(Riverton, WY) – The RHS Speech and Debate team completed their season on March 20th with the National Qualifying Tournament. The National Tournament will be virtual this year but students will compete against students across the Nation in their specific event.
Overall, the team placed 2nd in Speech events. Several members of the RHS Speech and Debate team became National qualifiers last weekend after days of difficult competition.
Qualifying and attending Duo Interpretation were senior Isaac Almejo-Ponce and Carolyn Thornton. Isaac also qualified in Humor Interpretation. Carolyn also qualified in Dramatic Interpretation.
Qualifying and attending in Original Oratory was senior Elizabeth Pierson.
Qualifying and attending in Extemporaneous Speaking was Kaia Tippets. Kaia was also 2nd alternate in Program Oral Interpretation.
Qualifying and attending in World Schools Debate was senior Skylere Witt.
Also qualifying and attending in World Schools Debate was Kylar Bennett. Kylar and his partner Nathaniel Davis were 3rd alternates in Cross-Examination Debate.
Senior Abigail Lipson and Maile Williams were 3rd alternates in Duo Interpretation.
Head Coach Annette Thornton said, “I am proud of our team who persevered and continued to express their perspectives and viewpoints in a forum that barely resembled anything like actually speaking in public.”
The team competes virtually the week of June 13th and hopes to be back to in-person competitions next year.
We would like to wish our seniors good luck in the future, they have been a strength to our team. -RHS Speech and Debate