High school speech teams performed at the state contest at Linn-Mar High School over the weekend.

The following groups received All-State Nominations, the highest possible honor from the Iowa High School Speech Association:

One Act Play:
– Pella Christian – “The Yellow Boat” – Performing – Tyler Egesdal, Emma Stravers, Braden Meinders, Abby Ambroson, Lindsay Breon, Parker Schnell, Peter Larson, Alexis De Vries, Josie Te Grotenhuis, Emily Van Beek, Abigail Gosselink, and Ian Stravers with student technicians Kyle Howey and Brianna Jansen

Readers Theatre:
– Pella Christian – “Dark Road” – Performing – Alexis De Vries, Olivia Van Der Pol, Ryan Van Gilst, Thomas Dykstra, Emma Stravers, Abby Te Grotenhuis, Ben Vos, Sharlee Fopma, Jocelyn Gritters, Halie Vermillion, and Rebekah Lanferman

– Pleasantville – “Mystery in Bug Town” – Performing – Alyssa McKay, Avery Lauer, Jack Ray, Jack Lauer, Chance Bender, and Melena Johnson

– Pella – “Wiley and the Hairy Man” – Non-Performing – Annaleigh Babcock, Cameron Johnson, Chris Call, Elaine Schippers, Emily Rozendaal, Grace Cottington, Hanna Kendall, Liam Peffers, Zoe Card

Choral Reading
– Pleasantville – “Label Me” – Non-Performing – Chance Bender, Alyssa McKay, Melena Johnson, Tess Ray, Sierra Hallmann, Olivia McLamb, Avery Lauer, Grace Stephens, Colten Stephens, Jack Ray, and Jack Lauer

Ensemble Acting:
– Pella – “Y’All” – Non-Performing – Brady Van Waardhuizen, Brenna Hildebrand, Ethan Vance, Grace Larson, Julie Start

TV News:
– Pella – POPN – Performing – Austin Adrian, Gavin Klein, Gavin Tierney, Jacob Schemm, Kaleb Lyons, Levi Dugger, Matthew Thompson, Nick Vroom, Troy Miller

Musical Theatre:
– Pella Christian – “Newsies” – Performing – Ryan Van Gilst, Thomas Dykstra, Tyler Egesdal, Parker Schnell, and Colby De Vries, Braden Meinders, Peter Larson, and Mason Donelson

– Pella – “Sister Act” – Performing – Andelyn Sunderman, Bailee Meyer, Caroline Henry, Juliana Van Gorp, Lydia Taylor, Maggie Renaud, Natalie Henry

– Pella – “Aladdin” – Non-Performing – Colby VanGorp, Grayson Parisee, Mason Diaz Bandera

Those with the performing nomination will travel to Iowa State Center in Ames on February 17th to perform in the All-State Large Speech Festival.