BISMARCK, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – This past week the Valley City High School Student Congress traveled to the 57th Annual NDHSAA State Student Congress Tournament in Bismarck and the National Speech and Debate Association Roughrider Student Congress Tournament, November 7-9.
At the NDHSAA State Student Congress tournament held Thursday and Friday at the Capital Building in Bismarck, the Hi-Liner Congress team had a successful showing with 5 students placing at the State Tournament, including two state champions! Abby Redfearn, 8th grade, placed 1st in House V. As a speech/student congress champion her picture will join the Wall of Champions located outside the Cafeteria.
Additionally, Ayden Grace McPartland was elected the Presiding Officer over House VI and helped run the chamber throughout the duration of the competition. She was scored high enough as the Presiding Officer to receive the same number of sweepstakes points as a Champion. Her picture will join the speech/student congress wall of champions outside the cafeteria. As a team, VCHS placed 6th out of 19 teams, only 5 points behind 5th place (Fargo North)
Other placers include:
Tucker Johnson- 4th Place (House V)
Madi Klabo- 7th Place (House III)
Olivia Slyter-5th Place (House I)
Team Members Competing at the State Tournament:
Luke Plagens- Senate
Lillian Kiefert- Senate
Elizabeth Gazeley- Senate
Gabriella Shipp- House I
Aurora Ziniel- House I
Ariana Abrahamson- House II
Brinklyn Johnson- House II
Londine Marcellus- House II
Madi Klabo- House III
Heather Fischer- House III
Alexis Wobbema- House III
Lily Douglass- House IV
Jazmine Schmidt- House IV
Leah Hochhalter- House VI
Maddi Knight- Clerk (House I)
The Valley City Hi-Liner Speech team also competed at the NSDA District Tournament on Friday and Saturday (November 8th and 9th). Their was much success to be had! We advanced 5 out of our 10 entries into final chambers. Lillian Kiefert and Luke Plagens both advanced to Senate Finals on Saturday after preliminary competition on Friday evening. Olivia Slyter, Aurora Ziniel, and Madi Klabo all advanced to House finals after preliminary competition on Friday evening.
Luke Plagens was selected as the Presiding Officer over the Senate on Friday night and received a gavel. Additionally, he is the 3rd alternate (placed 5th) in the Senate to the 2020 National Speech and Debate Tournament held in Albuquerque, NM June 13-19.
Aurora Ziniel is the 5th alternate in the House (placed 8th) to the 2020 National Speech and Debate Tournament.
Students who are eliminated from main event congress are placed in a consolation chamber. We had students receive awards for this chamber. Ariana Abrahamson was named the presiding officer over this chamber and received a gavel. Heather Fischer placed third in this chamber as well!
Next on the docket getting ready for the speech season! For more Hi-Liner Congress (and speech news) follow us on facebook at VCHS Forensics! Parents more pictures will be posted on the Facebook page!
