Twenty-five members of
the Hood River Valley High School Speech and Debate Team
traveled to Linfield College in McMinnville for the 76th annual
Singletary Speech and Debate Tournament.
After two days of
competition, four rounds of debate, three rounds of individual
events and finals, Hood River’s Speakin’ Eagles came home with a
box full of trophies.
“This tournament was
sweet,” commented team captain Marcus Fridley, “because so many
team members who have worked hard all year finally found
themselves in the winner’s circle.”
The novice parliamentary
debate team of Eric Wang and Philip Winkle won two of their four
rounds of debate at their first-ever debate tournament.
In the open division,
the duo of Tyler Colesar and Patrick Sadil won two rounds, as
did the duo of Leo Dorich and Elijah Maletz.
“The open division in
debate is very tough because second-year debaters are competing
against former district and state champions throughout the
tournament. We often lose more rounds than we win, but we learn
a lot!” said team co-captain, Roberto Nunez.
Winning first place in
Oratory was Jackson Olson Dougan, attending his second
tournament and competing in the open division.
Taking sixth place in
Poetry Reading and third place in Oratory was senior team member
Kelbe Thompson. Winning sixth place in Dual Interpretation of
Literature was the team of Dena Beals and Max Gorman.
Earning third place in
Radio Commentary was Taylor Fridley, who with her duo partner
Dana Tickner won fourth place in a very tough final round of
Dual Interpretation of Literature.
Winning second place in
Prose Reading was Tayler Krummel, who also took second place in
Dual Interpretation with her partner, Elijah Maletz.
These finishes were good
enough to place Hood River fourth in Sweepstakes out of 22
schools in attendance.
Next for the speech team is the
University of Oregon Bower-Aly Tournament, to be held in Eugene
over Feb. 21-23.
