Editors note: This story has been changed to correct the spelling of Carson Koppes’ name.
Tustemena Elementary was jam-packed full of parents and students on Saturday, weaving their way through the halls to get to their assigned classrooms for their dramatic performances of poetry, prose and assorted stories.
Kids impressively recited Longfellow from memory and made the audience laugh with comical stories about an old man who despised the squirrels in his yard, and even recreated Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s On First?”
For those who attended, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Forensics Competition was one of the best shows on the peninsula this weekend. The district-wide competition hosted 4th -6th graders from KPBSD schools who delivered their rehearsed performances with ease and delight.
Central Peninsula students took home 30 awards on Saturday, making them a third of the students who placed. Ninety awards over 27 categories were given out at the competition.
Students performed their pieces over the course of two sessions in front of judges, fellow competitors and supportive parents in classrooms all over the school. Judges then conferred and turned in their scores to be displayed in the gymnasium after the session.
Winners who wished to do an encore performed in the library after the second session.
Of the 30 central peninsula students who placed, eight won first place with their outstanding performances.
Central peninsula results
Nikiski North Star
Elementary
5th grade non-humorous poetry, singles: 1st place: Liam Quiner
4th grade humorous poetry, singles: 1st place: Leora McCaughey
4th grade poetry, multiples: 2nd place: Averi Wolf, Wynter Yeager, Giaseena Nicks and Anna Rosa
5th grade non-humorous prose, singles: 2nd place: Dwight Mullins
5th grade story telling: 2nd place: Braeden Porter
5th grade poetry, multiple: 3rd place: Izzy Ley, Jacolyn Hightower and Jasmine Durfee
5th grade interpretive reading, singles: 4th place: Brady Bostic
5th grade humorous poetry, singles: 5th place: Celina Martinez
Soldotna Elementary
6th grade poetry, multiple: 1st place: Rhys Cannava, Theoren Nelson andTytus Gilbert
6th grade non-humorous poetry, singles: 2nd place: Briley Morton
6th grade interpretive reading, singles: 2nd place: Faith-Lynn Gattenby
4th grade poetry, multiples: 3rd place: Andrew Pieh and Noelani Fullerton
6th grade interpretive reading, multiple: 4th place: Trent Boots and Nate Johnson
5th grade interpretive reading, singles: 5th place: Kiana Rohr
Kalifornsky Beach
Elementary
4th grade interpretive reading, singles: 1st place: Kendal England
4th grade non-humorous poetry, singles: 1st place: Halley Hanson
6th grade humorous poetry, singles: 1st place: Bethany Richmond
5th grade non-humorous prose, singles: 1st place: Eva Sorensen
6th grade humorous prose, singles: 2nd place: Logan Shane
6th grade interpretive reading, multiple: 3rd place: Jolie Widamam and Bella Rodriguez
5th grade interpretive reading, singles: 3rd place: Avrie Medina
6th grade interpretive reading, singles: 3rd place: Guy Peterson
5th grade story telling: 3rd place: Josie Ekle
4th grade humorous poetry, singles: 5th place: Madison Richmond
Soldotna Montessori
5th grade interpretive reading, multiple: 1st place: Jayden Millecham and Lirissa Best
4th grade non-humorous prose, singles: 2nd place: Cooper Coller
5th grade humorous poetry, singles: 3rd place: Lucas Ermold
6th grade non-humorous poetry, singles: 3rd place: Ella Czarnezki
Kenai Middle School
6th grade poetry, multiple: 2nd place: Hayes Howard and Isaac Erwin
6th grade interpretive reading, singles: 4th place: Carson Koppes
Sterling Elementary School
4th grade poetry, multiples: 4th place: Waylon Lansing, Mason Chace
4th grade humorous poetry, single: 4th place: Luca Rigutto
5th grade humorous poetry, single: 2nd place: Sven Hesse
4th grade story telling: 1st place: Aurora Funk
4th grade interpretive reading: 1st place: Christopher Smith, Adelyn McCorsison
4th grade non-humorous poetry, single: 1st place: Jlee Webster
6th grade non-humorous prose, single: 2nd place: Tristin Sipes
5th grade interpretive reading, multiples: 5th place: Taylor Dobson, Jacob Fleming, Luke MacMaster
6th grade interpretive reading, singles: 1st place: Taylor Dobson, Jacob Fleming, Luke MacMaster
4th grade story telling: 4th place: Shane Sunberg
5th grade poetry, multiples: 2nd place: Bridget Cameron, Desiree Bunts, Zoe Cravens
Tustumena Elementary
4th grade poetry, multiples: 5th place: Waylon Lansing, Mason Chace
5th grade humorous poetry, single: 6th place: Gwyneth Davis
4th grade humorous prose, single: 3rd place: Nicholas Calhoun
4th grade humorous prose, multiples: 1st place: Cady Cooper, Brianna Faircloth
6th grade humorous prose, multiples: 1st place: Brook Fischer, Josie Sheridan
4th grade non-humorous poetry, single: 3rd place: Adam Harper
6th grade humorous prose, single: 4th place: Kelar Sooter
5th grade non-humorous prose, single: 3rd place: Brook Fischer
1st grade prose, multiples: 1st place: Ivy Daly, Eva Maye Dunn
Reach Anna Frost at anna.frost@homernews.com
Soldotna Elementary sixth-graders Trent Boots and Nate Johnson perform Abbott and Costello’s classic sketch “Who’s On First” during the second session of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Forensics Competition on Saturday, Feb. 27. Trent and Nate took fourth place in the sixth grade interpretive reading category.
