THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO LAST SATURDAY’S AMAZING DEBATE TOURNAMENT AT WELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL!
I admit, I had a few concerns headed into the tourney, given it’s been two years since we’d last hosted, we had an almost entirely rookie volunteer crew, and we found out a few days beforehand that we were unable to use the cafeteria due to a wrestling tournament. But wow, did we do well! I received numerous compliments from teachers, coaches, judges, and competitors on how smoothly things ran all day, and that’s huge props to everyone that was a part of the day. Again, thank you so very much!
It was a successful Saturday afternoon, with plenty of adult and student volunteers, student judges, and donated food and beverages. Special thanks to Sue Ann McDaniel for spearheading the project. We could not have done it without you!
As for competition success … Wellington took first-place honors in Declamation (Ana Guillaume, with straight 1’s) and Novice Oral Interpretation (Madison Neltner). In fact, Wellingtin took four of the top six spots in Novice OI, with Ayman Omar placing second, Stacy Joseph third, and Andreanna Wellington sixth. In addition, Hannah Pahl placed second in Varsity OI, Colin Gibson third in Varsity Extemp, Olivia Winton third in Declamation, and Emma Gardner fourth in Congress
Wellington also earned eight new National Speech & Debate Association student memberships: Colin Capon, Emma Gardner, Stacy Joseph, Patrick McDermott, Eleanor Myers, Madison Neltner, Liam Stines, and Olivia Winton. Their certificates should arrive from Iowa in the next week or so, and will be added to the classroom wall.