(L-R): Lucy Vander Linden, Carter Petterson and William Graham to sing the National Anthem. Photo by Coltrane Carlson

As the State Co-Ed Track and Field Meet gets underway, three Greene County High School students will have the opportunity to showcase their singing talents.

Vocal Director David Heupel says a trio of seniors, Lucy Vander Linden, William Graham and Carter Petterson are going to perform the National Anthem tomorrow morning at Drake Stadium to kick off the second day of the state meet. He points out that in his 27 years at Greene County, over half of those years he has had students chosen to sing the National Anthem at a state-level event.

Heupel explains that recordings to the Iowa High School Music Association, of which about 80-100 are submitted, and only about 20 are selected for the various events. He describes what these three seniors have done over their high school careers in choir.

“Well, I would say these three are perfect examples of persevering and gaining maturity and confidence as they got older. You know, as freshmen, they were pretty timid and (they) got more and more confident. By the time they were seniors, they were doing it all. They got the three leads in the musical and all three in All-State, and just willing to step up and do whatever is needed. A real example of good growth process.”       

Heupel adds that after their performance at 9am tomorrow, Vander Linden and Petterson will be whisked away to the Des Moines Performing Arts Center for rehearsal for the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards with the showcase on May 28th.