The Wood River High School debate team proved victorious in the first competition of the season at the Bruin Tournament in Twin Falls Nov. 12 and 13.
"We had really good competition in Twin. I felt really good about their results," Tim Neville, WRHS debate coach, said.
In varsity policy debate, Travis Risner and Ryan Chandler won first place. The team has competed together under Neville's guidance for four years.
"When a team sticks with me for four years it means a lot to me. It shows me their dedication to the program," Neville remarked.
Leslie Riemann and Michael Dale also collected third place in the varsity policy debate division.
During the novice policy debate, Hunter Scarborough and Johnny Dilley, and Arielle Mulenos and Mark Pederson won the division.
The policy debaters discuss the same topic throughout the year. This year competitors are resolving whether the U.S. government should establish a foreign policy to substantially increase its support of United Nations peacekeeping operations
In the Lincoln Douglas debate, students focus on whether the U.S. has a moral obligation to promote Democratic ideals in other nations.
In the novice Lincoln Douglas category, Dexter Gannon received second place. Varsity Lincoln Douglas debater, Reinet Behncke tied for first in the quarterfinals.
Along with the debate, the tournament also included a speech competition, which allows students pick their topics. In the speech division, Mark Pederson was a finalist in serious interpretation, Jared Stoltzfus a finalist in expository and Reinet Behncke placed second in expository.
Other competitors were Dan Parnes, Gavin Kastner, Noah Brod, Andrew Hall, Jaron Sheffield, Thomas Gappmayer, Kammeron Hairston, Aaron Elfering, Nick Evans, Kenny Mauro, John David Davidson, Kyle Cole, Carrie Peterson, Desiree Peters, Hillary Elmore, Hailey Tucker, Kristen Cole, and Alex Mallea.
The team heads to the Hillcrest debate tournament in Idaho Falls this weekend.
The Wood River High Debate team displays their trophies with Coach Tim Neville after a successful competition in Twin Falls. Photo by Pauline Behncke
