The Wenatchee High School Speech and Debate team’s novice group competed in Othello last weekend and  took first place.

“I’m very proud of how we did this weekend,” Debate team adviser David Carlson said. “It shows that we have a nice and strong young team.”

Many of the upper division students were taking the SAT and couldn’t attend.

Freshman Bailey White took first in three events and second place in one. She contributed to almost half of the team’s overall score. White, with the help of freshmen Flor Gonzalez and Ethan Harris, swept the expository event.

Debate has several big competitions coming up — a tournament in Spokane on Feb. 5-7, the regional qualifier on Feb. 12-13, and the national qualifier on Feb. 19-20, Carlson said

“We have many State hopefuls and even some possible State champions,” Carlson said. “Our goal at regionals is to win the event as a team, which I have full belief that we have the possibility of doing. All in all, I am very proud of our team this year.”