Becca Gardner, Morgan Martinson, and Jesse Neu each scored 39 out of a possible 40 points.
Others scoring near perfect scores were: Mark Braun, Matt Gardner, Scott Ingalsbe, Nathan Martinson, and Hannah Philabaum.
Students receiving "best of site" honors were Ingalsbe, Becca Gardner, and Morgan Martinson.
There were four schools participating at the contest: BBE, Eden Valley-Watkins, New London-Spicer, and Paynesville. Of the 112 entries, 55 were from Paynesville and 53 had vocal solos.
"I was happy with the turnout and how the students did," said Cheryl Bungum, choral director.
For many of the younger choir members, this was their first time performing solos at contests. "The first time can be pretty nerve-racking," Bungum said. "They accepted the challenge and did a fine job. Many of the students opted to sing in foreign languages," she added. Judges gave the students verbal and written comments as well as a score and a rating. Students receiving a superior rating for subsection were then rated at the state level.
All the Paynesville students earned subsection superior honors. The mixed men's choir and mixed women's choir both received the top ratingÑstate superior.
Forty-seven students earned either a state superior or state excellent. Eighteen Paynesville students earned the highest honor, state superior; 29, state excellent; and six, state good.
State superior
Mark Braun, Nick Binsfeld, Becca Gardner, Matt Gardner, Adam Ingalsbe, Scott Ingalsbe, Andrew Jones, Chris Kern, Adam Leyendecker, Morgan Martinson, Nathan Martinson, Jesse Neu, Hannah Philabaum, Kayla Rooney, Carly Samuelson, Crystal Songetay, Susie Swyter, and Sami Tierney.
State excellent
Holly Bennett, Jenna Berry, Trista Bork, Sarah Brauchler, Amy Buermann, Amanda Burlingame, Trista Dukowitz, Lori Hanson, Lisa Hemingson, Adam Hemmesch, Jen Hess, Davis Hoekstra, Misty Johnson, Rachel Keller, Jeremiah Koehn, Rachel Koehn, Ginni Lahr, Trisha Loucks, Sarah Massmann, Tasha Meinke, Heidi Olmscheid, Erin O'Fallon, Katrina Orbeck, Sara Ringstad, Becky Schaumann, Jonnie Schefers, Amy Schoenherr, Heidi Steinhofer, and Angie Wunsch.
State good
Cahlean Klenke, Alisa Schmidt, Jason Leyendecker, Trevor Stanger, Julie Stockholm, and Heidi Wilder.