MHS Students Compete in State Debate Tournament

The Milbank High School Forensics Team ended its debate season on March 6 with the State Debate/IE tournament hosted virtually by Aberdeen. There were 13 teams in the Class A Division Public Forum contest. 

Brooke Schwagel and Lydia Street received a bye in their first round. They lost their second and third rounds, and the duo did not advance to the finals. Max Lightfield and Aiden Ludvigson won their first round 3-0 (three judges) and lost the second 0-3. They came within one judge’s vote of advancing to the finals with a 1-2 decision in the third round. Peyten Wiese participated in the original oratory competition.

Lydia Street finished her forensics year by competing in the Northern District Student Congress Qualifier where she placed 23rd out of 43 participants from A and AA schools.

Coach Kathy Tyler said, “To say I’m super proud of these students is an understatement. When novice and second-year debaters decide to compete against varsity teams—especially those from double-A schools— it shows character. That type of competition is hard and sometimes discouraging, but these students did it, learned from it, and are working hard to get to that level.”

Coach Tyler said the MHS team more than doubled its membership this year after the Debate 1 class was scheduled during the school day.  She says the class allowed students to learn the process during the school day instead of on their own after school. 

Debate1 will also be available next year.  Eighth graders were given the information and requirements in preparation for registration next August.

photo: Aiden Ludvigson, Max Lightfield, Peyten Wiese, Lydia Street, Brooke Schwagel.