Last Saturday was an incredibly successful Individual State Speech Competition for Mason City High School. Nearly twenty students competed in this competition, an already impressive number of students who advanced to state. Even more impressive, three of these students advanced to All State. Several students received the highest rating possible, a Division I ranking, including Anna Godfrey for Reviewing, Noah Mclaughlin for Expository Address as well as Improvisation, Nathan Elsbernd for Expository Address, Marcus Buttweiler for Prose, Mia Godfrey for Prose, Meredith Armstrong for Literary Program, Randy Davenport for Improvisation and Solo Musical Theatre, Jayden Smith for Improvisation, and Ben Siglin for Solo Musical Theatre.
Every remaining student earned the second highest rating possible, a division II ranking, including Sarah Dodd for Poetry, Sierra Soto for Poetry, Margaret Kruse for Prose, Daniel Stephenson for Prose, Saib Suhaib for Prose, Dakota Lee for Literary Program, Courtney Smith for Literary Program, Tanner Jones for Radio News, Waroon Jalukar for Radio News, and Madelin Judkins for Solo Musical Theatre.
Out of all of these incredibly successful students, Randy Davenport in Solo Musical Theatre, Ben Siglin in Solo Musical Theatre, and Marcus Buttweiler in Prose all received two or more All-State recommendations, and will be advancing to All-state this Monday, March 27. Mrs Alexander, the head speech team coach, is proud of all of her students for trying their hardest and performing well, although when all of the students are close friends that share endless inside jokes, it hardly felt like hard work. All of Mason City’s speech and drama students will also be recognized for their achievements and hard work at the MCHS Speech Team and Drama Club awards and Ice Cream Social. This will include Senior and All-State performances in the FEMA room and cafeteria next Monday, April 3. Come have fun and celebrate the achievements of all of Mason City’s outstanding thespians in this fun night of ice cream, acting, and endless laughter.