Speech Team Success

West Hardin speech team has experienced a string of successes this year.  The season began with the Westfield Forensic Tournament.  At this tournament, the CX team of Brooke Marcontell and Mary Peek beat out 45 teams from around the Houston area to capture first place, while Dylan Rumsey won four straight debate rounds and finsihed in 5th place in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

The next meet was at Baytown at Ross Sterling high school and produced great strides for West Hardin's Lincoln Douglas debaters.  Dylan Rumsey successfully debated four other schools but lost in the final round and thus won second place; while Ashley Cleveland competed through semi-finals and won third place.  Dylan Rumsey also won fifth place in Persuasive Speaking.

At the Hampshire-Fannet tournament, the wins continued.  Marcontell and Peek once again won first place by winning three preliminary rounds and then three final rounds beating out Bridge City in the final round. In Lincoln Douglas debater Ashley Cleveland maintained a perfect record until she lost in finals and took second place on a 2-1 decision.  Meanwhile, Dylan Rumsey lost in a quarterfinal round after being setaed fourth in the tournament overall.  Additionally, Ashley Cleveland placed fourth in informative speaking and Cherilynn Cooper placed fifth in persuasive speaking.

Continuing the season, at the Van High School tournament, Mary Peek and Brooke Marcontell won third place dropping in semi-finals after four consecutive wins.  At Whitehouse, the girls advanced to quarterfinals. 

 At the UIL cross-examination tournament, both West Hardin teams went undefeated until finals where they met each other.  Final results were that both teams qualified for state.  Lucas Smith, Daniel Hough, Mary Peek and brooke Marcontell are now qualified for the state debate championship.