WORLAND – The Worland High School drama team is ready to head to Gillette to compete in the Wyoming State Thespian Festival Dec. 8 - 10.

This year marks the first year that the Wyoming State Thespian Festival will be held fully in-person since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Forty-six WHS students will be competing:

SENIORS

Brayden Davila, one event; TeAnna Diede, three events; Jacob Durrant, four events; Zach Fernandez, one event; Collin Ketterling, three events; Matt Lawton, one event; Ian Paxton, three events; and Jorden Valli, three events.

JUNIORS

Tessa Barnhill, three events; Joey Durrant, three events; Myles Lass, one event; Erika Manahan, four events; Lucy Martinson, four events; Breidi Nelson, four events; Justice Nelson, two events; Parker Ruffing, four events; Jackson Richard, one event; and Josh Yslava, three events;

SOPHOMORES

Will Bishop, three events; Liette Brown, one event; Magdalene Byers, three events; Tori Colwell, three events; Abby Craft, three events; Carlee Lowry, three events; Sam McIntosh, two events; Sydney Mercandante, one event; Kaydence Mosley, two events; Kendra Naasz, one event; Nora Reid, two events; Camille Shirley, two events; and Scottie Thomas, two events;

FRESHMEN

Kadence Aagard, two events; Kevyn Bostrom, two events; Angelica Runyan, two events; Ellie Durrant, three events; Elijah Goble, one event; Tanner Lowry, one event; Abby Martinson, two events; Kaela Nelson, two events; Lilah Ramirez, two events; Avaree Utterback, two events; Grace Vickers, one event; Daisy Weaver, three events; and Grace Gertsch, one event;

The team will be joined by their sponsors Rick Dorn, Donna Hunter, Nathaniel Nelson and Pam Greek.

Coach Rick Dorn said that he is pleased with the plays his team will be entering into the competition and that some team members are entered into interesting technical events, such as Erika Manahan’s costume construction and Justice Nelson’s marketing design. Dorn believes that his team will have a strong showing, especially in singing events. He says that despite losing some members to injuries, he hopes that his team can finish in the top three among the other 3A schools: Lander, Douglas, Riverton, Green River, Wheatland, Evanston, and last year’s winning team, Torrington.