Speech & Debate: 3A State Championships Set for Friday, Saturday

AURORA – The Colorado High School Activities Association will host the 2026 3A Speech and Debate State Championships this Friday and Saturday at Pueblo Central High School.

The 3A State Tournament offers Interpretation of Drama, Interpretation of Humor, Interpretation of Poetry, Duo Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Combined Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, Congressional Debate, One-on-One Value Debate, Impromptu Speaking and Creative Story Telling, so long as there are enough entries for the event to be viable.

The championship field includes seven students who will be looking to defend their titles from a year ago, including two-time Lincoln-Douglas Debate champion Eva Isaacs of Battle Mountain. Other returning champions include Dominick Madrigal (Interpretation of Drama) and Blake Wehrman (Congressional Debate) of University, Maelin Rennemeyer (Interpretation of Humor) and Ryann Siffring (Impromptu Speaking) of Resurrection Christian, Katherine Garcia of Eagle Ridge Academy (Interpretation of Poetry) and Iris Sheldon of Eagle Valley (Informative Speaking). Wehrman won’t be defending the title and is instead entered in Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking.

Defending state champion Resurrection Christian returns a strong cast of competitors after compiling a 143 points at last year’s championships. University was second with 88, Battle Mountain was third with 74, Eagle Valley fourth with 61 and Dawson School was fifth with 34. Resurrection Christian is seeking a third straight state championship.

Rennemeyer (Duo Interpretation) is among a number of runner-up finishers also returning this year and is one of five runners-up from Resurrection Christian: the others are Rylie Eckman (Congressional Debate), Chloee Lee (Interpretation of Humor), Trace Orlando (Impromptu Speaking) and Clara Connor (Oral Interpretation). The other returning runner-up is Eagle Valley’s Abby Domanico (Value Debate).

Resurrection Christian has four other returners who placed third last year, including Jonah Morris, who was third in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Also placing third or reaching the semifinals and returning from Resurrection Christian are Trevor Lim (third, Informative Speaking), Abram Dik (third, Oral Interpretation) and Ethan Carter (semifinals as one of two in Public Forum). Dik is entered in two different competitions this year. Pueblo Central’s Isaiah Martinez is back after placing third in Congressional Debate and making the semifinals of Lincoln-Douglas last year. Other returning third-place finishers are Isaac Murray of Eagle Valley (Creative Storytelling) and Aaliyah Berrelez of University (Humor). Berrelez is entered in Interpretation of Drama.

In Congressional Debate, the top returners are Eckman of Resurrection Christian (second), Martinez of Pueblo Central (third), Noah Williams of University (fifth) and Isaacs of Battle Mountain (sixth).

Eagle Valley’s Murray (third) is the leading returning competitor in Creative Storytelling, with other challengers including University’s An Ho (fifth) and Mikallya Lopes of Stemboat Springs (eighth).

Defending champion Madrigal of Resurrection Christian is the only top-12 finisher from last year entered in Interpretation of Drama.

In addition to third-place finisher Morris, the extemp field also includes Resurrection Christian teammate Andrew Dudek (seventh) and Dylan Nolly of Eagle Ridge Academy (10th).

The top five finishers in humor are back, though only champion Rennemeyer, runner-up Lee and fifth-place finisher Caidance Henninger of Battle Moutain will compete in that event.

Cece Venable of St. Mary’s Academy (sixth) and Kalia Dejos of DSST: Green Valley Ranch (10th) are the only top-12 finishers returning for Original Oratory.

In Poetry, defending champ Garcia, sixth-place Juniper Zislis of Roaring Fork and 10th-place Nevaeh Bryant of Resurrection Christian are back.

Domanico, the runner-up in the Value Debate, is the only quarterfinalist competing again this year.

Fifth place last year, the University Duo Interpretation team of Ho and Angelina Farnando are the top returning tandem.

Resurrection Christian finished 1-2-3 in Impromptu Speaking with Siffring, Orlando and Morris and all three are back, as is four-place finisher Allison Shepard of University.

The Informative Speaking field includes returning champion Sheldon, third-place finisher Lim of Resurrection Christian, and University’s Brenna Bond, who was sixth.

In addition to champion Isaacs of Battle Mountain and semifinalist Martinez of Pueblo Central, the Lincoln-Douglas Debate list includes quarterfinalists Maddy Gieser of St. Mary’s Academy and Madeline Lucks of Roaring Fork.

Oral Interpretation appears wide open Teagan Douglas of Eagle Valley, tied for 11th last year, is the only top-12 finisher from last year participating.

Semifinalist Carter of Resurrection Christian is back with a new partner (Addison Edwards) in Public Forum Debate