A series to share #smiles across our community through the achievements of our local youth, brought to you by Olsen Orthodontics.
(Riverton, WY) – The Wind River National Qualifying Speech and Debate Tournament was held last week at Central Wyoming College on February 27th through March 1st. Riverton High School Speech and Debate Team, under the leadership of head coach Rebecca Pierson and assistant coaches Annette Thornton and Margaret Murray, had a strong showing, placing first in debate events, first in speech events, and first overall.
This year, the team qualified 11 individuals to compete at the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 15th to June 20th.
The complete list of students who qualified to compete in Des Moines this year is as follows:
- Ashtin Griffin and Adriyanna Potter – National Qualifiers in Duo Interpretation
- Aquinnah Wiblemo and Hollis Neilson – National Qualifiers in Duo Interpretation
- Ayana Mejorado and Sam Pierson – National Qualifying Team in Policy Debate
- Aurora Baldes and Paige Wood – National Qualifying Team in Policy Debate
- Aquinnah Wiblemo – National Qualifier in Humorous Interpretation
- Ashtin Griffin – National Qualifier in Humorous Interpretation
- Adriyanna Potter – National Qualifier in Dramatic Interpretation
- Austyn Chitwood – National Qualifier in Program Oral Interpretation
- Aurora Baldes – National Qualifier in Informative Speaking
- Royce Hancock -National Qualifier in Congressional Debate
- Ayana Mejorado – National Qualifier in Congressional Debate
- Ayana Mejorado and Sam Pierson – National Qualifying Team in Policy Debate
- Aurora Baldes and Paige Wood – National Qualifying Team in Policy Debate
- Ayana Mejorado – National Qualifier in World Schools Debate
- Sam Pierson – National Qualifier in World Schools Debate
- Emerie Coughanour – National Qualifier in World Schools Debate
Additionally, the following competitors earned alternate positions should the qualifiers in these events be unable to attend the competition:
- Austyn Chitwood, First Alternate in Dramatic Interpretation
- Mya Brackeen, First Alternate in US Extemporaneous Speaking
- Mya Brackeen and Terak Brown, First Alternate Team in Public Forum
- Jenny Nguyen and Kapri Miller, Third Alternate Team in Policy Debate
Other notable performances included Kapri Miller breaking to semis in Oratory and Royce Hancock breaking to semis in US Extemporaneous Speaking.