by Taylor Massey
Last year, the Republic Speech and Debate team had their season cut short right before the MSHSAA state competition. If that wasn’t disappointing enough, the National Speech and Debate Tournament got moved to an online format. While an online tournament was a huge adjustment last year, it might just become the standard format during this year’s season.
Last Friday, the team competed virtually at its first tournament of the year: the Kickapoo/Glendale Invitational. Regardless of the unconventional format, virtual tournaments will still be as demanding as in-person tournaments. Besides all of the difficulties this season will bring, there are still going to be plenty of exciting moments. Junior Maddie Liska says she’s still looking forward to the season, even if it’s going to be a little different this year. “I’m super excited to have some sense of normalcy, even if it’s not what I’m used to,” Liska said.
Republic also has notable competitors returning this year. One is Senior Philip Lisun, who qualified for the nationals last year. He says that an online format this year will be difficult, but that the team can get used to it.
“In terms of debate tournaments, there are challenges that we did not have to face before that we do now . . . It is significantly easier to express and articulate your thoughts in person versus through a computer. As with anything new, online tournaments present a new challenge. They will, however, be overcome and I believe they will become a standard part of a debate season.”
In competition so far, at both the Kickapoo/Glendale tournament and the Blue Springs tournament, several competitors from Republic earned awards:
Ella Riggs- 4th place in Novice United States Extemp
Anna Davidson- 6th place in Novice International Extemp
Brooklyn Eiserer and Kennsington Booth- 4th place Novice Policy Debate
Brooklynn Hanley and Elli Woodsward- 1st place Novice Duo Interpretation
Jaidyn Vaughn- 2nd place Varsity United States Extemporaneous Speaking
Phillip Lisun- 2nd place Varsity International Extemporaneous Speaking
Madison Liska- 4th place in Varsity Dramatic Interpretation
Talonah Sterling- 6th place Varsity Program of Oral Interpretation
Samantha Determan and Jillian Horst- 2nd Place in Varsity Public Forum Debate