Students from throughout western Iowa competed this past weekend at Kuemper Catholic High School (KHS) in Carroll for the 2024 Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA) individual event contest, with local participants earning top marks. Carroll High School (CHS) had eleven entries qualify for state, and 10 earned a “1” or excellent rating. Those competitors include Caeden Canuso for improvisation and solo musical theatre, Keagan Case in acting and solo musical theatre, Sydney Bellinghausen for spontaneous speaking and public address, Alexandria Meiers in public address, Zowie Hickerson in storytelling, and Sarah Ryherd for poetry. KHS had 20 entries qualify, with 17 earning “1” ratings, including Ella Duncan for solo musical theatre and literary program, Rheanne Feilmeier in poetry and radio news, Sarah Batz in acting and poetry, Laura Steinkamp in after-dinner speaking and solo musical theatre, Logan Rial for after-dinner speaking and expository speaking, Simon Pietig in original oratory and acting, Joey Masching in solo improvisation, James Ulveling in solo improvisation, Meredith Sturm in spontaneous speaking, Louis Meyers in solo musical theatre, and Alex Osterhaus for prose. The top-performing students who earned a “1” rating may be considered to present at the All-State Festival on March 25 at the University of Northern Iowa.
