From left to right: ADM’s Devin Morey, Payton Taylor, and Rhyan Miller

Perry and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn High Schools are sending many students to a solo state competition today.

According to Perry Coach Mandy Meyers, 14 students were apart of the Iowa High School Speech Association Individual Events District competition on March 1st in Ankeny, with seven of them making it to state after receiving Division-1 ratings. ADM Speech Coach Jacque Seidl explains that 32 students went to districts and 23 of them earned Division-1 ratings to advance to the state competition. Junior Rhyan Miller, who’s performing in Storytelling, tells Raccoon Valley Radio the biggest challenge she’s running into with her piece.

“Mine is actually incorporating movement into my story because my story doesn’t have a lot of chances were I can put in movement, so just finding the places to put more subtle, or just over exaggerating some parts with my movement.”

Senior Payton Taylor, performing in Literary Program and a four-time state qualifier, is anticipating to soak in the whole experience one last time.

“Just being with all my friends and getting to watch all their speeches, and then having their support at my speech.”

The combined 30 students from Perry and ADM will be participating in the state competition for the Southwest section, taking place at Ames High School. Raccoon Valley Radio will have the results early next week.