It’s been around 16 years since the Highland speech team last sent a group or individual to All-State, but that streak has been broken. Two students were recently selected for the festival. Junior Nathan Butler and sophomore Sam Davis both participated in the solo improvisational acting category at the state individual speech competition at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, and both received outstanding performer nominations to earn a trip to All-State. Highland Speech Coach Justin Rapier is proud of Butler and Davis.

Rapier explains, “That’s really exceptional, that these kids in three minutes come up with an idea and incorporate these characters into something they just make up on the fly. They create this really coherent story, and really funny characters, and portray it all very well by themselves, literally. It’s just fantastic.” At the state competition, Butler’s scenario was “Cleaning under the fridge,” and his characters were an auto mechanic and a fish. Davis’s scenario was “Friday the 13th Club,” and his characters were a bat boy and a math teacher. Both were surprised with their nominations, but Rapier feels they were deserving. Butler and Davis will now show their skills at the All-State competition on March 27th at the University of Northern Iowa.

Results from the state competition for the Highland speech team:
Nathan Butler – solo improvisational acting – three I ratings – All-State
Sam Davis – solo improvisational acting – three I ratings – All-State
Samantha Cox – after dinner speaking – two I ratings, one II rating
Zoe Mahler – radio news – two I ratings, one II rating
Kate McFarland – public address – one I rating, two II ratings