Mitchell High School was the host of the 2023 SDHSAA State Debate and Individual Events Tournament. Here are the results.
AA Division
Public Forum
1st - Abiah George & Sami Hegge - Aberdeen - coached by Kerry Konda
2nd - Beneyam Hassen & Josiah Stolz - Sioux Falls Jefferson - Coached by Travis Dahle
Semi-Finalists include:
Emily Hua & Igen Nyawanda - Brookings - Coached by Sally Pies
Lucy Walker & Josee Compton - Watertown - Coached by Scott Walker
Quarter-Finalists include:
Reagan Blackburn & Katelyn Ryan - Aberdeen
Angeth Mayen & Rebekah Kane - SF Jefferson
Alex Shore & Albert Shore - Brookings
Abigail Johnson & Bono Buchtel - Sturgis Brown
Octo-Finalists include:
Olivia Boerger & Grace Albertson - Rapid City Stevens
Nathan Johnson & Julian Clementz - Douglas
Alana Frederickson & Aadil Ali - Harrisburg
Lily Heisinger & Cecilia Shyne - Sturgis Brown
Alexis Korzan & Shawn Boehmer - Mitchell
Lincoln Douglas
1st - Kira Waldhalm - Harrisburg - Coached by Patrick Pope
2nd - Martin Jones - Sturgis Brown - Coached by Eric Johnson
Semi-Finalists Include:
Breanna Wollman - Aberdeen - Coached by Kerry Konda
John Hinrichs - SF Washington - Coached by Eric Uecker
Quarter-Finalists Include:
Landon Whittle - Watertown
Amanda Rothe - Douglas
Heidi Pan - Harrisburg
Sophia Meyer - Douglas
Octo-Finalists include:
Lily Williams - Aberdeen
Xander Hof - Brookings
US Extemp
1st - Kira Waldhalm - Harrisburg - Coached by Patrick Pope
2nd - Sami Hegge - Aberdeen - Coached by Kerry Konda
3rd - Breanna Wollman - Aberdeen
4th - Shawn Boehmer - Mitchell
5th - Noah Johnson - O'Gorman
6th - Bono Buchtel - Sturgis Brown
Oratory
1st - Breanna Wollman - Aberdeen - Coached by Kerry Konda
2nd - Beneyam Hassen - SF Jefferson - Coached by Travis Dahle
3rd - Meridian Hailu - SF Jefferson
4th - Abiah George - Aberdeen
5th - Carlie Johnson - Sturgis Brown
6th - Aadli Ali - Harrisburg
International Extemp
1st - Kaleb Ringgenberg - Aberdeen - Coached by Kerry Konda
2nd - Abiah George - Aberdeen - Coached by Kerry Konda
3rd - Aadli Ali - Harrisburg
4th - Martin Jones - Sturgis Brown
5th - Igen Nyawanda - Brookings
6th - Sophia Meyer - Douglas
Informative Speaking
1st - Kayla Waltman - Aberdeen - Coached by Kerry Konda
2nd - Paige Lewis - O'Gorman - Coached by Teresa Fester
3rd - John Hinrichs - SF Washington
4th - Ian Candy - Brandon Valley
5th - Rebekah Kane - SF Jefferson
6th - Ashley Crouch - Aberdeen
Overall Sweepstakes
1st - Aberdeen - Head Coach - Kerry Konda
2nd - Sturgis Brown - Head Coach - Eric Johnson
3rd - Sioux Falls Jefferson - Head Coach - Travis Dahle
A Division
Public Forum
1st & 2nd (closeout) - Carson Weiner & Blake Hoogeveen and Bethany Kobes & Anna Netjes - Sioux Falls Christian - coached by Jeff Clapper & Rachel Heckman
Semi-Finalists Include:
Madi Cross & Donald Werner - Spearfish - Coached by Robert Spieris
Will Scharf & Levi Taglioli - Spearfish - Coached by Robert Speirs
Quarter-Finalists include:
Rachel Bryan & Brayden Karkalik - Dakota Valley
Debbie Campbell & Arianna Georgescu - Vermillion
Qualon Grant & Elxia Quintanilla - Milbank
Lincoln-Douglas
1st - Gunner Geiken - Lennox - Coached by Michael Larson
2nd - Max Schuelke - Milbank - Coached by Kathy Tyler
Semi-Finalists Include:
Ava Gooch - Spearfish - Coached by Robert Speirs
Sam King - Spearfish - Coached by Robert Speirs
Quarter-Finalists include:
Jack Vitt - Vermillion
McKenzie Ritenour - Lennox
Hedy Perez Paulin - Vermillion
US Extemp
1st - Ava Gooch - Spearfish - Coached by Robert Speirs
2nd - Nina Jodre - Vermillion - Coached by Garrett Adam
3rd - Max Schuelke - Milbank
4th - Will Scharf - Spearfish
5th - Max Josko - Beresford
6th - Rylen Frerichs - Milbank
Oratory
1st - Laney Andrews - Beresford - Coached by Ann Tornberg
2nd - Emma Andrews - Beresford - Coached by Ann Tornberg
3rd - Sophie Matsuda - Spearfish
4th - Carlos Olivares Zuniga - Milbank
5th - Ava Gooch - Spearfish
6th - Noah Sayler - Lennox
International Extemp
1st - Sam King - Spearfish - Coached by Robert Speirs
2nd - Gunnar Geiken - Lennox - Coached by Michael Larson
3rd - Donald Werner - Spearfish
4th - Shane Spiering - Milbank
5th - Jack Vitt - Vermillion
6th - Laney Andrews - Beresford
Informative Speaking
1st - Rylee Nordyke - Vermillion - Coached by Garrett Adam
2nd - Emma Andrews - Beresford - Coached by Ann Tornberg
3rd - Qualon Grant - Milbank
4th - Maria Eisenbraun - Spearfish
5th - Abbi Johnson - Spearfish
6th - Ixtal Macias - Milbank
Team Sweepstakes
1st - Spearfish - Head Coach - Robert Speirs
2nd - Milbank - Head Coach - Kathy Tyler
3rd - Beresford - Head Coach - Ann Tornberg
Photos from the event are available HERE.