Kay learns at nationals

Hot Springs County High School Speech and Debate member Tyler Kay and coach Cindy Glasson returned last Saturday from the National Tournament in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Thousands of students from across the U.S. and five nations attended the week-long tournament as the best of the best from their state.

Kay had a good showing at the tournament with a 4,3,7,6,5,6 record in humorous interpretation with “How to Kiss a Girl.” Although it wasn’t enough to get him to quarterfinals, the top 60 participants, it did place him in the top 100 in a field of nearly 300 competitors.

“It was an amazing experience to compete with such talented kids from all across the country,” Kay said, “and to see how the competition varies from state to state.

“I learned what I can do better for next year, and I will definitely use that information to help me and my teammates to step up our competition for next year.”

“I am so proud of Tyler (Kay),” Glasson said. “This is an absolutely exhausting week for everybody, but he put everything into his performances and it showed. I could not have asked more of him.”

The time change between Wyoming and Florida added to the exhaustion as Kay was getting up at 6 a.m. Florida time while his body was still thinking it was 4 a.m. in Wyoming.

“I don’t think either of us really got used to that, even after a week,” Glasson laughed. “We were ready for bed at eight o’clock every night.”

Glasson said one of the great things, as a coach, about going to Nationals is being able to see what students are doing from other schools across the country. Each coach is required to judge at least eight rounds so there is plenty of opportunity to see what kind of pieces are winning in other states as well as techniques other coaches are teaching their team, all of which can be implemented here.

“My wheels are already turning for next year,” Glasson said. “I have some new pieces and some new ideas and I know Tyler already has his sights set on Nationals in Dallas next year.”