New London students head to state speech

MT. VERNON — Individuals from schools across Iowa attended Iowa High School Speech Association District contests throughout the state. Along with many other Southeast Iowa teams, New London students attended contest at Mount Vernon High School.

According to Speech Team Coach Kati DeLlanos, the school took 11 acts to contest and walked away with four division II ratings and seven division I ratings.

Just like large group, those performances receiving division one ratings at the district level will advance to state contest.

Individual State Speech Contest occurs March 11. The Southeast district teams will perform at North Scott High School in Eldridge.

New London sends Alexandra Farley’s After Dinner Speaking and Acting, Lanie Szewczyk’s Musical Theater and Acting, Chevelle Mills’ Improvisation, Annie Sines’ Improvisation, and Reid Bell’s Radio News.

“I am so proud of all of my team today,” DeLlanos said. “Individual speech is very different from group speech because the students don’t have the support of their teammates up there with them while performing. So, it’s a whole new and different challenge that they all handled so well and did a great job today.”

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com