Schuelke and Olivares Help Bring Home McGovern Trophy

The 12-member Bulldog debate team brought home the Class A Sweepstakes trophy from the 32nd Annual McGovern Speech and Debate Tournament held in Mitchell on November 8-9. The team was led by Max Schuelke, who claimed first place in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, and Carlos Olivares Zuniga, who captured second place in non-original oratory. According to Kathy Tyler, head coach for Milbank, Olivares missed first place by just one point.

The two-day tournament featured individual events on Friday and debate events on Saturday, and was the first major speech and debate tournament of the year. Individual Event (IE) students had several tournaments under their belts, but the McGovern Tournament was the first chance for the MHS members to debate their topics in competition.

George McGovern, for whom the tournament is named, was a U.S. representative and a three-term senator from South Dakota. McGovern, who was also a presidential  nominee in 1972, grew up in Mitchell and joined debate as a sophomore. McGovern and the Mitchell Kernel’s debate team became renowned across the state at a time when debate was passionately followed by the general public.

What’s next? The Bulldogs traveled to Sioux Falls today, November 15, to compete in a  two-day tournament at Sioux Falls Washington.  Coming up next week? IE students head to Regionals on November 19.  New members are welcome anytime!

Submitted Photos: Top- right to left: Individual event: Annabelle Schwenn, Humorous Interp; Eleanor Gastineau, Taylor Hallquist, Readers’ Theater; Carlos Olivares Zuniga, Non-Original Oratory; Izabella Glomstad, Original Oratory & Readers’ Theater; Macey Mueller, Duo Interp; Yanderyn Olivares Zuniga, Dramatic Interp; Front. left to right: Dana Chan, Duo Interp; Ruth Gomez, Storytelling & Poetry; Trixie Coalter, Readers’ Theater and Dramatic Interp.
Bottom-Debaters pictured: Back L to R Tate Pew, Novice Lincoln Douglas; Max Schuelke, Varsity Lincoln Douglas; Preston Laskowski, Trixie Coalter, Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas; Front..Taylor Hallquist, Junior Varsity Lincoln Douglas; Bri Hicks, Varsity LD; Ruth Gomez, JV PF.