Speech team faces tough competition

With 36 teams at the Cheyenne East Tournament this weekend, the Green River Speech and Debate Team knew it would be hard to grab first place.

“This is a very tough tournament with teams from many states with well established and large, successful programs,” head coach Carina Stulken said.

“Our kids were challenged by the level of competition and I am very proud of them. It is good to see that level of competition because it forces you to rise to the occasion.”

Despite their best effort and placing first among the Wyoming schools, the team had to walk away with a fifth-place finish. Denver East took first place, Cherry Creek nabbed second, George Washington took third and Kent Denver grabbed fourth.

“We were only 13 points away from tying for the third place spot, with 43 total points,  which is the best showing our school has had at this tournament,” Stulken said.

The team used the tourney as a way to look at its competition.

“We got to see Cheyenne central for the first time this season and we placed well above them in points so we were happy about that,” he said.

As with any tournament, some students rise to the occasion and impress Stulken.

“My novice team never fails to impress me, specifically Patrick and Gregory Marchal, who once again made it to the final round of policy debate,” she said. “The team learned that they can be competitive against very tough opponents.”

With school being out for two weeks, the speech and debate team will also take a break.

“The positive is it gives the kids a chance to spend time with family and take a break from the hard practice schedule we have had; we have a very long season and their has to be balance I am very much looking forward to spending time with my family it is very difficult to be away from them weekend after weekend.” Stulken said. “The negative is we travel right after the break as we return to Cheyenne for the tournament at Central so they will have to play catch up to be prepared.”

Cheyenne East Results

Humor quarter finals: Phaedon Jones and Colt Parson

Novice humor finals: Jesse Lauze, sixth place

Duet quarter finals: Sheridan Stock/Emma Nathan, Reina Kropf/Leslie Patterson and Haylee Heiner/Katarina Knight

Novice duet: Sarah Kropf and Krista Boynton

Varsity extemporaneous finals: Alexander Marchal, fifth place

Novice extemporaneous finals: Michael Montoya and Gregory Marchal

Novice oratory semifinals: Sarah Kropf and Victoria Allen

Cross examination debate novice finals: Patrick Marchal/Gregory Marchal, second place

Lincoln Douglas debate novice: Abby Grubb, semifinals, third place

Congress: Kirstie Patterson, first place, JD Richardson, second place, Victoria Gilliam, third place, Patrick Harvey, finalist, Savannah Hook, finalist