"ONE, TWO, THREE, SPEECH!"

As a new year dawns, and the semester changes, Clear Creek Amana High School’s Speech Team starts their competitive season. Practicing since November, the teams have created dynamic routines bound and ready for the judges. 21 groups, 61 members, lead by Christine Berlin, Tracy Williams ( known just as Tracy), Jacob Halter, John Pertrzelka, or our fellow students. Speech varies in many different forms of stage presence. It can be anything from radio broadcasting to singing and dancing musical theatre. This creates a large range of opportunities for people to discover. Groups include Choral Reading, Musical Theatre, Ensemble, Short Film, Improv, Radio, and Mime. 

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HANGING OUT DURING A SPEECH EVENT; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

Clear Creek Amana’s Speech leaders work very hard to create a fun, unique, and diverse range of both opportunities, and routines for the upcoming season.Williams took a route of putting a spotlight on lesser known, yet classic, musicals for Musical Theatre, creating a very heart touching script for choral reading. Halter’s groups create an atmosphere of comedic and fun filled ensembles, which are essentially a short scene or act, while still creating a full proof and incredibly executed short film.Petrzelka, a man undeniably passionate about the unspoken creativity that is mime, is also leading the radio group, that’s nothing but voice. Each leader brings different elements that make the Clear Creek Amana Speech team what it is today. However, one cannot talk about the leaders of speech without mentioning the student leaders, such as senior Makayla Ratliff, who leads her own musical theatre group, while still participating in other groups. 

The Anchor conducted interviews with leaders and students on what their favorite part of the speech season was last year, what they’re looking  forward to this year, and if there’s anything they’re nervous about in the upcoming season. While there were many responses, and many similar answers, Halter responded (in the usual Halter style). He stated that his favorite part of speech is, “Seeing students try out new forms of performance” and giving students “... a chance to be themselves even if they are strange”.  Even though he doesn’t teach mime, Halter does most look forward to seeing all the new mimed personas the students come up with this season. However, Halter transparently shared that he is “... a wee bit nervous to host the state contest,” but is “sure it will be fun nevertheless”. 

Similarly, the students of Speech agree. In conversations with the student lead speech group, they all collectively agree in how much they can’t wait to see the new routines in the upcoming showcase, and competitions. Piper Beard states that “It’s been so much fun working with everyone, and what a fun and close bonding experience it has been” These interviews revealed some of the true feelings many members of Speech share. They are full of love and admiration for each other, their administrators, and the Speech members of opposing schools. 

In conclusion, looking over the Clear Creek Amana Speech team, one can determine that Speech brings together people from across the school, from freshman to seniors - singers, dancers, reporters, and more. This season brings great hope for potentially winning groups. Clear Creek Amana has qualified for All-State Speech numerous times consecutively over the past 10 years, and doesn’t plan on stopping now. Whether they win All-State, or lose every competition they participate in, Speech has taught them sportsmanship, and responsibility. Speech is welcoming to all, often these competitions amongst the schools have created friendships not even with fellow classmates but opposing members. Many go to cheer all on, never once doubting each other’s abilities. Clear Creek Amana Speech is a defining aspect of our student community, and helps bring everyone together creating an environment of safety and free of judgement. Hope to see your face at a speech event!