March 04, 2026
Local NewsState & National

25 individual speech events advance

Nodaway Valley taking large contingent to state

By Caleb Nelson
Speech students last weekend at districts were in front from left, Elaina Stuva, Caroline Britten, Bella Day, Paiton Ward, Michidel Mercado, Melanie Kilborn, Mya Larson, Kayla Stormer and Ava Jenkins; second row: Emily Butler, Kacie Ford, Micah Cronk, Edan Shilling, Kenzie Lilly, Lyrick Schwartz and Dominic Breheny; back row: Haden Colton, Keland Schwartz, Paul Kading and Erik Jensen.

Speech students last weekend at districts were in front from left, Elaina Stuva, Caroline Britten, Bella Day, Paiton Ward, Michidel Mercado, Melanie Kilborn, Mya Larson, Kayla Stormer and Ava Jenkins; second row: Emily Butler, Kacie Ford, Micah Cronk, Edan Shilling, Kenzie Lilly, Lyrick Schwartz and Dominic Breheny; back row: Haden Colton, Keland Schwartz, Paul Kading and Erik Jensen. (Nodaway Valley CSD)

Twenty-five of 30 events Nodaway Valley took to a district individual speech contest last Saturday in Afton brought home Division 1 ratings and are moving on to the state contest, March 14 at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs.

Division 1 events included Kacie Ford in literary program and reviewing; Caroline Britten in public address; Paul Kading in radio news announcing and spontaneous speaking; erik jensen in reviewing; Michidel Mercado in prose and original oratory; Bella Day in acting; Elaina Stuva in poetry; Edan Shilling in poetry; Melanie Kilborn in literary program and expository address; Haden Colton in storytelling; Emily Butler in improvisation and storytelling; Dominic Breheny in radio news announcing and original oratory; Micah Cronk in videocasting and improvisation; Paiton Ward in after dinner speaking; Kenzie Lilly in prose; Mya Larson in public address; Kayla Stormer in musical theater and Lyrick Schwartz in acting.

Receiving Division 2 ratings were Elaina Stuva in musical theater; Bella Day in musical theater; Ava Jenkins in literary program; Paiton Ward in storytelling and Keland Schwartz in prose.

The team’s head coach is Lauren Ernst. She is assisted by Sam Grubisich and volunteer assistant coach Brenda Plymesser.

Caleb Nelson

Caleb Nelson

Caleb is editor of the Adair County Free Press and Fontanelle Observer, with regular beats of Greenfield City Council, Adair County Board of Supervisors, Nodaway Valley School Board, sports and features. He works remotely from Greenfield where he lives with his wife, Kilee. He enjoys sports, giving guitar lessons, his church and being with family.