Grand County hosts debate tournament

Grand County High School hosted the Red Cliffs Arches Invitational debate tournament on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14. Eleven teams from the across the state, for a total of 205 students, competed in debate and speech events.

High schools included Hillcrest, Park City, Carbon, Emery, Richfield, American Leadership Academy, Park City, Salem Hills, Hunter and Westlake attended.

Hillcrest High School took top honors at the event.

Grand County High School students placed in various events.

Brendon Henderson and Asia Nielson took first in Duo Interpretation for a piece they abridged from “The Sopranos”. Nielson also placed fifth in novice Congress.

Skyler Johnson placed third in humorous/dramatic interpretation for a piece he abridged from Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Anna Scherer placed fifth in the same event with a piece she abridged from “Slammed” by Colleen Hoover. Scherer also placed sixth in Poetry and Prose for her recitation of Rachel Wiley’s “Ten Honest Thoughts of a Fat Girl Loving a Skinny Boy”, “OCD” by Neil Hilman and an anonymous poem.

Nat Smith placed third in Extemporaneous Commentary. He and Emilia Cubelos placed fourth in varsity Public Forum.

Stacey Andrus placed fourth in novice oratory for a speech she wrote on “Procrastination.”

Robin Willscheidt placed fifth in varsity oratory for her speech on optimism and sixth in her house of Congress.

“Parent volunteers Danette Johnson and Cassie Paup did an outstanding job in organizing the event,” said debate coach Kristin Millis. “As did Anna Scherer, the captain the team.”

Community members were there to assist with concessions, meals and judging events.

“This was one of the few debate tournaments where we had more judges than events,” Millis said. “We truly appreciate the support we have from the town.”

Local team places fifth

“We truly appreciate the support we have from the town.”