The Green River High School Speech and Debate Team took all the sweepstakes awards available at the district tournament.
The team not only took the overall sweepstakes award, but speech, debate and Congress sweepstakes awards as well at the Wind River District Tournament this past weekend.
"This is our 10th district championship in a row and it speaks to the perseverance and diversity of talent this team possesses," head coach Carina White said.
Districts is a double-elimination tournament so as soon as competitors have two losses they are eliminated. It took up to seven rounds in some events to get to a final round and determine national qualifiers.
"It is a very stressful and difficult tournament and only the best of the best will qualify," she said. "Each event qualifies two or three entries depending on the number in the event."
"To end up with 12 students attending nationals and to have so many qualifying spots speaks to the level of talent of this group of students," White said. "Twelve is a record, it is the most qualifiers we have ever had."
Not all of the 46 students attending districts were as successful as the 12 advancing to nationals.
"With every success comes some disappointment," White said. "We had several students get very close to qualifying and not quite make it, which is always hard. Those students took it in stride and supported the teammates still in competition when that happened."
The end of the season is sometimes hard for a close-knit group, especially the seniors, White said.
"We saw a lot of tears, joy, and reflection of speech careers ending as seniors prepare to bid goodbye to what has defined a large portion of their high school career," White said. Even if they qualified, it is always bitter sweet."
Those who aren't going to nationals are done until next year. Even those going to nationals will have a short break, but White said they will need to get back to work in a month or so to start preparing for nationals. Nationals will take place June 18-23 in Birmingham, Ala.
"We look forward to representing our school district and our state at the national tournament," White said.
Those attending nationals, will now start fundraising for the expensive trip.
National qualifiers
Policy Debate
Patrick Marchal and Gregory Marchal
Jesse Lauze and Rebecca Shamer
Victoria Allen and Atlin Johnson, second alternate
Lincoln Douglas debate
Abigaile Grubb
Rachel Heisinger
Savrina Karimi
Informative
Abigaile Grubb
Dallin Hoyt, first alternate
Oratory
Victoria Allen
Domestic extemporaneous
Gregory Marchal
Program oral interpretation
Lynzi Johnson, first alternate
Congress House 3
Alison Kloepper
Rachel Heisinger, first alternate
Senate
Arlin Johnson, third alternate
House 2 Congress
Patrick Marchal, first alternate
House 1 Congress
Gregory Marchal, second alternate
Jesse Lauze, third alternate
Duet
Reina Kropf and Leslie Patterson
Colt Parson and Sarah Kropf, first alternate
Humor
Reina Kropf
Dallin Hoyt
District Student of the Year Award
Leslie Patterson, only one student receives this prestigious award
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