A strong performance by the Newton High School speech team at a Jan. 23 qualifier in Grinnell led to nearly the entire qualifying for this week’s state competition.
NHS advisor Niki Hively said the team nine of its 12 groups for state based on its performance at the district level and will take 28 of its 32 participants.
Newton’s team will compete in the Saturday’s state competition in Cedar Rapids.
“Newton had a fantastic day (in Grinnell) and the kids gave awesome performances,” Hively said.
The groups advancing on to state are:
Radio News: Joe Malsom, Alicia Miller and Emily Bollhoefer.
Musical Theater: Leah Hunter, Matt Moran, Chase Kolpin, Alex Burkett and Cheyenne Schaeffer.
Improv: Zoya Urbanowicz, Mitch Faidley, Isaac Friedman, Savannah Eadens, Jaci Reeves, Alex Burkett, Allison Bollhoefer, Taylor Carpenter, Brianna Fuller, Joe Malsom and Kyle Hansen.
TV News: Jaci Reeves, Adrienne Bergman, Laura Wyre, Paul Maharry, Nicholas Tremel, Chase Parker, Matt Moran, Leah Hunter, Makayla Kelleher, Chase Kolpin, Kate Wyre and Kyle Hansen.
Ensemble Acting: Laura Wyre, Nicholas Tremel and Hanna Clark.
Reader’s Theatre: Eadens, Miranda Ervin, Faith Harlow, Megan Shores, Brianna Fuller, Emily Bollhoefer, Zoya Urbanowicz and Makayla Kelleher.