The Grand County High School debate team placed sixth overall in the Arches Red Cliffs Lodge debate tournament last weekend. The tournament, held in Moab, featured 12 teams from 5A-2A schools and more than 200 participants.

Moab had standouts in the debate events in the Open Public Forum competition, with Maren Larsen and Anna Scherer taking first place. Mary Rice of Grand took first place in the Open Lincoln Douglas event.

Several GCHS students also did well in Novice Congress, according to debate coach Boyd Bryan. Robin Willscheildt was a finalist and Skylar Johnson, Shalia Harmson, Emilia Cubelos, Madi Stocks and Emma Sweeney had strong showings in that event, Bryan said.

In Open Congress, Arissa Kennedy was a finalist and Sarah Quigley, Justin Hawks and Kris Kemp had good showings.

Grand also had standouts in several individual events. In Novice Impromptu, Emma Sweeney placed in the top 10 and Skylar Johnson placed in the top 15 out of 35 debaters. In Open Impromptu, Grand’s Maren Larsen tied for third place and Meera Edwards placed 10th out of 48 debaters.

Willscheidt was also a finalist for Grand in Open Oratory and Sarah Quigley placed seventh in that competition. In Combined Extemporaneous Speaking, Rice placed third overall. Becca Farnsworth of Grand took fourth place overall in the Humorous Interpretations competition, and Justin Hawks took 10th place overall in Novice Spar. Emilia Cubelos and Johnson also had strong showings for Grand in Novice Spar, Bryan said. In Open Spar, Kris Kemp had a good showing.

Coaches Bryan, Ryan Hand and Sarah Sidwell thanked the many parents and community members who came and helped judge the event. They also thanked the debate committee, which organized the food and concessions and helped make the tournament a success.