WHS speech team first in Riverton

WORLAND- The Worland High School speech and debate team placed first in 3A sweepstakes while competing against 19 other schools in Riverton Feb. 28 and 29.

Third place duo was to Guendylan Byrd and Michael Neufer, fifth place duo was Raeth Tolman and Cody Butterfield. Tolman also took third in drama and advanced in humor. Nick Bower and Dash Lloyd took sixth place in duo where all six duos advanced to the semifinals, Bower also placed third in humor. Every oratory that was taken advanced to the semifinals with Elizabeth Bleicher placing fifth overall.

The duo of Tate Damiano and Tate Green took third in cross-examination (CX) debate, Chase Johnson advanced to super congress, Aubrey Avant took sixth in poetry and Jade Hefenieder took sixth in program oral interpretation.

“We had 18 breaks total, and I was pleased with some pieces that are showing distinct signs of improvement,” speech and debate coach Rick Dorn said. “It’s a hopeful sign for state, but we still need to be more consistent.”

WORLANDO BEACH

Worland will host their annual Worland Beach meet this Friday and Saturday. Twenty teams are scheduled to compete with the Worland team working the meet, rather than competing.

Dorn said volunteers are still needed on Friday and Saturday. Judges can judge all day or for specific times. The meet runs from 1-9 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Judges will be provided with food throughout the day, no speech and debate experience is needed to participate as a judge.

College-age students will be given a stipend for each round judged of $5 in order to offset costs for coming to Worland for the weekend.

After the home meet this weekend, the team will head to Green River next week to participate in the state meet; with students who are eligible after that point competing in national qualifiers the weekend of March 19-21 in Rock Springs.