The Mid-Prairie speech team recently competed at the state individual speech competition at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, and five students walked away with overall I ratings or better. In order to get an overall I rating, the performer must receive two I ratings from the three judges. Three I ratings is considered a perfect score. In the nine events the Mid-Prairie team participated in, five received overall I ratings. Junior Isaiah Sents managed perfect scores in two events, solo improvisational acting and solo music theater, while senior Lauryn Weiss received a perfect score for her prose performance. None of the students received outstanding performer nominations, so the Mid-Prairie speech team’s journey ends just shy of All-State.

However, Speech Coach Dave Helmuth considers the season a success, “I’m very happy. I feel like we really started a great foundation for the future. With 60% new students in speech contest, it’s a great learning year. The students really brought their best, and I was very proud of what they delivered. So it just makes me want to work harder next year to even prepare more, and maybe get even more students involved.” Helmuth says their plan for next year is to start earlier, so they can have more time to prepare and refine the pieces. He encourages students who have never done speech before to give it a try, as he feels it can help build self confidence and give them experience they can use throughout their lives.

Results from the state competition for the Mid-Prairie speech team:
Isaiah Sents – solo improvisational acting – three I ratings
Isaiah Sents – solo music theater – three I ratings
Lauryn Weiss – prose – three I ratings
Lauryn Weiss – acting – two I ratings, one II rating
Michael Meserole – literary program – two I ratings, one II rating
Michael Meserole – storytelling – two I ratings, one II rating
Elijah Meader – poetry – two I ratings, one II rating
Lillian Radeboldt-Hopper – reviewing – two I ratings, one II rating
Anna Yoder – acting – one I rating, two II ratings