MHS Debate team goes to nationals

By Verlene Johnson

After a successful year of competitions including region and state, Morgan High School Debate team had the opportunity to go the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA - speechanddebate.org) High School Speech and Debate NATIONAL Championship Tournament which was held July 11-15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

With more than 6,000 competitors at the event, the competition for MHS students was high. Those students included sophomore, Jaqsyn Rudd and junior Bryan Justice (BJ) Hone who qualified in Duo-Interpretation as a main event. They each competed in supplemental events as well: Jaqsyn in impromptu and original poetry and BJ in impromptu.

“I really quite enjoyed the whole experience,” commented BJ. “The people were all really nice, and I learned a

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FUNDRAISER from page 1 baked beans, potato salad, watermelon, cornbread, and strawberry pie for dessert.” A prelude of good things to come, this event introduced many to ‘Running of the Balls.’

“What a wonderful experience,” expressed Chris Kirch, a random passerby that happened upon the event. “I came to Morgan just to ride bikes that morning. Stopped by the gas station and met Morgan of Morgan LOL. He and his mother told me about the fundraiser, and I had to come back to sing songs and enter the ‘run of the balls’. Especially for such a good cause.”

At 6 p.m., the first of two heats were released, totaling over 200 brightly colored golf balls that raced down the corrugated steel track which ran down from the river bridge above Hinds. There were four judges, one grand prize winner, and two runners-up. Prizes were awarded to each of these winners along with a silent auction of 24 items that was held throughout the evening. Morgan Valley businesses, as well as individuals, generously sponsored the silent auction donating everything from cakes, pies, and handmade quilts to a paddle board and an original hand painting.

Perhaps with some premonition of the good fortune that would befall him, Kirch was one of the first guests to arrive. As the evening wore on, Kirch was asked to be one of four judges for Running of the Balls. In a happy twist of fate, Kirch ended up being the Grand Champion! Kirch commented, “Then to top it off my golf ball won the grand prize. Never could have imagined that. I’ll always be grateful for the people of Morgan and their great cause to help children.” Participating in the silent auction and then chatting with fellow participants, Kirch got out his guitar toward the end of the evening strumming songs as his friends sang to familiar tunes. “I really enjoyed lot from them; not just about speech events, but also how to speak to people in a new way. It was really fun.”

With the MHS duo team qualifying for nationals, the team was able to bring two additional students to nationals, so MHS Debate coach Blaine Hone decided that since freshman Bryson Hone and sophomore Tomara Snodgrass, who scored the most NSDA points during the national qualifying tournament, they would also go to nationals. Bryson competed in impromptu and original poetry and Tomara competed in impromptu and prose reading.

“It was really cool to see the top people in each of the events and pretty fun, overall a great experience, ” Tomara said.

While each Morgan students placed in the top 50% in each of their events, which included hundreds sometimes thousands of other students, Morgan students were not in the top 60 students who went on to the tournament’s late-stage break rounds.

"National debate was a completely new experience for me. But to go and represent Morgan at such a high level was a great honor. Our team may not have done the best this year, but our team is already prepping to go and win next year!

Blaine commented that Morgan's presence at nationals represents a rather momentous event in the the wonderful people and the little girl who made that 15-pound cake I got from the auction,” shared Kirch. That girl was 12-year-old Sophia Wimmer who made two cakes and a plate of cookies to be auctioned off. With a love of baking, Sophia spent 11 hours making two cakes, one of which weighed a whopping 15 pounds and the other cake that totaled 9 pounds. Sophia said she felt proud that she was able to raise money to help others. Her donations alone brought $130 to the silent auction.

A core committee member of the MVC and mother to Sophia, Kimberley Wimmer shared, “This was a great experience for all of us to learn and grow. It feels good to have an opportunity to serve others when we have been so blessed ourselves. Through this process, we’ve been able to develop and strengthen friendships. Because of all the kind generosity in the community, we were able to meet our $10,000 goal. We named our organization Morgan Valley Cares because we as a community care about others. We could not have done this without everybody that was willing to give and serve, especially Hinds gas station in Peterson. Dalynn Patterson (owner of Hinds) was a huge contributor to our success!”

In addition to drawing the community together, MVC set out to educate the community about the opportunity to welcome a refugee family to Morgan. Their financial goal was accomplished to earn funds sufficient to support a family of four refugees. “The community sacrificed and prepared in their characteristically generous manner for a delightful evening together. Friends enjoyed seeing friends and families reaching out to meet new families. Questions were legacy that he would like to build for Morgan's Speech and Debate. "This is the first year we have reached nationals since the school canceled Speech and Debate classes and designated ours as an after-school-only program,” said Blaine. “With a growing number of interested participants each year, and a stronger performance at region, state, and now nationals, I have extremely high hopes in what these talented youth can do for this program, the school, but most of all for themselves and their own futures.”

Along with his wife, Lisa who is the assistant coach and chaperone, Blaine took the students to horseshoes bend, the Grand Canyon, and four corners.

“We saw our team get well out of their comfort zone both in speaking and in exploring new areas of our country,” said Blaine. “Nationals built experiences for these kids that will help them throughout their life.”

Students funded their own travel and all tournament fees and other costs of participation at the national tournament. The team will have exciting fund-raising activities in the near future. “The community’s participation and contributions to support these dedicated students—as well as the next group of potential national qualifiers—will surely be greatly appreciated,” said Blaine. l asked about resettling refugees here. Conversations were had. Teaching and understanding occurred,” said Brathwaite.

Observing the community unity, Brathwaite felt the experience with Kirch was a visual analogy of what the refugee newcomers can benefit from our community. “There is strength here, there is healing here, there is laughter and music here. Strangers find friends here. Chris did and that is our hope and vision for the refugees as they arrive. They need a place for a fresh start, a safe place, a place of freedom and support that fosters self-reliance. Morgan Valley is that place. Children will share their seats on the bus and in the cafeteria. Moms will invite the refugees on shopping trips to explain the foods and products available,” explained Brathwaite. “There will be people in place to help explain how a washer and dryer work. Jobs will be available, and the refugees will find dignity and joy in stepping into a place of self-sufficiency. And each of us will be invested in coming to understand how to communicate in ways that open doors of trust and understanding. Surely, the family coming to Morgan Valley, like Chris, can anticipate good things to come as we welcome them into our community. It is our hope that they will feel the love and support of our community and know that they are not strangers here. They have a place here that they can contribute to.”

Braithwaite sincerely hopes that everyone gets a chance to see this race sometime in their lifetime because she believes there is nothing quite like it! “Whether you are from the Valley or visiting from another county, Running of the Balls makes all hearts beat faster with anticipation, and as you see so many smiles broaden and you feel yourself as part of something larger than your own happiness, you can’t help but feel grateful to be a part of it all. You’re part of a big group that’s so happy and filled with suspense!”l