Webb City debate named district’s leading chapter

March 30, 2022

Chloe Ingle and McKenzie Jones have qualified for nationals. (TEAM PHOTOS)

During spring break the Webb City speech and debate team competed in the first leg of the district tournament to qualify for nationals.

Coach Tiffany Bolin reports, “We had 13 students make it to semifinals and two qualify for nationals in June – McKenzie Jones and Chloe Ingle.”

In addition, the following students earned NSDA degrees: Connor Wald-Special Distinction for 500+ points and Nathan Saderstrom-Degree of Excellence for 150+ points.

“Each year the top school in accumulated members, participation and degrees in the district receives the Leading Chapter Award, and this year that school is Webb City,” says Bolin. “This Friday we continue to the second portion of the district tournament in hopes of more national qualifiers.

“These students work hard during the nine months of their competitive season, and we are so proud of them!”

Lilly Shea, McKenzie Jones and Evan Garrison are national academic all-Americans.

In more good debate news, three juniors, Evan Garrison, McKenzie Jones, and Lilly Shea, are being recognized as Academic All Americans by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Fewer than 1% of speech and debate students in the nation ever achieve this honor as it requires students to earn 750+ NSDA points, complete 5+ semesters of high school, earn a GPA of 3.7+, and demonstrate outstanding character/leadership.

Bolin points out out that in Webb City’s entire history only seven other students have accomplished this feat.

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