Gator One-Act Team Wins District Title; Earns State Bid
December 10, 2009
The Wisner-Pilger Gator one-act play production team claimed
championship honors at the C1-3 district contest held Wednesday at
W-P’s Fine Arts Auditorium. Homer, the defending district champion,
earned the runner up trophy, followed by Crofton in third place.
Also competing were Cedar Catholic, Battle Creek, Tekamah-Herman,
Norfolk Lutheran, and Winnebago.
The Gators, with their presentation of “Saving the Greeks (One
Tragedy at a Time)” , advance to the state “C-1” championship
contest, to be held at the Merryman Performing Arts Center at
Kearney this Friday. It is the Gators’ first state qualifying play
since 2004, and the fifth in school history. “We knew we needed to
nail a perfect performance after Homer gave an excellent
performance,” said Gator play director Gregg Moeller. “The kids
knew that Homer was our main competition, and their performance
really motivated them to do their best.”
Homer and Wisner-Pilger were actually tied in scoring—The Gators earned two first place ratings and a third place from the three judges, while Homer earned a single first place and two second place ratings. The NSAA tie-breaker, according to Moeller, focused on the predominance of first place rankings; this earned the Gators the state bid.
Moeller, who has directed four plays to the state championships in his career, noted that the play has consistently improved with every competition, and that the actors and crew are peaking at the right time. “I am really proud of our performers and their effort,” he said, “We needed everyone to bring out their best, and they did. And, now they are champions, and they truly deserve it!”
Seven Gators earned “Outstanding Performer” recognition from the judges: Nathan Stastny, Luke Evans, Anthony Clemens, Lizz Cornett, Sara Lenox, Miranda Hammerback and Rachel Ohlman.
The Gators will perform “Saving the Greeks” at the Merryman Center Friday. The schedule of performances is as follows—8:00, Omaha Concordia; 8:45, Ord; 9:30, Geneva Fillmore Central; 10:15, Wisner-Pilger; 11:00, Nebraska City Lourdes; and 11:45, Bridgeport. The address for the Merryman Center is 225 West 22nd Street in Kearney, and admission will be charged.
