The Montezuma Musical Theater group "Nunsense" made it to All State Speech and got the chance to perform on Feb. 22. Nunsense is a comedy, written by Dan Googin, about five nuns who are putting on a show as a fundraiser to help pay for the cost of burying several of their sisters who were poisoned by bad food! Pictured are, stating clockwise from bottom: Mya Smothers, Letisia Wilson, Lola Miller, Hayley Burnett and Marley Stowell.
Other state results 
     Radio Broadcast: Carson VanDerHart, Claire Erselius, Landon Wilkerson, Dayton Reif, Larry Mohr, Shiressa Wetering, & Luke Erselius 
      Musical Theatres: 
      Frozen:  Addyson Probasco, Owen Desrochers, & Jayden Doll 
      Beetlejuice:  Gracie Wilson & Ethan Desrochers 
      Nunsense:  Hayley Burnett, Letisia Wilson, Lola Miller, Marley Stowell, & Mya Smothers Group Improvs:
      Easton Hudnut, Ethan Desrochers, Jayden Doll, & Owen Desrochers
      Addyson Probasco, Claire Erselius, Lola Miller & Taylor Wilcox 
      Bryn Fantazia, Hayley Burnett, Letisia Wilson & Tayler Wickham 
      Ensemble Acting:  Carrie Ann Maxwell, Emma Snook, Isaiah Wilson, Ryanne Williams & Talen Holland 
    Choral Reading:  Bryn Fantazia, Carrie Ann Maxwell, Dayton Reif, Easton Hudnut, Gracie Wilson, Isaiah Wilson, Lydia Kramer, Marley Stowell, Ryanne Williams & Taylor Wilcox 

        Pictured are members of the Montezuma DECA Chapter at state conference in February. From left, front row: Abbigail Henkle (ICDC qualifier), Sophia Semprini, Olivia Latcham, Alexa Rose, Elizabeth De Jong, Lauryn Larmore, Taylor Wilcox (ICDC qualifier), Emma Snook (ICDC qualifier). Back row: Dayton Reif, Cade Lowry, Isaac Wedgewood, Briar Simpson (ICDC qualifier), David Rose, Breck Simpson, Lars Taylor, Nicholas Damon and Chapter Advisor Kevin Gartman. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
        A March Madness Bracket Challenge is now underway at Montezuma Community Schools to raise funds to help send four students to the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) next month in Orlando, Fla.
      Qualifiers include: Briar Simpson, Personal Financial Literacy; Taylor Wilcox and Abbi Henkle, Travel & Tourism Team Decision-Making and Emma Snook, Principles of Hospitality.
       “These outstanding students earned their spots at ICDC through their success at the state competition last month,” noted Kevin Gartman, business teacher and DECA advisor. “They demonstrated their knowledge and skills in business, marketing, and leadership. Now, they have the opportunity to compete at the highest level against students from around the world.”
       Traveling to ICDC comes with costs, including registration, flights and hotel expenses. The program is asking for community support to help make this dream a reality for the four qualifying students.
Bracket Challenge
          The Montezuma Chapter is now offering a March Madness Bracket Challenge fundraising event. If you would like to participate in the challenge, please visit the DECA table at the Montezuma Community Development’s Bingo Night at Memorial Hall on Saturday, March 15 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
           Information on the bracket challenge was also available earlier at parent/teacher conferences.
        Brackets are $5 each or five for $20. Participates get a chance to compete for awesome prizes while supporting the four students headed to Orlando to compete at the ICDC. Prizes for first – third place winners will be awarded.
  If you have questions or a fundraising opportunity, contact Kevin Gartman at [email protected].
         Other ways to support the students include a cash or check donation payable to Montezuma Community School or a Venmo donation to Kevin Gartman (@Kevin-Gartman on Venmo).
         “Every contribution—big or small—helps our students represent Montezuma on the international stage,” said Gartman.
State DECA Results
          The Montezuma DECA Chapter competed at state competition held on Sunday, Feb. 16 at Southeast Polk High School. Montezuma students competed in several different individual or partner competitions, bringing home several top honors.
          Each DECA competition had two parts - a case study and an exam. Students were given 10 minutes (individual competitions) or 30 minutes (partner competitions) to review a case study they had not seen prior, take notes and make recommendations, and prepare a presentation to a judge/judges. 
           On Monday, Feb. 17 students ventured to the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny for state awards. The top three individuals/teams in each competition move on to the International Career Development Conference in Orlando at the end of April. Below are results:
Grand Awards (Qualified for Internationals)

• Briar Simpson - Personal Financial Literacy - 1st Overall
• Elizabeth De Jong and Taylor Wilcox - Travel and Tourism Team Decision Making - 3rd Overall
• Alexa Rose - Principles of Entrepreneurship - 3rd Overall
• Emma Snook - Principles of Hospitality - 3rd Overall
• David Rose - Principles of Finance - 4th Overall, First Alternate - Qualified

Mini Awards (State Finalists - Recognized for Success in One Area)

• Briar Simpson - Personal Financial Literacy - 1st in Exam, 1st in Role Play
• Isaac Wedgewood - Hotel and Lodging Management - 1st in Role Play
• Sophia Semprini - Principles of Business Management and Administration - 3rd in Role Play
• Alexa Rose - Principles of Entrepreneurship - 2nd in Role Play
• Emma Snook - Principles of Hospitality - 3rd in Role Play
• David Rose - Principles of Finance - 3rd in Role Play

Briar Simpson was also recognized as the chapter's Most Outstanding Member.

        March Madness brackets are released in one week, and Montezuma DECA is bringing the excitement with our DECA Bracket Challenge Fundraiser! For just $5 per bracket (or 5 for $20), you can compete for awesome prizes while supporting four of our students as they head to Orlando, Florida to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC)!
         Where to Find Us:
         We’ll have a DECA table set up at:
         Tuesday & Thursday’s school conferences (3 - 7 p.m.)
         Montezuma Community Development’s Bingo Night on Saturday, March 15  (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.)
      Stop by to enter in person, ask questions, and learn more about how your support helps Montezuma DECA!
         Prizes for 1st-3rd place winners! Stay tuned for more details.
         Let’s fill out some brackets and make this fundraiser a slam dunk!

​By J.O. Parker
 
        There’s no need to drive to the big city to work on your golf swing.
        The Swing Lab, a new business on the edge of the Montezuma Square, is geared to help golfers improve their swing and game.
         The Swing Lab is a golf simulator featuring software to analysis and improve your game.
          Owners Michael and Ashley Reif opened the business in late January at 403 E. Main St.
       Reif, a regular at the Montezuma Country Club, had been looking for a way to help others improve their game.
         “I enjoy playing the game and I started this business to help people tune up for the season,” said Reif.
          He had been looking for a suitable building when the building on Main Street opened up.
The business is open from 4 – 9 p.m. throughout the week and 12-9 on the weekends by appointment only.
           “All you have to do is reserve your time and come in and play,” said Reif.
           The simulator uses cameras and radar to track the golf ball.
       Golfers have a couple options. They can come work on their swing or utilize the analysis software to tell if their golf ball is going left or right.
       “It determines how the ball is going to fly in a real game situation,” said Reif of analysis software.
         Golfers of all skill levels are welcome to use the simulator. Reif said Montezuma and other school golf teams are using the simulator ahead of the season to improve their games.
            The cost is $30 per hour to play or $40 per hour to utilize the software option.
            In addition, Reif also regrips golf clubs and fixes broken ones in some cases.
           When asked if she enjoys golf as much as her husband, Reif’s wife, Ashely, said riding in a golf cart is more her liking.
            “Mini putt putt is more my speed,” said Ashely.
            Reif said he has been playing golf for about 15 years and loves the game.
            “You can never master it,” he said of golf. “There is always something to learn.”
          “It’s convenient,” said Eli Wilhelm, who uses The Swing Lab often. “It’s something the town has always needed.”
          When it’s cold outside and you have the itch to work on your golf swing, give Reif and The Swing Lab a call or text at 641-295-3453 and book a time slot. You can also message him on Facebook at The Swing Lab. 

      Michael Reif, left, visits with Eli Wilhelm at The Swing Lab in Montezuma recently while Wilhelm takes a break at the golf simulator. The business, which opened in late January, is open weeknights and weekends by appointment.