Bobcat Speech and Debate captures three national qualifier spots

The Hot Springs County High School Speech and Debate Team had an outstanding showing at the National Qualifying Wind River District Speech and Debate Tournament at Rock Springs High School on February 29 through March 2.  

The tournament hosted 19 Wind River District schools with competitors of all Wyoming school classifications (1A/2A, 3A, and 4A) mixed together. A field of 440 students performed and debated with the goal of qualifying for the NSDA National Speech and Debate Tournament. The Bobcats came away with three qualifiers: senior Ivey Goff qualified in Humorous Interpretation, junior Rosalie Willson qualified as a member of the World Schools Debate Team, and sophomore Dean Bihr qualified in Congressional Debate (House).  

These three Bobcats will represent the Wind River NSDA District this June as they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to compete with the best in the nation at the National Tournament. This is the eleventh consecutive year and the twenty-second overall year the team has qualified students for the national meet.

Senior competitors had a great District tournament overall. Goff and her senior partner Brison Steere advanced all the way to the final round in Duo Interpretation, finishing as the second alternate for National Qualification. Senior Chris Bapst was first alternate for National Qualification in Congressional Senate Debate after a strong Congress performance. 

Senior Julia Quintanilla and junior partner Zoey Larson broke into Duo semifinals and finished fifth alternate. Quintanilla was also a semifinalist in Program Oral Interpretation, earning the position of third alternate.

Freshman Annalyn Sharp and partner Willson competed in Policy Debate for the first time this season, finishing as third alternate for Nationals. Sharp also had a strong showing in Big Questions Debate, ending the tournament with a second alternate distinction.

Senior Delayni Custer, junior Ben Weaver, junior Kiesha Kraushaar, sophomore Luci Andreen, sophomore Kass Chavez, freshman Jackson Coates, freshman Hayden Franklin, freshman Aubriana Layman, and freshman Riley Crowder were all competitive in their respective events, showing vast improvements from the beginning of the season.

Head Coach Lyle Wiley was extremely proud of the young Bobcat team. "These students spend so much time and thought in constructing their pieces and work so hard to prepare for their debates," said Wiley. "It is a privilege to work with every one of our students, and they all demonstrated so much personal and skill growth since the beginning of the season way back in October. With the State tournament looming just ahead, I'm excited to see how far this team can go," he added.

Assistant Coach Alyssa Brown also brought Hot Springs County High School honors from the weekend. Brown was selected as the recipient of the 2023-24 Wind River District Assistant Coach of the Year. This award, based on coach voting, recognizes the assistant coach who demonstrates exemplary commitment and excellence to their team and the larger Speech and Debate community. Wiley reflected on this honor stating, "Coach Brown is hard working, dedicated, kind, and always willing to go the extra mile for the team and the larger Speech and Debate community. This team is so blessed to have her, and this award is well-deserved." 

The 2024 Des Moines National Speech and Debate Association Tournament will be held in June. Top competitors from across the country will gather to determine the national champion in each forensic event. 

Next, the team travels to Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne for the final tournament of the season, the Wyoming State Speech and Debate Tournament on March 7-9.