CCHS speech sends seven to state

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City High School individual speech team sent seven of nine events to the IHSSA State Speech competition after earning top ratings at district competition last week.

Senior Rosie Baldus advanced to state in both the acting and improvisational acting categories, senior Makenna Jensen advanced in improvisation, Annemarie Hansen advanced in solo musical theatre, Anders Haglund advanced in solo musical theatre, Christian Howe advanced in poetry and Sophia Jensen also advanced in poetry.

The districts was conducted via Zoom with a judge on Wednesday. The Comet competitors will travel to Postville on Saturday for in-person IHSSA State Competition. Howe, Baldus and Sophia Jensen performed pieces that had earned State recognition last year, before COVID-19 restrictions caused the event to be cancelled.

Anders Haglund performed “The Kite” from the musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown; Annemarie Hansen performed “Hold On” from The Secret Garden; Sophia Jensen performed “Diary of Eve” by Mark Twain; Rosie Baldus performed “Trapped in a Monologue” and Christian Howe performed “When I’m a Father.”

CCHS speech coach Michelle Grob said that she was impressed with the dedication of the students, as seven of them are involved in the spring play, and she said she has appreciated the students’ flexibility and adaptability.