MHS Debate Team Win Second at State–Schuelke Claims Runner-Up

The Milbank High School debate team won the Class A second-place trophy at the 2023 South Dakota Debate and Individual Events Tournament on March 3-4. Individually, Milbank’s Max Schuelke claimed second place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate after six rounds.

Nearly 200 students from 25 schools competed at Mitchell High School and the Mitchell Performing Arts Center. In Class A, Spearfish claimed first place and Beresford came in third. In Class AA action, Aberdeen Central won the championship title. Sturgis-Brown took second-place honors, and Sioux Falls Jefferson finished at third.

In addition to collecting a runner-up trophy, Schuelke placed third in U.S. Extemp. Bulldog Qualon Grant won third place in Informative Oratory. Carlos Olivares Zuniga, in his first year as a debater, took fourth place in Original Oratory. Shane Spiering earned fourth in International Extemp. Rylen Frerichs placed sixth in U.S. Extemp. Ixtal Macias, also a first-year debater, took sixth in Informative Oratory.  

The Public Forum team of Grant and Elexia Quintanilla reached the quarter finals. The Public Forum team of Spiering and Frerichs missed the quarter-final cut by one vote. First-year debater Ruth Luis Gomez missed the cut to finals by one place.

“To say I am proud of these debaters is an understatement,” Coach Kathy Tyler commented. “I shed lots of tears of gratitude last weekend!”
Tyler also acknowledged her support team, “This feat could not have been accomplished without the help of IE coach Sandy Christensen. Her talent makes the speakers shine. Teacher Natasha Karels gave them the basics and made them learn.” 

Submitted Photos: Back (l. to r.) — Shane Spiering, Qualon Grant, Camila Monroy, Carlos Olivares Zuniga, Trixie Coalter. Front — Rylen Frerichs, Ixtal Macias, Max Schuelke, Elexia Quintanilla, Ruth Luis Gomez, Coach Kathy Tyler. Not picture – IE Coach Sandy Christensen. Bottom photo-Max Schuelke