Local schools head to All-State Speech

CEDAR RAPIDS — Southeast Iowa high school speech teams gathered at Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Saturday, for the Iowa High School Speech Association’s state speech competition. They competed for the opportunity to advance to the All-State Showcase Feb. 18 at Iowa State University.

After receiving division I ratings from a single judge (except for One-Act Plays) at their regional District competitions, a number of local schools advanced to the state competition.

In the traditional way of high school speech, when event hosts posted positive scores in the “home-base” gym of the Cedar Rapids high school, a small group would cheer, and then others would join in until the whole room filled with clapping and excitement.

Mid-Prairie, Washington, Maharishi, and New London schools’ celebrations continued as they received news Monday afternoon of their All-State recommendations.

In order to advance to All-State, the teams performed for three judges. They needed to earned at least two division I ratings and one of the limited recommendations from a judge.

Recommendations consist of preforming and non-performing categories. Those in the non-performing categories will receive recognition for their outstanding performances, but will not perform at Iowa State University.

Plenty of fellow speech students and coaches will cheer, clap, and fill the All-State award ceremony with excitement for both the performing and non-performing nominations.

Of their eight state-competing teams, Mid-Prairie will send four teams forward to All-State.

Mid-Prairie’s two performing teams are an improve group and the Musical Theater “Spamalot” entry.

Two ensemble acting groups, “Amanda Freezes Time,” and “Weekend at Bundy’s” received non-performing recommendations.

Washington High School sends a performing Improv group. They also received a non-performing recommendation for their one-act play, “Bad Auditions by Bad Actors.”

For the second year in a row, the Maharishi secondary school will send a choral reading group to All-state. They will perform “Your Verse in the Powerful Play.”

New London received a non-performing nomination for their ensemble acting, “Let’s Pretend This Never Happened.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com