Talkin' Tigers finish 2nd at Kuna tourney

The Mountain Home Talkin' Tigers Speech and Debate team finished second among the 14 schools at the Kuna Speech and Debate Tournament last weekend.

Captains Eli Holland and Ali Howe again led the Tigers as the pair each won a speech event.

Holland finished first in Retold Story while Howe was the winner in Panel Discussion. The pair each qualified for State Speech in those events last year as sophomores.

The Tigers had three of the top six in Radio Speaking with freshman Marita Spealman finishing third, just in front of teammates Raif Armstrong and Amanda Raines.

In Dramatic Interpretation, Mountain Home had the top two qualifiers in the preliminary rounds, Devin Floyd and Shelby Stevens. They finished fourth and fifth in the finals.

Jenna Thompson was also sixth in Panel Discussion while Alycia Crandall was fifth in Retold Story.

The Tigers also did well on the debate side of the tournament as Miriam Forrest won all five of her Lincoln-Douglas rounds. Due to time constraints, the semi finals and finals of the tournament were canceled and Forrest was declared the second-place finisher despite not having a loss. Forrest also tied for first as the leading Lincoln-Douglas debater.

In Novice Public Forum Debate freshman Linzi Dudding and Chelsea Wegrzyniak finished in second while teammates Alycia Crandall and Amanda Raines were third.

Rebecca Smith was also a quarter finalist in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate.

In Student Congress all seven of Mountain Homes' entries advanced to Super Congress after finishing in the top half of their regular congress round. All seven were novice competitors (and five freshman) facing older competitors.Freshman Kelsey Beuss scored the most points in the preliminary rounds and was followed closely by classmates Sarabeth Bernyk, Korie Foster, Jonathon Wagner and Matt Houston. Sophomore Shannon Pollard and Junior Jeromy Hyatt, both novices, were also in the Super Congress.

The Talkin' Tigers attended the tournament free, courtesy of a donation made by Three Springs of Mountain Home. The Talkin' Tigers will next compete at Eagle High School on Jan. 25-26 in a fee-free tournament, courtesy of a donation by the Officer's Spouses Club.