Debaters Earn Second at Lewis and Clark Tourney

Coach Kathy Tyler of the MHS debate team also made it to the stage at the annual Lewis and Clark Invitational Debate Tournament held January 29-30 in Yankton. Tyler accepted Milbank’s second place sweepstakes award for ‘A’ schools. Lennox took first place with just seven more points.  

Coach Tyler explained, “Sweepstakes points are determined by the numbers. The more students a school has in different events, the more points they earn. Every student who participated on Saturday, except for Student Congress, contributed to the sweepstakes points. She also noted, “If any student is interested in joining us, we still have a couple of spots to fill.”

In preparation for the Lewis and Clark tournament, the MHS debaters did some remodeling to their team. The Bulldogs switched it up by moving two members of the squad to the varsity level and entering two debaters in novice extemp. The adjustments advanced Max Schuelke and Qualon Grant to the varsity level, where they competed against all double-A schools. They finished with a 3-3 record, and both earned top speaker points. Max accumulated 30 — the most you can get– in one round.

Schuelke and Grant each were awarded four out of five in the first round, which earned them a place in the second and third rounds. They received a two and a three in the second and third rounds.

Shane Spiering and Rylen Frerichs placed third in a field of fifteen teams in the novice public forum category. They missed the finals by .06 of a point. 
Lydia Street placed first in Student Congress. Frerichs placed 10th in Student Congress. Brooke Schwagel earned ratings of four, three, and four in Dramatic Interp.
What’s next for the Bulldogs?  Milbank travels to Harrisburg High School for the Rushmore Challenge on February 11-12.  The national qualifying tournament (quals) are coming up on  February 24-26. South Dakota’s state tournament is March 4- 5.

Photo: Back-Rylen Frerichs, Shane Spiering and Qualon Grant Front…Max Schuelke, Lydia Street and Brooke Schwagel