JACKSON, Wyo. —The Jackson Hole High School Speech and Debate Team added a third-place sweepstakes trophy to their 2021-2022 season at the Star Valley Virtual Tournament this past weekend.
At the tournament hosted by Star Valley High School, from Jan. 21-22, Cheyenne East took home first place in the 4A sweepstakes while Evanston brought home second. The Jackson team, under the coaching of Londe Gagnon and Peggy Gagnon, only competed with 10 of their 23 member team but saw numerous individual top finishes.
Junior Nicole Checker was the champion in Dramatic Interpretation for the JHHS squad. She reached the finals round which was composed of 5 Cheyenne East competitors and herself. She went on to reach the semifinals in Original Oratory as well.
For the second weekend in a row, the JHHS PF Debate team consisting of team captain Carter Worcester and senior Sarah Schweitzer took second place in the event. Sophomores Jackson and James Neishabouri finished in sixth place. Freshman Oscar Andersen took home fifth place in the Lincoln Douglas Debate where he spent the weekend arguing both sides of whether or not the appropriation of outer space by private entities is unjust.
Schweitzer went on to bring home thirdd place in Extemporaneous Speaking with Andersen finishing in seventh in the same event. Junior Ary Jimenez Garcia was successful in Informative Speaking where she finished in third place with her presentation on coffee.
Worcester found success in Congressional Debate, finishing in second place with junior Ventura Garcia Perez finishing in eighth. Jackson and James Neishabouri both advanced to the finals in the event as well, adding to the team sweepstakes points.
This upcoming weekend the Jackson team will compete at the Mustang Classic hosted by Natrona County High School
The team is planning its own invitational tournament scheduled for Feb 4 and 5, 2022. For the home tournament, the Speech Team is in need of about 300 volunteers to judge for approximately an hour and a half each. Judging guidelines will be provided and several practice judging sessions will be offered. Judging experience is not required and babysitting will be provided. For the volunteer signup click here or email coach Londe Gagnon at lgagnon@tcsd.org.
