Forty Valley High School entries earned nominations to the large group and individual Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) state contests. The 28 individual entries will perform at Ames High School March 15, while the large group contest took place at Iowa State University Feb. 22. Valley was one of the top three schools in the state for large group contest nominations. Congratulations to the following students and staff! 

Individual Events 

Division I Ratings (Superior)

• Elena Albanese — Acting
• Andrew Bonkafo-Efofa — Solo Musical Theatre
• Celeste Brown — Improvisation
• Harry Davis — Literary Program and Improvisation
• Maarz Freisleben — Literary Program
• Audrey Henning — Prose and Storytelling
• Jude Hogue — Reviewing and Improvisation
• Brock Jean — Expository Address and Spontaneous Speaking
• Elijah Kwadiba — Acting and Storytelling
• Josiah Kwadiba — After Dinner Speaking and Spontaneous Speaking
• Madi Marks — Original Oratory
• Savannah McBride — Solo Musical Theatre
• Ean Nelson — Radio News Announcing
• Sahaana Raman — Original Oratory
• Juan Ramirez — Solo Musical Theatre and Poetry
• Leila Reeder — Prose
• Ridge Rutherford — After Dinner Speaking and Acting
• Faye Stephens — Literary Program
• Olivia Schechinger — Poetry
• Norman Smith — Radio News Announcing

Division II Ratings (Good)

• Jonah Burton — Spontaneous Speaking
• Maarz Freisleben — Storytelling 
• Faye Stephens — Expository Address

Large Group IHSSA

Choral Reading

Ghost Girls: The Story of the Radium Girls
Directed by Sam Melz
Stage Managed by Liv Tjarks
Costumed by Matty Wennerstrom, Addison Foreman, Z Helkenn, Natalie Larson, Ariel Wood
Andrew Bonkafo-Efofa, Kate Carlson, Sofia Gilbert, Taylor Gray-Mikesell, Joey Hamlen, Evan Kaduce, Elijah Kwadiba, Savannah McBride, Maxwell Morgan, Isabel Morgan, Josh Neppl, Claire Neuendorf, Juan Ramirez, Matty Wennerstrom

Ensemble Acting

All Things Considered by Breanna Spink
Directed by Aaron Westrum
Elijah Kwadiba, Shanel Sayre, Maddox Wajda, Matty Wennerstrom

Five Kinds of Silence by Shelagh Stephenson
Directed by Aaron Westrum
Elena Albanese, Josiah Kwadiba, Carly Penick, Venya Pillai, Ridge Rutherford, Faye Stephens

To Burn a Witch by James L. Bray
Directed by Aaron Westrum
Celeste Brown, Laila Collier, Auden Eaton, Ash Scarbrough

Group Mime

Tomb of the Lost Queen
Directed by Riley Heil
Jaryn Barkley, Cedric Baumert, Auden Eaton, Ava Horton, Sam Johnson, Evie Tucker

The Greatest Generation
Directed by Tim Brown
Maarz Friesleben, Harry Davis, Keagan Dyer, Lillian Jacobson, Ean Nelson

Musical Theatre

Alice by Heart by Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater, and Jessie Nelson
Directed by Bryan Gamboa and Thomas Stern
Elena Albanese, Andrew Bonkafo-Efofa, Kate Carlson, Lauren Igou, Archer Laird, Josh Neppl, Ridge Rutherford, Shanel Sayre

Ghost by Bruce Joel Rubin, Dave Stewart, and Glen Ballard
Directed by Bryan Gamboa and Thomas Stern
Sofia Gilbert, Wyatt Goodrich, Terra Hamilton, Joey Hamlen, Kaleb Hennessy, Juan Ramirez, Isabel Morgan, Carly Penick

Zanna, Don’t by Tim Acito and Alexander Dinelaria
Directed by Bryan Gamboa and Thomas Stern
Amos Hanser, Minna Horak-Hult, Savannah McBride, Drake Parker, Lyn Quinn, Sylvi Ross, Evan Ullestad, Connor Wall

Readers Theatre

Pandora and the Sickle Moon by Jessica Chipman
Directed by Liz Kruger
Stage Managed by Mara Elliott and Lexi Kix
Jaryn Barkley, John Chesire, Lola Costello, Amos Hanser, Audrey Henning, Sam Johnson, Josiah Kwadiba, Kaylee Lillibridge, Madi Marks, Molly McGill, Drake Parker, Ash Scarbrough, Faye Stephens, Maddox Wajda

Solo Mime

Blood Vows: The Revenge of Dracula’s Bride
Directed by Amanda Pichler
Ava Horton

War Song
Directed by Riley Heil
Evie Tucker