The Wenatchee High School speech and debate team brought home three awards with five of its six members breaking into the final round of competition at Gonzaga University’s 69th annual Conway Classic Tournament in Spokane Jan. 8-9.

WHS competed with 35 other teams from six states, making it one of the biggest tournaments in the Pacific Northwest.

Junior co-captain Vivian Noyd earned second place in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Open Congressional Debate. Freshman Cassandra Noyd received fifth place honors in Novice Congressional Debate.

Other finalists in Open Congressional Debate were senior Abby Davison and sophomore Sebastian Pasion. Senior Isadora Becker was a finalist in Novice Congressional Debate.

“I think this tournament says a lot about Wenatchee’s team,” Noyd said. “It speaks to the consistently hard work of our members, the commitment of our coaches and the support of our volunteers, parents and sponsors. This tournament really showed that Wenatchee is not just competitive in Washington state, but in the pacific northwest region as well.”

The WHS speech and debate club provides the opportunity for students to compete at the local, state, and national level in different debate, speech and drama events. Competitors may also earn lifelong membership in the National Speech and Debate Association, the National Honor Society for public speaking.

The team’s next competition will be Jan. 23 at Othello High School and then Feb. 4-6 at the Thomas Foley Memorial Tournament in Spokane, Washington. The speech and debate season will conclude with the State tournament in June.