Bobcat Speech and Debate earn first at Lander Tourney Sweepstakes

The Hot Springs County High School Speech and Debate team earned the 1A/2A Team Sweepstakes Championship trophy at the Landins Outlaw Tiger Classic Speech and Debate Tournament held at Lander Valley High School on December 13-14. Coached by Lyle Wiley, Alyssa Brown, Riley Jeffs, and Markie Whitney, the Bobcats brought ten  students to compete in the large tournament that hosted 17 schools and nearly 300 entries. 

Senior Kiesha Kraushaar set the pace with a second place finish in Dramatic Interpretation. She also broke into semifinals in Informative Speaking and took seventh place overall. 

Senior Rosalie Willson and partner sophomore Annalyn Sharp continued to improve in CX debate, capturing second place in Policy. Fellow debater, junior Dean Bihr built on success in Congressional Debate, breaking into Super Congress and finishing in seventh place overall in a large field.  Bihr was also a finalist in Impromptu, taking sixth place. Additionally, Bihr and junior Lucille Andreen finished with a 2-2 record in Public Forum Debate, placing eighth overall.  

Sophomore Hayden Franklin had a strong tournament, breaking into the final round of Poetry Interpretation for her first time and finishing in second place overall in a large group of competitors. 

Freshman Allyssa Hough also had an excellent tournament, finishing in second place in Novice Dramatic Interpretation and eighth overall in Novice Informative Speaking. Freshman Lucy Wiley attended the tournament also to observe and support teammates.

Sophomores Kassidee Chavez, Riley Crowder and Marguerite Keller all found success at the tournament as well. Chavez took seventh place in Dramatic Interpretation, while Crowder finished sixteenth in Informative Speaking. Keller, who nearly broke into semifinals in Poetry, finished eleventh with her piece.

Willson, happy with the team’s performance, said, “The tournament showed so much growth and hope for the future.”

Andreen agreed with Willson and added, “It was really fun to make new friends and try new things in Congress and PF.”

Coach Jeffs expressed excitement for the rest of the season after the tournament. He reflected, “The Lander tournament showed our larger team getting back into the swing of things. The team showed success at this tournament and a lot of promise. They also had fun. We have many tournaments ahead and much to fine tune, but this trip boosted my excitement for the rest of the season.”

Next up, the Bobcats will be hosting the Hot Springs Speech and Debate Tournament to be held at Hot Springs County High School on Friday, January 3 and Saturday, January 4. Anyone interested in judging for this tournament should contact Coach Wiley at Lwiley@hotsprings1.org.