Thirteen GHS Speech teams/individuals advance to state Feb. 4

     GHS entered a Choral Reading production written and directed by Kevin Hosbond titled “Lift.” It features Chloe Alger, Sarah Ashing, Emily Cooper, Maddie Davis, Joel Dressler, Kiran Elfenbein, Mary Jacobson, Kiran Jones, Maggie Kaup, Britt Kifer, Ketsia Kiphanzu, Erin Nicklas, Judith Perez-Valentin, Ezra Praitis Hill, and Peter Simpson, and also received a Division I rating.

      Grinnell High School registered 61 students across 17 entries for its first District Large Group speech contest held at South Tama High School on Saturday, Jan. 21. This was the first level of competition as part of the Iowa High School Speech Association’s collection of contests held across the state. Of the 17 entries, three received a Division II rating, one received a Division IV rating, and 13 were awarded Division I ratings which advances those groups to the State Large Group contest to be held at Cedar Rapids Washington on Feb. 4. 
       Assisting head coach Kevin Hosbond is fellow English teacher Jennie Flinspach. Also assisting is volunteer coach Michael Gookin who helps with music direction and GHS alum Kenny Phipps who assisted with set construction. 
       In keeping with last year’s teaming, Flinspach and Hosbond decided to combine the 9th and varsity teams into one group. This allowed them to better fill certain events, such as musical theatre and one-act play, and allowed it to serve as a training ground for the 9th graders by casting them beside their upper level peers. 
     The team entered one Radio Broadcast this year. The “BROS: Daily Chat” served as a sequel to last year’s entry and starred Billy Lopatto and Owen Shepardson with newcomer Alexander Scheffert. The trio earned a Division II rating.
     Continuing in the digital categories, GHS entered three Short Films. In the past only two were allowed, but this new rule was approved by the IHSSA last year after a proposal put forth by Hosbond and other coaches across the state to allow for more student involvement. “Tales of the Unusual” by Max Deitrich, Maddie Eddins, Isaac Hammond, Khloe Moore, RJ Raney, Elidi Zaret, and Isaac Zaret earned a Division II rating. The film “Intus et Extra” by Kaia Chang Roper, Ezra Praitis Hill, Ava Valencic earned a Division I rating. “A Petal in Time” by Ani Ford, Janae Hall, Livie Herbers, Grace Kiphanzu, Chris MacArtney, and Aaron Shinefield also earned a Division I rating. Flinspach advised all three groups. 
     Three Group Improvisation teams directed by Flinspach were also entered this year. The team “Tip of the Iceberg” with Will Dahlby Albright, Reece Madren, and Owen Shepardson, and “The Fairy Fleet” with Emma Lewis, Roman Mackenzie, and Jeslyn Voogd, both earned a Division I rating. “Chaos Crew” featuring Ketsia Kiphanzu and Mackenzie Kohl received a Division IV for an accidental time violation.  
   One Ensemble Acting scene was entered this season. “Romantic Comedy”, directed by Flinspach and featuring Tiernan Boggs and Rome Tews, earned a Division I rating. 
    GHS entered a Readers Theatre directed by Flinspach titled “The End of the Road” earned a Division I rating. It features Claire Behrens, Tiernan Boggs, Tobias Crandall, Roman Mackenzie, Reece Madren, Charlie Nicklas, Natalie Nieuwsma, Catherine Schubert, Cameron Thompson, and Jeslyn Voogd. 
    GHS also entered a Choral Reading written and directed by Hosbond titled “Lift.” It features Chloe Alger, Sarah Ashing, Emily Cooper, Maddie Davis, Joel Dressler, Kiran Elfenbein, Mary Jacobson, Kiran Jones, Maggie Kaup, Britt Kifer, Ketsia Kiphanzu, Erin Nicklas, Judith Perez-Valentin, Ezra Praitis Hill, and Peter Simpson, and also received a Division I rating.
     Three Musical Theatre groups were entered this season. All received Division I ratings. The team of “Young Frankenstein” features Will Dahlby Albright, Olivia Mick, and Brody Petig. “Sweeney Todd” features Joel Dressler and Maggie Kaup. Both teams were directed by Hosbond with musical direction by GHS Choir teacher Michael Gookin. “How to Succeed…” featuring Elisabeth Kelley-Chown, Mackenzie Kohl, Anna Schubert, Catherine Schubert, Peyton Stensrud, and Peyton Stevenson was directed by Hosbond and Flinspach with Gookin assisting. 
    GHS also entered a One-Act Play this season, presenting “The Infamous Soothing System of Professor Maillard”, which was directed by Flinspach. The cast includes Tobias Crandall, Elisabeth Kelley-Chown, Britt Kifer, Billy Lopatto, Charlie Nicklas, Erin Nicklas, Natalie Nieuwsma, Thea Sherman, Peyton Stensrud, Cameron Thompson, Nathan VanderLeest, Cheyenne Williamson, The tech crew includes Claire Behrens, Diane Boyd, Maddie Eddins, Myles Manley, RJ Raney, and Liz Sieck. The performance earned an overall Division II rating. 
      And finally, in the area of mime, the team entered one Group Mime performance and two Solo Mimes; all received Division I ratings. “The Heist” features Chloe Alger, Maddie Davis, Kiran Elfenbein, Kalli Hart, Olivia Mick and Cora Miller. Elfenbein, Hart, and Miller are returning from last year’s Critic’s Choice Award mime “The Leviathan.” In the area of Solo Mime, Cora Miller presented “3017: An Escape Tale” and Kalli Hart presented “My Very First Dragon.” All pieces were written and directed by Hosbond with the ensemble. 
     Division I-rated performances will perform again on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Large Group Speech State Contest at Cedar Rapids Washington. The Speech Showcase will feature all performances at the GHS Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 11, at  7 p.m.

      “The Heist” features Chloe Alger, Maddie Davis, Kiran Elfenbein, Kalli Hart, Olivia Mick and Cora Miller earned a Division 1 rating at the District Large Group Speech Contest on Saturday, Jan. 21. The group will participate in the Large Group Speech State Contest on Saturday, Feb. 4 at Cedar Rapids Washington High School.

​      GHS entered a Readers Theatre directed by Jennie Flinspach titled “The End of the Road” earned a Division I rating. It features Claire Behrens, Tiernan Boggs, Tobias Crandall, Roman Mackenzie, Reece Madren, Charlie Nicklas, Natalie Nieuwsma, Catherine Schubert, Cameron Thompson, and Jeslyn Voogd.

       “Sweeney Todd” was one of three Musical Theatre groups to perform at the District Large Group Speech Contest, earning a Division 1 rating. The production featured Joel Dressler and Maggie Kaup. ​

​      Young Frankenstein featuring Will Dahlby Albright, Olivia Mick, and Brody Petig earned a Division I rating in the Musical Theatre category and will perform at the Large Group Speech State Contest on Saturday, Feb. 4.