H-D/CAL Speech Team earns All-State nods

The Hampton-Dumont/CAL Speech Team attended the State Large Group Speech contest in Decorah on Saturday, February 5.

The 67-student team performed 12 events throughout the day, earning eight Division 1 ratings and four Division 2 ratings.

“It was great to be able to travel to another school to attend a contest," said Coach Wendy Buseman. "Last year, we hosted both district and state competitions right here at our middle school, with a limited number of schools who were able to attend. It was great to see a gym full of students, and having centers full of spectators was amazing!"

Earning Division 1 ratings for the school was Freshman Reader's Theatre: "The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet," featuring Silas Buseman, Kodey Eilderts, Ava Swaney, Jaliyah Ivey, Remington Powers, Jaxson Rew, Wyatt Dean, Isaac Vosburg, Isaac Sauke, Elian Trevino, Charlee Morton, Kasey Nolte, Meg Dunwald, Shakira Vela, and Chloe Craighton.

In Varsity Reader's Theater there was "Fatality," featuring Sydney Buseman, Kaden Eilderts Rimmy Cara, Kaci Sanders, Addy Showalter, Eli Fink, Mohaman Ghanaem, Alondra Morteo, Zayden Erdman, Jack Drier, Jenny Valenzuela, and Lydia Maas.

For Varsity Improvisation there was Owynn McNutt, Kaden Eilderts, and Eli Fink.

In Ensemble Acting, Sydney Buseman, Kaci Sanders, and Lydia Maas performed "Feelings… Nothing More Than Feelings" while Isabelle Miller, Maria Mateo, and Claire Miller performed "Every Monday Morning."

Lily Strother, Isabelle Miller, Gina Schmit, Ellianna Ragsdale, Avalynn Hobson performed in the Radio Broadcast category.

Earning a Division 2 rating, Mohaman Ghanaem, Jimena Salinas, Erin Galindo, Reese Robbins, Katie Hilton, Carson White, Jonah Dean, Paige Magner, Madison Lindaman, Coleman Condon, Grant Subbert, Eillianna Ragsdale, Avalynn Hobson, Jason Cady, and Tam Hindin performed the Varsity One-Act Play "Governing Alice."

In Musical Theatre there was "Waitress" by Melanie Haack, Ezzy Calles, and Shelby Rowe.

"The Case of Ivy Kane" was the Ensemble Acting performance of Alondra Morteo, Lupe Cavazos, Irlanda Tangarife, Jessica Jimmerson, Jenny Valenzuela, and Emily Rodriguez.

And in Freshman Improvisation there was Kodey Eilderts, Isaac Vosburg, and Isaac Sauke.

Earning Division 1 ratings and an All-State Nomination was a Solo Mime performance of "The Struggle Within" by Hind Rahali and the Varsity Choral Reading performance of "Geek's Best Friend" by Owynn McNutt, Aubreigh Glover, Shelby Rowe, Ezzy Calles, Emma Flores, Katie Hilton, Colleen Pals, Rylee Keehn, Macy Christensen, Madison Lindaman, Ben Baird, Coleman Condon, Grant Subbert, and Jason Cady.

The All-State nominees will perform at the All-State Festival on Saturday, February 19 in Ames.

"I am so proud of all of our students," said Buseman. "They have been working hard the past two months. Though the ratings aren’t always what we expect and want, everyone represented our school beautifully. Kudos to the participants in the H-D CAL speech program!”