Burlington’s speech and debate wraps up season

At the end of the speech and debate season, Burlington’s team is focusing on the positive experiences they had this year. “Our team is celebrating a year of hard work, growth and perseverance,” said Coach Leah St. Clair. “Representing a small school can come with challenges, but this year’s students proved that dedication and preparation make a difference. Competing against larger programs from across the state, team members continually worked to improve their performances and support one another along the way.” 

The state tournament was held in Cheyenne this past weekend and three of the five team members placed in the top three of their events for 1A/2A schools. Layla Baer earned third place for her Original Oratory, Kimber Allen earned second place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Kitzen Schatz earned second place for Congressional Debate and fifth place statewide in Congressional Debate. “Beyond awards and placements, the season was defined by personal growth,” said St. Clair. “Students stepped outside their comfort zones, tried new events and developed confidence in public speaking, critical thinking and collaboration. Their commitment, sportsmanship and willingness to learn represented our school well throughout the season. 

“Though the season has concluded, the team can look back with pride on the progress they made and the effort they put in each week. The experiences and skills gained this year will continue to benefit these students both in and out of the tournament settings,” said St. Clair.