The Keota speech team is sending three groups to All-State for large group speech competition, two of which will be performing. Their reader’s theater piece, called “The 2nd Bakery Attack,” will be the first group to perform at Iowa State University on February 18th. Keota Speech Coach Gina Bennett says they found the piece by accident, and she feels it’s fun to watch and the students have enjoyed performing it. The second group to perform will be a group improvisation team made up of Bianca Cardona, Riley Conrad, and Grace McHugh. At the state competition at Cedar Rapids Washington High School, the trio were given the situation “old people snowboarding.” The third group given an All-State honor was an ensemble acting piece called “If Men Played Cards as Women Do,” though that group will not perform.

Several students will have the distinction of being double All-State honorees, including Cardona, who is a double performer, Cole Stout, Jace Uphold, and Luke Greiner. Bennett was pleased all their rehearsal time paid off in such a big way. She said, “Certainly, there’s a great deal of satisfaction with that. It just proves that the hard work that our students put in, with 7 a.m. practices and practices after basketball, the hard work pays off. This is just the icing on the cake for us. So we’re very proud of all of our students, and most certainly those that have been named outstanding performers.” To hear more about the Keota Speech Team, listen to the In Touch with Southeast Iowa interview with Bennett at KCIIRadio.com starting Thursday.

Keota Large Group Speech Team Results:
Reader’s Theater – “The 2nd Bakery Attack” – 3 I ratings – All-State – performing
9th Grade Choral Reading – “Wild Wild West” – 3 I ratings
Ensemble Acting – “If Men Played Cards as Women Do” – 3 I ratings – All-State – non-performing
Ensemble Acting – “Smile” – 2 I ratings, 1 II rating
Group Improvisation – Bianca Cardona, Riley Conrad, Grace McHugh – 3 I ratings – All-State – performing
Group Improvisation – Trey Carlson, Elise Swanstrom, Turner Klein – 3 I ratings
Group Improvisation – Marty Baker, June Daing, Bergen Dalton – 3 I ratings