The Demons debate team took third place last month in Delta. It was the team’s first field trip to a debate competition in almost 10 years, said Todd Jolley, team coach.
“The Western Slope teams were happy to have us back, and we got a special recognition at the awards ceremony,” he said in an email to The Durango Herald.
The individual placings of Durango High School debate students are:
- 1st place extemp – Thomas Pope.
- 2nd place extemp – Leo Stritikus.
- 3rd place extemp – Lucas Spaeder.
- 5th place extemp – Tea Forrest.
- 2nd place Congress – Hays Stritikus.
- 3rd place public forum – Stritikus and Stritikus.
- 4th place public forum – Pope and Spaeder.
- 6th place duo – Owen Babcock and Hunter Gray.
Jolley said he is proud of the students for their efforts this year. He said the team’s performance Jan. 15 in Delta was strong despite having only 11 Durango students in attendance.
“The kids have been working incredibly and have made huge progress this year in their public speaking and critical thinking skills, but I’m most proud of the growth in their self-confidence and team community they’ve built,” he said.
Jolley said the debate team is looking for judges to attend after-school practice so students can receive feedback in their preparations for state and national tournaments.
Six tournaments remain in the 2021-22 season, with two state qualifiers and three national qualifiers, plus a national tournament in Kentucky to round out the year.
- National qualifier, Feb. 11-12: Congress debate in Palisade.
- State qualifier, Feb. 18-19 in Delta.
- National qualifier, March 4-5 in Grand Junction.
- State tournament, March 18-19 in Denver.
- Tournament, April 4-5 in Colorado Springs.
- National tournament, June 13-17 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The speech and debate team is also planning ahead for an end-of-season banquet tentatively scheduled for the second week of March, Jolley said.
He was appreciative of the Durango Education Foundation, which provided support to the debate team with $12,950. The funding was provided through its Student Competition and Travel Grant that Jolley applied for, said Diana Cruz, foundation executive director. She said the foundation will consider providing the same amount again during its spring grant cycle, which starts in March.
Cruz said she thinks speech and debate prepares students to become globally competitive with a range of skill sets honed through the debate program.
“I think the benefits (of speech and debate) are multifaceted,” she said in an email. “Not only do students develop skills in research and analysis, critical thinking, formulating thoughtful arguments, and interpreting and expressing experiences and ideas, it also promotes confidence, collaboration, self-esteem, engagement in school, and ownership of their education.”
Jolley is seeking parents who are interested in helping put together a team potluck dinner to celebrate the season. He said anyone interested should reach out to him at tjolley@durangoschools.org.
cburney@durangoherald.com
In an earlier version of this story gave an incorrect first name for Todd Jolley.
