Speech Team Members Score High Nationally

Three Jackson Hole students have returned from the National Speech and Debate Tournament in Indianapolis, Indiana with high marks. Nearly 10,000 congressional debate competitors from across the country participated at local qualifying tournaments, hoping to advance to the National Tournament. This is the largest high school academic competition in the world.  Cormac Mullin advanced to the final round of congressional debate in the House chambers, the best showing of any of the 50 Wyoming competitors at the meet. This matches the best performance ever by a Jackson student at the National tournament.  Meanwhile, Randy Elledge and Jessica Moore both attended Nationals for the second consecutive year, competing in congressional debate both years.  After Mullin, Elledge and Moore had the second and third best Wyoming showings in congress, respectively.  After congress competition, Moore and Elledge competed in supplemental debate, a relatively new event at Nationals.  In this double elimination format event, Moore advanced through five rounds and Elledge competed for seven rounds, both strong showings on the national stage.  Reflecting on the national competition, Coach Mark Houser says the talent of the competitors there was superb, and Jackson students came well prepared, matching the talents of the best in the nation.