Decorah HS teams do well at speech contest

Over 200 Decorah High School students participated in District Large Group Speech Contest hosted by Waukon High School on Saturday.

The DHS Varsity Team received 20 division one ratings and the DHS 9th Team received 6 division one ratings. The students are coached by Thomas Houdek, Molly Holkesvik, Gabe Twedt, Kristen Underwood, Sarah Zbornik, Connor Freeman, Parker Fretheim, and Steven Holkesvik.

All of the groups receiving division one ratings will be participating in the Northeast District Large Group Speech State Contest hosted by Waterloo West High School on Saturday, February 6th. Contest details will be available online at www.ihssa.org, complete with a schedule, early next week. Coaches encourage as many family and friends as possible to support the DHS speech students as a packed house in the performance center really encourages the students to perform their best!

DHS Varsity speech groups advancing include one-act play, readers theater, choral reading, three ensemble actings, three musical theaters, one group improvisation, two group mimes, two solo mimes, two radio broadcastings, two short films, and two television news. Cast lists for these groups are as follows:

One-Act Play directed by Thomas Houdek and Kristen Underwood: "Almost, Maine" Nick Bockman, Linnea Carlson, Naomi Davidson, Jenna Galligan, Loden Henning, Adam Hovden, Jonah Johnson, Ben Lechensky, Jake Muhlbauer, Lane Rahlf, Lowden Rockweiler, Brent Schaeffer, Paul Strand

Readers Theater directed by Gabe Twedt and Kristen Underwood: "David Copperfield" Sylvia Betteridge, Dalton Brown, Isabel de la Cruz, Chloe Gossling, Ashley Gulrud, Carston Krieg, Makinzie Monroe, Trevor Phillips, Rylea Ranum, Maggie Schwarz, Shai Shay, Richard Weis, Miles Wilkie

Choral Reading directed by Molly Holkesvik and Thomas Houdek: "The Yellow Boat" Michael Cook, Autumn DeLong, Ross Gentry, Ali Graves, Parker Grinna, Maggy Hovden, Annika Krieg, Adam Krieger, Kally Peterson, Elise Poindexter, Lane Rahlf, Kalle Solberg, Anna Spencer, Paul Strand, Katelyn Yee

Ensemble Acting directed by Kristen Underwood: "100 Saints You Should Know" Garret Baumler, Kyna Henson, Makinzie Monroe, Meretta Peterson, Ian Smith

Ensemble Acting directed by Kristen Underwood: "The Importance of Being Earnest" Laurel Fadness, Ross Gentry, Helen Johnson, Kalle Solberg, Drew Sullivan, Miles Wilkie

Ensemble Acting directed by Kristen Underwood: "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" Anne Gullekson, Maggy Hovden, Kally Peterson, Sonja Sacquitne, Kayla Walter, Shai Shay

Musical Theater directed by Sarah Zbornik: "How to Succeed in Musical Theater Without Any Boys" Maggie Breitenstein, Linnea Carlson, Laurel Fadness, Helen Johnson, Rylea Ranum, Katelyn Yee

Musical Theater directed by Sarah Zbornik: "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" Autumn DeLong, Indigo Fish, Loden Henning, Annika Krieg, Trevor Phillips, Abby Trewin

Musical Theater directed by Sarah Zbornik: "Chicago" Garret Baumler, Naomi Davidson, Kyna Henson, Madelyn Jermier, Ben Lechensky, Maggie Schwarz

Group Improvisation directed by Kristen Underwood: Brianna Doyle, Indigo Fish, Devin Brevig, Josh Nierengarten, Andrew Kephart

Group Mime directed by Molly Holkesvik and Sarah Zbornik: "Choices: Death of Innocent" Camille Dahlquist, Max Sparrow, Morgan Minear, Sonja Sacquitne, Marissa Weis, Josephine Berlage

Group Mime directed by Molly Holkesvik and Sarah Zbornik: "The Ring" Emily Holthaus, Abby Hudson, Isabel Iverson, McKinley Lillegraven, Kayla Quandahl, Garret Hemesath

Solo Mime directed by Molly Holkesvik and Sarah Zbornik: "True Beauty" Abby Trewin

Solo Mime directed by Molly Holkesvik and Sarah Zbornik: "Witch is Innocent?" Emily Womeldorf

Radio Broadcasting directed by Gabe Twedt: "KLAM" Brianna Doyle, Dawson Holkesvik, Maria Lea, Mara Schnuelle, Klara Thompson, Emily Womeldorf

Radio Broadcasting directed by Gabe Twedt assisted by Ayden Gossman: "KILT" Nate Darling, Emily Franzen, Anna Hanson, Nate Larson, Jarod Phillips, Luke Stock, Richard Weis, Carina Yee

Short Film directed by Molly Holkesvik assisted by Jonah Pankow: "Just Look" Logan Brauer, Augusta Casterton, Vita Domnenko, Avery Dugger, Erick Fadness, Jenna Galligan, Dawson Holkesvik, Adam Hovden, Laiton Ihde, Rylee Monteith, Alex Nesset, Jarod Phillips, Kaitlyn Rooney, Sam Sacquitne, Brynne Valkosky

Short Film directed by Molly Holkesvik assisted by Jonah Pankow: "Everlasting" Brenna Betts, Sydney Brynes, Claudia Cowie, Ashley Darling, Zach DeVore, Ben Dugger, Ashlynn Franzen, Logan Hauber, Hannah Klotzbach, Andrew Larson, Maria Maguina, Tim Meyer, Drew Sullivan, Rachelle Sullivan

Television News directed by Molly Holkesvik assisted by Jonah Pankow: "KMDY" Devin Brevig, Michael DeVore, Chance Elton, Kaylee Fjelstul, Parker Grinna, Alex Hable, Garret Hemesath, Kara Hooper, Bryce Hosting, Andrew Larson, Dallas Matt, Madison McCabe, Josh Nierengarten, Max Sparrow

Television News directed by Molly Holkesvik assisted by Jonah Pankow: "KANE" Josephine Berlage, Anna Bruneau, Marissa Foels, Maria Lea, Lexie Leuenberger, Janaye Lundtvedt, Shania Kelly, Morgan Minear, Jeny Na, Kasey Thompson, Abigail Toussaint, Jada Vanden Brink, Everett Wegge, Dan Willie, Carina Yee

DHS 9th speech groups advancing include readers theater, two group improvisations, two radio broadcasts, and one short film. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:

Readers Theater directed by Thomas Houdek and Gabe Twedt: "Action News: Now With 10% More Action" Isaac Fish, Emma Fretheim, Rose Gullekson, Gus Hayes, Evie Holyoake, Jordyn Hussain, Celia Lesmeister, Sarah Mumford, Jenna Raddatz, Lauren Raddatz, Megan Robinson, Emma Rooney

Group Improvisation directed by Kristen Underwood: Luke Dieschbourg, Andy Murphy, Elise Miller, Allison Groux

Group Improvisation directed by Kristen Underwood: Sawyer Vanden Brink, Samuel Wilson, Matthew Chen, Sarina Guzman

Radio Broadcasting directed by Gabe Twedt: "KOOK" Owen Burgdorf-Hibbs, Matthew Chen, Cameron DeLong, Erin Dintamin, Isaac Fish, Sarah Gehling, Evie Holyoake, Billy Lange

Radio Broadcasting directed by Gabe Twedt: "KISS" Hayden Carlson, Mara Frieden, Rose Gullekson, Celia Lesmeister, Maillie McCabe, Abby Pedlar, Emma Rooney, Natalie Tapscott

Short Film directed by Connor Freeman, Parker Fretheim, and Steven Holkesvik: "doodles" Nathaniel Cowie, Luke Dieschbourg, Allison Groux, Mya Herrmann, Sydney Landstrom, Andy Murphy, Jenna Raddatz, Lauren Raddatz, Grace Syverson, Lisa Zheng

Other DHS speech groups that also competed at the district contest included choral reading, two ensemble actings, two group mimes, and three group improvisations. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:

Choral Reading directed by Thomas Houdek and Gabe Twedt: "All Summer in a Day" Camrin Chyle, Erin Dintamin, Mara Frieden, Mya Herrmann, Sydney Landstrom, Ann Meirick, Josie Numedahl, Kaylee O'Connell, Annika Okerstrom, Emma Rolfs, Stacia Sexton, Natalie Tapscott, Kaitlyn Walter

Ensemble Acting directed by Connor Freeman, Parker Fretheim, and Steven Holkesvik: "Bob's Date" Brynn Bakken, Jackson Berlage, Owen Burgdorf-HIbbs, Sara Gehling, Abby Pedlar, Megan Robinson

Ensemble Acting directed by Connor Freeman, Parker Fretheim, and Steven Holkesvik: "The Learned Ladies" Emma Fretheim, Sarina Guzman, Jordyn Hussain, Alice Laybourn, Sarah Mumford

Group Mime directed by Molly Holkesvik and Sarah Zbornik: "Spring Break" Katie Dehning, Ezri Dowden, Rachel Hines, Shania Kelly

Group Mime directed by Molly Holkesvik and Sarah Zbornik: "Strike 4: Batter's Out" Jackson Berlage, Hayden Carlson, Jaina Jostand, Caroline Knox-Reid, Maillie McCabe, Annika Orkerstrom

Group Improvisation directed by Kristen Underwood: Anne Gullekson, Natalie Heffern, Rye Hawley-Bourcier, Austin Myli, Eric Smedsrud

Group Improvisation directed by Kristen Underwood: Robbie Smedsrud, Tori Miller, Maddie Fahey, James Paulson, Kaylee Knight

Group Improvisation directed by Kristen Underwood: Brayden Krivachek, Lars Marquardt, Rachel Hudson, Skyler Malone, Leah Weis