A lot of experience gained at tournament

The novice members of the Green River High School Speech and Debate team had a chance to show off their skills during a novice-only tournament.

During the novice tournament, which took place at Cheyenne South, individual ribbons are given out, head coach Carina Stulken said.

“There is no sweepstakes at a novice tournament; the novice tournaments are intended to teach novices so they can learn and grow,” Stulken said. “The novice season is about teaching and as we move into the regular season those students will apply what they learned and help our team grow and be competitive. We have a very talented group of novices and I am excited for the regular season to start.”

The team has about 54 novices competing this season.

“Cheyenne East is very competitive this season and we have been neck and neck with them,” she said. “There are some events they have had more success with and others we are more competitive in.”

A couple of students really stood out during this past meet. Taylor Draney and Treyson Rasmussen won public forum debate; and the team is proud of them.

Preparing for upcoming meets is something the team will continue to do.

“We don’t travel until after Thanksgiving; and so the next few weeks is about working hard and filling the gaps where we need to as well as setting new goals for competition in both debates and interpretive events,” she said. “In addition to learning part of team building, is bonding those students in with the team.”

Stulken and other coaches, Dan Parson and RaNae Johnson are very excited for this season.

“We have a lot of talent and can’t wait to really get into the bulk of the season,” he said. “We won’t travel as an entire team until the Cheyenne East tournament Dec. 18-19.”

Cheyenne South Results

Public Forum debate: First place: Treyson Rasmussen and Taylor Draney, third place: Tavianna Kemp and Dakota Westburg

Drama: Semifinalists: Cynthia Sherada and Jimera Campos

Duet: Second place: Hannah Braithwaite and Laryn Hoyt, third place: Maddie Burge and Kaitlyn Gambles, fourth place: Katy Robinson and Raymond Garcia

Lincoln Douglas Debate: Third place tie between Macey Montoya and Kassie Bolhmann

Humor: Semifinalist: Raymond Garcia

Poetry: Second place: Rachel Heisinger and sixth place: Megan Golightly

Oratory: Second place: Taylor Draney, sixth place: Greggory Vanderpool, semifinalist: Kelci Revelli and Treyson Rasmussen

Extemporaneous Speaking: Second place: Hannah Thomas, sixth place: Levi Hren, semifinalists: Abby Alcorn, Macey Montoya, Katy Robinson

Congress: Fifth place: Sam Bayles