NHS debate and forensics team takes first in Overall Sweepstakes

The Nevada High School debate and forensics team earned honors at a competition last weekend. Left to right, back row, Dakota Mitchem, Jason Yarber, Taylar Toole, Trey Dockery, Scott Hampton, Casey Long, Cody Foster, Tucker Wingert, Hayden Winter and Josh Neely. Middle row, Leah Creasy, Madison Ewing, Casey Barker, Cody Cauthon and Teryn Greer. Front row: Michael Walters and Joseph Hutchins. --submitted photo

The Nevada High School Debate and Forensics squad took first place in overall sweepstakes at the Exeter Tournament on Saturday. Nevada triumphed over the second place school by more than 100 sweepstakes points.

Nearly every member of the squad competing brought home individual honors and Nevada had finalists in every individual event category.

In Original Oratory, first place went to freshman Tucker Wingert, junior Teryn Greer placed second, freshman Joseph Hutchins took fourth, and sophomore Trey Dockery earned seventh. In Extemporaneous Speaking, freshman Josh Neely brought home a second place trophy while Hutchins took sixth.

In Dramatic Interpretation, senior Michael Walters earned a fourth place award with junior Scott Hampton taking sixth. For Humorous Interpretation, senior Casey Long won a third place trophy. Long and Hampton also won third in Duet Improvisation with sophomore Cody Cauthon and senior Hayden Winter coming in sixth. In Duet Acting, Wingert and freshman Cody Foster placed third and sophomore Leah Creasy and freshman Jason Yarber took sixth.

Nevada had four finishers in Poetry Interpretation: Foster was second, Walters took fifth, Long placed sixth, and Cauthon followed in seventh. In Prose Interpretation, sophomore Dakota Mitchem won a third place trophy while Hampton and Walters took seventh and eighth respectively.

In Live Radio Speaking, Hutchins was the first place champion followed by Greer in second and Neely took fifth. Wingert also brought home his third trophy by placing third in Storytelling.

The squad, under the direction of head coach Angie Bin and assistant coach Erin McCullough, competed Tuesday at MSHSAA District One-Act Play and Readers Theatre and today and Saturday at MSHSAA District Speech and Debate.