Speech and Debate secures top finishes

The Green River High School Speech and Debate team's season is in full swing, and team members are working hard to secure top finishes.

The team was on the road the past two weekends, traveling to Idaho Falls, Idaho for the highly competitive Grizzly Growl Tournament November 8-9, then heading to the Cheyenne South Bison Stampede Tournament November 15-16.

The Grizzly Growl Tournament is a premier event that draws some of the best speech and debate talent from across Idaho, according to Head Coach Jericho Morrell. The Wolves achieved outstanding results across multiple events at the tournament, earning numerous individual awards and showcasing their impressive public speaking, argumentation, and performance skills. The tournament provided valuable experience and insight that will serve the team well in upcoming competitions, including district and state events later this season, according to Morrell.

"Our students worked incredibly hard to prepare for this tournament, and their results reflect that dedication," the coach said. "I'm especially proud of how they handled the challenge of competing at such a high level. The success we saw in Idaho Falls is a direct result of their perseverance, passion, and the support of their teammates."

The Wolves continued to take home top finishes during the Bison Stampede Tournament in Cheyenne. At this tournament, which is one of the most competitive of the season, the team was able to secure a first-place finish in small schools and a third-place finish overall.

Morrell expressed immense pride in the team's performance, noting, "Our students demonstrated not only skill and hard work, but also the perseverance and teamwork that are so important in this activity. We're proud to see their dedication pay off at such a prestigious event."

The team is now preparing for their upcoming local tournament this weekend, which will bring 16 teams with over 400 entries. They're also getting ready for their future competitions, including Regionals and State, where Morrell said they aim to further showcase their talent and represent Green River High School with pride.

Top performers from the Grizzly Growl Tournament:

Aelia Mecham – 5th place in Humor

Sydney Bowen – 4th place in Oratory

James Leffers – 4th place in Extemporaneous Speaking

Georgia Morrell – 5th place in Informative Speaking

Lilly Janota – 3rd place in Drama

Leo Evans – 4th place in Drama

Iliana Birmingham – 5th place in Drama

Spencer Morrell & Georgia Morrell – 2nd place in Duo Interpretation

Bekalyn Swett – 3rd place in Program Oral Interpretation (POI)

MaKynzee Bagshaw – 1st place in Impromptu Speaking

Spencer Morrell – 4th place in Impromptu Speaking

Silas Chetterbock – 2nd place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD)

Top performers from the Bison Stampede Tournament:

Savery English - 1st place in Oratory

Shyann Halter - 6th in Oratory

Silas Chetterbock - 5th in Extemporaneous Speaking

Madison Korkow - 5th place in Informative Speaking

Lillynee Janota - 4th in Dramatic Interpretation

Spencer and Georgia Morrell - 4th in Duo Interpretation

MaKynzee Bagshaw and Emma Johnson - 3rd in Public Forum Debate