Speech Students Receive Straight-1 Ratings at State

ELDRIDGE – Six different students from area high schools received straight 1 ratings at the state speech competition in Eldridge on Mar. 11, with one Pekin student receiving an All-State Nomination At state, students are judged by a strict panel of three judges. Receiving 1 ratings from all three judges is a great honor.

Noa Sexton of Tri-Couny received straight 1s for his Musical Theatre performance of “Mr. Cellophane”; he also received an overall 2 rating in Improv. Tessa Fisher received straight 1s in Literary Program. Sadie McKain received an overall 1 rating in Original Oratory.

Reagan Clarahan of Sigourney received an overall 2 rating for After Dinner Speaking and an overall 2 in acting. Ava Fineran received an overall 1 rating in Poetry. Joey Glandon received an overall 1 rating in Improv.

Keegan Burdick of English Valleys competed in Musical Theatre and Improv, receiving straight 1s for her performance of “Daddy’s Little Angel” and an overall 2 rating for her Improv.

Izabella Earnest of Pekin received straight 1 ratings for both her Musical Theatre performance of “Alyssa Greene” and her reading of her original poem “The Fall.” Earnest also received an All-State nomination for "The Fall" and will be showcased at the All-State Festival on Mar. 27. Bo Latcham received an overall 1 rating in Storytelling. Ayla Banes received an overall rating of 2 in Improv. Andrea Hoy received a straight 1 rating in Storytelling; she also received an overall 2 rating in Improv. Ben Guise received a straight 1 rating in Public Address.