On Feb. 21, 23 West Delaware students were recognized at the Large Group All-State Large Group Speech Festival at Iowa State University in Ames.

Five events received All State Speech nominations, two performing and three non-performing.

Cole Duncalf, head speech coach, said the speech team put a lot of work into their performances.

“I think it’s really awesome that a school of our size has such a high-caliber program,” Duncalf said. “It’s really, really rewarding.”

Duncalf is pleased with the many sacrifices students made to earn their All State nominations.

“It takes a lot of time out of our evenings and personal lives,” Duncalf said.

Kile McNelly (12), an All State qualifier, said hard work led the speech team to the eyes of the judges and obtained them a nomination.

“I believe the hardest thing was the stress for the performers because they were up against 3a and 4a schools,” McNelly said.

“Other talented people around us, plus the pressure between a critic versus a judge, was the scariest part.”