Amidst a season defined by both talent and tenacity, the High School Speech Team has reached the pinnacle of state competition. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech & Dramatic Arts Association (WISDAA) recently announced that our program has been awarded the Excellence in Speech Award, placing our team in the top five percent of all medal-earning schools in the state.
Overcoming the Elements
The road to the State Festival was anything but predictable. This year, more than 3,100 students representing nearly 300 schools advanced to the state level. While the event was originally centered at UW-Madison, severe weather on Friday, April 17, forced a rapid pivot.
Demonstrating the "Hillmen Way," our students stayed focused and flexible. Many were forced to compete virtually, submitting video performances to be evaluated by adjudicators online. Despite the delay in final results and the shift in format, our students delivered performances that stood out among the best in Wisconsin.
Medal Awards:
Gold: 10 Total
Group Interp: "Crayons" - Liam Davis, Guthrie Cline*, Max Peterson*#, Cash Peterson, Louie Peterson*#
Group Interp: "Embarrassing Moments" - Lallie Xiong, Jasyah Wilson*#, Nuzaira Rabbani*, Bryn Larson*#, and Payton Keleher*
Impromptu - Ellen Cornett
Poetry - Bryn Larson*#
Prose - Areli Izaguirre Cardona
Prose - Jasyah Wilson*#
Public Address - Tegan Pugh
Solo Acting Humorous - Louie Peterson*#
Solo Acting Serious - Max Peterson*#
Solo Acting Serious - Sofia Aldaco Romero
Silver: 13 Total
Expository - Zoe Xiao
Farrago - Nicole Peterson*
Group Interp: "Sisters" - Allison Winkers, Mikala Schnering, and Maggie Grabandt
Group Interp: "The Hardware Store Problem" - William Wolfe, Evan Estudillo, Corey Grabandt, Zeke Yurs, and Zave Yurs
Impromptu - Arianna Amin
Impromptu - Guthrie Cline*
Play Acting: "Check Please" - Isabel Pennekamp*, Adam Felder, Hailey Heimerdinger, and Leanna Wruck*
Poetry - Nuzaira Rabbani*
Poetry - Leanna Wruck*
Prose - Payton Keleher*
Prose - Eliza Siegl-Gesin
Solo Acting Humorous - Isabel Pennekamp*
Solo Acting Serious - Nicole Peterson*
Bronze - 2 Total
Group Interp: "Irma Bomback" - William Hollingsworth, Maddie Fritz, and Mia Huser
Radio Speaking - Ezra Lyght
* = double entries
# = double gold
A Rare Distinction
The Excellence in Speech Award is a highly selective honor. Out of the hundreds of schools that participated, only 14 schools statewide earned this distinction this year. Adjudicators evaluate every student and performing group to determine medal awards; our team’s collective performance across all categories secured our spot in that elite top five percent.
"A massive shoutout to our dedicated coaches and every student who put in the hours of rehearsal to make this possible," the school shared in a statement. "To see our team remain fierce in their competition despite the weather challenges speaks volumes about their character."
Commemorating Success
To recognize this achievement, both the school and the coaching staff will be presented with plaques from WISDAA. This award serves as a testament to the months of preparation, late-night rehearsals, and the incredible support system behind our performers.