Libby's Kneller wins state title at drama meet

Libby High School senior Tyler Kneller

nailed it … and at the same time, he frightened everyone in the

building.

After taking second place at the

divisional meet in the Serious Solo category right at home in

Libby, Kneller headed off to the Class A Speech, Drama and Debate

Tournament in Laurel with hopes of another high finish. Kneller

impressed judges with his performance of “The Spider” – written by

local Keith Meyers.

“It’s about the progression of a little

boy pulling legs off a spider and then all of the other animals in

the neighborhood,” LHS coach Shelley Fisher said. “Judges said it

was just ‘flat creepy.’ One judge said, ‘I want to go home

now.’”

Kneller’s final score easily

outdistanced runnerup Karis Beday of Hamilton. Polson’s Nation

Garza, who won divisonals in Libby, finished sixth.

As a team, Libby took fifth place in

the drama sweeps competition. Billings Central took first by seven

points over runner-up Corvallis and Ronan took third. Laurel, Libby

and Polson each scored 40 points but were awarded fourth, fifth and

sixth place on a tiebreaker system.

Among Libby’s other placewinners, Jason

Schikora and Jolee Holder teamed up to take second place in

Humorous Duo. Schikora reached a personal goal by winning his 30th

medal in such competitions.

Justin Lauer and Jordan Stephenson were

seventh in Classical Theatre with a skit that involves the pair

dressing up as females in a rendition of “The Importance of Being

Earnest.”

Anthony Dewey placed eighth in Humorous

Solo. And Miranda Raab had an eighth-place showing in Serious

Solo.

Libby Medals

Drama Sweeps

Team Scoring

1, Billings Central 86; 2, Corvallis

79; 3, Ronan 60; 4, Laurel, 40; 5, Libby 40; 6, Polson, 40.

Individual Placewinners

Humorous Solo – 8, Anthony Dewey.

Humorous Duo – 6, Jason Schikora/Jolee

Holder.

Serious Solo – 1, Tyler Kneller; 8,

Miranda Raab.

Classical Theatre – 7, Justin

Lauer/Jordan Stephenson.