For the second year in a row, the Grand County Speech and Debate Team had a strong showing at the Marie Clegg Jones Memorial Debate Tournament at Utah Valley University in Orem.
Overall, the team took first place in the small schools sweepstakes division – a step up from taking second last year.
Senior Caylee Stroder continued to perform well in Lincoln-Douglas debate, placing third overall and advancing all the way to the semifinals, as well as claiming the spot for sixth-best speaker in Lincoln-Douglas out of 90 competitors.
Also in Lincoln-Douglas, senior Grace Osusky was the seventh-best speaker. Aidan Guzman-Newton, also a senior, was the 10th-best speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Sophomore Miranda Corbin advanced to the finals and placed fifth in Programmed Oral Interpretation (POI). Ty Martinez, also a sophomore, made it to the finals in Congress. Junior Kai Wainer placed eighth in foreign extemporaneous speaking, and narrowly missed advancing to the finals round. Sophomore Zella Ceniceros was also close to breaking past preliminary rounds in her event, Original Oratory.
The team continues to prepare for the National Qualifier tournament (Nat Quals) in March and hopes to send students to nationals once again. It will also compete at in regional and state tournaments in early March.
In mid-March, the team will be having a fundraiser to support students who qualify for nationals as well as the Tournament of Champions. The “Night of SpAr” event will be held at the Grand County High School auditorium. More information about the event will soon be released to the public.
GCHS students place first in small schools sweepstakes division
