High school speech students are rehearsing ahead of the Iowa High School Speech Association district contest coming up in just over a week.

Pella High School Speech Coach Suzi Jones tells KRLS News after a few years of renovation at the school prevented them from hosting, they will be welcoming over 20 other speech teams to the Tulip City on Saturday, January 19th.

“We used to host every other year, but during this long construction process at Pella High, we didn’t host during those years, so we are excited to be hosting again,” she says.

Speech Coach Ashlee Whittington says performers will touch on a wide range of categories, from one-act plays to musical theatre to miming to improvisation.

“There’s a lot of categories available, so there’s kind of something for everyone,” she says.

Those wanting to see both Pella and Pella Christian speech students perform can do so at the annual All-City Speech Night on Thursday, January 24th at Pella Christian High School, beginning at 7 p.m.