Montezuma Brothers Double Nominated for All State Speech

      Brothers Ethan Descrochers, left, and Owen, second from right, are pictured with their speech coaches, Kelly Kaup, second from left, and Liesl Roorda, right. The brothers were double nominated for the 2026 IHSSA Individual All-State Speech Festival.

​By J.O. Parker
 
      Montezuma brothers Owen and Ethan Descrochers achieved the rare honor of being double nominated for the 2026 IHSSA Individual All-State Speech Festival recognizing them among the top performers in the state.
      A double nomination means that they were recognized for outstanding performances receiving at least two "I" ratings or nominations from judges in two separate contest categories.
     Individual All State Festival was held on March 30 and was hosted by UNI. There were 594 students honored with All State nominations, representing 209 schools.  Only 494 of those nominations were able to perform. There are 14 individual categories that students can perform in. Each student can perform in up to two categories. Individuals perform in front of a critic who is a professional in the field in which they are performing.
       Owen, a senior, was nominated for his Solo Musical Theatre performance of the song “Moving Too Fast” from Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years. Solo Musical Theater is a theatrical performance where the performer utilizes music in the form of song and acting.
     He was also nominated and performed his prose piece “The Toothbrush that You Just Threw Away has Some Questions About the 7 12-ounce Mountain Dew’s in Your Trashcan”. Prose is the oral interpretation of a selection of prose chosen by the speaker. Script is used. The selection may not exceed 6 minutes. The critic that Owen performed his Pose piece for was Kelsey Bigelow, Spoken Word and Page Poet from Des Moines.
     “I was nominated for musical theatre and performed my acting,” said Ethan, who is a sophomore. “My musical theatre piece was called “Along the Way” from the musical, Edges. My acting piece was called “Funerals are Better with Tater Tots.”
      Acting is a memorized presentation of a scene or monologue that can be either serious or humorous in tone and is eight minutes in length. Ethan performed his acting piece for critic Robin Spahr from The Des Moines Playhouse.
      “It was exciting and nerve-racking,” said Ethan when asked about performing at all state. “I’m very grateful for this experience.”
      Owen added, “It was nerve-racking to say the least, but it was awesome seeing how many people are that talented. I have wanted to go to solo all-state speech as a performer since being in musical theatre. To me, making double all state means that my performance was strong enough to make all state when most people don’t even make state. It’s a huge achievement. I never thought I’d get to this point.” 
      Owen has been acting for five years. When asked about his favorite memories of his past plays, Owen said, “I can’t quite pick a favorite memory, but I remember the week before the musical every year it’s always fun seeing the musicals come together.”
       “My favorite musical memory is probably being funny with my brother and our friends,” said Ethan, who started acting in the musicals during his 6th grade year, making this year five as well.
        When asked what he likes most about acting, Ethan said, “I like learning how to say each and every word in the piece. It adds so much more emotion.” 
        Owen added, “I like singing and doing my best portray of the character I am acting as.”
Owen is planning on attending William Penn University to study exercise science to pursue a career in physical therapy.
        “I plan to continue acting at William Penn,” said Owen. “I will be performing in their musicals.”
Ethan, who has two more years of high school, said, “I think musicals are so much fun and would love to continue participating in them. Do speech. You won’t regret it!”
      Liesl Roorda coached Owen in Prose while Kelly Kaup coached Owen in Musical Theater and Ethan in Acting and Musical Theater.
     “Getting to All State is not an easy task,” said Kaup. “Getting a double All State nomination is a rare achievement. These boys worked incredibly hard to deserve this achievement. It was so special that they could share that for Owen's senior year. We have had so much fun working with these boys through the years.”

       Montezuma Brothers Owen Descrochers, left, and Ethan, right, are pictured hold the 2026 IHSSA All-State Speech banner. The brothers received double nominations in individual speech. A double nomination means that they were recognized for outstanding performances receiving at least two "I" ratings or nominations from judges in two separate contest categories.