Storm Lake freshmen mime trio selected for Iowa All-State nonperforming act

Three Storm Lake High School freshmen were named to the Iowa All-State Speech & Theatre Festival as a non-performing group mime act, the selection announced Feb. 19, 2026, after district speech competition results from early February. The recognition places the three Storm Lake students among the state’s top scholastic performers in speech and theatre.

The group mime was entered as a non-performing act following the district speech contests held in early February, where the Storm Lake entry advanced to the state selection round. Storm Lake High School, located in Buena Vista County, will now be represented on the All-State roster for the statewide festival by the three freshmen.

The selection spotlights Storm Lake High School’s speech program and underlines the early impact of underclass students; the trio are freshmen at Storm Lake High School and moved from district-level competition to the All-State designation in less than three weeks. The district results in early February led directly to the Feb. 19 announcement that the mime act had been chosen for the statewide festival.

For Buena Vista County cultural life, the selection registers as a measurable achievement for Storm Lake’s performing arts pipeline, showing a pathway from district contests to state recognition for students in ninth grade. The trio’s placement on the All-State list marks a milestone for the school’s program and adds to the county’s roster of students advancing to state-level academic and arts competitions.

Residents who follow Storm Lake High School activities can support the students by sharing this story and reaching out to Storm Lake High School’s activities office for information on the speech program and any local showcases. Will you help spotlight the three freshmen by sharing this news with friends, family and local school supporters?