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GBHS debate team takes home 4 awards at Halloween tourney
new deh debate pic web
Pictured are members of the Great Bend High School debate team: Back row Sawyer Borror and Alex Smith; middle row Michael Gieck, Sylvia Ofoma, Morgan Moyd, Chase Pumford and Logan Boyd; and front row Kelci Kearns, Brittany Krieger, Trina Schlotthauer and Marissa Hoisington. - photo by COURTESY PHOTO

The Great Bend High School debate team competed at the Valley Center Halloween Tournament Saturday, Oct. 30. This is the team’s fifth weekend of debate competition. They have continued to bring home awards from every tournament.

"This was the biggest and longest tournament we have competed in so far in this season and they competed in six rounds instead of the usual five," said debate coach Barbara Watson. Thirty schools competed at the tournament in three divisions with a total of 148 debate teams competing.

In the varsity division, first-year debater, Marissa Hoisington, and second-year debater, Alex Smith, placed sixth out of 47 teams. They had a 4-2 win-loss record and 25 speaker points. "My first open tournament was definitely harder," said Hoisington, "even though I didn’t do as well as I hoped to, I still feel I did great, especially considering I was debating third- and fourth-year debaters."

Smith also placed sixth out of 94 speakers in varsity speaking awards with eight speaker points.

In the Junior Varsity Division, Sylvia Ofoma placed seventh out of 88 speakers in speaking awards with 10 speaker points. "I like going to junior varsity tournaments because they challenge me and my partner," said Ofoma. "This tournament was fun because we got to compete in costumes. I loved debating as a ninja and seeing everyone’s costumes."

The debate team’s win/loss records are as follows: In the novice division, Michael Gieck and Logan Boyd finished with a 4-2 win-loss record and 28 speaker points. Trina Schlotthauer and Brittany Krieger finished with a 3-3 win-loss record and 30 speaker points. Kelci Kearns and Morgan Moyd finished with a 3-3 win-loss record and 34 speaker points.

In junior varsity division, Ofoma and Courtney Seever finished with a 3-3 win-loss record and 23 speaker points.

In varsity division, Hoisington and Smith had a 4-2 win-loss record with 25 speaker points. Chase Pumford and Sawyer Borror finished with 2-4 win-loss record with 29 speaker points.

"All the participating teams put fourth good effort," said Gieck.