The Great Bend High School Debate Team competed on Saturday at the Lyons Invitational earning the third-place team sweepstakes award.

The event is one of the larger tournaments in the area and attracted 14 teams from as far away as Emporia and Junction City. 

Individual Panther debaters demonstrated their skill in five rounds. Placing fifth in the novice division with a four-win, one-loss record were freshmen Darcy Feist and Reese King. Also compiling four wins and placing fifth were juniors Adeline Dougherty and Aliyah Fryberger in the open division.  

Others contributing to Great Bend’s third-place plaque were open debaters: Alondra Alvarez, Milena Carbajal, Isaiah Smith, Xanna Smith, Chrisangel Adame, Thomas Henrikson, Joanna Prebble and Rebeca Rodriguez.  

Great Bend debate coach Kim Heath said she relishes earning more hardware, but she also appreciates knowing that her students are learning and gaining important skills.

“Many of our debaters this weekend were young and competing in the open division for the first time. They are learning how to describe complicated topics in simple and approachable ways while persuading community judges,” she said.

The team members are looking forward to showcasing their skills again this Saturday at Hoisington’s Garrett Blase Memorial Debate Tournament.