Large Group Speech Competes At State
This year has been a record season for the Red Oak speech team. We started out with 44 students signing up to compete for Large Group, the largest number ever to sign up. We also had, for the first time, competition between groups to even compete at Districts. The state limits the number of groups a school can take in events. Twenty-five students, in eleven groups, competed at Large Group District Speech in Clarinda on Saturday, January 23. They included: Reader’s Theater – Allison Adams, Dylan Anderson, Lauren Fellers, Matt Goracke, Rachael Norris, and Hollie Platt; Ensemble Acting – Michelle Burson and Jordan Matson; Radio Broadcasting - Brittany Carlson, Andrea Miller, Stephanie Parris and Kristi Yardas; TV News - Allison Adams and Beau Boeye; Group Improv 9th grade - Brandy Childers and Kathryn Rooker; Group Improv 9th grade - Bevin Griffen and Genevieve Ostler. Qualifying for State were the following groups: Group Improv - Dylan Anderson, Michelle Burson, Lauren Fellers, and Sarah Hayes; Group Improv - Brittany Carlson, Andrea Miller, Stephanie Parris and Kristi Yardas; Group Improv - Allison Behrens, Codie Larsen, and Casey Wenstrand; Ensemble - Sarah Hayes, Katherine Jardon, Codie Larsen and Kelsey Myers; Readers Theater 9th grade - Brad Black, Brandy Childers, Devin Redd and Kathryn Rooker.
On Saturday, February 6, the seventeen students who qualified for State competed at the State meet in Ankeny. Of those seventeen students, only Codie Larsen had been to Large Group State before, and ten had never done Large Group speech before. Two of the groups received straight ones from the three judges. Those groups were: Group Improv - Dylan Anderson, Michelle Burson, Lauren Fellers, and Sarah Hayes and Group Improv - Brittany Carlson, Andrea Miller, Stephanie Parris and Kristi Yardas.
For the past two weeks, several speech members have been practicing for both Large Group and Individual. Individual Districts will be held on February 27 in Shenandoah. We have 25 students signed up to compete for Individual Speech, again the largest number ever to sign up. They are: Allison Adams, Dylan Anderson, Michelle Burson, Lauren Fellers, Jackson Miller, Tasha Treat, Brianna Wagoner, Dustin Whitehill, Allison Behrens, Ashley Horgdal, Matt Goracke, Katherine Jardon, Travis Larsen, Amanda Miller, Kelsey Myers, Chantal Sperling, Casey Wenstrand, Brittany Carlson, Sarah Hayes, Michael Manchester, Stephanie Parris, Brandy Childers, Bevin Griffen, Genevieve Ostler and Kathryn Rooker. Several events will have competition prior to Districts, again due to the limitations set by the state. State Individual, for those who qualify, will be held in Glenwood on Saturday, March 13.
These students have all worked incredibly hard and continue to work hard for Individual contests. As the coach, I am incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished and am looking forward to the Individual Speech season. To provide the public with an opportunity to see them in action, there will be an Evening With The Stars speech performance night on February 22 here at the high school. There will be a free will donation at the door and performances will begin at 6:00. Details are still being worked out, so please check Mrs. Horn’s website and listen for more information on KCSI. Your support is greatly appreciated!
