From USD 428
The Great Bend High School Panther Debate team earned third place in overall sweepstakes at the Newton Debate Invitational last Saturday. The team finished just one win behind McPherson and Maize South but placed ahead of Western Athletic Conference rivals Hays, Garden City and Liberal.
Head coach Pamela Williams credited the team's success to the dedication of its students and the supportive community they have built within the program.
“I'm proud of the way our debaters show up for each other,” Williams said. “Our students have worked hard to understand the complexities of health care in America while learning to research, defend their arguments and disagree respectfully. Just as importantly, they support one another, helping younger teammates build confidence and strengthen their skills. That willingness to learn and grow together makes us stronger as a team and builds skills that benefit our school and community,” Williams said.
In the Open division, all three Great Bend teams paired a senior with a second-year debater. Kendra Scheideman and Jaaziel Hernandez led the Panthers with a 3–1 record and a second-place finish. Hunter McClanahan and Mark Sperlein also finished 3–1, earning fifth place, while Parker Coleman and Sebastian Quezada posted a 3–1 record to finish sixth.
A fun addition to the Newton tournament was the awarding of golden railroad spikes to the top speakers. Great Bend took home three of the Open division's speaker honors, with Coleman earning first place, Sperlein finishing third, and Scheideman placing fourth.
In the JV division, both Panther teams paired a second-year debater with a novice. Nevaeh Nagel and Toyosi Sodeke finished seventh with a 2–2 record, while Ricky Calvert and Ransom Hardcastle also went 2–2 to earn eighth place. Calvert received a golden railroad spike for sixth-place speaker honors, and Hardcastle earned seventh.
The tournament's Novice division featured two all-freshman Great Bend teams. Amber Ochs and Persephenie Peschka finished 10th with a 2–2 record, followed by Brecklynn Carper and Dorthy Tudor in 11th place, also with a 2–2 record. The novice teams also earned two speaker awards, Amber Ochs earned 4th place and Persephenie Peschka earned 6th place.
“Our freshmen are the heart of our program's future,” Williams said. “Every round challenges them to step outside their comfort zones, think on their feet and conquer their fears. It takes courage to put yourself out there, and we're fortunate to have teammates who encourage one another along the way.”
The Panthers will take a break from competition the weekend of Oct. 24 due to student-led conferences. Great Bend will return to action on Thursday, Oct. 29, hosting its home novice tournament and giving developing debaters another opportunity to gain competitive experience