JACKSON, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) Speech and Debate Team put on a strong showing this past weekend at the National Speech and Debate Association’s (NSDA) District Tournament at Rock Springs High School.
The meet was attended by 17 schools. JHHS Seniors Alexis Hernandez, Julieta Anaya, Jheili Montiel Huerta, Ventura Garcia Perez, Blanca Sartillo and Maya Worcester will join juniors James Nieshabouri, Jackson Neishabouri, Lauren Guh-Siesel and Melany Hernandez Garcia to represent the Wind River NSDA District this June at the National Tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. This is the twenty-sixth consecutive year and the thirty-sixth overall year the team has qualified students for the national meet.
Team captains Hernandez and Montiel Huerta teamed up in Public Forum Debate to earn their bid to Nationals. Hernandez went on to qualify in International Extemp and Big Questions Debate however; the National tournament prohibits students from competing in more than one event at the tournament so he will be compete in Public Forum Debate this June. Congressional Debate proved to be a Jackson strength as Worcester qualified in the House of Representatives along with Guh-Siesel and Garcia Perez.
Team captain Anaya achieved qualifying status in Program Oral Interpretation and finished in first place at the competition. Anaya also teamed up with Hernandez Garcia in Duo Interpretation, where they reached the semi-finals. Alexis Hernandez took home one of the greatest honors of the weekend as he was selected as the recipient of the Wind River District Student of the Year Award. This award, based on coach voting, recognizes the student who demonstrates strong academic standards, is actively engaged in their community through service and action and exhibits dedication to speech and the values held by the National Speech and Debate Association.
“For our team, Alexis’ honor is a highlight of the tournament this year,” said coach Peggy Gagnon. “Our entire team has earned the respect of coaches and students across the state for the professional way they carry themselves at tournaments.”
The 2023 Phoenix Nationals will be held June 11-16. Top competitors nationwide will gather to determine the national champion in each forensic event. According to coach Londe Gagnon, The NSDA is an honor society that “promotes interscholastic debate, oratory and public speaking by encouraging a spirit of fellowship and by conferring upon deserving candidates a worthy badge of distinction.”
The team travels to Cheyenne this weekend for the Wyoming State Speech and Debate Tournament.
