Speech Students Sprint Toward State

CEDAR RAPIDS – Students from across the county received 1 ratings at individual speech district competitions on Feb. 18. A 1 rating guarantees students will advance to state competitions.

Sigourney students competing included Joey Glandon (Prose, Improv), Reagan Clarahan (After Dinner Speaking, Acting), Reagan Power (Poem), and Ava Fineran (Poem). Clarahan received a 1 rating for both performances. Glandon received a 1 in improv. Fineran received a 1 in poetry.

Tri-County students included Noa Sexton (Improv, Musical Theatre), Gabby Bunker (Prose), Drew Fisher (Prose), Josh McCoullough (Musical Theatre), Gyasilyn Purdy (Musical Theatre), Natalie Smith (Poetry), Sadie McKain (Original Oratory), Tessa Fisher (Literary Program), and Chloe Zittergruen (Review). Sexton received a 1 in both acts. McKain and Fisher also received 1s for their performances.

English Valleys students included Emma Pierce (Acting, Poetry), Hannah Grimm (Original Oratory, Prose), Rebecca Berry (Literature Program, Poetry), Keegan Burdick (Improv, Musical Theatre), Margaret Fisher (Poetry, Musical Theatre), Keegan Walker (Improv), Joshua Osborn (Spontaneous Speaking), Jaidyn Rugg (Solo Improv), and Caleb Garringer (Acting). Keegan Burdick received a 1 for both performances.

Pekin students included Andrea Hoy (Public Address, Storytelling), Alisia Brock (Original Oratory, Storytelling), Ayla Banes (Musical Theatre, Improv), Ben Guise (Public Address), Izabella Earnest (Musical Theatre, Poetry), Kaleigh Adrian (Musical Theatre), and Bo Latcham (Storytelling). Latcham and Guise received 1 ratings. Earnest and Hoy received 1 ratings for both performances. Banes received a 1 rating for her Improv.

All performers listed who did not receive a 1 rating received a 2 rating.

This reporter was not able to see every single performance, due to some events being placed at the same time as others, but would like to note that Keegan Burdick’s performance of “Daddy’s Little Angel” from the broadway version of “The Little Mermaid,” Reagan Clarahan’s performance of the opening monologue from “Legally Blonde,” Izabella Ernest’s performance of “Alyssa Greene” from “The Prom,” and Noa Sexton’s performance of “Mr. Cellophane” from “Chicago” were outstanding. These young performers are more than deserving of their nominations to the state competition.