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Henry County speech stars soar on to state contest
Who’s advancing and what’s next?
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WEST BURLINGTON — Nearly 20 students from Henry County high schools arrived at West Burlington High School on Saturday, March 1, eager to showcase their talent in the Iowa High School Speech Association’s Individual Speech District Contest.
For many, the day marked the culmination of months of preparation, with the ultimate goal of securing a Division I rating and advancing to the state competition on March 15 at North Scott High School in Eldridge.
“I really enjoy storytelling as it pinpoints the skill to captivate an audience through vocal variety, facial expressions, and body language,” Mt. Pleasant High School Junior Sarai Sanchez said.
Among those competing, Sanchez was one who earned a Division I rating in Storytelling with her original piece, Little Sailor.
Shanchez describes Little Sailor as a narrative that begins with a daring sailor setting out to explore uncharted waters and unknowingly being drawn into a sea teeming with hidden perils and monsters. Throughout the story Shanchez says the sailors journey transforms into through crashing waves and unfolding secrets into “a rather foreseen battle.”
As Sanchez prepared to deliver this story with those much-needed vocal variety, facial expressions, and body language, she says she felt crunched on time due to a quick transition from the large-group speech season, which ended only a week before individual contest.
“There were parts in my performances I lacked confidence in, as my category requires heavy memorization,” she shared. “However, storytelling is so adaptable to a performer's mistakes, the category itself becomes natural that as long as you're familiar with the plot of your story it can fluctuate in words but remain constant in meaning. Overall, I felt any anxiety I had toward performing was channeled into enthusiasm and energy throughout my performance in a positively impactful way.”
Sanchez wasn’t the only student from Mt. Pleasant earning a ticket to state. Lexi Murphy advanced in Reviewing, Jeryn Rich in Prose, and Lianah Phangchanthong in Acting. Murphy also received a Division II rating for her performance in the poetry category.
Other Mt. Pleasant students who competed at districts and received Division II ratings included Rachel McWilliams in Literary Program, Jeryn Rich in Storytelling, Zatori Williams in Solo Musical Theater, Kate Huynh in Reviewing, Leah Weaver in Poetry, Sydney Graber in Prose, and Shaye Barbee in Improvisation.
With Winfield-Mt. Union Junior Senior High School, three students secured their place at state. Pacey Schlee earned a Division I rating in Expository Address, while Brynn Pogmore advanced in Poetry. Ella Kann impressed the judges in two categories, qualifying for state in both After Dinner Speaking and Storytelling.
Alongside the state qualifiers, other WMU’s speech team performances at districts also included a radio news broadcast from Jennifer Perez-Ruiz and a Prose Program from Pogmore.
New London Junior Senior High School also welcomed home state-bound speech students after the district contest in West Burlington.
Matthew Rogers advanced in Solo Musical Theater and Trayton Schuster and Riley Merschman both secured Division I ratings in Radio News Announcing. Paige Miller earned a Division I rating in Acting and Division II rating in Solo Musical Theater. Additionally, Sydney Kracht brought home a Division II rating in Storytelling.
As each of these students prepare for state, Sanchez specifically looks forward to more time to spend on her storytelling performance and really focus on refining her performance in a way she couldn’t before due to the quick turnaround between large-group and individual.
As she prepares, Sanchez considers some of the feedback from her district judge.
“One aspect that sticks with me, told by my judge himself, is ‘if you don’t feel silly while performing, you might not be doing it right,’” she said. “As a storyteller, you need to access high levels of enthusiasm and be animated throughout the performance.”
For Sanchez, the speech season has been about more than just competition. As a RISE member for the state of Iowa, she represents students of IHSSA on a speech student board.
“This opportunity has granted me the privilege of getting to know and speak with a variety of people and schools,” she said. “I love the chance I got to meet amazing people from all over, it has helped me become more social and develop skills in communication.”
She also had a message for students who may be considering joining speech in the future.
“The most essential thing in life is learning to speak effectively!” she said. “Try out speech and witness the growth you will experience.”
If students competing at the state contest receive an overall Division I rating from three judges at the state level and at least one recommendation, they could find their way to the All-State Festival at the University of Northern Iowa March 31.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
