NHS Speech and Debate students qualify for state

The NHS Debate and Forensics squad placed second in sweepstakes at Lamar. Back row, left to right: Josh Neely, Cody Cauthon, Christian Renz, Connor Harbit, Taylar Toole, Tucker Wingert, Cody Foster, Devin Linn, and Nathan Conley. Middle row: Angie Bin, Kelsey Hammontree, Alex Vincent, Anna Jones, Casey Barker, Teryn Greer, Kelsie Fanning, and Sam Kirschenmann. Front row... Valerie Rainey, Lexi Compton, Scott Hampton, Brantley Scism, Nicole Bailey, Trey Dockery. submitted photo

Amid a successful showing at the MSHSAA District Speech and Debate Tournament on Saturday in Carthage, Nevada High School's team qualified two students to the state competition.

Senior Teryn Greer qualified for state for the third year in a row and will be taking original oratory this year. She earned the honor by placing third at the district tournament. Sophomore Joseph Hutchins placed second in radio speaking, also qualifying him for state competition. They will compete at the University of Missouri in Columbia on April 16.

Other district finalists from the weekend included sophomore Josh Neely, who took fourth in storytelling; and sophomore Cody Foster, who placed fourth in poetry. Placing fourth in duet acting were sophomore Tucker Wingert and Foster. Senior Scott Hampton took fifth in dramatic interpretation. Senior Brantley Scism was awarded sixth in prose interpretation, and Hutchins also placed seventh in extemporaneous speaking.

Head Debate and Forensics Coach Angie Bin expressed enthusiasm for the squad's achievement, "I am so proud of the success this squad garnered at the district tournament this year. We had finalists in every individual event but one. We also had three sophomores finish in fourth place, just one place away from qualifying for state. This makes me very excited about the future for these young competitors."

The squad also had a strong showing at the Lamar High School Forensics Tournament on Feb. 19, taking second place in overall sweepstakes. Neely took first in extemporaneous speaking and second in storytelling, Hampton placed second in dramatic interpretation and sixth in oratory, freshman Connor Harbit placed third in storytelling, Scism was fourth in prose/poetry interpretation, Wingert and Foster placed fifth in duo interpretation, and junior Cody Cauthon placed fifth in humorous interpretation. Semi-finalists in improvised acting were junior Nicole Bailey, senior Nathan Conley, sophomore Christian Renz, sophomore Devin Linn, junior Casey Barker, and freshman Anna Jones; also Linn and Renz in dramatic interpretation; and Foster, Greer, and freshman Sam Kirschenmann in prose/poetry interpretation.

At the Exeter High School Forensics Tournament on Feb. 26, Hutchins took first in radio and third in extemporaneous speaking, Harbit placed second in radio and fifth in both humorous interpretation and storytelling, Neely placed third in radio, fourth in storytelling, and fifth in extemporaneous speaking, Hampton took third in original oratory, and freshman Valerie Rainey garnered the fourth place finish in poetry interpretation. Semi-finalists included Greer in radio, Hutchins in poetry, and junior Trey Dockery in both poetry and prose interpretation.

The squad competes next at the National Forensic League district tournament on March 18 and 19 and the N.F.L. student congress on April 7 and 8 that qualify students for nationals. Nationals is in Dallas, Texas, in June.