Two MHS debaters qualify for state
Two Marion High School debaters qualified for Two Man State Debate following competition Jan. 4 in the Remington Tournament.
Sarah Davidson and Amanda Steiner qualified with wins over Goddard, Remington and Wichita East.
Sarah was the number one speaker in two rounds, while Amanda was ranked as the number two speaker in one round, according to MHS debate coach Mary Griffith.
Only six teams received medals at the tournament. Davidson and Steiner had 25 speaker points, while the sixth place team had 24.
"We missed medaling by one speaker point," Griffith said.
Also at the tourney, Eric Steiner and Adam Guetersloh defeated two Maize teams and each received number one speaker ratings in two separate rounds, Griffith noted.
"Sarah was our only advanced debater competing in this tournament. Amanda, Eric and Adam were novices. It's quite an accomplishment when a novice debates in an advanced tournament," Griffith said.
"Eric and Adam competed as a novice team up until this tournament," she said. "I bumped them up to advanced to get them the experience."
During the Remington tournament, Kathrin Lange served as timekeeper and Vicki Guetersloh represented Marion as a judge.
"These kids all gave up a vacation day — since we weren't back in school yet — to attend this tournament," Griffith said. "They've worked hard. They've stayed after school and did a lot of work on their own."
State debate will be held Jan. 24-25 at Blue Valley High School.
