JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — The Jackson Hole High School Speech and Debate Team enjoyed a strong showing at the National Speech and Debate Association District Tournament, held in Rock Springs March 17-19.
Qualifiers from the JHHS Team will represent the Wind River NSDA District this June at the National Tournament which will be held in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s the 25th consecutive year the team has qualified students for the national meet. In order to earn a bid to compete at the National Tournament, students must place in the top two or three of their individual events at the district tournament.
Will Aepli is a man on a mission this season. And last season. And the season before. The team captain qualified in all three events he entered this time around. That makes four straight years Aepli will head to national competition—a feat not accomplished since Maleah Tuttle in 2020.
Aepli began last weekend with a 1st-place finish in Congressional Debate. He then went on to place 1st in International Extemp, the event he will compete in at Nationals. Finally, Aepli teamed up with fellow team captain, Lily Briggs in Public Forum Debate where they moved through the tournament undefeated and ended up as the champions.
Briggs went on to earn a top spot in Congressional Debate, the event she has excelled at all season. A rule preventing qualifiers from competing in more than one event at nationals forced Briggs to choose Congress at the tournament.
Senior Sarah Schweitzer earned her bid to nationals in International Extemp for the second year in a row. The event involves students researching and giving speeches on foreign current events with only 30 minutes to prepare. Schweitzer also competed in Big Questions Debate where she rose to the top of the field in the event, and was recognized as a qualifier.
Senior and team captain Carter Worcester earned a bid to nationals in the Senate division of Congressional Debate. Juniors Alexis Hernandez and Jheili Montiel Huerta were selected out of a field of 50 applicants to represent the Wind River District at the National tournament in World Schools Debate. World Schools Debate is a debate event that combines “prepared” topics with “impromptu” topics, encouraging debaters to focus on specific issues rather than debate theory or procedural arguments.
Other members of the team earned alternate status in various events as well.
Junior Julieta Anaya ended the tournament as the first alternate in Dramatic Interpretation. Jackson Neishabouri and James Neishabouri earned 2nd alternate status in Public Forum Debate while Ronan Hagedorn earned 3rd alternate status in Big Questions Debate. Jackson Neishabouri also earned 1st alternate status in Domestic Extemp.
Anaya and teammate Blanca Sartillo Majia reached semifinals in Duo Interpretation. Nicole Checker reached semifinals in both Dramatic Interpretation and Original Oratory. Sascha Mizelle reached semifinals in Humorous Interpretation. Oscar Andersen reached semifinals in International Extemp.
Coach Peggy Gagnon was named as the Wind River District Communicator of the Year as well as the Wind River District Assistant Coach of the Year. The nominating letter stated: “Even though she has been in the game for many, many years, Peggy continues to bring her extensive knowledge and skills to the table to help our community. Peggy is always willing to help with the logistics of running tournaments and other important elements of our season.”
Additionally, Londe Gagnon was named the Wind River District Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. The award honors high school coaches who reflect outstanding leadership and commitment to speech and debate activities.
“[Londe] has coached her teams to be champions but also to be outstanding ambassadors. Not only do her students admire her but so do students and coaches from other teams throughout the state,” stated a nominating letter.
The JHHS team as a whole, earned 1st in the Congress sweepstakes at the tournament, 2nd in the Debate sweepstakes, 4th in the Speech sweepstakes and 4th in the overall sweepstakes.
The 2022 Nationals will be held June 12-17. Top competitors from across the country will gather to determine the national champion in each forensic event.
