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GBHS debaters take 2nd at the Lyons tournament
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Courtesy photo Great Bend High School debate team members pose who a photo after the Lyons invitational tournament. Back row: Brooke Lewis, Maddix Pokorski, Isaiah Smith, Patrick Heath, Daniel Abbott, Dalton Dicks. Front row: Jessy Moeder, CJ Gibson, Adeline Dougherty, Skylar Fletcher, Bayle Sandy, Malachi Wasson and Raven Puig.

The Great Bend High School debate squad continued its winning ways last Saturday. The team took 2nd place out of a 22-school field at the Lyons Invitational Debate Tournament.

Leading the squad with 5 wins and 0 losses were seniors Bayle Sandy and Patrick Heath. They now have 10 wins and 0 losses for the season. Based on their speaker points, along with their 5 wins, Sandy and Heath placed 3rd in the experienced division at the Lyons tournament.

Also contributing to the team’s sweepstakes results in the experienced division were the sophomore team of Skylar Fletcher and Malachi Wasson and the senior team of Daniel Abbot and Dalton Dicks, each with a record of 3 wins and 2 losses.  

Senior CJ Gibson and sophomore Isaiah Smith debated together with a record of 2 wins and 3 losses. They were also debating in the experienced division at Lyons.

Three teams debated in the novice division at the Lyons Invitational. Placing 3rd in the novice division were freshmen Adeline Dougherty and Maddix Pokorski, with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss. Freshman Jessy Moeder and sophomore Breanne Allen had 2 wins and 3 losses in the novice division. Freshman Raven Puig and sophomore Brooke Lewis rounded out the team with 0 wins and 5 losses — also in the novice division.

GBHS debate coach Kim Heath commented on the team’s performance at the Lyons Invitational. “I was very pleased with how our squad worked together to prepare for the tournament and encouraged each other. Our success this year is based on individual skills that are built and perfected through team effort.”

Both experienced and varsity Panther debaters will travel to Salina Central for their invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19. Coach Heath said the team is excited to see a variety of competition from across the state and test out some of their argumentation and case ideas. The novices will have another opportunity to gain experience at Hoisington next Monday evening, Oct. 21. Several seniors will be assisting with coaching and judging at this novice night invitational.