The school’s speech team turned in a medal-winning performance on March 27, claiming a first-place Oral Interpretation of Drama (OID) finish and a fourth-place individual result at the NSAA Class A State Speech Tournament in Kearney.
The team as a whole qualified for eight events at the State competition. Two of them advanced to the finals.
Senior Jada Randecker, senior Claire Hayworth, junior Sophia Cacioppo and sophomore Ava Windeknecht took first place in OID, giving Gretna East its first state title in any speech event, and sophomore Emmalynn Naylor earned fourth place in Humorous Interpretation.
“It was insane,” Cacioppo said. “They just kept calling groups up, and when we were the last ones standing, we all just melted and were so relieved and overjoyed.”
The team’s preparation before the competition set the foundation for their performance.
“The students’ focus and commitment in the days leading up to competition definitely set the tone for a day of fierce competition,” head coach Grace Kimnach said. “I’d say each student had the equivalent of at least three rehearsals between the time we left for Kearney and the time the first round began.”
Windeknecht, who competed in the state-winning OID, said the weeks of preparation gave her something to lean on.
“When we were performing, I truly trusted the preparation of our script,” she said. “I sensed that we had a chance because of all the hard work we put in. In the end, regardless of the results, I could be proud of what we were able to put forward this season.”
For first-time state qualifiers senior Logan Hartman and junior Caden Campbell, members of the second OID group, the experience served as a proving ground. Kimnach noted how both competitors demonstrated improvement from their district performance and handled their results with professionalism.
“They gave the best performances of their OID that they’ve given all year,” she said. “Their group just barely missed the cut for finals, which is always a challenging reality to face, but they both took the results with grace and continued to support our other OID group as they went on to win the championship.”
Campbell reflected on the experience of competing at State for the first time.
“There are no second chances at State,” he said. “My acting has become more genuine, my diction is better and I’m able to memorize longer lines. I just have to work even harder next year.”
The championship finish was the emotional high point of the day. For those competing, the result was a reflection of the relationships and trust built throughout the season.
“I knew I could trust my team and their abilities,” Windeknecht said. “They are truly amazing people who I am forever grateful for having the chance to work with this season.”
Although six of the eight state qualifiers failed to make finals, State placements alone don’t fully capture what the program accomplished this season, according to Kimnach. Judge feedback, relationships built between competitors and conduct in the face of both wins and disappointments are equally meaningful measures of success.
Looking ahead, the results are seen as a sign of growth to come.
“These State results signal that in the coming years, Gretna East’s speech team will continue to grow more successful and prominent in the Class A Speech circuit,” Kimnach said.