Montezuma came together as a community to host a district large group speech contest on Saturday, Jan. 25.
It involved hundreds of people.
“We had a great day with super volunteers!,” said Montezuma speech coach and contest coordinator Liesl Roorda. “Everything ran very smoothly and I think the students and spectators were the most respectful and quiet in performance areas I’ve ever seen.”
“Montezuma did not disappoint in the performance areas or as host to one of the Iowa High Speech District Large Group contests,” Roorda said.
“Community members, students, parents and staff all helped out to give 22 schools a wonderful environment in which to perform and grow as communicators and team members,” she said.
“Montezuma’s first-time performers and veterans worked hard and entertained their audiences. Judges for the groups had great praises and critique to help each group continue to grow and reach new levels for the next competition.” Roorda said.
That next level will be the state competition to be held at Cedar Rapids Washington High School on February 8.
At the state contest, schools from all over southeast Iowa, of all enrollment sizes, will compete in the same categories for a rating and possible nomination to the All State Festival held later in February on the Iowa State University campus.
Earning a 1 rating and moving on to state competition:
*Group Improvisation: Isaiah Singleton, Caymen DeJong
*Group Improvisation: Haley Roorda, Ally Gunderson, Jacob Facile, Lexi Ferneau
*Solo Mime, A Mouse in the House: Amanda Armstrong
*Choral Reading, The Family Tree: Michael DeJong, Isaiah Singleton, Chloe Latcham, Ashlynn Huff, Haley Roorda, Tia Shaffer, Kailey Shaffer, Allyson Larmore, Beka Teumer, Elaina Singleton
*Short Film, Wake Up Call: Ben Mills
*Freshmen Choral Reading, When I Grow Up: Abby Pope, Aislyn Hutchcraft, Kalynn Wanders, Kayleigha Groendyk, Rayna Hammen
*Musical Theatre, Supercalifragilistic: Rachel Teumer, Brayden Stockman, Ashlynn Huff, Lexi Ferneau, Tia Shaffer, Rebeka Teumer, Amanda Armstrong
*Readers Theatre, Just Like Old Times: Chloe Latcham, Madelyn DeJong, Shelby Conger, Maddy McKeag, Waverly Roorda, Rachel Teumer
Earning a 2 rating:
Ensemble Acting, He Loves Me: Kailey Shaffer, Haley Van Der Hart, Allyson Larmore