Decorah High School varsity speech teams are perfect at State

Decorah High School varsity speech team students were a perfect 16 out of 16 at the Northeast Iowa State Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday.

The DHS varsity received 16 Division I ratings out of 16 events entered. The DHS 9th team received five Division I Ratings and seven Division II Ratings.

The varsity students are coached by Thomas Houdek, Lisa Roberson, Molly Holkesvik and Janelle Keune. The 9th grade students are coached by high school juniors and seniors who are varsity speech students.

All 16 groups now are in the running to be chosen for the All-State Speech Festival February 20th at Iowa State University in Ames. The list of the speech groups chosen for All-State will be posted late Monday afternoon on the IHSSA website, www.ihssa.org.

DHS Varsity speech groups receiving Division I Ratings included readers theatre, choral reading, one-act play, two group improvisations, one group mime, three musical theatres, three ensemble actings, two radio broadcastings, one solo mime, and television news:

Readers Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson "The Laramie Project" Erik Bay, Clara Bergan, Eliza Betteridge, Lindsey Bohr, Jenna Bremer, Alex Carney, Becca Eastwood, Jenna Hrdlicka, Eli Klosterboer, Jonathan Knudson, Camille Maker, Johanna Olson, Gabe Smith, John Wener, and Jonathon Winter.

Choral Reading directed by Molly Holkesvik "Defined by Design" Sarah Amundson, Sarah Brandt, Allie Canoy, Haim Estrada, Kristen Flak, Jessica Franzen, Sarah Hammel, Addie Hansen, Liz Hovden, Devon Hovey, Mollie King, Tessa Kraus, Kari Peterson, Payge Rustad, and Emily Sorenson.

One-Act Play directed by Thomas Houdek assisted by Martin Stalberger "The Bridge Watcher" Erica Bjelland, Emma Breitenstein, Marea Holkesvik, Madi Johansen, Allison Kephart, Jacob Knobbe, Caroline Krammen, Josh Martin, Breanne Pierce, Gavyn Samuelson and Charlie Vermace.

Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek: Scotty Hendricks, Josh Martin, Carlee Meyer, Tayler Roberson and Sam Zook.

Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek: Allie Canoy, Michael Eatwood, Marlon Henriquez, Jacob Knobbe and Emily Wilson.

Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "The 'Perfect' Date" Leah Broderick, Alexis Kuennen, Moran Lonning, Lineke Oegema and Karah Shindelar.

Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Spring Awakening" Pearl Faldet, Bjorn Gowdy-Jaehnig, Kari Jensen, Ida Rotto, Gabe Smith and Sam Zook.

Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Chicago" Lindsey Bohr, Sarah Hammel, Allison Kephart, Caroline Krammen, Kaia Miller and Gavyn Samuelson.

Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Spamalot" Becca Eastwood, Michael Eastwood, Allison Fretheim, Aaron Kvale, Tayler Roberson and Charlie Vermace.

Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "The Diary of Anne Frank" Bethany Davidson, Gabriel Eide, Madi Johansen, Aaron Kvale, Kasi Misseldine and Ida Rotto.

Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "Who Dunnit...Princess Style" Tori Dahlen, Emily Harman, Megan Hudson, Annelise Keune, Kristen Malanaphy and Biance Wilbur.

Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" Liz Dovenberg, Montana McCabe, Carlee Meyer, Liz Shroyer, Liv Ulring and Emily Wilson.

Radio Broadcasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "Redneck Radio" Steph Fadness, Amy Lowery, Chloe Meyer, Tyler Rinken, Tyler Smith and Bianca Wilbur.

Radio Broadcasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "Human Rights Network" Gabriel Eide, Ethan Hougen, Jackie Hoyme, Gavin Markee, Abby Meirick and Zach Schmelzer.

Solo Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "The Staring Contest" Casey Smith.

Television Newscasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "KUDU" Sarah Amundson, Zane Blanchard, Emma Breitenstein, Leah Broderick, Kayla Burggraf, Taylor Byrnes, Alex Carney, Grace Dambek, Kate Dougan, Liz Dovenberg, Kristen Flak, Laura Francois, Jessica Franzen, Allison Gomersall, Rachel Haindfield, Addie Hansen, Kilah Hemesath, Marlon Henriquez, Marea Holkesvik, Jackie Hoyme, Dana Jensen, Mollie King, Kylie Kruse, Alexis Kuennen, Thomas Locke, Amy Lowery, Camille Maker, Gavin Markee, Abby Meirick, Olivia Mitchell, Lineke Oegema, Johanna Olson, Martin Pena, Kari Peterson, Breanne Pierce, Nicole Poirier, Ashlie Pool, Tyler Rinken, Payge Rustad, Sara Schloesser, Karah Shindelar, Katrina Shindelar, Tyler Smith, Paige Smutzler, Emily Sorenson, Kaitlyn Svestka, Megan Tappe, Megan Vande Lune, Kelsey Wagner and Kaitlin Yahr.

DHS 9th speech groups receiving Division I Ratings included readers theatre, one musical theatre, and three ensemble actings. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:

Readers Theatre directed by Becca Eastwood, Emily Sorenson, Dana Jensen, and Clara Bergan "Lingoland" Emily Alcock, Kirsten Arneson, Mitch Burggraf, Ely Cepeda, Teesha Frey, Maddie Grimm, Alice Gullekson, Kayla Ingvalson, Kiersten Jensen, Thomas Knobbe, Kylie Kozelka, Kendra Larsen, McKinleigh McCabe, Brittany McDermott, and Katie Whitehill

Musical Theatre directed by Allison Kephart, Kaia Miller, and Allison Fretheim "The Corpse Bride" Lucas Blekeberg, Krista Fretheim, Shana Kelly, Bretta Krieg, and James Ostlie

Ensemble Acting directed by Liz Dovenberg and Carlee Meyer "The Complete History of America, abridged" Ely Cepeda, Tim DeVore, Bretta Krieg, Hannah Leeper, Kayla Peterson, and Shelby Varney

Ensemble Acting directed by Kasi Misseldine, Bethany Davidson, Madi Johansen, and John Werner "Matilda" Kirsten Arneson, Lucas Blekeberg, Randi-Kate Canoy, Maggie Locke, Anna Madrigal, and Drew Schwartz

Ensemble Acting directed by Tori Dahlen, Annelise Keune, and Bianca Wilbur "Courting 101" Emily Alcock, Claire Breitenstein, Erik Dale, Brittany Hudson, Shana Kelly, and Michael Peter


The other DHS 9th speech groups competing at State included one group mime, choral reading, three group improvisations, one musical theatre, and one radio broadcasting. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:

Group Mime directed by Payge Rustad, Eliza Betteridge, and Rachel Rattenborg "Cheating 101" Abby Arend, Teesha Frey, Kelsey Einck, and Brittany Hudson

Choral Reading directed by Kristen Flak, Mollie King, and Kari Peterson "Go For The Gold" Brinn Anderson, Randi-Kate Canoy, Brianna Carlson, Kelsey Einck, Aubrey Ellickson, Krista Fretheim, Jenny Henry, Sarah Horns, Kylie Kozelka, Emily Markee, Brittany McDermott, Emily Walker, Kinsey Whitehill, and Katie Whitehill

Group Improvisation directed by Jacob Knobbe, Josh Martin, Michael Eastwood, and Allie Canoy: Kayla Ingvalson, Thomas Knobbe, Josh Lee, Michael Peter, and Patrick Winter

Group Improvisation directed by Jacob Knobbe, Josh Martin, Michael Eastwood, and Allie Canoy: Mitch Burggraf, Erik Dale, Maggie Locke, Drew Schwartz, and Anders Wahlberg

Group Improvisation directed by Jacob Knobbe, Josh Martin, Michael Eastwood, and Allie Canoy: Peter Kephart, Anna Madrigal, McKinleigh McCabe, James Ostlie, and Paul Sullivan

Musical Theatre directed by Caroline Krammen, Kari Jensen, and Tayler Roberson "Little Shop of Horrors" Claire Breitenstein, Aubrey Ellickson, Maddie Grimm, Kiersten Jensen, and Noah Klammer

Radio Broadcasting directed by Amy Lowery "KOOL" Abby Arend, Alex Bishop, Brianna Carolan, Hans Holkesvik, Noah Klammer, and Anders Wahlberg