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KEARNEY – Isabelle Heimes has talked her way to an individual State speech title.
The Wynot High School senior was named the champion in Program of Oral Interpretation and the runner-up in Serious Prose at the 2024 Nebraska School Activities Association State Speech Championships for Class D1 on March 22 at Kearney High School.
“I wasn’t disappointed about the secondplace finish in Serious, as there was a reigning state champ from Osceola there again this year who beat me,” Isabelle said of Hayden Lavaley. “He was extremely kind and deserved the win.
“It almost felt surreal to hear my name called for first place in POI,” she said. “I knew I had worked hard and would do well, but I never really realized that I would be worthy of the champion title.”
Wynot speech coach Heather Heimes, Isabelle’s mother, noted her daughter’s speech journey began 13 years ago.
“At 5 years old, she was toted to practices, performances and years of State and national competitions watching her older siblings,” Heather said. “Her freshman year, she got second in Serious Prose; her junior year, she medaled fourth in Serious and OID (Oral Interpretation of Drama).
“She had never gotten a gold yet,” she said. “Her brother had and it’s what she wanted most. That, and qualifying for NIETOC her senior year.”
In addition to this year’s State speech meet, Isabelle also qualified in early February for the 2024 National Individual Events Tournament of Champions (NIETOC), which is set for May 10-12 in Bellevue.
“Izzy started way back in December,” Heather said. “She made me pick out scripts before one act was even done. She wanted to make NIETOC, and she wanted to be prepared for the first meet. She practiced daily in the weight room and in her room, all by herself.
“Recently, Izzy has had to practice in hotel rooms and Airbnbs with all of the traveling we’ve had to do,” she said. “Izzy’s hard work and talents show through winning the State championship in POI and the runner-up in Serious Prose.”
Isabelle, the Wynot speech time’s lone State qualifier this year, described State speech as “always a lot of fun, but definitely exhausting.”
“There’s one more round than what we’re used to at almost all of our other meets, which can start to wear you down after a while,” Isabelle said. “However, I got to see so many extremely talented people in both of my events and I’m so glad I get to say I was a part of it again this year.”
Heather said despite having a small speech team of only eight members this year, the Wynot students’ dedication and hard work should not be discounted.
“We’ve lived out of suitcases for five weeks with two State basketball appearances, a senior trip, a State speech trip and an All-State Band trip,” Heather said.
Heather explained coaching a small team was challenging in that many of its members were so young this year, but it was so rewarding to her.
“When you are a small school, kids have to participate in many areas in order to make the different things work: i.e. sports, music, theater, esports,” Heather said.
“It’s amazing to see a student begin the season and see how they transform,” she said. “Five of the eight were freshmen and sophomores. But they worked hard, and took coaching ideas seriously,” she said.
Isabelle noted she wants her speech team members to know that the hard work they put in throughout a season will all be worth it someday.
“I also want my mom and sister – my coaches – to really understand that they’ve given me a season and career that I would never trade for anything,” Isabelle said. “I love my team, my family and my friends for supporting me through this, and I’m so glad I got to make them proud this year.”
Heather’s daughter Zoey Wieseler served as her assistant speech coach and will take over the program going forward because Heather will start working at Wausa Public Schools in the 202425 academic year.
“I am so excited for the future of one act and speech at Wynot with my daughter, Zoey Wieseler, taking over both programs,” Heather said. “I am confident in her ability, and the continuity she will provide for the team.”
Heather explained one piece of advice she would give the future generation of speech and one-act students.
“It’s not all about talent,” Heather said. “It’s about setting a goal and doing what it takes to reach that goal. Your coaches can’t do it for you. You have to put in the effort.”
Heather, a Wynot graduate who has coached one act and speech at her alma mater, will serve in the dual role of elementary principal and special education coordinator at Wausa.
“It’s bittersweet moving forward after 13 years of coaching,” Heather said. “Thirteen years ago, no one had applied for the position of speech and one-act coach. My kids came home somber, afraid the programs would go away. I told our principal at the time, if no one steps up, I will take over the programs.
“I had left a marketing job of 14 years and was coming in as a para to be on my kids’ schedule,” she said. “I knew very little about speech and one act. After a few State appearances and a whole lot of fun, the programs grew.” When Heather’s daughter Zoey came on as an assistant coach four years ago, Zoey added a deeper understanding of acting and choreography. “I am good at building sets and seeing a bigger picture,” Heather said. “She is amazing at getting to the heart of acting and choreography. She’s going to do amazing things. “I will miss it,” she said. “I will miss the kids. I will try to stay involved through judging. I have met so many amazing people along the way.” Heather expressed her gratitude to her family and others for the willingness to be involved and help her out during speech and oneact seasons. Those people have included, “my husband, who kept the household running in the thick of a season; my daughter Zoey for coaching alongside me; my brotherin- law, who mentored me through those first years and continues today; other coaches and parents who mentored me along the way; and the competition against local actors/actresses who made my team better throughout the years,” Heather said.
Heather noted she is “very excited” to take on her new leadership role at Wausa starting the next school year.
“Wausa has a lot of amazing things going on academically and in extracurriculars,” Heather said. “I will miss what Wynot has provided me and my family throughout the years, but I know I will be cheering on their success in the future.”
