AURORA – Peter Alisky walked into the 50^th speech and debate state tournament at Cherokee Trail on Saturday determined to win his second championship.
 
More than that, the Smoky Hill senior wanted to finish his high school career by prolonging the Alisky family’s reign as US extemporaneous speaking champion for one last season before he graduated as the youngest child.
 
Peter Alisky’s older brother, Michael Alisky, won the event as a senior during Peter's his freshman season in 2019. Peter Alisky missed out on an opportunity to win his own title as a sophomore when the 2020 state championships were cancelled because of COVID-19. Last year, he broke through and won when the tournament was held virtually and this year, Peter Alisky successfully defended his title as US extemporaneous speaking champion.
 
He had to overcome a couple of unusual years, but Peter Alisky finally accomplished exactly what he intended to do by making Michael Alisky, who was in attendance for his younger brother’s repeat victory on Saturday, proud.
 
“That’s three years in a row of Alisky dominance,” Peter Alisky said with a chuckle. “Michael is the reason I got into the activity and he was a senior when I was a freshman. I started it because of him. So once he graduated, I wanted to continue his success because between Michael and my coaches, that’s everything I know about the activity.”
 
For Peter Alisky, as well as many others who competed at this year’s speech and debate state tournament, the return to in-person competition was a welcome rectification. It was also a new challenge for those who had only experienced the virtual competition of 2021, which posed its own challenges but may also have reprieved competitors from some others.
 
“It definitely means a lot to me to win this year,” Alisky said. “I remember just being so amped for the state tournament my sophomore year in 2020. So, winning last year when it was online meant a lot because I finally had the opportunity to compete. But online speech and debate is so different than in-person speech and debate, so I wanted to prove to myself that I could win if it’s online and I can win when it’s in person too.
 
“It means a lot to finish the back-to-back my senior year.”
 
While Peter Alisky left Cherokee Trail as a two-time champion and having won a third title for his family, he was not the only competitor to go home with a trophy. Impressive seasons in a dozen other events culminated during this year’s two-day event.
 
In dramatic interpretation, Fossil Ridge’s Olivia Wang took first place. In duo interpretation, Elias Goss and Elijah Goss of Denver East were the winners. Abby Colodny also won program oral interpretation for Denver East.
 
George Washington’s Sammie Armatas took home the first-place trophy in humorous interpretation. Fellow Patriots speacher Kailey Sieja claimed another victory for George Washington in informative speaking. Gabri Notov won the poetry reading to claim a third title for George Washington, and the pair of Katie Jack and Maria Cook won policy debate for the school’s fourth.
 
In the congress event, Rock Canyon’s Carter McDonald was crowned champion. At the end of the Lincoln-Douglas debate competition, Rock Canyon’s Allison Willner stood victorious.
 
In international extemporaneous speaking, Pine Creek’s Caleb Chung won it all. The team of Stevie Chen and Wilson He won public forum debate for Fairview.
 
In original oratory, Pueblo West’s Nkechi Onyejekwe claimed the title. Unlike Peter and Michael Alisky, this year’s two-day event was the first-ever experience at state speech and debate for Onyejekwe, a freshman who decided to give speech and debate a try for the first time this season.
 
But very much like the Alisky brothers, Onyejekwe may now be setting her sights on a dynastic speech and debate run of her own.
 
“It definitely was a whirlwind season,” Onyejekwe said. “At first, I had a little bit of doubt going into it. It took me a little bit longer than I would have liked to memorize. But the more I started to compete, the more I started to build a little bit more confidence, which made it a little bit easier. My goal was to break top six, which as a freshman, I think is a pretty good result. But, obviously, winning first is kind of surreal.
 
“With all the finalists, I think they all had amazing speeches. And we all had a good camaraderie between each other, so we were rooting for each other. I wanted to win first but because of that, didn’t really care if I made first or not. I was just happy to be there. When I heard I was first, I thought I was dreaming or something.”
 
A total of 72 schools and over 400 participants competed in this year’s 50th speech and debate tournament.