Saint Joseph Catholic High School students perform a scene from "Much Ado About Nothing." courtesy photoSALT LAKE CITY — Students from Utah Catholic high schools brought home a wave of state titles, superior medals and top design awards from this year’s Utah High School Activities Association state theater competitions.
St. Joseph Catholic High School students kicked off the success in the 1A division on March 27 and 28, competing with their one-act play, “One Stoplight Town” by Tracy Wells, alongside several individual entries. Isaac Wandrey took home a first-place award for his humorous monologue “Honey, I’m a Leprechaun,” while Clara Goni Beneke and Bella Emadi received second-place awards for their classical scene from “Much Ado About Nothing.” Ari Fiederer took fourth place for his dramatic monologue “’Night Mother,” and Isabella Archuleta and Aida Zavala placed fifth for their contemporary scenes from “Mauritius.”
“The students all worked so hard on each of the events,” said Jill Fearns, who co-directs the Jayhawk theater department. “We are so proud of all our wonderful theater students.”
Judge Memorial Catholic High School students also excelled at the state level, though they faced a new challenge this season.
“We were moved to 4A this year, competing against much bigger schools,” said Darin Hathaway, who teaches theater at Judge Memorial. “But we held our own with memorable and hilarious monologues performed by Caroline Woodbury and Tillie Coudreaut, and the power house musical skills of freshman Emily Koll.”
At the state 4A competition held April 18 at Tooele High School, Caroline and Tillie received superior medals in humorous monologues, while Emily earned a superior medal in musical theater. The achievements were particularly impressive given that many of the state qualifiers were unable to compete that day because it was the same day as the Bulldog prom, Hathaway said.
Juan Diego Catholic High School also successfully navigated their own transition to the higher division at state competition on April 18.
“Moving into 4A was quite a big jump for our little theatre program, but Region went very well overall, and we received superior ratings in many categories,” said Sophia Valdez Davis, the Soaring Eagle director of theater education.
Juan Diego’s one-act play, “Selfie” by Bradley Hayward, advanced to State with a cast featuring Hadleigh Johnston, Maximus Widmaier, Leila Harline, Alexandra Marquardt, Andrew Yavelak, Mack Kesler, Khloe Pham, Alyeska Morales and Ellie Gournaris.
All six students who competed in Set and Costume Design qualified for State. In the preliminary rounds, Rylee Whittaker placed second in Set Design, Brittain Bennett received superior ratings in Set Design, and Matthew Mayberry swept the categories by placing first in Lighting Design and third in Set Design. 
A large contingent of Juan Diego students also qualified for State in individual events, including Hadleigh Johnston, Zoey Turbides, Penelope Stechschulte, Olivia Ross, Khloe Pham, Leila Harline, Katheryn Marquardt, Sophie Flynn, Pyper Krebs and Maximus Widmaier.
At State, Matthew Mayberry took second place in Set Design. Leila Harline and Katheryn Marquardt received superior ratings in Musical Theatre, while Penelope Stechschulte and Olivia Ross took home superior ratings in Contemporary Scenes.
“We are incredibly proud of all of our students and everything they accomplished this season,” Davis said.