SPRING, SPEECH, AND SASSY

SPEECH HOME BASE AT WASHINGTON; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

Speech season is coming to a close, but many notable accomplishments have been made in both group and individual speech.

Last year, I had the privilege of tagging along as a journalist, but this year I came as a performer. The experience is incredibly different, but just as exciting. As a spectator, the environment was welcoming, warm, and fun, and as a performer it’s even more so. It’s nerve racking to be a performer, but everyone on the speech team gave their all and it was spectacular.  

Group Speech held a showcase for all group performances on January 16th, 2025 displaying all of the projects each group was working on. There was plenty of things for each category.

Short Film

Til Death Do Us Part by Adrian Brandt, Hayden Miller, Henry Davidson, Liam Maloy, and Odin Hankins. 

Running Out Of Luck by Lucy Kulbartz, Alex Arensdorf, and Colin Root

The Club by Kenzie Dinnel, Dreagan Buhr, Aiden Watkins, Abby Arndt, and Jaslyn Brandt 

Ensemble 

Waiting for the Hogwarts Express performed by Kya Dobesh, Madi Tonelli, and Ava Weatherford

Third Date performed by Reese Heisdorffer, Sina Thomas, and Sasha Robinson

Keeping Score performed by Kalli York, Brooklyn Merten, Jordan Garcia, and Scarlett Brecht

Checking the Ice performed by Kenzie Dinnel, Rebeca Rojas, Abby Arndt, Jaslyn Brandt

Coral Reading

The Boys of Waterloo performed by Karley Griffin, James Cavanary, Ella Chatham, Mackenzie Burnett, Nic Schieltz, Sariah Sherman, Kaylen Schilling, Grace DeVore, Hayden Bailey, Makayla Ratliff, Morgan Downes, Carson Brandt, Logan Weber, and Ivy Courtright

Musical Theater

Spongebob performed by Andrew Tlaxca, Kaylen Schilling, Scarlett Brecht, Emmie Johnson, Leighton Byram, Ally Schumacher, and Mya Emick

Disenchanted performed by Ella Chatham, Karley Griffin, Grace DeVore, Mackenzie Burnett, Makayla Ratliff, and Morgan Downes

Catch Me If You Can performed by James Cavanary, Sina Thomas, Ethan Krieger, Nic Schieltz, Hayden Bailey, Sariah Sherman, Jaidyn Calkins, and Carson Brandt

Group Mime

Tale of the Tumbleweed Saloon performed by Rose Piehl, Zach Williams, Lizy Ruby, and Jaymie Sherlock

Improv

Dumpster Fire - Hayden Miller, Adrian Brandt, and Odin Hankins

House Fire - Henry Davidson, Aidan Shay, and Noah Bourget

Electrical Fire - Tessa Mulder, Oliver Petrulevich, and Elijah Thompson

Radio

H.I.N.T by Olivia Roling, Ella Stineman, Rose Piehl, Tessa Mulder, Jaymie Sherlock, Lizy Ruby, and Lili Nandell

TALE OF THE TUMBLEWEED SALOON PRE-SHOWCASE; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

Third Date, Dumpster Fire, ‘Til Death Do Us Part, Catch Me If You Can, Running Out Of Luck, Electrical Fire, House Fire, Waiting For The Hogwarts Express, Disenchanted, Spongebob, The Boys of Waterloo, and Keeping Score all made it to State Speech, which is an incredible accomplishment! Along with that, The Boys of Waterloo made it to All-State as performers while Dumpster Fire and Catch Me If You Can made it in the non-performing category.

ROSE PIEHL DURING SPONTANEOUS SPEAKING PRACTICE; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

Shortly after, individual speech kicked off. I was lucky enough to see every performance and all of them were incredible! Though the experience is different than group speech, it’s still really fun. 

Improv

Hayden Miller

Rose Piehl

Henry Davidson

Spontaneous Speaking

Rose Piehl

One Act

December 27th performed by Karley Griffin

Solo Musical Theater

I’d Order Love performed by James Cavanary

Confrontation performed by Kaylen Schilling

Right Hand Man performed by Mackenzie Burnett

Original Oratory

The me before performed by Lili Nandell

Struggle Out Loud performed by Tessa Mulder

MACKENZIE BURNETT, ADRIAN BRANDT, AND HAYDEN MILLER AT UNI FOR ALL STATE SPEECH; PHOTO BY LILI NANDELL

Radio Broadcasting

Odin Hankins

Storytelling

Pinkalicious performed by Adrian Brandt

Reviewing

Save the Planet performed by Henry Davidson

Public Address

The Arrogance of Power performed by Tessa Mulder

Back to School performed by Bryn Hall

Nearly all performers moved on to State, with almost all 1’s across the board! Hayden Miller and Henry Davidson moved on in Improv, Karley Griffin in One Act, Mackenzie Burnett and James Cavanary in Musical Theater, Lili Nandell and Tessa Mulder in Original Oratory, Odin Hankins in Radio Broadcast, Adrien Brandt in Storytelling, Henry Davidson in Reviewing, and Bryn Hall and Tessa Mulder in Public Address. All of these performances were incredible feats! Adrian Brandt, Hayden Miller and Mackenzie Burnett made it to All State in Poetry, Improv, and Musical Theater, which they absolutely earned. 

Coach Berlin stated “We had an outstanding year.” with many making it to State and All State. Everyone showcased incredible skill and talent. We can’t wait to see what they do next year!