Decorah HS speech teams advance 23 groups to State

23 Decorah High School speech groups have earned the right to compete at the State Speech Meet. The DHS Varsity Team received 17 Division One ratings at Districts in Waukon on Saturday and and the DHS 9th Grade Team received 6 Division One ratings. All teams receiving Division One ratings qualify for State.

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

The state contest will be hosted by Decorah High School on Saturday, February 5th. Contest details will be available online complete with a schedule available after Sunday, January 30th. The contest is open to the public. Three dollars is the suggested donation for admission for audience members. Workers and participants will be admitted free. Anyone interested in volunteering to work at the contest should email volunteer coordinator Lisa Roberson at lroberson@decorah.k12.ia.us.

DHS Varsity speech groups advancing include readers theatre, choral reading, one-act play, three group improvisations, one group mime, three musical theatres, three ensemble actings, two radio broadcastings, one short film, and television news. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:

Readers Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson "Lingoland" Eliza Betteridge, Erica Bjelland, Lindsey Bohr, Emma Breitenstein, Bethany Davidson, Carolina Diefelt-Streese, Pearl Faldet, Allison Fretheim, Jonathan Knudson, Aaron Kvale, Cody Michel, Katinka Ramburg, Rachel Rattenborg, Liz Shroyer, and Jonathon Winter

Choral Reading directed by Molly Holkesvik "Our 2 Cents" Lucas Blekeberg, Grace dambke, Connor Edrington, Gabriel Eide, Addie Hansen, Liz Hovden, Devon Hovey, Brittnay Hudson, Erin Jones, Tessa Kraus, Kendra Larsen, Bre Pierce, Paige Rustad, Andrew Storlie, and Colin Zidlicky

One-Act Play directed by Thomas Houdek assisted by Martin Stalberger "The Other Room" Gabriel Eide, Sarah Hammel, Marlon Henriquez, Gabriel Smith, Madi Johansen, John Werner, and James Ostlie

Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek: Blaise Schaeffer, Casey Smith, Moran Lonning, Emma Blanchard, and Mitchell White

Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek: Emily Wilson, Michael Eastwood, Erica Bjelland, Marlon Henriquez, and Scotty Hendricks

Group Improvisation directed by Thomas Houdek: Anna Madrigal, Kayla Ingvalson, Thomas Knobbe, McKinleigh McCabe, and Maggie Locke

Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "What Your Friends Don't Know" Chloe Meyer, Karah Shindelar, Katie Belay, Moran Lonning, and Taisha Thornton

Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Next to Normal" Gabriel Smith, Kasi Misseldine, Jonathan Knudson, Allison Kephart, Lindsey Bohr, and Thomas Locke

Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "Beauty and the Beast" James Ostlie, Sarah Hammel, Sarah Brandt, Bjorn Gowdy-Jaehnig, Kayla Peterson, and Claire Breitenstein

Musical Theatre directed by Lisa Roberson and Thomas Houdek "How to Succeed in Musical Theater" Aaron Kvale, Allison Kephart, Isabela Rosales, Michael Eastwood, Gavyn Samuelson, and Krista Fretheim

Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "Women Must Weep" Rose Reed-Maxfield, Madi Johansen, Kasi Misseldine, Ida Rotto, Bethany Davidson, and Johanna Olson

Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "American Women" Aubrey Ellickson, Maddie Grimm, Marea Holkesvik, Kiersten Jensen, Shana Kell,y and Bretta Krieg

Ensemble Acting directed by Janelle Keune "Romantic Fools" Mitch Burggraf, Jenna Hrdlicka, Liv Ulring, Morgan Weis, Bianca Wilbur, and Emily Wilson

Radio Broadcasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "KBTR" Emily Alcock, Erik Dale, Hans Holkesvik, Max Kemp, Kylie Kruse, Abby Meirick, and Nicole Poirier

Radio Broadcasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "KCDC" Hannah Bernatz, Dustin Miller, Haim Estrada, and Melinda Kirkeby

Solo Film directed by Molly Holkesvik "Silent Love" Jenna Bremer, Alex Carney, Connor Edrington, Haim Estrada, Tessa Flak, Max Kemp, Amber Kuennen, Montana McCabe, Cody Michel, Johanna Olson, Paul Sullivan, Shelby Verney, and John Werner

Television Newscasting directed by Molly Holkesvik "KOVE" Abby Meirick, Alex Carney, Alice Gullekson, Ashlie Pool, Bjorn Gowdy-Jaehnig, Bre Pierce, Briana Carolan, Claire Breitenstein, Eliza Betteridge, Emily Markee, Emma Blanchard, Emma Breiteinstein, Ethan Hougen, Hannah Bernatz, Hannah Leeper, Hans Holkesvik, Jackie Hoyme, Joy Drow, Julia Bishop, Kaite Ott, Kelsey Einck, Kilah Hemesath, Kirsten Arneson, Kylie Kozelka, Kylie Kruse, Laura Francois, Liz Hovden, Marea Holkesvik, Melinda Kirkeby, Montana McCabe, Katinka Ramburg, Paige Rustad, Sara Schloesser, Zach Schmelzer, Katrina Shindelar, Liz Shroyer, Paige Smutzler, Paul Sullivan, Kaitlyn Svestka, Sarah Tappe, Morgan Weis, Katie Whitehill, Kinsey Whitehill, Bianca Wilbur, and Kaitlyn Yahr

DHS 9th speech groups advancing include readers theatre, two group improvisations, two musical theatres, and one ensemble acting. Cast lists for those groups are as follows:

Readers Theatre directed by Erica Bjelland and Emma Breitenstein "Law and Order: Fairytale Unit" Gabriela Diefelt-Streese, Dailen Folkedahl, Connor Gossman, Rita Marie Guzman, Anna Hovden, Maria Hoyme, Natalie King, Crystal Mensen, Kelly Minear, McKenzie Schaeffer, Alison Schwartzhoff, Lindsay Smith, Andy Strand, and Lindsay Vande Lune

Group Improvisation directed by Michael Eastwood, Marlon Henriquez, Emily Wilson, Casey Smith, and Zach Schmelzer: Rebecca Alcock, Alexis Hove, Sam Iverson, Cole Svestka, and Steffenee Voight

Group Improvisation directed by Michael Eastwood, Marlon Henriquez, Emily Wilson, Casey Smith, and Zach Schmelzer: Dylan Henning, Hannah Hougen, Maria Mertzenich, Patrick Murphy, and McKenzie Schaeffer

Musical Theatre directed by Gabriel Smith, Sarah Hammel, and Colin Zidlikcy "Aladdin" Alexis Hove, Rita Marie Guzman, Maria Mertzenich, Brad Suhr, and Sam Iverson

Musical Theatre directed by Allison Kephart, Lindsey Bohr, and Allison Fretheim "Peter Pan" Carli Galligan, Connor Gossman, Patrick Murphy, Alison Schwartzhoff, Corrina Voight, and Nick Vande Krol

Ensemble Acting directed by Bethany Davidson, Rose Reed-Maxfield, and Liv Ulring "Clue" Gabriela Diefelt-Streese, Dailen Folkedahl, Carli Galligan, Maleah Garwood, Ford Nesteby, and Nick Vane Krol

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

Choral Reading directed by Paige Rustad and Bre Pierce "Horton Hatches An Egg" Madeline Beiwel, Dylan Henning, Anna Hovden, Maria Hoyme, Natalie King, Crystal Mensen, Cera Olson, Justin Pool, Michael Ruiz, Lindsay Smith, Jacob Stock, Lindsay Vande Lune, and Corrina Voight

Musical Theater directed by Pearl Faldet and Carolina Diefelt-Streese "Grease" TJ Misseldine, Annalise Johnson, Ford Nesteby, Sean Trewin, Makenzie Wiesler, Faith Vilardo

Ensemble Acting directed by Johanna Olson and Jenna Bremer "Frankenstein" Briana Burke, Hannah Hougen, Brad Suhr, Cole Svestka, and Faith Vilardo

Ensemble Acting directed by John Werner, Bianca Wilbur, and Liz Shroyer: Rebecca Alcock, Jen Jenkins, Annalise Johnson, Kelly Minear, Jacob Stock, and Sean Trewin

Group Improvisation directed by Michael Eastwood, Emily Wilson, Marlon Henriquez, Casey Smith, and Zach Schmelzer: Jacob Garza, Cody Ritner, Michael Ruiz, and Andy Strand

Group Mime directed by Amber Kuennen, Erin Jones, and Caroline Zheng "Slushie" Madeline Beiwel, Briana Burke, Cera Olson, and Justin Pool

Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "Arsenic In A Plane" Kelsey Einck, Abby Flak, Jenny Henry, Hannah Leeper, and Sarah Tappe

Group Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "Twilight: A Parody" Julia Bishop, Erin Jones, Amber Kuennen, and Caroline Zheng

Solo Mime directed by Lisa Roberson "An Abnormal Morning" Caroline Zheng