Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — There were more than 250 entries, 12 schools, 16 coaches and 75 judges that helped to make the 21st annual Steamboat Springs Invitational Speech Tournament another success.

The tournament was held on Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. to determine winners in 10 different speaking events.

"The tournament, as always, was exhausting for the Steamboat Springs High School team members, but their efforts resulted in a highly competitive and smoothly run event," Steamboat coach Shauna Lamansky.

The 14-member Steamboat team competed for half of the day and helped in the administration of the tournament the other half. The members did everything from set up and clean the hospitality room to assign judges and schedule competitors in their individual rounds.

Despite their busy week of getting the tournament ready, several team members had an outstanding tournament.

The Steamboat team managed to sweep the top three spots in the Interpretation of Humorous Literature event with Beth Ludwig taking first place, Jonah Skurky-Thomas placing second and Ben McCarthy finishing third. Lauren Tait added to the success of the team in the event by finishing in eighth place.

The extemporaneous speaking events proved to be two others in which the Steamboat team had a great deal of success. In International Extemporaneous Speaking, Bryn Weaver placed second and Jenni Stanford placed third. In National Extemporaneous Speaking, Julie Lewis won the event and Jesse Marshall placed second.

The debate events provided a major breakthrough for Julia Patterson, who was one of four undefeated debaters at the tournament, placing her fourth at the tournament.

Teammate Kyle Kuvin had one defeat and two wins putting him in seventh place overall.

In Interpretation of Dramatic Literature, Ryan Johnson placed 11th and Andrea Erickson placed 12th.

"There were a huge number of personal bests at this tournament," Lamansky said. "We are sure that they will be able to take these results and build towards their goals for state and national qualification."

In the next seven weeks, the team has six tournaments, including a national qualifying Student Congress and regional state qualification tournament.

Next week, the team will be competing in Palisade against a slate of Western Slope squads.

Steamboat Invitational Speech Tournament results from Jan. 6

Cross-examination debate

1. Statler/Birkhold, Fruita-Monument

2. Buntin/Pettis, Montrose

3. Casinger/Wintemute, Moffat County

Interpretation of poetry

1. (Tie) Amy Wilson and Krecia Carrell, Montrose

2. Ginger Jacobsen, Fruita-Monument

3. Megan Cousins, Grand Junction Central

Interpretation of humor

1. Beth Ludwig, Steamboat Springs

2. Jonah Skurky-Thomas, Steamboat Springs

3. (Tie) Charlton Haupt, Fruita-Monument and Ben MacCarthy, Steamboat Springs

Original oratory

1. Ian Derk, Greeley Central

2. Andrianna Ackerman, Montrose

3. Ginger Jacobsen, Fruita-Monument

National extemporaneous speaking

1. Julie Lewis, Steamboat Springs

2. Jessica Marshall, Steamboat Springs

3. Stephanie Raschke, Moffat County

Duo interpretation of literature

1. Potter/Turner, Montrose

2. Abrams/Lira, Greeley Central

3. Macht/Powell, Battle Mountain

International extemporaneous speaking

1. Keith Catlin, Montrose

2. Bryn Weaver, Steamboat Springs

3. Jenni Stanford, Steamboat Springs

Lincoln-Douglas debate (Undefeated debaters)

1. Amanda Breen, Moffat County

2. Dawn Montgomery, Grand Junction Central

3. Eric Statler, Fruita-Monument

4. Julia Patterson, Steamboat Springs

Interpretation of dramatic literature

1. Ben Koucherik, Moffat County

2. Tara Martin, Fruita-Monument

3. Douglas VanAllen, Montrose

Creative storytelling

1. David Teut, Summit

2. Ashley Ruttman, Greeley Central

3. Melissa Cech, Greeley Central