BOONE, Iowa—The Boone High School speech team hosted and performed at District Individual Speech Contest Saturday, February 24, 2018. Seventeen of Boone’s thirty performances earned the highest rating (I).

A single judge evaluated each performance, awarding students a rating on a scale of 1-4 as well as offering a written critique so students can work on refining their performances should they receive the highest rating that advances them to State.

Three students earned I ’s in multiple events at the district competition:
● Brian Bingaman in both Spontaneous Speaking and Improv.
● Carlee Carpenter in Solo Musical Theatre with her piece “Take Me or Leave Me” from RENT and Storytelling with “Love You Forever.”
● Lacoda Collier in Improv and in Storytelling with his piece “Yeah.”

It is a remarkable achievement for a student to qualify in both events in which they competed. Bingaman, a senior, qualified in two events for the second consecutive year.

Eleven other performances also earned I ’s at the district competition:
● Grayson Boggess in After-Dinner Speaking with his piece “Snapchaddicts.”
● Alyssa Kastenschmidt in Spontaneous Speaking.
● Amber Lozier in Prose with her piece “I’m Coming Home.”
● Danielle Lozier in Prose with her piece “Lost Love.”
● Katelyn Mehlhaus in Solo Musical Theatre with “Diva’s Lament: Whatever Happened to My Part” from Monty Python’s Spamalot.
● Frorence Mtimukeye in Original Oratory with “Flee. Flew. Flown.”
● Alaney Parker in Acting with Forever Friends.
● Levi Patterson in Radio Broadcasting.
● Catherine Pollard with a Review of American Street.
● Akela Salter in Poetry with “A Touch of Sexual Assault.”
● Spencer Toms in Radio Broadcasting.

Also participating in districts were Haley Anderson, John Ben Bloem, Chelsea Fishback, Nicole Lozier, Keirra McFadden, Emma Runestad, and Rowan Pinkerton.

Students will now have two weeks to prepare for the State tournament, which will be held on March 10th at Nevada High School.

(contributed Boone High School Speech)