Bobcat Speech and Debate scores three National Qualifiers

The Hot Springs County High School Speech and Debate Team celebrated another strong showing at the National Qualifying Wind River District Speech and Debate Tournament at Central Wyoming College in Riverton on February 27 through March 1. Seventeen Bobcats, coached by Lyle Wiley, Alyssa Brown, Riley Jeffs, Markie Whitney, and Tyler Kay, traveled and competed in the tournament.

The tournament hosted 19 Wind River District schools with competitors of all Wyoming school classifications (1A/2A, 3A, and 4A) mixed together. 430 students performed and debated with the goal of qualifying for the 2025 NSDA National Speech and Debate Tournament. The Bobcats came away with three qualifiers: debate partners, senior Rosalie Willson and sophomore Annalyn Sharp, qualified in Policy Debate, and junior Dean Bihr qualified in Congressional Debate (House).  

These three Bobcats (and potentially more depending on supplemental events and alternate movement) will represent the Wind River NSDA District this June as they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete with the best speech and debate students in the nation at the National Tournament. This is the twelfth consecutive year and the twenty-third overall year that the Bobcat team has qualified students for the national meet.

Upperclassman competitors had an impressive District tournament. Willson and her sophomore partner Sharp, after finishing as third alternate last season, won enough debates to qualify in Policy Debate with their third place finish. Willson is also first alternate in Big Questions Debate after advancing to elimination rounds and sporting a 4-2 record, and Sharp went 2-2 in Big Questions Debate. Additionally, Willson advanced to semifinals in International Extemporaneous Speaking.

For the second consecutive year, junior Dean Bihr qualified in Congressional Debate in the House - an event with over 60 competitors from teams across the Wind River District.  Bihr also broke into semifinals in International Extemporaneous Speaking and advanced to elimination rounds in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. 

Four-year senior competitor, Ki Kraushaar is tenth alternate for National Qualification in Dramatic Interpretation after an excellent performance of her chosen piece, "The Good Mother" by Elise Sharron. Junior Luci Andreen was named second alternate for the World Schools Debate Team after another impressive season of growth in debate, congress, and interpretative events. 

Senior Zoey Larson, junior Margo Keller, junior Kass Chavez, sophomore Jackson Coates, sophomore Hayden Franklin, sophomore Aubriana Layman, sophomore Riley Crowder, sophomore Teancum Gevas, freshman Clayton Keller, freshman Rylee Simpson, and freshman Allyssa Hough were all competitive in their respective events, sporting vast improvements from the beginning of the season. Freshman Lucy Wiley was also available as an emergency fill-in for missing or sick competitors.

Head Coach Lyle Wiley showed immense pride in the accomplishments of the young Bobcat team. "These students work so hard constructing their pieces and preparing for debates throughout the season," said Wiley. "It is a privilege to work with every one of our students, and they have all demonstrated so much personal and skill growth since the beginning of the season way back in October," he added.

Volunteer Assistant Coach Riley Jeffs also brought Hot Springs County High School honors from the weekend. Jeffs was selected as the recipient of the 2024-25 Wind River District Volunteer of the Year. Activities Director Brandon Deromedi was honored too at awards as 2024-25 Wind River District Administrator of the Year. These awards, based on coach voting, recognize the individuals who demonstrate exemplary commitment and excellence to their team and the larger Speech and Debate community. 

The Des Moines National Speech and Debate Association Tournament will be held June 15-20. Thousands of top competitors from across the country will gather to determine the national champion in each forensic event. 

Next, the team travels to Cheyenne South High School in Cheyenne for the final tournament of the season, the Wyoming State Speech and Debate Tournament on March 13-March 15.