It was a weekend packed with emotion, filled with equal parts jubilation and heartbreak, as Iola High School’s forensics team capped a memorable year.
Iola took fifth as a team at the Class 3A State Speech and Drama Championships in Maize, led by a trio of seniors.
Individually, Max Andersen ended his high school career with a three-peat, winning the oral interpretation of prose category for the third straight year.
Teammate Layla Newkirk finished third in the same category.
“It’s intimidating, knowing our biggest competition is in our own school,” she said.
Demarco Ross took sixth in oral interpretation of poetry, guaranteeing him a medal all four years of high school. Last year, Ross won the state championship in the event, which led to high expectations for this year’s competition.
“I came in expecting to get first place,” Ross said. “That was disappointing. But I’ve accepted that I still got to compete at state, and still got sixth place.”
As a sign of the team’s depth, each team member advanced to the semifinal round in at least one event.
Madelyn Ashworth placed ninth in oral interpretation of prose, while Ben Heiman placed 11th in program of oral interpretation.
Ross teamed up with Kaeden Vega to take seventh in duet acting, followed by Newkirk and Alyssa Williams in ninth and Everett Glaze and Cole Moyer in 12th.
Moyer and Vega finished eighth in improvised duet acting; Lily Lohman and Bella Raming took 12th.
Bethany Miller, meanwhile, earned 12th in informative speaking.
Four Iola students also competed in the State Speech and Drama Festival, in which their pieces are rated, but not against other competitions.
Shaun McLaughlin earned two I Division ratings in oral interpretation of prose and poetry.
Stephanie Fees also earned a I Division rating in oral interpretation of prose.
Franklin Kerr brought home a II Division rating in oral interpretation of prose.
