Several local high school speech students are advancing to state this weekend in the Iowa High School Speech Association individual contest. Pella will have 37 entries perform, Knoxville will send four, Pella Christian has 13 qualifiers, PCM has six, and Twin Cedars will advance two students. Indianola is sending five performances to state, while Melcher-Dallas will have 15 acts. The 2020 State Individual Speech Festival for Marion County students will be held at Grinnell High School on Saturday, March 14th, while Indianola is heading Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln High School.

The following performances earned Division I scores and will be advancing:

Pella
Performer – Category – Rating
Sam Beukelman – Prose – I
Travis Mitchell – Storytelling – I
Taryn Peffers – Lit Program – I
Maria Pronina – Storytelling – I
Abbey Beal – Prose – I
Aidan Van Haaften – Review – I
Sarah Linde – Original Oratory – I
Hanna Kendall – Poetry – I
Grant Anderson – Improv – I
Travis Mitchell – Musical Theater – I
Titus Hopkins – Radio News – I
Ella Van Zee – Storytelling – I
Will Rasmussen – Spontaneous Speaking – I
Taryn Peffers – Storytelling – I
Maggie Leach – Prose – I
Sam Beukelman – Storytelling – I
Connor Folkers – After Dinner Speaking – I
Connor Gauley – Improv – I
Aleigha Ausman – Poetry – I
Liam Peffers – Literary Program – I
Will Rasmussen – Radio News – I
Meridith Rowe – Musical Theater – I
Mason Diaz Bandera – Acting – I
Abbi Adrian – Literary Program – I
Connor Gauley – After Dinner Speaking – I
Connor Folkers – Improv – I
Hanna Kendall – Prose – I
Braelyn Ensor – Musical Theater – I
Lily Lovell – Prose – I
Joe Beukelman – Expository – I
Abbey Beal – Literary Program – I
Elaine Schippers – Poetry – I
Emily Rozendaal – Musical Theatre – I
Aleigha Ausman – Musical Theater – I
Josephine McDonald – Poetry – I
Ella Van Zee – Poetry – I
Maggie Leach – After Dinner Speaking – I

Knoxville:
Johanna Leonard – Literary Program – 1
Riley Newendorp – Musical Theatre – 1
Brandon Barkey – Original Oratory – 1
Brandon Barkey – Prose – 1

Indianola:
Ava Jane Moorlach – Spontaneous Speaking – 1
Isabella DeVito – Solo Musical Theatre – 1
Ryan Magelhaes- Acting – 1
Megan Lewiston- Original Oratory – 1
Isabella DeVito- Poetry – 1

Pella Christian:
Morgan Meinders – Storytelling – 1
Colby De Vries – Musical Theatre – 1
Leah Osborn -Lit Program – 1
Braden Meinders – Musical Theatre 1
Abby Gosselink – Prose 1
Leah Osborn -After Dinner Speaking – 1
Marie Johnson -Lit Program – 1
Trent Van Gilst – Storytelling – 1
Piper King – Acting – 1
Emily Van Beek – Storytelling – 1
Marie Johnson – Poetry – 1
Trent Van Gilst – Lit Program – 1
Emily Van Beek – After Dinner Speaking – 1

Pleasantville:
Courtney Fleming – Storytelling – 1
Trenton Major – Solo Improv – 1
Olivia McLamb – Poetry – 1
Justin Nickel – Radio Broadcasting – 1
Justin Nickel – Storytelling – 1
Fiona Phipps – Radio Broadcasting – 1

PCM
Jaiden Eisbrenner – Acting – 1
Allan Porajow – Improv – 1
Jaiden Eisbrenner – Poetry – 1
Garin Padget – Storytelling – 1
Justin Hall – Original Oratory – 1
Megan Dustin – Poetry – 1

Melcher-Dallas:
Angel Beaty – Improv – 1
Elizabeth Milburn – Poetry – 1
Evan Putz – Radio News – 1
Sarah Hyatt – Acting – 1
DoraMae Bennett – Poetry – 1
Grace DeHeer – 1
J’Lyn Knutson – Storytelling – 1
Sarah Hyatt – Storytelling – 1
Angie Clark – Poetry – 1
Evan Putz – Prose – 1
DoraMae Bennett – Original Oratory – 1
Karlee Lovell – Prose – 1
Randi Beaty – Prose – 1
Seth Remster – Expository – 1
Abby Tadder – After Dinner Speaking – 1

Twin Cedars:
Rachael Stoops – Prose – 1
Kaya DesPlanque – Poetry – 1