3A Speech and Debate: Resurrection Christian Defends State Title

NIWOT – Following two incredible days of competition, Resurrection Christian took home the 3A CHSAA overall Speech and Debate Sweepstakes for the second time in just as many years, with University coming in second. The Cougars also took home the Speech sweepstakes, while Eagle Valley took home the Debate sweepstakes.

“We started out the beginning of the season and knew that this would be a tough season,” Resurrection Christian coach Levi Smith said. “We had a lot of great competition coming up and so we set out to get here and we did great.”

For Elijah Fauth, who took home first place in the creative storytelling event, walking across that stage to accept that award was truly something special.

When he got to do so again with him team and the people he got to compete alongside all year long, it was that much more special.

“Getting to walk across with my team was the most exciting for me,” Fauth said. “Just being able to watch my team be happy about all of the hard work we put in was so much fun.”

Battle Mountain’s Eva Isaacs was the only person to defend her title this year, doing so in the Lincoln-Douglas debate.

The rest of the individual winners for the night were: Eagle Ridge’s Katherine Garcia in Poetry Interpretation, University’s Aaliyah Lucero in Oral Interpretation, University’s Dominick Madrigal in Drama Interpretation, University’s Blake Wehrman in Congressional Debate, Resurrection Christian’s Maelin Rennemeyer in Humorous Interpretation, St. Mary’s AnnaMarie Niemerg in Extemporaneous Speaking, Resurrection Christian’s Ryann Siffring in Impromptu Speaking, Eagle Valley’s Iris Sheldon in Informative Speaking, Eagle Ridge Academy’s Mariana Chaux Ospina in Original Oratory and Dawson School’s Shan Amin in Value Debate.

In the duo awards Resurrection Christian’s Jackson Holder and Evan Simmons took first in the Duo Interpretation category, while Eagle Valley’s Ben Vito and Audrey Tatro took first in the Public Forum Debate.