Students from Pekin, Fairfield, and Sigourney competed at the State Individual Speech Contest on Saturday, March 14th at Vinton-Shellsburg, where performances were evaluated by a panel of three judges. The region turned in a strong showing, with numerous students earning top marks and several sweeping unanimous Rating 1s across all three judges.
Pekin
Pekin had four students earn unanimous Rating 1s. Brinley Phillips took top honors in Solo Musical Theatre, Tatum Harbison in Reviewing, and Zoe Heisdorffer in Storytelling. Natalie Hamilton was particularly impressive, earning unanimous Rating 1s in both Prose and Public Address. Rannen Harbison (Acting) and Bo Latcham (Solo Musical Theatre) each earned Rating 1s as well. Tatum Harbison and Brogan Spray both received Rating 2s in Storytelling.
Fairfield
Fairfield produced the largest group of unanimous Rating 1 recipients. Bella Jaeger swept both Expository Address and Reviewing, while Tristen Garretson earned top marks in Solo Improvisation and Bidhi Dangol in Reviewing. Arissa Pohren (Expository Address), Jami Hames (Poetry), Nicole Hunger (Solo Musical Theatre), Adeliz Suastegui-Gregorio (Prose), and Trinity Rowland (After Dinner Speaking) each earned unanimous Rating 1s as well. Additional Rating 1s went to Taryn Roeman in Acting and Poetry, Tristen Garretson in Reviewing, and Elliott Ward in Solo Improvisation. Rating 2s were received by Elliott Ward (Original Oratory), Bidhi Dangol (Original Oratory), Abraham Antonio (Expository Address), Jami Hames (Prose), Arissa Pohren (Storytelling), and Trinity Rowland (Storytelling).
Sigourney
Sigourney’s top performers included Eden Hahn with a unanimous Rating 1 in Poetry, and both Isaac Jones and Jacob Randall-Blaske earning unanimous Rating 1s in Reviewing. Additional Rating 1s were earned by Chris McLennan in Reviewing, Chloe Martin in Prose, Levi Weber in both Reviewing and Expository Address, and Jacob Randall-Blaske in Solo Improvisation. Chloe Martin (Spontaneous Speaking), Chris McLennan (Solo Improvisation), and Tierney Greiner (Poetry) received Rating 2s.
Students who earned top ratings at the state contest are eligible for selection to perform at the All-State Festival on March 30th at the University of Northern Iowa.
Photography courtesy of Pekin Panther Players/Pekin Speech and Drama Program Facebook page.
