Speech team third at Teton Invitational

The Bobcat Speech and Debate team traveled to Jackson last weekend for the Teton Invitational, returning with a third place in 1A/2A competition.

Just five members of the team were able to make the trip, but made an excellent showing with several students placing in their individual events.

Senior Amanda Dinsmore broke to semi-finals in both drama and humor, moving on to finals in drama, bringing home fourth place honors.

Dinsmore was joined by sophomore Patience Moore, who broke into semi-finals in drama for the first time.

“The look on her face is what I do this for,” coach Cindy Glasson said about Moore’s break into semi-finals. “This was Patience’s third tournament, and to break into semis was a really big step. Sometimes, students don’t get their first break until their junior or sometimes senior year.

“Having Amanda (Dinsmore) and Patience both in semi-finals was a big plus. That meant they were in the top 11 of 46 entries in the drama category.”

Not to be out done, Kameron Olsen and Darren Leonhardt both talked their way into semi-finals in extemp. Leonhardt placed fifth with Olsen edging him out with a third place win.

“The dynamic between Kam (Olsen) and Darren (Leonhardt) is interesting to watch,” Glasson said. “Even though they are in direct competition with each other, both in LD debate and extemp, they put their heads together as soon as their rounds are over and discuss their speeches, their topics and the competition. They feed off each other and are a real example of what teamwork is.”

The team has hit the mid-season mark and will now take a couple of weeks off to regroup and catch up on school work and some much needed sleep.

“These tournaments are exhausting for the kids,” Glasson said. “Much of their time is spent rushing from competition to competition, speaking and then starting it all over again for two straight days. They’re mentally wiped out by the time the awards are passed out. Any down time they have between rounds is spent doing homework and prepping for their next speech.”

The Cats will be traveling to Greybull Feb. 26-27, followed by the Worlando Beach tournament in Worland the next weekend, three days at the State Tournament in Buffalo after that, and finish their season with three days at the National Qualifiers in Riverton, March 17-19.