The group Pella High School is sending to the All-State Speech competition next weekend didn’t know they were on the team until the contests began.

The Group Mime team consisting of Junior Shounam Ches, Sophomore Jey Ches, and Senior Yong Yee Yang are performing in Ames on Saturday, February 20th at the Iowa State Center after earning the highest rating possible for their routine.

Shounam and Jey tell KNIA/KRLS they took their dancing experience for what they thought was a school project given to them by Ashlee Whittington, but instead, was for the contest.

They say group mime is the only speech contest in which speaking isn’t allowed, and expression is done through the face and body.

An additional group earned all-state non-performing speech honors at Pella High as did three at Pella Christian and one at Twin Cedars.