JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole High School Speech and Debate Team added a 3rd place sweepstakes trophy to the showcase last week at the Star Valley Virtual Tournament, hosted by Star Valley High School, January 21-22.
Cheyenne East took home 1st in the 4A sweepstakes while Evanston brought home 2nd. The Jackson team, under the coaching of Londe Gagnon and Peggy Gagnon, only competed with 10 of their 23-member team but managed to land numerous individual top finishes.
Junior Nicole Checker was the champion in Dramatic Interpretation for the JHHS squad where she faced down 5 Cheyenne East competitors in the finals. Checker went on to reach semifinals in Original Oratory as well.
For the second weekend in a row, the JHHS PF Debate team consisting of team captain Carter Worcester and senior Sarah Schweitzer took 2nd place in the event. Sophomores Jackson and James Neishabouri finished in 6th place. Freshman Oscar Andersen took home 5th place in Lincoln Douglas Debate where he spent the weekend arguing both sides of whether or not the appropriation of outer space by private entities is unjust.
Schweitzer brought home 3rd place in Extemporaneous Speaking with Andersen finishing in 7th in the same event. Junior Ary Jimenez Garcia finished with 3rd place in Informative Speaking with her presentation on coffee.
Worcester enjoyed a good run in Congressional Debate, finishing in 2nd place with junior Ventura Garcia Perez taking 8th. Jackson and James Neishabouri both advanced to the finals in the event as well, adding to the team sweepstakes points.
The Jackson team next competes at the Mustang Classic hosted by Natrona County High School this coming weekend.
The team is planning its own invitational tournament scheduled for Feb 4-5, 2022. For the home tournament, the Speech Team needs about 300 volunteers to judge for approximately an hour and a half each. Judging guidelines will be provided and several practice judging sessions will be offered. Judging experience is not required and babysitting will be provided.
If you would be able to volunteer anytime please sign up or email coach Londe Gagnon at lgagnon@tcsd.org.
