Bobcats attend Speech and Debate Nationals

Hot Springs County High School Speech and Debate put the finishing touches on a picture perfect season at the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) 2022 National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky last week. The NSDA National Tournament included over 6500 competitors this year.  It was the largest NSDA Tournament in history.

Four qualifying students from HSCHS, Jean-Luc Willson, Josiah Butler, Logan Petty and Elizabeth Keller, traveled with coaches, Cindy Glasson and Lyle Wiley, to the weeklong, nationwide competition against the best of the best in the US (and some other countries as well).  

These students worked hard all season to earn the honor to compete at the National Tournament, and worked even harder to prepare for the tournament for about six weeks prior to the competition.

The tournament was a fulfilling learning experience and a lot of fun.  The Louisville community was full of kind, diverse, and interesting people.  

Graduated Senior and two-time National Qualifier, Josiah Butler competed in ten rounds of Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Extemporaneous Debate.  

Graduated Senior and two-time National Qualifier, Logan Petty competed in the Congressional Debate Senate.  

Rising Junior and two-time National Qualifier, Elizabeth Keller debated with the Wind River Worlds Schools Debate Team and performed Poetry.  

Graduated Senior and three-time National Qualifier Jean-Luc Willson just missed breaks in International Extemporaneous Speaking, but then did break into the first set of out rounds in Extemporaneous Commentary. Any breaks into out rounds at Nationals is exemplary.

For the last two years, NSDA hosted the tournament online, and the return to in-person competition was a breath of fresh air for all of the competitors. 

“The tournament atmosphere was electric and exciting,” said Coach Lyle Wiley when he reflected on the importance of the in-person event.  Wiley added, “What a beautiful way for our seniors to end their Bobcat Speech and Debate careers.  They had the opportunity to travel across the country, see a diversity of amazing Speech and Debate performers from all over, and compete against the best.”

The end of the tournament marked the end of an era for the Bobcat seniors who have been leaders and ambassadors for the event, and who have been vital to the team’s success over the last four years.  This success has resulted in three straight 1A/2A Wyoming State Championships.  

Wiley was quick to thank the Thermopolis community for their help.  He said,”We would like to thank the many people who helped contribute funds to help our students attend this tournament - the largest academic competition in the US. It was a great learning experience for all of us.” 

He added, “I’m going to miss these students so much.  They are incredibly talented student competitors, but they are even better human beings.  It has been a joy to watch them grow and improve, and it is a great honor to coach them.  I can’t wait to see the big things they accomplish in the future.”

This was HSCHS Speech and Debate’s 20th appearance at the National Tournament so they were honored as a Milestone School on the screens during awards and finals. Willson was honored on the screens for his selection as Wind River District Student of the Year.