Highland and WMU will head to state speech Saturday

MT. VERNON — Alongside Washington, Mid-Prairie, and numerous other Iowa high school speech teams, Highland and Winfield-Mt. Union will send students to state speech contest March 11.

“On Feb. 25 the Speech Team traveled to Mount Vernon to compete in District Individual Speech,” Highland High School Speech coach Jayme Kallaus said.

Matching their record for last year, Highland sends seven of their eleven performances onto the next phase of the Iowa High School Speech Association’s contests.

Highland sends the following students to state:

Brendan Schnoebelen in Radio News Announcing

Allyana Pokorny in Expository Address

Rayne Foley and Greta Piette in Acting

Gwen Piette in storytelling

Rayne Foley in After Dinner Speaking

Greta Piette in Solo Musical Theater

Gwen Piette, Taylor Forbes, and Allyana Pokorny also competed at the district contest and received Division II ratings for their performances.

“We will travel to North Scott on Saturday March 11th,” Kallaus said. “If you are in the area, we would love to see you watch our performances!”

WMU sent students to the Mount Vernon District competition, as well.

Three of their performances earned Division I rating which will send the students to state contest as well.

Isabel Kann will perform her Expository Address, Allison Humphreys will compete in Radio News Announcing, and Brynn Pogmore will perform her selection of poetry.

At state contest, the students will receive ratings from three judges. They must receive at least two Division I ratings and a recommendation from a judge to advance to the All-State Speech Showcase at the end of March.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com