(Riverton, WY) – The Riverton High School Speech and Debate team under the guidance of head coach Rebecca Pierson-Lewis is off to a great start. After graduating most of our Varsity team last year, this year’s team features a new line up of underclassmen, primarily freshmen. Even with such a young team, RHS Speech and Debate has been in the placings at every tournament.
The season started in November at Green River for the Evergreen Classic where the team took 2nd place in the 3A division. Some highlights from the tournament included Senior Alex Watson making it to semis in Varsity Impromptu Speaking. First time competitors Aurora Baldes and Paige Wood took 1st place in Novice CX debate. Freshman Kapri Miller also took 6th Place in Novice Oratory and sophomore Aurora Baldes took 5th place in Novice Informative Speaking. Other notable placings at this tournament included Ayana Mejorado taking 1st place in Varsity Congress and the team of Ayana Mejorado and Jenny Nguyen taking 2nd place in Varsity CX Debate.
Next the team traveled to Lander in December where they took 2nd Place in 3A at the LandIns Tournament. Some highlights from this tournament include junior Mya Brackeen breaking to octofinals amidst fierce competition in Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate. The team also advanced three finalists in Novice Informative: Alijah Urbigkit(5th), Aurora Baldes, and Payton Westmoreland(2nd). Freshmen Jenny Nguyen and Riddik Robinson took 1st place in Novice CX Debate while senior Ayana Mejorado and sophomore Qwanell Davis took 1st place in Varsity CX Debate. Other finalists at this meet included Kapri Miller in Novice Oratory, Keira House in Novice Congress, Ayana Mejorado in Varsity Congress, and the team of Ayana Mejorado and Qwanell Davis in Varsity CX Debate.
The varsity season began earlier this month in Thermopolis, WY, with a 2nd Place win in the 3A division at the Hot Springs Classic where the new novice members had to step up to varsity competition for the first time. Freshman James Pierson took 4th place in Varsity Impromptu. Aurora Baldes took 2nd Place in Varsity Informative Speaking at her very first varsity competition as did Emerie Coughenhour, who took 2nd Place in Varsity Oratory. Kapri Miller, another novice newly moved up to varsity, took 5th in Varsity Oratory. In Varsity CX Debate Emerie Coughenour and Kapri Miller, performing as a team, tied with teammates Terak Brown and Samuel Pierson.
Most recently, the team traveled to Worland for the Worlando Beach Tournament. At this tournament, RHS was once more well represented in finals. Junior Sheridan Goldsberry made it to finals in Varsity Oratory, coming in 2nd overall. Senior Ayana Mejorado took 1st place in Varsity Congressional Debate. Other finalists included Austyn Chitwood and Royce Hancock in Varsity Impromptu, Aquinnah Wiblemo in Varsity Humor, Aquinnah Wiblemo and Adriyanna Potter in Varsity Drama, and two teams in Varsity Duo: Aquinnah Wiblemo and Hollis Nielsen took 2nd while Dani Erb and Keira House took 6th place. Coach Thornton received a special leadership award from the Worland team.
Currently, RHS Senior Ayana Mejorado is the one to beat in Varsity Congressional Debate as she has taken first at almost every tournament this year.
The Riverton Middle School Speech and Debate team under the guidance of coach Arizona Davis just started their season in Worland this past weekend where the team performed well with finalists in all divisions. Some notable placings included Sadie Goldsberry winning 1st in Individual Interpretation, Kyler Kaplon winning 1st in Individual Debate, and Liam Murray winning 1st in Impromptu Speaking.
Riverton High School Speech and Debate will be hosting their home tournament later this month on January 24, 2025 and January 25, 2025. Speech and debate meets depend on volunteer judges to make the event happen. If you are interested in judging, you can click this link to sign up for email RHS Assistant Speech and Debate Coach Margaret Murray at mmurray@fremont25.org to learn more.
The above information was provided to County 10 by Speech & Debate Coach Becca Pierson.