Tiger debaters begin season

With 48 debaters prepared for opening weekend, the Fort Scott High School Tiger debate squad spread out to four different tournaments.

The Tigers won the team overall sweepstakes trophy at the two tournaments where the team was eligible for the trophies. At Gardner-Edgerton, all all-novice event, the first-year squad members captured five of the top six placings.

Eric Garner and his partner, Caleb Clay, led the way with a perfect 4-0 record, capturing first place. Teammates Courtney Cannici and Halle Gregory, and Gage Addington and DJ Blethen each went 3-1 and tied for second place. Also with 3-1 records and medaling were partners Ackland Miltron and Brett Allen (fourth), Bethany Robison and Jordan Traxler (fifth), and Chad Hazlip and Emily Schnichels (sixth).

The other competing teams who did not medal for the Tigers all came away with victories. The combined top four records of 13-3 were good enough to capture the overall title just ahead of Olathe Northwest, which finished in second place.

The second title for the squad was earned at Independence. This tournament hosted both an open and novice division. At the open level, the pairing of Tony Jackson and Katelyn Torres, who were the only medalists, ended the day in sixth place. Success at the novice level continued at Independence as Dane Ramsey and Jash Pytlowany finished with a perfect 5-0 record.

Fellow first-year competitors Jacob Casselman and Jesse Guerrero earned a fourth place finish with a 4-1 record. The other non-placing novice teams all came away with at least two victories under their belts at this tournament as well. Again, the top four overall record of 15-5 was good enough for the sweepstakes title.

The third group journeyed to a JV tournament at St. James Academy in Lenexa. Kristen Winters and her partner Nick Allen ended in the medals with a solid 4-1 performance at this tournament.

The final Tigers in action competed at a two-day event hosted by Topeka-Washburn Rural. This tournament is the kickoff tournament for all the top teams in the state. Schools travel from as far away as Garden City to test themselves against the best Kansas has to offer. The Tigers traveled with three teams ready for competition.

Although no competitor earned a medal, the combined records were the best for Fort Scott since the school began attending the tournament: Daniel Lyon and Baker Weilert were 4-2, Jeff Durbin and Leah Casselman were 4-2, and Chase Rooks and Matt Carrillo were 3-3. The 4-2 records were good enough to make the quarterfinals but the tie-breaking criteria of speaker points left the two teams off the bracket.

"Washburn Rural is a great challenge for us and a litmus for just what the season holds," FSHS coach Brian Weilert said. "When you are competing against the type of kids who spent four weeks of their summer at a Harvard debate camp, you expect to be a little behind but we competed very well. Overall, the weekend at all four tournaments was a success. I am very excited for the season to unfold to see just how much we can improve."