Worland speech and debate coach receives coach of year

WORLAND – Every year, a coach is selected to receive the honor of the title of “coach of the year” in speech and debate. A coach is chosen for each class, 1A/2A, 3A and 4A. This year, five different coaches received nominations for 3A. However, it was Worland High School’s coach Rick Dorn who took home the honor.

Coaches for the title are selected through nominations and coaches vote on the nominees. According to Dorn, other coaches vote with one vote per school in order to determine the winner.

“I think it’s a sign of respect for what the coach does and how the team competes,” Dorn said. “It means a great deal to me. The speech coaches in Wyoming are a great group of people, and I am honored to receive it this year.”

STATE RESULTS

“State went very well,” Dorn said. “We had eight breaks to out rounds after last year only having four.”

The Worland High School speech and debate team finished state with 13 points compared to last year’s results of only earning two points. According to Dorn, second-, third- and fourth-place teams all finished one point apart.

The team earned third place overall, tying with Jackson. Star Valley placed second behind Riverton who “ran away with first by quite a bit,” according to Dorn.

According to Dorn, everyone competes against everyone else in the events. For example, 1A schools compete with 4A schools, and so on. Judges look at final finished by class size.

Three students broke into finals. Senior Nathaniel Nelson with Jade Hefenieder broke into finals with duo interpretation. Nelson also broke into finals along with Raeth Tolman in humor interpretation.

As for semifinals, Madeline Martinson went to super congress, Nick Bower with Dash Lloyd and seniors Sullie-Ann Keuntjes with Jack Vines both went to semis in duo. Keuntjes and Vines both broke in poetry, with Keuntjes breaking into quarterfinals, and Vines breaking into semis.

Cody Butterfield won second place in 3A in program oral interpretation.

Senior Rachael Carver with Tanner Stott won third in cross-examination policy debate.

Raeth Tolman placed third in humor, following Nathaniel Nelson in second place.

Jade Hefenieder and Nathaniel Nelson also placed third in duo.

State was held at Riverton High school with 35 schools in attendance. Twenty students from Worland attended the tournament. The teams final tournament is the Wind River District National Qualifying Tournament in Green River and Rock Springs. Dorn will be bringing 30 students. Those with the highest rankings in the tournament will qualify to compete at nationals in June.