Wenatchee High School’s Debate team performed well at the State Speech and Debate Championship on March 21 at the University of Puget Sound. Out of 10 WHS Debate members who qualified for the state championship, five placed in the top 20 for their events. Junior Kiana Wilson competed her way to the final round in Interpretive Reading for the second year in a row.

Wilson placed third in Interpretive Reading and 13th in Dramatic Interpretation; junior Wallace O’Donnell and freshman Vivian Noyd placed ninth in Public Forum Debate. O’Donnell also placed 14th in Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speech. Noyd placed 17th in Extemporaneous Speaking. Juniors Ashley Techavimol and Serena Fitzgerald placed 20th and 23rd in Original Oratory respectively.

“I’m really proud of our whole team at both the individual events and Debate competitions,” Noyd said. “I know the team had quite a few new members this year, including myself, and we did really well for being first year debaters. 10 of us qualified [for state] and five out of that group placed in the top 20 of their events — it’s really an accomplishment.”

WHS’s Speech and Debate season typically comes to a close with this State championship, but two members of the team qualified for National championships as well. The students who are part of Debate can compete at local, state, and national levels in different debate, speech, and drama events. There is also an opportunity for competitors to earn a lifelong membership in the National Forensics League, the national honor society for public speaking.

“We had a strong team this year and we are all excited for next year’s successes,” said WHS speech and debate head coach Dave Carlson. “But we aren’t yet done.  Our attention is now on the national competition coming up in June.  Fundraising and fine-tuning are our current focus.”