebel. Ensemble Acting "The Yellow Wallpaper" was directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks. Participants include June Breitenbach-Dirks, Elsa Christman, Klara Kelly, Clarence Nimrod and Kaylie Wemark. Ensemble Acting "The Women of Lockerbie" was directed by Allysen Lovstuen and David Grouws. Participants include Eva Hurley, Zoe Gerber, Margaret Hahn, Marley Harmening, Teagan Menke and Ryan Northup. Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight and David Grouws. Participants performed in three groups. Group One: Dawon Irons, Gavin Wilkins and Patrick Gallagher Group Two: Brody Darling, Derek Hrdlicka, Olivia Volkmann and Raelyn Newhouse Group Three: Jackson Irwin, Isaac Bentley, Grace Stockman and Max Goodner Group Mime "Four Strangers, One Elevator" was directed by Carrie Kauffman, Lyra McKnight and Allysen Lovstuen. Participants include Drew Zwart, Will Robinson and Marri Feuerhelm. Solo Mime "Break Free" by Vivian Searcy - directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt and David Grouws. Solo Mime "Flag Fiasco" by Kira Dowden - directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt and David Grouws. Solo Mime "Out of the Box" by Charlotte LaBelle - directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt and David Grouws. Musical Theater "Six (But With Eight)" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include June Breitenbach-Dirks, Kennedy Carlson, Elsa Christman, Emma Cline, Mikayla Hiner, Claire Ko, Nora Lesmeister and Vivian Searcy. Musical Theater "Spamalot" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Spencer Christensen, Ezra Harman-Wood, Caleb Johnson, Kaya Johnson, Jameson LaBelle, Noah Potvin, Grace Stockman and Colin Thompson. One Act Play "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt and David Grouws. Participants include Ariana Albert, Spencer Christensen, Leah Garcia-Prats, Margaret Hahn, Caleb Johnson, Kaya Johnson, Teagan Menke, Noah Potvin, Colin Thompson, Isis Timm, Jillian Volz, Rachel Weis and Sophia McGee. Radio Broadcasting "KNIT" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Lyla Lovstuen, Nina Sessions, Pranav Caton, Claire Storhoff, Gavin Wilkins, Addi Ivey, Victoria Stammeyer, Cassie Stammeyer. Radio Broadcasting "KRAP" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Lulu Bellrichard, Claire Ko, Evelyn Opheim, Poppy Bellrichard, Frankie Kollasch, Kate Pattison, Oliver Bollinger and Molly Kuehner. Radio Broadcasting "KZMB" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Jack Hammell, Kyan Oftedahl, Oskar Swanson, Fox Lana, Dawson Irons, Thomas Davis, Oak Pasche and Ava Burreson. Readers Theater "Puffs" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Ariana Albert, Kennedy Carlson, Emma Cline, Sawyer Courtney, Leah Garcia-Prats, Mikayla Hiner, Klara Kelly, Naomi Kutz, Nora Lesmeister, Sophia McGee, Carter Riley, Olivia Rissman, Olivia Volkmann, Rachel Weis and Kaylie Wemark. Short Film "Running Out of Time" was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, Allysen Lovstuen and David Grouws. Participants include Patrick Gallagher, Pranav Caton, Eli Sassaman and Fox Lana. Short Film "Listen" was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, Allysen Lovstuen and David Grouws. Participants include Eva Hurley, Frankie Kollasch, Simone Downing, Deborah Hougen and Lyla Lovstuen. Short Film "Watch" was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, Allysen Lovstuen and David Grouws. Participants include Elliot Berland, Oliver Bollinger, Mack McElree, Luke Franzen, Thatcher Brown, Sawyer Courtney, Jameson LaBelle, Clarence Nimrod, Carter Riley and Nathan Rhodes. TV News "The Repost Report" was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabriel Twedt. Participants include Nils Peterson, Griffin Brauer, Lawrence Christman, Thomas Davis, Ava Hanson, Jackson Irwin, Jack Hammell, Marley Harmening, Jayden Lundtvedt, Kyan Oftedahl, Elliot Berland, Regine Hougen, Mack McElree, Olivia Rissman and Luke Franzen. TV News "Vanished: A Trail of Angels" was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabriel Twedt. Participants include Ezra Harman-Wood, Eden Scheidel, Thatcher Brown, Claire Storhoff, Simone Downing, Kate Pattison, Marri Feuerhelm, Oskar Swanson, Maxwell Goodner, Myla Leitz, Nina Sessions, Lauren Severtson, Drew Zwart, Kaelyn Kuhn and Naomi Kutz. Cast lists for other varsity groups who performed at District contest are as follows: Group Mime "No Direction" was directed by Carrie Kauffman, Lyra McKnight and Allysen Lovstuen. Participants include Stella Witt, Ava Burreson, Emma Neebel and Evelyn Opheim. Cast lists for the 9th grade groups moving onto State contest are as follows: Ensemble Acting "This is the Rill Speaking" was directed by Lyra McKnight and David Grouws. Participants include Olivia Blake, June Fassbinder, Keegan Joyce, Lula McAbee, Harper Menke and Simon Potvin. Group Improv was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight and David Grouws. Participants performed in three groups. Group One: June Fassbinder, Veda Shimek, Chloe Albert and Edith Marable Group Two: Harper Menke, Anna Severtson, Sofia Hageman and Kylie Zoulek Radio Broadcasting "KANT" was directed by Gabriel Twedt and Carrie Kauffman. Participants include Xavier Ahrndt, Rosie Burkholder, Kalin Harman, Ruth Kueny, Olivia Sheffield and Ellis Thompson. TV News "Iowa Gems" was directed by Molly Holkesvik and Gabriel Twedt. Participants include Xavier Ahrndt, Rosie Burkholder, Isaiah Bonnet, Charly Courtney, Kenyon Bartels, Robert Davis, Ruth Kueny, Leonard Nimrod, Olivia Sheffield and Ellis Thompson. Short Film "Lights, Camera, Chaos" was directed by Molly Holkesvik, Lyra McKnight, Allysen Lovstuen and David Grouws.Participants include Kenyon Bartels, Isaiah Bonnet, Nathaniel Crose, Robert Davis, Kalin Harman and Keegan JoyceSolo Mime "Symphony in B Flat" by Sofia Hageman - directed by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt and David Grouws. Cast lists for other 9th grade groups that performed at District contest are as follows: Readers Theater "Macadamia Mayhem" was directed by Carrie Kauffman, Lyra McKnight and Allysen Lovstuen. Participants include Chloe Albert, Olivia Blake, Charly Courtney, Edith Marable, Violet Martinson-Burrell, Lula McAbee, Anna Severtson, Veda Shimek, Kylie Zoulek and Nessa Kane. Discover what's happening near you! The free DecorahNews.com newsletter brings updates, inspiring stories, and practical tips right to your inbox.